Book - Kaveri. L- 1 How I Taught My Grandmother to Read
L -1. HOW I TAUGHT MY GRANDMOTHER to READ
A. When the delegates _________ (arrive) at the conference, the keynote speaker _________ (already begin) the session.
B. After the students _________ (learn) how to identify fake news online, they _________ (start) verifying information before sharing it.
C. Before Kiran _________ (start) using digital payment platforms, she _________ (ensure) her understanding of online fraud prevention.
D. By the time Varun _________ (recognise) the importance of budgeting, he _________ (exhaust) most of his savings.
E. When Raghu _________ (log in) to the cybersecurity webinar, the instructor _________ (already discuss) the importance of strong passwords.
Answer:
A. arrived, had already begun
B. had learnt, started
C. started, had ensured
D. recognised, had exhausted
E. logged in, had already discussed
Answer:
A. took
B. reviewed
C. had spent
D. had discussed
E. opened
F. set
G. had already introduced
H. hurried
I. had completed
J. enjoyed
By- Sudha Murty
Kaveri , textbook of English for grade 9 , is developed in alignment with the vision of the National Education Policy( NEP) and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education .L - 1 HOW I Taught My Grandmother To Read is the lesson which gives a message to its readers that there is no age or limit of learning anything.
INTRODUCTIONS of WRITER
Sudha Murty( born August 19, 1950) is famous Indian water, educator, author and a philanthropist. She is married to N. R Narayan Murthy , co- founder of Infosys. She is best known as the former Chairperson of Infosys Foundation and for being the first female engineer hired at TELCO. She is prolific writer known for her simple storytelling and a champion of social work. She was awarded the Padam Shri in 2006 and the Padam Bhushan in 2023 for her immense contribution to social work. As a social workershe built 60,000 libraries , 16,000 toilets and initiated countless rural development projects. As a prolific author in Kannada and English She wrote many stories, non- fictional and novel. Sudha Murty is widely admired for her simple life style, strong values and dedication to education, Healthcare and rural development.
INTRODUCTIONS of CHAPTER
The lesson “How I Taught My Grandmother to Read” is written by Sudha Murty. It is a touching autobiographical story that highlights the importance of education and literacy. The chapter describes the deep bond between the author and her grandmother. The grandmother, though old and loving, feels helpless because she cannot read or write. When the author goes away for a few days, her grandmother realizes the value of education and decides to become literate. With determination and hard work, she learns to read from her granddaughter. The story conveys the message that there is no age limit for learning and that education gives confidence, independence, and self-respect.
IMPORTANCE OF THE LESSON
👉 - The lesson teaches that there is no age limit for learning. Even in old age, one can gain knowledge with determination and hard work.
👉 - It highlights the importance of education in a person’s life. Education makes a person confident, independent, and self-reliant.
👉 - The story inspires students to develop regular study habits, dedication, and perseverance to achieve their goals.
👉 - It teaches the value of respect between teacher and student. The grandmother respected her granddaughter as her teacher, showing that knowledge is greater than age.
👉 - The lesson encourages students to become helpful and responsible towards elders and support them in learning new things.
👉 - It gives the message that self-confidence and strong willpower can help a person overcome any difficulty.
👉 - The story also develops moral values such as humility, gratitude, hard work, and determination among students.
👉 - It inspires students to understand that learning is a lifelong process and should continue throughout life.
IMPORTANCE TO IMPROVE GRAMMAR
👉 - It improves sentence formation and communication skills.
👉 - It increases confidence in speaking English.
👉 -It improves reading and understanding.
👉 -It helps students express their thoughts and ideas clearly.
WORD - MEANINGS
Ardent. Keen
Savoring. enjoying it to the fullest
Immensely. extremely
Taken aback. Surprised by something unexpected
Grandmother Mother of one’s father or mother
Illiterate Unable to read or write
Magazine A weekly or monthly publication
Serial A story published in parts
Curious Eager to know something
Determined Firmly decided
Independent Not depending on others
Ashamed Feeling embarrassed
Scholar A learned person
Affection Love and care
Respect Admiration and honour
Devotion Deep dedication or love
Courage Bravery
Realize. To understand clearly
Literacy Ability to read and write
Blessings Good wishes
Inspired Motivated or encouraged
Helpless Unable to do anything
Valuable Very useful or important
KAVERI TEXTBOOK EXERCISE
REFLECT and RESPOND
1- Complete the given word web
👉 Why is it important to learn how to read and write?
