AMITY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, NOIDA

Class IX (2022-23)
THE FUN THEY HAD- Isaac Asimov

SUMMARY STATEMENT
This story deals with the future of education which will become increasingly computerized and estranged
from social interactions. This lesson gives us a glimpse of future education where books will be meaningless.
The author warns against the dangers of computerized homeschooling which deprives children of social
interaction and exchange of thoughts and ideas between teachers and students.
LESSON AT A GLANCE
● Margie and Tommy are students of a future school who are mechanically trained by the school and
parents.
● On 17th May 2157, Tommy, a thirteen year old boy, finds a ‘real book’ in the attic which has been
printed on paper. Margie is 11 years old and both are surprised to see still words in the book.
● They thought the old book was a waste of resources, as it had to be thrown after one use. Tommy
thought tele-books lasted longer and had many books in it.
● Margie ‘schoolroom’ was next to Margie’s bedroom. She hated school as her teacher gave her test
after test in Geography and she performed badly. The county Inspector came and repaired the
mechanical teacher.
● Margie hated most the slot for putting homework and test papers.
● Tommy explained that centuries ago schools were not like theirs. They had a man as a teacher who
taught students different subjects and gave homework also. Margie couldn’t believe that kids went
to special buildings to learn.
● Margie reminisces about the way old schools functioned when teachers were real people and
students had real fun in the school. She thinks of the fun children had studying and playing together.

REFERENCE TO CONTEXT (RTC)

“It was a very old book. Margie’s grandfather once said that when he was a little boy his grandfather told
him that there was a time when all stories were printed on paper.
They turned the pages, which were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny to read words that stood
still instead of moving the way they were supposed to — on a screen, you know. And then when they
turned back to the page before, it had the same words on it that it had had when they read it the first
time.”
1. On which date did Margie make an entry in her diary about schools?
a) 17 May 2156 b) 17 May 2157 c) 17 May 2158 d) 17 May 2159
2.Who found a real book?
a) Tommy b) Margie c) Tommy’s teacher d) The mechanical teacher
3.What did Margie write about in her diary?
a) A real school b) A real teacher c) A real book d) about her grandfather
4. Margie was _____________ about school.
a) scornful b) appreciative c) disdainful d) overwhelmed
5. Four students read the story and commented on it. Identify which of the following is a fact (F) and
opinion (O).
 Speaker 1-The words in the old books did not move
Speaker 2- The old school was boring.
Speaker 3- The pages in the book were yellow.
Speaker 4- It must have been great interacting with
the teachers.

(a) F-1,4 O-2, 3

(b) F- 1,3,4 O- 2
(c) F- 1,3 O-2,4
(d) F- 2,4 O-1,3

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS

Write the answer in your register in 20-30 words using the hints provided along (use the value
with each question points to frame
Q1. Why did Margie’s mother send for a County inspector? grammatically
Hint: Margie was performing poorly in geography- county inspector to rectify the correct
problem answers)
Q2. What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher?
Hint: Teacher developed faulty- history section blanked out- taken away for a
month
Write the answer in your register in 40-50 words using the hints provided along with each question
Q3. Why was Margie doing badly in geography? What did the County Inspector do to help her?
Hint: mechanical teacher- fast-displaying the questionnaire- County Inspector-adjusted speed- average ten-
year level- County Inspector-assured-Margie’s progress-satisfactory.

Q4. How does Tommy describe the old kind of school and teachers?
Hint: Old school- special building- kids went there to study-laughed and shouted in the schoolyard- enjoyed
time together and learned lessons- in a classroom-teachers did not live in the house- gave homework-not
mechanical but living human beings.

LONG ANSWER QUESTION

Q5. Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?
Value points:
Para 1: (discuss why she hated her school) Elaborate and
● She had a mechanical teacher…. Large , black, ugly.. explain using
● School was right next to her bed room examples from the
● Part Margie hated - the slot - had to put homework and test lesson
papers Long Answers
Para 2: (discuss why Margie thought ta the old schools were fun) always have to be in
● Old schools fun-students used to sit together 2-3 paragraphs
● Special building- learnt the same thing- taught by human teachers.
Adhere to the word
● Kids from the neighbourhood came together, ….. helped one
limit.
another..talk about it
● Students get a chance to explore the outside world and learn
together
Para 3: Conclude