The document discusses Isaac Asimov's science fiction story 'The Fun They Had,' set in a future where education involves mechanical teachers and virtual classrooms. It contrasts the old education system with the automated, impersonal schooling that characters Margie and Tommy experience. Ultimately, the story reflects on the social aspects of traditional schools, highlighting the fun and camaraderie that technology has diminished.

1. BEEHIVE ENGLISH LITERATURE BOOK
STD IX
LESSON-1
THE FUN THEY HAD
WRITTEN BY ISAAC ASIMOV
DAV PUBLIC SCHOOL, BERHAMPUR

2. ISAAC ASIMOV
• Isaac asimov c. January 2, 1920[a] – April 6,
1992) was an american writer and professor
of biochemistry at boston university. He was
known for his works of science
fiction and popular science. Asimov was
a prolific writer who wrote or edited more than
500 books and an estimated 90,000 letters
and postcards.[D] his books have been published
in 9 of the 10 major categories of the Dewey
decimal classification.[1]
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

3. THE FUN THEY HAD
• "The fun they had" is a science fiction story by American
writer Isaac Asimov. It first appeared in a children's newspaper in
1951 and was reprinted in the February 1954 issue of The Magazine
of Fantasy and Science Fiction. It has been modified in a finish
English book called KEY English 8-9. It delves into the difference
in the education systems of the olden days and the virtual form of
education with the use of mechanical teacher . Isaac Asimov is
expressing his vision of the future of technology .

4. The story we shall look to is set in the future visualized by Isaac Asimov in 1951. By
2020, we are partially set in the kind of schools thought by him. Many number of
schools presently have a lot of access to virtual reality and virtual classroom.
Computerized mechanism and internet has become a necessary reality for the
present education system in schools and for students with usage of robotics.
MECHANICAL TEACHER VIRTUAL CLASSES SOPHIA HUMANOID/ROBOT

5. THE FUN THEY HAD
CHAPTER SKETCH
• The story ‘The Fun They Had’ depicts schools of future
with virtual reality and virtual classrooms.
• The writer , Sir Isaac Asimov tries to take us to the
world of future where computers play a major role.
• Classrooms and the schools would be automated with
robotic or mechanical teachers.
• The story depicts two students, ‘Tommy’ aged thirteen
and ‘Margie’ aged eleven living in future that is in may –
2157.
• Tommy gets a real printed old book from the attic in his
house which is about the schools of the past.
• Both the children in the lesson are seen comparing and
contrasting between their school and the schools referred
in the book.
• By the end the children feel happy and show their
interest to be a part of the old kind of school.
ABOUT THE CHARACTERS
MARGIE – A girl of eleven years
TOMMY – A boy of thirteen years who
lives close to Margie
MARGIE’S MOTHER – Disciplined
person
COUNTY INSPECTOR – A round little
man who comes to repair the mechanical
teacher of margie

6. Before we peep in to understand the story let’s question ourselves
1. Three things that you like about your school. Options are as follows :
a. Teachers
b. School mates
c. Playground
d. Activities
e. Infrastructure
f. Any other
2. Three things about your school that you would like to change. (The choice
is yours)
3. Would you like a real book or telebook?

7. Paragraph 1 – Margie aged thirteen years makes a diary entry on 21st
May -2157that Tommy found a real book. The book was very old. She
remembers her grandfather once telling that when he was a little boy his
grandfather had referred to a time when stories were printed on paper.
Margie and Tommy closely watched the book and found that it was old
and pages were yellow and crinkly. It was a surprise to them to read
words that stood still and the words being the same when they went to
the previous page.
1. Gee – a mild expression,
typically of surprise,
enthusiasm, or sympathy
2. Attic – a space or room
inside or partly inside the
roof of a building
3. You’re through with-
Paragraph 2 – Both Tommy and Margie are in discussion. Tommy
called the book a waste as it could be thrown off once it is read. In
contrast he was happy with millions of telebooks in his television screen
and he wouldn’t throw it. Margie also was equally happy with her
mechanical teacher with many telebooks. Margie wanted to know where
had Tommy got the book and what was it about. To this Tommy
answered that he found it in his house in the attic and it was about
school.
1. Crinkly – with many folds
or lines
2. Awfully funny – rather
humorous
3. Still – no movement
EXPLANATIONS MEANINGS

