NCERT solutions for Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 4: Vitamin-M. Exam-ready answers to comprehension, critical reflection and vocabulary questions. All 18 questions are answered, with the key answer highlighted.
Grandpa is portrayed as a person with failing memory in the beginning of the story. Give two evidences to disprove the statement.
Solution
He remembers thousands of chess games (Karpov's opening, Fischer vs Spassky); he remembers his own birthday and his tradition of giving gifts that day, which his daughter forgot. (Also: he found his way home alone.)
He remembers thousands of chess games (Karpov's opening, Fischer vs Spassky); he remembers his own birthday and his tradition of giving gifts that day, which his daughter forgot.
Why was Ravi worried about what Grandfather had at the tea stall?
Solution
Sugar and bananas (and ice cream) were forbidden at home for health reasons; Ravi feared they could harm him and that his mother "would faint" if she knew.
Do you think it was easy for Ravi to follow his Grandfather? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Solution
No. He was shooed in the park and had to crawl out on all fours, was surrounded by vendors at the tea stall, was thrown out of a ladies' salon, had to sprint to catch a bus, and was finally fooled by a stranger wearing Grandpa's cap.
'Ravi is a good detective'. Give one argument in favour of and against the given statement.
Solution
For: he is persistent and determined, trailing Grandpa through the park, tea stall, traffic and onto a bus. Against: he is noticed, scolded and thrown out wherever he hides, and is fooled by the cap, losing his "suspect".
For: he is persistent and determined, trailing Grandpa through the park, tea stall, traffic and onto a bus.
Was Grandfather aware that Ravi was following him? How do you know?
Solution
Yes. He gave his yellow cap to a stranger (a perfect decoy), told Ravi's mother that Ravi "just disappeared", gifted him "The Best Detective Stories" with tips on not getting fooled while trailing a suspect, and had a twinkle in his eye.
Ravi's mother. She worried about her father's memory, yet forgot his birthday, though she had circled it in red on the calendar. Busy people, not just the old, can be forgetful.
Ravi's mother. She worried about her father's memory, yet forgot his birthday, though she had circled it in red on the calendar.
Some people believe society shows bias based on age (being young or old). Give an example where you might have experienced or observed such discrimination, when opinions were disregarded because of age.
Solution
At a family meeting about buying a phone, my opinion was ignored because "children don't understand money", though I had compared the models carefully. Similarly, my grandmother's suggestions about cooking are often dismissed as "old-fashioned". Both young and old deserve to be heard on merit.
At a family meeting about buying a phone, my opinion was ignored because "children don't understand money", though I had compared the models carefully.
Why did Grandpa dislike living in the city with his daughter?
Solution
Grandpa hated the noise and bustle of city life and longed for his small, quiet brick house in town with its big mango tree, where "you can even hear a leaf fall". In the city he lived in a poky flat and was not allowed to go out alone, so he felt like a prisoner , treated like a child.
He hated the noise and bustle of the city and missed his quiet brick house; he felt like a prisoner, not allowed out alone.
Why did Vidya not want her father to go out alone?
Solution
Vidya (Ravi's mother) believed her father's memory was failing : he had once taken a double dose of medicine, got lost, and had fallen in his garden and lain outside all night. She feared he might get lost or be hurt in the busy city.
She feared that his memory was failing and he might get lost or hurt.
Was Ravi in favour of his mother treating Grandpa like a child? How can you say so?
Solution
No. Ravi winced when his mother spoke to Grandpa as if he were a child. He respected Grandpa's pride, and later followed him secretly instead of insisting on going with him, so as not to hurt his feelings.
No; he winced at her tone and protected Grandpa's dignity.
Would Ravi be able to keep up his promise to his mother?
Solution
Ravi had promised to look after Grandpa and not let him go out alone. He could not fully keep it : Grandpa insisted on going out by himself. Ravi tried to keep the spirit of his promise by following him secretly to keep him safe, but he lost track of him.
Not fully: Grandpa went out alone, so Ravi had to follow him secretly.
No. Grandpa knew exactly what he was doing. He visited the park, the tea stall and the barber shop, cleverly gave his cap to a stranger to shake off Ravi, and returned home by himself, where Ravi found him snoring peacefully.
No; he went where he wished and came home safely by himself.
Ravi would feel great delight and relief , after being frantic with worry. He knelt by the bed and put his cheek against Grandpa's face, showing his love.
Do you think Ravi's mother will get to know about what had happened?
Solution
Probably not fully . Grandpa told her coolly that he had a quiet morning and that Ravi "just disappeared", hiding his own outing. Ravi, confused and embarrassed, was unlikely to reveal everything either.
Probably not fully; Grandpa only says Ravi "disappeared", keeping his own outing secret.
Describe how Ravi's emotional reaction upon finding Grandpa safe at home reveals his feelings towards his grandfather.
Solution
On hearing Grandpa snoring, Ravi felt great delight and relief . He knelt by the bed and put his cheek against the old man's wrinkled face. This shows his deep love, concern and protectiveness towards his grandfather.
His delight, relief and tender gesture show deep love and concern.
What might be the significance of Grandpa's habit of giving gifts to everyone on his birthday rather than receiving them?
Solution
It shows that Grandpa is generous and finds joy in giving rather than receiving . It also proves that he remembers his traditions well, while his daughter, who worried about his memory, forgot his birthday.
It shows his generosity and love of giving, and that his memory and traditions are intact.
Why do you think Grandpa gave Ravi a detective story book as a gift? What might this suggest about Grandpa's awareness of Ravi's actions earlier in the day?
Solution
Grandpa was gently teasing Ravi. His remark about tips on "how to avoid getting fooled when one is trailing a suspect" suggests that he knew Ravi had followed him and had fooled him with the cap.
He was teasing Ravi: it shows he knew Ravi had trailed him and been fooled.
