The NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 6 – “My Childhood” provides thorough explanations and answers to all the questions in the chapter. This autobiographical account by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam reflects on his early years, highlighting the influence of family, friends, and teachers in shaping his character and values. The chapter touches on themes of communal harmony, humility, and hard work. These solutions help students understand the significance of these formative experiences in Dr. Kalam’s life, enhancing their comprehension and analytical skills. Prepared in line with the latest NCERT guidelines, the solutions are perfect for exam preparation.
Here Are The NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 6 – My Childhood
Thinking about the Text
I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each.
1: Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?
Answer: Abdul Kalam’s house was in Rameswaram on Mosque Street.
2. What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer.
Answer: Kalam traced the stories of the war. The name of the newspaper was Dinamani.
3. Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?
Answer: Abdul Kalam had few friends. Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Shivaprakasan were his close friends. Ramanadha became a priest, Aravindan became a transport businessman and Shivprakasan had a catering contract with Southern Railways.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 6 – My Childhood
4. How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?
Answer: Newspapers were thrown out in bundles out of a moving train during the second world war. Abdul made the best use of this and earned his first wages by distributing these newspapers with his cousin.
5. Had he earned any money before that? In what way?
Answer: When there was a sudden surge for tamarind seeds in the market when the Second World War broke. Abdul Kalam and his cousin collected the seeds and sold them at a provision shop on Mosque Street. They earned one anna per day.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 6 – My Childhood
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).
1. How does the author describe:
(i) his father
Answer: Jainulabdeen was Abdul Kalam’s father. He was an honest and generous man but wasn’t wealthy or well educated. He lived like a simple man and avoided all luxuries.
(ii) his mother
Answer: Ashiamma believed in kindness and was a pillar to her husband. She believed in goodness and fed many people every day.
(iii) himself?
Answer: Kalam’s parents were grounded and provided him with a secure childhood. He, just like his parents, believed in profound kindness. Physically he was a short boy with undistinguished looks.
2. What characteristics does he say he inherited from his parents?
Answer: His parents were kind and generous individuals. He inherited self-discipline from his father and deep kindness and love for humanity from his mother.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 6 – My Childhood
III. Discuss these questions in class with your teacher and then write down your answers in two or three paragraphs each.
1.
“On the whole, the small society of Rameswaram was very rigid in terms of the segregation of different social groups,” says the author.
(i) Which social groups does he mention? Were these groups easily identifiable (for example, by the way, they dressed)?
Answer: Kalam mentions two religious groups- Brahmins and Muslims. By the way, these two sects dressed they were easily identifiable. The Muslims wore a cap while the Hindus wore a seared thread.
(ii) Were they aware only of their differences or did they also naturally share friendships and experiences? (Think of the bedtime stories in Kalam’s house; of who his friends were; and of what used to take place in the pond near his house.)
Answer: No, they weren’t just aware of their differences; they also organically shared connections and experiences.
Kalam’s mother and grandmother were liberal women who enjoyed stories from around the world. They would tell the youngsters stories from both the Ramayana and the prophet. They also used boats to transport idols from the temple to the marriage venue at Rama Tirtha. It was close to their home, and they liked the event regardless of religion.
(iii) The author speaks to both people who were very aware of the differences among them and those who tried to bridge these differences. Can you identify such people in the text?
Answer: The teacher who arrived to Kalam’s Rameswaram elementary school was aware of the religious differences between Hindus and Muslims. His wife used to serve in her ritually pulled kitchen, but she refused to serve Kalam since he was Muslim, and her orthodox thinking prevented her from doing so.
(iv) Narrate two incidents that show how differences can be created, and also how they can be resolved. How can people change their attitudes?
Answer: The first event demonstrating how distinctions might be made occurred when the new young teacher discovered a Muslim student sitting next to a Hindu student and requested Kalam to seat in the farthest row. His friend Ramanadha Sastry was heartbroken. Their parents were strongly opposed to this approach and summoned the teacher to express their displeasure.
People modified their behavior toward an individual when they saw their eating habits, water consumption, and other small actions, which differed between Hindus and Muslims.
His scientific instructor, Sivasubramania Iyer, was a very conservative and orthodox Brahmin, yet he sought to bridge the gap between them in every manner.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 6 – My Childhood
2.
(i) Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram?
