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CBSE Class 9 English Question 19 of 44

The Fun They Had — Question 19

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19
Question
Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?
Answer

Margie hated her school because she had a mechanical teacher. It was in her house. She was supposed to sit in that room alone to complete her hometask or assignments. The part Margie hated most was the slot where she had to put homework and test papers. She thought that the old schools must have been fun because the students used to sit together in the classroom. They enjoyed, laughed and shouted in the schoolyard. Children needed company to enhance their skills. If they are isolated, they get depressed and dejected.

Overview: The Fun They Had

Set in 2157, this science fiction story explores a future where children learn at home with mechanical teachers. Margie (11) and Tommy (13) discover a real paper book about old-fashioned schools where children went to a special building and had human teachers. Margie is fascinated by the idea of children learning together. The story ends with her thinking about "the fun they had" in those old schools, highlighting how technology can isolate while traditional schooling fostered community.

Key Points

  • Genre: Science fiction set in the year 2157
  • Characters: Margie (11 years old) and Tommy (13 years old)
  • Their school is at home with a mechanical teacher (computer-based)
  • Tommy finds a "real book" made of paper — yellow, crinkly pages
  • The book describes old schools where human teachers taught groups of children
  • Margie's mechanical teacher had been giving her geography tests
  • Margie is fascinated by the concept of children learning together
  • Title significance: "The fun they had" refers to children in old-style schools
  • Theme: Technology cannot replace human connection in education
  • Irony: What we consider normal schooling is "ancient history" to them

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of school did Margie and Tommy have?
They had virtual schools at home. A mechanical teacher — a large screen with lessons and questions — was installed in their room. It calculated grades instantly. There was no school building or human teacher.
What was the "real book" about?
The book was about the old kind of schools that existed centuries ago. It described how children went to a special building, had a human teacher who taught them, gave homework, and asked questions.
Why did Margie think old schools were better?
Margie thought old schools were better because children went to school together, laughed and played together, sat together in the classroom, and learned the same things. She found her solitary mechanical learning boring in comparison.
What is the significance of the title?
The title "The Fun They Had" refers to the enjoyment children had in traditional schools where they learned together with human teachers. It is ironic because Margie envies something we take for granted.

Common Mistakes

  • Not reading the text carefully before attempting questions.
  • Giving vague answers without specific textual references.
  • Confusing characters, events, or themes from different chapters.
  • Writing too much for short-answer questions (should be 30-40 words).

Scoring Tips

  • For extract-based MCQs: read the passage carefully; eliminate wrong options systematically.
  • For short answers: be concise (30-40 words), use key vocabulary from the text.
  • For long answers: structure with introduction, body, conclusion. Quote from the text.
  • Always identify the chapter/poem name and author when answering.