Answer:
It is important to learn how to read and write because it helps us become independent, gain knowledge, communicate clearly, and manage daily life confidently.
2 - Read the questions given below and share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
Q-1. Which language(s) do your grandparents or elderly relatives speak?
Answer - My grandparents speak Kannada and Hindi both the languages.
Q-2. How do they spend their time? How do you spend time with them?
Answer - They spend their time praying, reading, gardening, and talking to family members. I spend time with them by listening to their stories, helping them, and sitting with them in the evening.
Q- 3. What is your favourite experience with them?
Answer - My favourite experience is listening to their childhood stories and learning old songs and customs from them.
Q-4. What is something that the elderly in your family cannot do easily but enjoy watching you do?
Answer - One cannot use digital devices easily, but they enjoy watching me use a phone or computer.
III. VOCABULARY MATCHING
Answer
1-protagonist- main character
2-debate - discussion
3-episode - a part of a story
4-community - people living in one particular area
5-concentration - focus
6-eagerly - excitedly
7-convincing - believable
8-guided - directed
Check Your Understanding – Part I
Complete the cause and effect table given below based on Part I of the story. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
Cause and Effect Table
1. Cause:
The transport system was not very good in the village.
Effect:
The morning papers arrived late in the day and weekly magazines would come one day late.
2. Cause:
The grandmother, Krishtakka, never went to school.
Effect:
She could not read.
3. Cause:
The narrator read the serial Kashi Yatre to her every Wednesday, and the grandmother identified herself with the protagonist.
Effect:
She was deeply interested in the story and discussed it with her friends.
4. Cause:
The narrator went to a wedding for a week.
Effect:
The grandmother could not read the next episode and felt helpless and upset.
5. Cause:
In those days, girls’ education was not considered necessary, and the grandmother was married very young.
Effect:
The grandmother never went to school.
6. Cause:
The grandmother regretted not going to school.
Effect:
She decided to learn the Kannada alphabet and become independent.
II. Do you think the narrator expected to see her grandmother in tears when she returned to the village? If yes ,why? If no, why not?
Answer:
No, the narrator did not expect to see her grandmother in tears because she had never seen her cry even in very difficult situations.
III. How might the narrator help her grandmother learn to read and write?
Answer:
The narrator could help her grandmother by teaching her the Kannada alphabet every day, giving her reading and writing practice, and encouraging her with patience and affection.
👉 CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
I. State Whether the Following Statements are True or False
Statement
1-The grandmother wanted to learn the Kannada alphabet to gain independence.
True
2-The grandmother asked someone in the village to read Kashi Yatre to her while the narrator was away.
False
3 -The narrator was the grandmother’s first teacher and taught her how to read Kannada.
True
4-The grandmother believed that there was no age limit for learning.
True
-5- The grandmother touched the narrator’s feet as a mark of respect for her as a teacher.
True
6- The narrator was disappointed with the progress her grandmother made in learning to read.
False
................................................................................................................
👉 CRITICAL REFLECTION
EXTRACT - 1
1- Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
When I Came -----------------------------------------my forehead.
(i) Complete the followingsentence with the correct option
The phrase “never seen her cry in the most difficult situations” tells us that the grandmother was:
Answer: A. strong-willed
(ii) Complete the following with the correct option from those given in the brackets.
Grandmother did not reply when the narrator asked if she was alright because she might have been too emotional to respond.
(iii) Identify the clue that indicates a rural setting with traditional customs.
Answer-The use of the word “Avva” and the family sleeping on the open terrace on a summer night suggest a rural setting and traditional way of life.
(iv) Which lines of the extract establish establish a tender atmosphere?
Answer - “Avva came and sat next to me. Her affectionate hands touched my forehead.”
(v) Which of the following aspects is NOT emphasised in the given extract?
A. The emotional turmoil of the grandmother
B. The affectionate bond between the narrator and her grandmother
C. The grandmother’s regret over her lack of education
D. The narrator’s concern for her grandmother
Answer: C. The grandmother’s regret over her lack of education
👉 EXTRACT- 2
2 - ' I have decided ----------------------------------- not age bar.'
Q- (i) What does the grandmother’s statement, “I want to be independent,” reveal about her character?