Answer: Abdul Kalam wanted to study further. He wanted to study in Ramanathapuram and hence wanted to leave Rameswaram.
(ii) What did his father say to this?
Answer:Kalam’s father was very supportive of his decision to pursue his studies in another location. He stated that he was aware that he would need to depart in order to further his life. His mother refused to send him, but he quoted Khalil, saying, “Her children were not their own. They were the sons and daughters of Life’s desire for itself. They come via their parents, but not from them. They may give kids their affection, but not their thoughts because children have their own. He also used the comparison of a seagull and encouraged him to explore life further.
(iii) What do you think his words mean? Why do you think he spoke those words?
Ans: Abdul Kalam’s father encouraged him to venture outside his hometown and delve deeper into the essence of life. He not only encouraged him to go further but also persuaded his mother to let him leave and fly across alone. He should not be confined in his life due to parental affection and responsibilities to them. He wanted him to have his own life, too.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 6 – My Childhood
Thinking about Language
1. What are the things that can erupt? Use examples to explain the various meanings of erupt. Now do the same for the word surge. What things can surge?
Answer: A few things that can erupt are anger, volcano, tooth, rash, riots, unrest, etc. Erupt has several meanings. Their explanation, with examples, is given as follows:
(i) Start Unexpectedly
Example: Riots erupted in the city.
(ii) Start To Burn or Burst Into Flames
Example: The spark soon erupted into flames.
(iii) Become Active and Spew Forth Lava and Rocks
Example: The molten lava erupted out of the active volcano.
(iv) Forceful and Violent Release of Something Pent Up
Example: The difference in their views soon erupted in a fight.
(v) Sudden Appearance on the Skin
Example: On the day of the party, a pimple erupted on her face.
(vi) Break Out
Example: Eruption of the wisdom tooth gives a lot of pain.
Things that can surge are pride, anxiety, waves, boats, the army, etc. The several meanings it has can be explained with the following examples:
(i) Sudden Forceful Flow
Example: The boy drowned in the surging waves.
(ii) Rise and Move Forward
Example: The army surged towards their enemy.
(iii) Heave Upward Under the Influence of a Natural Force
Example: The boat surged in the high tide.
(iv) See One’s Performance and Improve
Example: Hard work helped to surge Sandra’s scores.
(v) A Sudden or Abrupt Strong Increase
Example: The surge in the stock market left people in shock.
(vi) Rise Rapidly
Example: As time passed, her tension surged.
2. What are the meanings of the word trace and which of the meanings is closest to the word in the text?
Answer: The following are the meanings of the word trace:
(i) Follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
(ii) Make a mark or lines on a surface
(iii) To go back over again
(iv) Pursue or chase relentlessly
(v) Find or discover through investigation
(vi) Make one’s course or travel along a path; travel or pass over, around, or along
(vii) Read with difficulty
The closest meaning of the word ‘trace’ in the text is ‘to find or discover through investigation’.
3. Can you find undistinguished in your dictionary? (If not, look for the word distinguished and say what undistinguished means.)
Ans. No, the word “undistinguished” does not appear in the dictionary. However, its meaning can be drawn from the definition of the word ‘distinguished’, which refers to a person’s’special or notable look or behavior. Thus, undistinguished represents a person’s average appearance or behaviour.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 6 – My Childhood
I.1. Match the phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B.
| A | B |
| (i) broke out | (a) an attitude of kindness, a readiness to give freely |
| (ii) in accordance with | (b) was not able to tolerate |
| (iii) a helping hand | (c) began suddenly in a violent way |
| (iv) could not stomach | (d) assistance |
| (v) generosity of spirit | (e) persons with the power to make decisions |
| (vi) figures of authority | (f) according to a particular rule, principle or system |
Answer:
| A | B |
| (i) broke out | (c) began suddenly in a violent way |
| (ii) in accordance with | (f) according to a particular rule, principle or system |
| (iii) a helping hand | (d) assistance |
| (iv) could not stomach | (b) was unable to tolerate |
| (v)generosity of spirit | (a) an attitude of kindness, a readiness to give freely |
| (vi) figures of authority | (e) persons with the power to make decision |
2. Study the words in italics in the sentences below. They are formed by prefixing un – or in – to their antonyms (words opposite in meaning).
