Make the idea
yours.
This page contains the chapter’s textbook activities, extra board-style questions, hard-word practice, grammar, listening, speaking, writing, and learning-beyond-the-text tasks. Try first. Reveal the points. Then study the model response.
Questions before answers.
The following questions are drawn from the textbook’s comprehension and critical-reflection work. Each answer uses direct response, textual evidence, interpretation, and a concluding link.
Why do you think the grandmother felt embarrassed to ask someone else to read to her while the narrator was away?
She felt embarrassed because asking another person would reveal that she could not read, a fact that made her feel helpless and dependent. She had always listened to the story through her granddaughter, and she did not want to approach someone in the village for the same help. Her discomfort also shows that financial comfort cannot replace the independence provided by education.
Why does the narrator initially laugh at her grandmother’s determination to learn at the age of sixty-two?
The narrator laughs because she is only twelve and makes a childish assumption about old age. She notices her grandmother’s grey hair, wrinkled hands, spectacles, and household responsibilities and concludes that learning the alphabet would be too difficult. Her laughter is not cruel, but it shows that she has not yet understood the strength of determination or the possibility of lifelong learning.
What significance does the story of Kashi Yatre have in both the grandmother’s life and the chapter?
Kashi Yatre is important because Krishtakka identifies with its old woman protagonist, who also wishes to go to Kashi. The serial therefore becomes more than a story; it becomes a shared emotional bond between the grandmother and granddaughter. When Krishtakka cannot read the new episode, she experiences dependence directly. Her desire to read the novel independently gives her a clear learning goal. At the end, reading its title proves that she has achieved the independence she wanted.
What does the line “For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle” reveal about the grandmother?
The line reveals that Krishtakka is determined, courageous, practical, and optimistic. She understands that a worthwhile goal requires hard work and refuses to accept age as an excuse for inaction. Her reading, repeating, writing, and reciting show that her words are supported by disciplined effort.
How effectively does the story highlight the value of education in supporting personal independence?
The story highlights education effectively by showing that financial comfort alone cannot guarantee independence. Krishtakka lives in a well-off family, yet she feels helpless when she cannot read the magazine without assistance. Her decision to learn the Kannada alphabet transforms education from an abstract ideal into a personal need. Through regular practice she learns to read Kashi Yatre independently. The final reading gives her confidence, dignity, and control over her own experience, proving that literacy supports genuine personal independence.
Practice the language of the chapter.
The PDF includes vocabulary, prefixes, binomials, idioms, tense practice, listening, speaking, writing, and learning-beyond-the-text tasks. Use these answer keys to check your work after attempting the activity.
Word web: Why is literacy important?
Binomials: match and use
| Expression | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| sink or swim | succeed or fail without help | The new learner decided to sink or swim through regular practice. |
| on and off | sometimes; occasionally | She practised on and off before making a fixed routine. |
| mix and match | combine different things | Students can mix and match ideas while planning a speech. |
| all or nothing | completely or not at all | Her goal was all or nothing: she wanted to read independently. |
| part and parcel | an essential part of something | Practice is part and parcel of learning. |
| pick and choose | select only what one prefers | We should not pick and choose evidence carelessly. |
| sooner or later | at some time in the future | With effort, sooner or later the learner will improve. |
| leaps and bounds | very quickly; greatly | Her reading ability improved by leaps and bounds. |
Prefixes: form the opposite or changed meaning
| Base word | Correct prefixed word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| popular | unpopular | not popular |
| belief | disbelief | lack of belief |
| important | unimportant | not important |
| respect | disrespect | lack of respect |
| correct | incorrect | not correct |
| continue | discontinue | stop continuing |
| understand | misunderstand | understand wrongly |
| ordinary | extraordinary | unusually remarkable |
| interesting | uninteresting | not interesting |
| possible | impossible | not possible |
Idioms related to learning
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| hit the books | study seriously |
| draw a blank | be unable to remember |
| learn the ropes | understand how to do an activity |
| rack one’s brain | think very hard |
| learn by heart | memorise something |
| burn the midnight oil | study or work late into the night |
Past perfect: show the earlier action.
Use the past perfect for the earlier of two completed past actions. The later action generally remains in the simple past.
| Question | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| When the delegates ______ at the conference, the keynote speaker ______ the session. (arrive, already begin) | When the delegates arrived, the keynote speaker had already begun the session. |
| After the students ______ fake news, they ______ verifying information. (learn, start) | After the students had learnt how to identify fake news, they started verifying information. |
| Before Kiran ______ digital payments, she ______ online fraud prevention. (start, ensure) | Before Kiran started using digital payments, she had ensured her understanding of fraud prevention. |
| By the time Varun ______ budgeting, he ______ his savings. (recognise, exhaust) | By the time Varun recognised budgeting’s importance, he had exhausted most of his savings. |
| When Raghu ______ the webinar, the instructor ______ strong passwords. (log in, already discuss) | When Raghu logged in, the instructor had already discussed strong passwords. |
Use the lesson beyond the page.
Listening: digital literacy
The textbook listening task connects the chapter’s idea of literacy with the digital world. After listening to the teacher’s recording, the expected completion ideas are:
Speaking: turncoat debate
Speak for one minute and then against the topic for one minute. Topic: “Learning can happen only when you are young.”
Writing: Letter to the Editor
Write about how students can participate in adult literacy camps, the benefits for students and society, and practical ways to spread awareness.
Address · Date · Subject · Salutation · 3-paragraph body · Complimentary close
Connect the chapter to life.
Find the word for grandmother, grandfather, mother, father, sister, and brother in five Indian languages. Then ask a grandparent which book or magazine they enjoy and gift them a copy.
| Activity | What a complete response should include |
|---|---|
| Indian languages table | Five languages, accurate family words, and the source or speaker used to verify them. |
| Adult education research | Find information about the National Literacy Mission Authority through the official government link. |
| Gift a book | Ask about the grandparent’s interest, choose a suitable book, and explain why the gift is meaningful. |
Do not leave the small questions behind.
These short textbook checks are useful for school tests and one-mark revision.
Cause and effect
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| The transport system was not very good. | The morning papers arrived late and weekly magazines came one day late. |
| Krishtakka never went to school. | She could not read the weekly magazine herself. |
| The narrator read each episode aloud. | Krishtakka became deeply interested and discussed the story with her friends. |
| The narrator went to a wedding for a week. | Krishtakka received the magazine but could not read the new episode and felt helpless. |
| Krishtakka regretted not going to school. | She decided to learn the Kannada alphabet and read independently. |
True or false
| Statement | Answer and reason |
|---|---|
| Krishtakka wanted to learn the Kannada alphabet to gain independence. | True. She says clearly that she wants to read a novel on her own and become independent. |
| She asked someone in the village to read Kashi Yatre while the narrator was away. | False. She thought of asking, but embarrassment stopped her. |
| The narrator was Krishtakka’s first teacher. | True. She begins tuition and calls Krishtakka her first student. |
| Krishtakka believed there was an age limit for learning. | False. She says, “For learning there is no age bar.” |
| She touched the narrator’s feet as a mark of respect for her as a teacher. | True. She explains that she is touching the feet of a teacher, not merely her granddaughter. |
| The narrator was disappointed by Krishtakka’s progress. | False. She is amazed by the homework and recognises that her student passed with flying colours. |