A. She wanted to be literate.
B. She desires self-sufficiency.
C. She wants to prove her intelligence to others.
D. She feels pressured by society to learn.
Answer: B. She desires self-sufficiency.
(ii) Fill in the blank with the appropriate option from those given in brackets.
The grandmother’s determination shows that learning has no age limit.
(iii) Complete the following with a suitable reason.
The narrator laughs at her grandmother’s decision to learn the alphabet at the age of sixty-two because----------.
Answer:
The narrator thinks that sixty-two is too old an age to begin learning and assumes that old age is a barrier.
(iv) List any two qualities displayed by the grandmother.
Answer:
Determination
Self-respect
(v) How can we say that the narrator is making assumptions about her grandmother?
Answer:
The narrator judges her grandmother by her age, grey hair, wrinkled hands, and spectacles, and assumes that she cannot learn at that age.
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ( NCERT TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS)
Q .1- Why did the grandmother feel embarrassed to ask someone else to read to her while the narrator was away?
Answer - Grandmother felt embarrassed to ask someone else to read to her because she was shy in nature, old and illiterate, and asking someone else to read for her would have made her feel dependent and helpless. She trusted the narrator and felt comfortable with her.
Q. 2 -Why does the narrator initially laugh at her grandmother’s determination to learn at the age of sixty-two?
Answer - The narrator initially laughs at her grandmother’s determination to learn at the age of sixty-two because she could not imagine that someone of her age, with grey hair, wrinkled hands and with household responsibilities, could start learning the alphabet. She thinks learning at that age is unusual and difficult.
Q. 3 -What significance does the story Kashi Yatre have in the grandmother’s life and in the story?
Answer - The story of Kashi Yatre is significant because it Inspired the grandmother and reflected her own feelings. Like the old lady in the novel, she had desires, she could not fulfil and understood the value of selflessness. It also Motivated her to become independent and learn to read for herself.
Answer - The grandmother’s desire to learn the Kannada alphabet reflects her determination, love for knowledge, self-respect, courage, and desire for independence. Despite her age her age and paste lack of education she wanted to empower and literate herself.
Q - 5 What lessons can be infer from the grandmother’s action of touching the narrator’s feet?
Answer- From the grandmother's action of touching the narrator’s feet, We learn that a teacher deserves respect regardless of age, and that humility and gratitude are noble qualities.It shows humility, gratitude and that age or gender does not limit the respect. One can give to someone who teaches with love and dedication.
Q -6 What does the following line tell us about the broader theme of the story?
“For a good cause, if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle.”
Answer - The line ' For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle ' expresses the central theme of the story. Strong determination, perseverance and the desire to achieve something meaningful can help a person overcome age, challenges and social limitations. It shows that obstacles like age, lake of education or social expectations can be overcome with strong willpower and commitment.
Q .7 How effectively does the story highlight the value of education in supporting personal independence?
Answer- The story effectively highlights tha value of this education in supporting personal independence through the grandmother’s journey.
Because she could not read, she felt dependent and helpless, despite having wealth.
Learning to read and write gave her confidence and Ability to enjoy knowledge on her own, showing how education empower individuals and Transforms their lives.
👉 COMPETENCY BASED QUESTIONS
In the context of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), competency-based questions are questions that test a student’s understanding, application, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills instead of only memorizing answers from the textbook.
These questions check whether students can use their knowledge in real-life situations.
Q-1. Explain how the grandmother’s determination helped her become independent.
Answer -1 The grandmother was deeply fond of listening to the serial story Kashi Yatre. When the narrator went to a wedding, the grandmother could not read the story by herself and felt helpless. This incident made her realize the importance of education. Although she was sixty-two years old, she firmly decided to learn reading and writing. She practiced regularly with great dedication and discipline. Her determination helped her overcome age barriers and become independent. Finally, she was able to read the novel on her own, which filled her with confidence and happiness. Her journey proves that strong determination can help a person achieve success at any stage of life.
Q-2. “Education gives freedom and confidence.” Justify this statement with reference to the story.
Answer:
Answer -2 The story clearly shows that education brings freedom and self-confidence. The grandmother was totly depended on her granddaughter to read the weekly story to her. When once her granddaughter went to attend merrage and the grandmother could not read the story herself, she thought helpless. When nobody was available to help her, she felt weak and dependent. This experience encouraged her to become literate. She worked hard every day under the guidance of her granddaughter and successfully learned to read. After becoming literate, she could read books and newspapers independently. This gave her confidence and self-respect. The story teaches us that education removes helplessness and empowers people to live with dignity and independence.