8. Paragraph 3 – Margie hated her school and her mechanical
teacher. Lately, she hated it more because her teacher was
giving her lots of tests in geography wherein she was doing
worse and worse and for which her mother also scolded her
and called for the county inspector.
Paragraph 4 – County inspector came with a whole box of
tools with dials and wires. He smiled at Margie, gave her an
apple and took the mechanical teacher apart to repair. Margie
did not want it to be repaired. Her wish was not fulfilled as
he was good at it and repaired in an hour. She hated the
teacher so she called it large, black and ugly. The teacher had
a big screen where all the lessons were shown, of which
again questions were asked. This part was not bad for
Margie. She hated the slot where she had to put homework
and test papers in a punch code system. She learnt it at the
age of six years. The teacher also calculated marks in no
time.
1. Slot – a given space, time or
position
2. Punch code – method of giving
answers by punching holes
3. Put it together - assemble
1. Scornful–contemptuous; irritated
2. Sorrowfully – with utmost disgust
3. Sent for - called
EXPLANATIONS MEANINGS

9. 1. Loftily – in a superior way
2. Superior eyes – eyes showing
the feeling of being better
Paragraph 5 – The county inspector smiled and patted Margie’s
head after completed. He explained to Margie’s mother, Mrs. Jones
that Margie was not at all at fault as the geography sector of her
teacher geared too fast which was above her level of understanding
and he assured her mother that he lowered it’s speed to an average
ten year level. He patted her head again and told her that her
performance was satisfactory. Further Margie wanted her teacher to
be taken back altogether Tommy’s teacher was taken away for a
month as the history sector blanked out totally. She did not like
school so she wondered why would anyone write about school.
Paragraph 6 – Tommy called her stupid and explained her that it
was not their kind of school but the old kind which existed centuries
ago. She was hurt and while she was trying to read the book over
his shoulder expressed that they must have had a teacher. Tommy
answered that they did not have a regular teacher but a man who
told the boys and girls things and gave them homework and asked
them questions to which Margie was surprised.
1. Geared (to) – adjusted to a
particular standard or level
2. Blanked out completely – erased
or deleted
EXPLANATIONS MEANINGS

10. Paragraph 7 – Margie did not approve of a man being smart
enough to be a teacher to which Tommy contradicted and
betted. He had put his father as an example of being
knowledgeable. Margie did not dispute and was not able to
accept a strange man in her house to teach her. To this Tommy
laughed and explained that the school was a special building
and all kids of the same age went there, learnt the same thing
and teachers did not live in the house.
1. Half finished-partly completed
2. To be adjusted-to manage, to
understand
Paragraph 8 – Margie disputed this by saying that her
mother was of the idea that a teacher should be adjusted to fit
the mind of every boy and girl and that each child should be
taught differently. Tommy became angry and told her not to
read the book if she didn’t accept. She tried to please him that
she wanted to know about these funny schools. Meanwhile
Margie’s mother called Margie as it was time for school and
for Tommy also. Margie requested Tommy about reading the
book after school.
1. Betcha – informal conversation for -
bet you
2. Dispute – disagree
EXPLANATIONS MEANINGS

11. 1. Sigh – unwillingness
2. Flashing – shining in a bright but
brief, sudden way
Paragraph 10 – Margie was not interested in the lesson and
sighed. She was thinking of the old kind of school where all
kids from the whole neighbourhood came laughing and
shouting in the schoolyard, sitting together in the school.
They learned the same thing so that they could help each
other in doing homework. They also went home together at
the end of the day. The teachers were people. When the
mechanical teacher of Margie was flashing information about
fractions she was thinking about the fun the kids of the old
school had .
Paragraph 9 – Tommy did not show much interest in her
request and walked away whistling and tucked the dusty old
book beneath his arms. Margie went to her schoolroom which
was right next to her bedroom where her mechanical teacher
was on and waiting for her. It was always on at the same time
everyday . Her mother had the opinion that little girls learned
better regularly. Saturday and Sunday were holidays from
school. The screen was on with arithmetic lesson on additions
of proper fraction.
1. Nonchalantly –not showing much
interest or enthusiasm
2. Tucked – kept safely
3. Lit up - lighted
EXPLANATIONS MEANINGS

