Comprehension Check – Page 5
❓ 1. How old are Margie and Tommy?
✅ Margie is 11 years old and Tommy is 13 years old.
❓ 2. What did Margie write in her diary?
✅ Margie wrote: “Today, 17 May 2157, Tommy found a real book!”
❓ 3. Had Margie ever seen a book before?
✅ No, Margie had never seen a printed book before.
❓ 4. What things about the book did she find strange?
✅ She found it odd that the pages were still and the words didn’t move like they do on a screen.
❓ 5. What do you think a telebook is?
✅ A telebook is a digital book that is read on a screen, not on paper.
❓ 6. Where was Margie’s school? Did she have any classmates?
✅ Margie’s school was a room in her house. She didn’t have classmates—she studied alone.
❓ 7. What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn?
✅ Margie studied Geography and Arithmetic, and Tommy studied History and Mathematics.
Comprehension Check – Page 7
❓ 1. What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have?
✅ They had mechanical teachers—robot-like machines with screens that taught them at home.
❓ 2. Why did Margie’s mother send for the County Inspector?
✅ Because Margie was doing poorly in Geography and her mother thought something was wrong with the mechanical teacher.
❓ 3. What did he do?
✅ The County Inspector checked the machine and reset its level to suit Margie’s age.
❓ 4. Why was Margie doing badly in geography? What did the County Inspector do to help her?
✅ The geography sector was too fast for her. The Inspector slowed it down to match her learning pace.
❓ 5. What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher?
✅ Once, Tommy’s mechanical teacher developed a fault and was taken away for a month.
❓ 6. Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why?
✅ Yes, she had fixed timings so that her learning was structured and consistent.
❓ 7. How does Tommy describe the old kind of school?
✅ Tommy says old schools were in buildings where kids studied together and were taught by human teachers.
❓ 8. How does he describe the old kind of teachers?
✅ He describes them as real people who taught students, asked questions, and gave homework.
Thinking About the Text – Page 10
❓ 1. What are the main features of the mechanical teachers and the schoolrooms that Margie and Tommy have in the story?
✅ The mechanical teachers were large screen-like devices that taught lessons and gave tests. They were installed in a room in the house, had slots for homework, and could adjust speed and content based on the child. Schoolrooms were just separate rooms in their own homes. Learning was individual, with no classmates or physical books.
❓ 2. Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun?
✅ Margie hated school because it was boring, lonely, and mechanical. She didn’t like the robot teacher, especially after struggling with Geography. She thought old schools were fun because children studied together, played, laughed, and were taught by real human beings who understood emotions.
❓ 3. Do you agree with Margie that schools today are more fun than the school in the story? Give reasons for your answer.
✅ Yes, today’s schools are definitely more fun. We study in groups, enjoy games, laugh with friends, and learn from real teachers who care for us. Unlike Margie’s isolated learning, our schools promote friendship, teamwork, and emotional growth.
📝 Grammar – Adverbs (Page 10)
Fill in the blanks with suitable adverbs (from the box):
(awfully, sorrowfully, completely, loftily, carefully, differently, quickly, nonchalantly)
- He inserted the book carefully into the slot.
- In no time, the answer was written nonchalantly.
- You behave differently when you’re with strangers.
- Margie shook her head sorrowfully.
- Tommy forgot the topic completely.
- “It’s nothing,” he said loftily.
- She was awfully busy today.
- He finished the test quickly.
📝 Grammar – If-Clauses (Page 11)
Complete the sentences using if not or unless:
- If I don’t go to Anu’s party, she’ll be angry.
- Unless you order food now, you’ll miss lunch.
- Unless you write back, I’ll keep waiting.
- If she doesn’t play outdoor games, she’ll become lazy.
- Unless the bird flies now, the cat will catch it.
📨 Writing – Letter (Page 11)
Write a letter to a friend describing a book you found interesting.
Here’s an example:
📍 1212, Sector 14, Gurugram
📍 10 June 2025
Dear Ria,
You won’t believe what I found—a book by Isaac Asimov! It’s about schools in the future with robot teachers. The story made me think about how lucky we are to have real teachers and classmates. You should definitely read it!
Warm wishes,
Chandan