Q. 3 What important values do you learn from “How I Taught My Grandmother to Read”?
Answer - The story teaches many valuable lessons. First, it teaches that there is no age limit for learning. The grandmother’s efforts prove that determination and hard work can help anyone succeed. Second, the story highlights the importance of education in making people independent and confident. Third, it teaches the value of respect for teachers. Even though the narrator was young, the grandmother respected her as a teacher. Finally, the story promotes family bonding, love, patience, and encouragement. These values inspire readers to continue learning and help others grow.
LETTER WRITING
1. Imagine you are the narrator. Write a letter to your friend describing how you taught your grandmother to read.
Answer
45, Jayanagar
Bengaluru
14 May 2026
Dear Riya,
I hope you are doing well. I want to share a wonderful experience with you. My grandmother was very fond of listening to the story Kashi Yatre. One day, when I had gone out of town, she could not read the weekly episode by herself. She felt sad and helpless because she was illiterate.
That incident inspired her to learn reading and writing. She requested me to become her teacher. Every day, I taught her the Kannada alphabet, words, and simple sentences. She practiced sincerely and worked very hard.
Within a few months, she learned to read independently. On the day of Saraswati Puja, she read a novel by herself and became very emotional. She even touched my feet as a mark of respect for her teacher. I felt proud and happy to help her.
This experience taught me that learning has no age limit.
Yours lovingly,
Anshu
DIARY ENTRY
1. Imagine you are the grandmother. Write a diary entry expressing your feelings after learning to read.
Answer:
Thursday, 14th May, 2026. 9:30 pm
Dear Diary,
Today is one of the happiest days of my life. I finally read a book on my own without anyone’s help. A few months ago, I felt very helpless because I could not read my favourite story when my granddaughter was away.
That day, I decided to become literate. Though I am sixty-two years old, I worked hard every day. My granddaughter taught me patiently with great love and care.
Today, during Saraswati Puja, I read a novel independently. Tears of joy filled my eyes. I feel confident, independent, and proud of myself.
I have understood that learning has no age limit.
Grandmother
2. Imagine you are the narrator. Write a diary entry about the day your grandmother touched your feet.
Answer:
Thursday, 14th May, 2026. Time
Dear Diary,
Today was a memorable day for me. My grandmother successfully read a novel independently after months of hard work and practice. I felt extremely proud of her determination and dedication.
During Saraswati Puja, she touched my feet as a mark of respect because I was her teacher. I was surprised and emotional because elders are usually respected by younger people. However, she explained that a teacher should always be respected regardless of age.
This incident taught me the true value of education, respect, and determination.
I will always remember this special day.
VOCABULARY AND STRUCTURES IN CONTEXT ✍️
1 - The expression ' hide and seek ' is used in the text. This is called a binomials.
Binomials are expressions consisting of two words, usually linked by a conjunction like ' and' or ' or' that are commonly used together in a fixed order.
For example - Odds and ends, right or wrong.
Answer -
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
| 1. sink or swim | (vii) succeed or fail without help |
| 2. on and off | (v) sometimes, occasionally |
| 3. mix and match | (i) put different things together to get a range of possibilities |
| 4. all or nothing | (viii) something to be done completely or not at all |
| 5. part and parcel | (ii) complete part of or belonging to |
| 6. pick and choose | (iii) choose only the best (things, people, etc.) |
| 7. sooner or later | (iv) at some time in the future |
| 8. leaps and bounds | (vi) increase or develop very quickly |
Binomials Used in Sentences are as follows:
1-When she started living alone, it was a sink or swim situation for her.
2- He attends his music classes on and off due to his busy schedule.
3- You can mix and match these clothes to create different outfits.
4- Learning from mistakes is part and parcel of growing up.
5 -The child’s reading skills improved by leaps and bounds after regular practice.
2 . Read the following words from the text given in the box below.
Unhappy, Unusual, Unfortunately, Irrespective, Independent
These words are made by adding suitable ( un, ir, and in) to give an opposite or negative meaning to the word.