I was a short boy with rather undistinguished looks. (un + distinguished)
My austere father used to avoid all inessential comforts.(in + essential)
The area was completely unaffected by the war.(un + affected)
He should not spread the poison of social inequality and communal intolerance. (in + equality, in + tolerance)
Now form the opposites of the words below by prefixing un– or in-. The prefix in- can also have the forms il-, ir-, or im– (for example illiterate –il + literate, impractical –im + practical, irrational – ir + rational). You may consult a dictionary if you wish.
_____adequate
Answer: Inadequate
_____acceptable
Answer: Unacceptable
_____regular
Answer: Irregular
_____tolerant
Answer: Intolerant
_____demanding
Answer: Undemanding
______active
Answer: Inactive
______true
Answer: Untrue
______permanent
Answer: Impermanent
______patriotic
Answer: Unpatriotic
______disputed
Answer: Undisputed
______accessible
Answer: Inaccessible
_______coherent
Answer: Incoherent
______logical
Answer: Illogical
_______legal
Answer: Illegal
_______responsible
Answer: Irresponsible
_______possible
Answer: Impossible
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 6 – My Childhood
IV. Rewrite the sentences below, changing the verbs in brackets into the passive form.
In yesterday’s competition the prizes (give away) by the Principal.
Answer: In yesterday’s competition the prizes were given away by the Principal.
In spite of financial difficulties, the labourers (pay) on time.
Answer: In spite of financial difficulties, the labourers were paid on time.
On Republic Day, vehicles (not allow) beyond this point.
Answer: On Republic Day, vehicles are not allowed beyond this point.
Second-hand books (buy and sell) on the pavement every Saturday.
Answer: Second-hand books are bought and sold on the pavement every Saturday.
Elections to the Lok Sabha (hold) every five years.
Answer: Elections to the Lok Sabha are held every five years.
Our National Anthem (compose) Rabindranath Tagore.
Answer: Our National Anthem was composed by Rabindranath Tagore.
V. Rewrite the paragraphs below, using the correct form of the verb given in brackets.
How Helmets Came To Be Used in Cricket
1. Nari Contractor was the Captain and an opening batsman for India in the 1960s. The Indian cricket team went on a tour to the West Indies in 1962. In a match against Barbados in Bridgetown, Nari Contractor (seriously injured and collapsed). In those days helmets (not wear). Contractor (hit) on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith.
Contractor’s skull (fracture). The entire team (deeply concern). The West Indies players (worry). Contractor (rush) to hospital. He (accompany) by Frank Worrell, the Captain of the West Indies Team. Blood (donated) by the West Indies players. Thanks to the timely help, Contractor (save). Nowadays helmets (are routinely used) against bowlers.
Answer: In the 1960s, Nari Contractor captained India and played as an opening batsman. In 1962, the Indian cricket team toured the West Indies. Nari Contractor suffered serious injuries and collapsed during a match versus Barbados in Bridgetown. Helmets were not commonly worn back then. The contractor was struck in the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith. The contractor’s skull was shattered. The entire team was really anxious. The West Indies players were concerned. The contractor was brought to the hospital. He was accompanied by the West Indies team’s captain, Frank Worrell. The West Indies players donated blood. The Contractor was rescued because of the fast assistance provided. Nowadays, helmets are commonly employed against bowlers.
2. Oil from Seeds
Vegetable oils (made) from seeds and fruits of many plants growing all over the world, from tiny sesame seeds to big, juicy coconuts. Oil (produce) from cotton seeds, groundnuts, soya beans, and sunflower seeds. Olive oil (use) for cooking, salad dressing, etc. Olives (shake) from the trees and (gather) up, usually by hand. The olives (ground) to a thick paste which is spread onto special mats. Then the mats (layer) upon the pressing machine which will gently squeezed to produce olive oil.
Answer: Vegetable oils are derived from the seeds and fruits of many plants grown all over the world, ranging from small sesame seeds to large, luscious coconuts. Cotton, peanut, soybean, and sunflower seeds are all used to make oil. Olive oil is used in a variety of applications, including cooking and dressing. Olives are shook from the trees and collected, usually by hand. The olives are pounded to a thick paste and spread on special mats. The mats are then layered on the pressing machine, which gently squeezes them to extract olive oil.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 6 – My Childhood
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CHAPTER 2 – The Sound of Music
CHAPTER 4 – A Truly Beautiful Mind
CHAPTER 5 – The Snake and The Mirror