12. I. Answer in few words or in couple of sentences (Answers to the questions given in the NCERT book – BEEHIVE)
1. How old are Margie and Tommy ?
Ans. Margie is eleven and Tommy is thirteen years old.
2. What did Margie write in her diary ?
Ans. Margie wrote a diary entry,” Today Tommy found a real book !”
3. Had Margie ever seen a book before ?
Ans. No, Margie had never seen a book before.
4. What things about the book did she find strange ?
Ans. The pages of the book were yellow and crinkly and it was more funny that the words were still and did not move
and the words were same.
5. What do you think a telebook is ?
Ans. A telebook is an E – book or virtual book whose text automatically moved in computer or mechanical teacher as
depicted in the lesson .It can be read on the screen.
6. Where was Margie’s school ? Did she have any classmates ?
Ans. Margie’s school room was next to her bedroom. No, she did not have any classmates
7. What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn ?
Ans. They learnt history, geography and mathematics in their school.

13. II. Extracts
1. “I wouldn’t throw it away. “
i. Who says these words ?
Ans. These words are said by Tommy.
ii. What does it refer to ?
Ans. It refers to the telebook .
iii. What is it being compared with by the speaker ?
Ans Telebook is being compared with the old book found by Tommy
2. “Sure they had a teacher, but it wasn’t a regular teacher, it was a man. “
i. Who does “they” refer to ?
Ans. “They” refers to the children of the old school.
ii. What does ‘regular’ mean here ?
Ans. ‘Regular’ here refers to regularity of the mechanical teachers of Margie and Tommy.
iii. What is it contrasted with ?
Ans. Man as a teacher of the old kind of school is contrasted with mechanical teacher.

14. III. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words)
1. What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have ?
Ans. Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers who taught them history, geography and mathematics. Their
mechanical teachers were always ready with a big screen, on which all the lessons were shown and questions
were asked of that lesson. A slot was provided in which they would submit their homework and test papers.
2. Why did Margie’s mother send for the county inspector ?
Ans .Margie was doing worse and worse in the geography tests, so Margie’s mother had sent for the county
inspector in order to check the mechanical teacher and performance of Margie.
3. What did he do ?
Ans. The county inspector took the mechanical teacher apart to repair it. He slowed the geography section to a ten
year level. Them he assembled the mechanical teacher back again.
4. Why was Margie doing badly in geography ? What did the county inspector do to help her ?
Ans. Margie was doing badly in geography because the level of geography geared a little too quick which was
above her level of understanding. The county inspector repaired the mechanical teacher and set the geography
section to an average ten year level .

15. 6. Did Margie have regular classes and hours for school ? If so, why ?
Ans. Yes, Margie certainly had regular classes and hours. She attended her classes everyday at the same
time except Saturday and Sunday. Her mother ensured this because little girls learned better in regular classes.
7. How does Tommy describe the old kind of school ?
Ans. Tommy said that the old schools existed centuries ago. The old school used paper books instead of
telebooks. There were being taught by a ‘man’. All students went to the same building where the teacher told the
students things ,gave them homework and asked them questions. The kids came laughing and shouting into the
schoolroom, sat together and helped each other in doing homework and went home together at the end of the day
.
8. How does Tommy describe the old kind of teachers ?
Ans. Tommy said that the old kind of teacher was a ‘man’. He taught at a special building to all the kids at the
same time. The man told the kids things, gave them homework and asked questions to see if the students
understood or not