COLUMN 1. COLUMN 2
1. popular. Unpopular
2. belief disbelief
3. important unimportant
4. respect. Disrespect
5. correct incorrect
6. continue discontinue
7. understand. Misunderstand
8. ordinary. Extraordinary
9. interesting uninteresting
10. possible. Impossible
3- Identity any five wordswith Prefixes from the story and make sentence using each.
Answer:
- Unhappy-She felt unhappy when she realised she could not complete the task on her own.
- Unusual-It is unusual to see such kindness in a competitive world.
- Unfortunately- Unfortunately, the plan had to be cancelled due to bad weather.
- Independent-Becoming independent helped her make confident decisions.
- Irrespective-Everyone deserves equal respect irrespective of their status in society.
4- In the sentence, " I knew, then, that my student had passed with flying colors ", the phrase " passed with flying colors " is an idioms. It means outstanding performance.
Now match these idioms related to ' learning given in Column 1 with their meanings in Column 2.
| Column 1 | Column 2 |
| 1. to hit the books | (iii) to study seriously |
| 2. to draw a blank | (v) to be unable to remember |
| 3. to learn the ropes | (vi) to understand how to do an activity |
| 4. to rack one’s brain | (ii) to think very hard |
| 5. to learn by heart | (i) to memorise something |
| 6. burn the midnight oil | (iv) to study or work late into the night |
Idioms used in Sentences are as follows:
- I need to hit the books before my exams begin.
- I drew a blank when the teacher asked me the answer.
- It took me a week to learn the ropes at my new job.I racked my brain to solve the difficult maths problem.
- I racked my brain to solve the difficult maths problem.
- She learnt the poem by heart for the competition.
- He burnt the midnight oil to complete his project.
GRAMMAR EXERCISE - Page -16
1- Fill in the blanks with simple past and past perfect tense form of the verbs given in brackets.
A. When the delegates _________ (arrive) at the conference, the keynote speaker _________ (already begin) the session.
B. After the students _________ (learn) how to identify fake news online, they _________ (start) verifying information before sharing it.
C. Before Kiran _________ (start) using digital payment platforms, she _________ (ensure) her understanding of online fraud prevention.
D. By the time Varun _________ (recognise) the importance of budgeting, he _________ (exhaust) most of his savings.
E. When Raghu _________ (log in) to the cybersecurity webinar, the instructor _________ (already discuss) the importance of strong passwords.
Answer:
A. arrived, had already begun
B. had learnt, started
C. started, had ensured
D. recognised, had exhausted
E. logged in, had already discussed
2- Fill in the blanks with the correct form of verbs given in brackets.
Last year my parents and I A. _________ (take) a financial planning course. When we B. _________ (review) our expenses, we realised we C. _________ (spend) too much on unnecessary purchases. After my parents D. _________ (discuss) ways to save, I E. _________ (open) a savings account. By the time we F. _________ (set) our budget, the course G. _________ (already introduce) investment strategies. We H. _________ (hurry) to take notes, but many participants I. _________ (complete) their financial plAnswer: Despite that, we J. _________ (enjoy) learning how to manage money wisely.
Last year my parents and I A. _________ (take) a financial planning course. When we B. _________ (review) our expenses, we realised we C. _________ (spend) too much on unnecessary purchases. After my parents D. _________ (discuss) ways to save, I E. _________ (open) a savings account. By the time we F. _________ (set) our budget, the course G. _________ (already introduce) investment strategies. We H. _________ (hurry) to take notes, but many participants I. _________ (complete) their financial plAnswer: Despite that, we J. _________ (enjoy) learning how to manage money wisely.
Answer:
A. took
B. reviewed
C. had spent
D. had discussed
E. opened
F. set
G. had already introduced
H. hurried
I. had completed
J. enjoyed
🤔 ACTIVITIES - Individual
Ask each student to read a small paragraph from the lesson “How I Taught My Grandmother to Read” aloud in the class with proper pronunciation and expression. After reading, ask students to prepare a short speech on ' Importance of Education '.
Objective:
To improve reading skills, pronunciation, and confidence.
To develop understanding of the lesson and speaking ability.
Group Activity
Role Play on the Lesson
Divide the class into small groups. Ask students to perform a short role play based on the lesson. One student can act as Sudha Murty, another as the grandmother. Students should present the scene where the grandmother learns to read and finally reads the story herself.
Objective:
To develop teamwork and communication skills.
To help students understand the emotions, values, and message of the lesson in an interesting way.
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