Question Bank — How I Taught My Grandmother to Read

Section A — MCQs (10 questions, 1 mark each)

1. Who is the narrator of the story “How I Taught My Grandmother to Read”?
   A) Krishtakka
   B) Triveni
   C) Sudha Murty as a twelve-year-old girl
   D) The grandmother’s neighbour

2. Why did the grandmother identify strongly with the protagonist of Kashi Yatre?
   A) She had also visited Kashi
   B) She had never been to school and could not read
   C) She wanted to donate her savings
   D) She disliked the orphan girl in the story

3. Assertion (A): The grandmother decided to learn the Kannada alphabet at the age of sixty-two.
   Reason (R): She felt helpless and dependent when she could not read the magazine Karmaveera while the narrator was away.
   A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
   B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
   C) A is true but R is false.
   D) A is false but R is true.

4. What does the grandmother’s act of touching the narrator’s feet reveal?
   A) She was angry with the narrator
   B) She respected the narrator as her teacher
   C) She wanted to go to Kashi
   D) She was unhappy with the gift

5. Assertion (A): The grandmother set Saraswati Puja during Dassara as her deadline.
   Reason (R): She wanted to become independent by reading a novel on her own.
   A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
   B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
   C) A is true but R is false.
   D) A is false but R is true.

6. Which quality of the grandmother is highlighted when she says “For learning there is no age bar”?
   A) Laziness
   B) Determination
   C) Fear of society
   D) Indifference

7. Why did the grandmother feel embarrassed to ask someone in the village to read to her?
   A) She was too proud
   B) She felt dependent and helpless
   C) She did not like the story
   D) She could already read

8. The grandmother’s favourite serial in Karmaveera was:
   A) A story about a young orphan’s wedding
   B) Kashi Yatre by Triveni
   C) A story about Lord Vishweshwara
   D) A weekly magazine on cooking

9. What lesson does the story teach about education?
   A) Education is only for the young
   B) Education brings independence at any age
   C) Money is more important than learning
   D) Grandmothers should not study

10. In the poem “Bharat Our Land”, the poet repeatedly calls India “peerless”. What does this mean?
    A) India has many equals
    B) India is unique and without equal
    C) India is weak
    D) India is ordinary

Section B — Reference to Context (3 extracts, 4 marks each)

Extract 1

“When I came back to my village, I saw my grandmother in tears. I was surprised, for I had never seen her cry even in the most difficult situations.”

(i) Who is the speaker and what is the context?
(ii) Why was the grandmother in tears?
(iii) Identify the literary device used in “I had never seen her cry even in the most difficult situations”.
(iv) What does this incident reveal about the grandmother’s character?

Extract 2

“I have decided I want to learn the Kannada alphabet from tomorrow onwards… For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle.”

(i) Who is speaking and to whom?
(ii) What deadline did the speaker set for herself?
(iii) Name the figure of speech in “For learning there is no age bar”.
(iv) What does this statement tell us about the speaker’s attitude towards learning?

Extract 3 (from the poem)
“The mighty Himavant is ours—there’s no equal anywhere on earth.
The generous Ganga is ours—which other river can match her grace?”

(i) Name the poet and the poem.
(ii) What qualities of the Himavant and the Ganga are highlighted?
(iii) Identify the literary device used in the lines.
(iv) What feeling towards India does the poet express here?

Section C — Short Answer (5 questions, 3 marks each)

1. Why did the grandmother wait eagerly for the weekly magazine Karmaveera?
2. How did the grandmother react when the narrator returned after a week?
3. What difficulties did the grandmother face while learning to read? How did she overcome them?
4. Why did the grandmother touch the narrator’s feet on Saraswati Puja day?
5. In the poem “Bharat Our Land”, why does the poet say “she’s peerless, let’s praise her!”?

Section D — Long Answer (2 questions, 6 marks each)

1. “For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle.” How does the grandmother’s story prove this statement? (100–120 words)
2. Draw a character sketch of the grandmother, Krishtakka (Avva), highlighting her determination, self-respect, and love for learning. (100–120 words)

Section E — Language and Writing (2 questions, 4 marks each)

1. From the unit, make five words by adding suitable prefixes (un-, in-, dis-, ir-) to the following words: popular, belief, correct, possible, respect. Use any two of the new words in sentences of your own.

2. Imagine you are the narrator. After teaching your grandmother to read, you write a diary entry expressing your feelings about her achievement and the respect she showed you. Write the diary entry in 80–100 words.