16. 2. Why did Margie hate school ? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been fun ?
Ans. The school of Margie was right next to her bedroom. It wasn’t fun at all. She had no classmates and her
teacher was mechanical. Lately, she had started to hate her school more, as her mechanical teacher had been giving
her test after test in geography and she had been doing it badly. She hated it so much that she hoped that the county
inspector wouldn’t be able to put it back again. She was anticipating that her mechanical teacher would be taken
away like Tommy’s , but, as there was no such issue with her mechanical teacher, it was put in order very soon. She
thought that there must have been a lot of fun in the old schools because all the kids from the whole neighborhood
to calculate their marks. Every mechanical teacher was adjusted to the level of each student. The mechanical
teacher was in the house of the student and started flashing everyday at a certain time except Saturday and Sunday.
It never fell ill , never forgot to assign homework, never forgot to conduct tests and never forgot to ask questions
while teaching the students. Obviously, when there is no human teacher there then the chances of falling ill get
reduced because a mechanical teacher is not prone to any sickness except a few fits of mechanical disorder.
we will yield to it. In the same futuristic way, Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers for them. The
mechanical teacher was a computer screen on which lessons were shown, questions asked and tests given. The
students had to put answers to their tests and their homework in a slot. The mechanical teacher took almost no time
Ans. The given story is set in the frame of future when robotics and mechanics will play the most important role in
every domain be it education, commerce or science. In other words we can say that science can rule the world and
IV. Answer each of these questions in two or three paragraphs (100 to 150 words)
1. What are main features of the mechanical teachers and the schoolrooms that Margie and Tommy have in
the story ?

17. 3. Do you agree with Margie that schools today are so fun than the school given in the story ? Give
reasons for your answer.
Ans. I totally agree with Margie that schools today are so fun than the school in the story. In the story, Margie
was into homeschooling . Her teacher was mechanical and she had no classmates. One can imagine what a
boring and dull school she was having. Whenever we hear the word ’school’, images of children having fun
start running through our minds. This wasn’t the case with Margie. She could neither play with her friends in
the school playground, nor they could all come home together, nor she could think of helping other kids with
homework. Moreover, the mechanical teacher gave test after test even if one wasn’t performing well without
understanding the student’s level of understanding. While , the old kinds of school had human teachers to
teach the students. There used to be a special building where all the children of the neighborhood came. They
had their interactions. They befriend one another. It was a lot of fun to be among the students of the same age
group. So, the two different schools have a lot of differences and there used to be different things in the two
schools.
the students. He would be able to guide them as per their inclination and the choice which the mechanical
teacher lacks. Hence, she had the thought that the old kind of schools must have been fun.
came laughing and shouting in the schoolyard, sitting together in the school room and going home together at
the end of the day. They learned the same things ,so they could help one another in doing homework .Further
the teachers were humans. A human teacher must have the sentiments and emotions for the consideration of

18. I. Answer the following in 30 to 40 words:- (2 marks each)
1. Why was Margie scornful about school?
2. “Gee,” said Tommy “What a waste. What does he refer to as a waste and why?
3. Where and when has Tommy found a real book
4. Give the reason for which Margie’s mother shook her head sorrowfully.
5. What does regular teacher mean?
6. Where was Margie’s school?
7. What strange thing did Margie find about the book?
8. What’s the book about?
9. Why was Mrs. Jones of the opinion that girls have regular hours of study?
10. What does special building refer to?
I. Answer in brief (1 mark each)
1. Why was Tommy’s teacher taken away?
2. What did Tommy get from the attic?
3. What kind of teachers did the old school have?
4. How does the County Inspector look like?
EXTRA QUESTIONS OF ‘THE FUN THEY HAD’

19. Answer the following questions in about 100 to 150 words (8 Marks each)
1. A school of the present is always lively and evergreen. Do you agree? Elucidate your answer with
reference to the lesson.
2. Margie laments that children of the old school had lots of fun. Compare and contrast the old form of
schools and futuristic schools by citing examples from the lesson.
3. Margie is of the opinion that human teacher is not smart enough like the mechanical teacher. How did
Tommy clarify Margie’s doubt? Discuss.
4. Margie hated her school and the mechanical teacher. State the reasons for it and suggest ways to make it
lovable.
5. What kind of education is being received by Margie and Tommy? Evaluate it and write its pros and cons
in the present context.
7. Margie was bad in studies. Do you agree? Why/Why Not?
8. The Country Inspector has a major role in proving Margie’s performance in studies. How?
9. Mention Tommy’s description of the old kind of school.
10. Which kind of school as per Margie was a place of fun?
5. Why was Margie disappointed?
6. What was strange about the book which Tommy found?

20. Thank you
By V S SUNEETA