The Fun They Had Flashcards
How old are Margie and Tommy?
Margie is eleven and Tommy is thirteen years old.
What did Margie write in her diary?
Margie wrote in her diary. “Today, 17 May, 2157, Tommy found a real book.”
Had Margie ever seen a book before?
No, Margie had never seen a book before.
What things about the book did she find strange?
The book had yellow and wrinkled pages.The words of the book were still. They did not move as the words move on the computer screen. She found these things strange.
What do you think a telebook is?
A telebook is displayed on the television screen and the text of a telebook is similar to a book.
Where was Margie’s school? Did she have any classmates?
Margie’s school was near her own bedroom. She did not have any classmates.
What subjects did Margie and Tommy learn?
Margie learnt Geography and Mathematics. Tommy learnt History and Mathematics.
“I wouldn’t throw it away.”
Who says these words?
What does ‘it’ refer to?
What is it being compared with by the speaker?
Margie says these words.
It refers to that real book that Tommy found.
The speaker compares it with a telebook.
“ Sure, they had a teacher, but it wasn’t a regular teacher. It was a man.”
Who does ‘they’ refer to?
What does ‘regular’ mean here?
What is it contrasted with?
‘They’ refer to the people of the old times.
Here, regular refers to the mechanical teacher then they had.
It is contrasted with a normal teacher of earlier times, who was a living human being.
What kind of teachers did Margie and Tommy have?
Margie and Tommy had mechanical teachers. They were taught on computers and television screens. They didn’t have a living person as a teacher who would teach the pupils in a classroom.
Why did Margie’s mother send for the County Inspector?
Margie’s mother sent for the County Inspector because the mechanical teacher was not functioning efficiently. It had been giving her test after test in geography and she had been doing worse and worse.
What did he do?
He slowed down the mechanical teacher’s speed upto an average ten-year level. The mechanical teacher’s speed was controlled and adjusted according to the IQ level of Margie.
Why was Margie doing badly in geography? What did the County Inspector do to help her?
Margie had been doing badly in geography. This was because the mechanical teacher was very fast in displaying the questionnaire. The County Inspector adjusted its speed upto an average ten-year level. Thus, the mechanical teacher’s speed was controlled appropriately. The County Inspector assured that the overall pattern of Margie’s progress was quite satisfactory.
What had once happened to Tommy’s teacher?
Tommy’s teacher was taken away for nearly a month because the history sector had blanked out completely. So, Tommy had nothing to do during that period. He only relaxed and enjoyed.
Did Margie have regular days and hours for school? If so, why?
Yes, Margie had regular days and hours for school because her mother said little girls learned better if they learned at regular hours.
