UP Board Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 6 Solutions – My Childhood

Get our free solutions on UP Board Class 9 English Beehive chapter 6 here. This solution is prepared by the subject experts and covers the complete question answer of chapter 6 – “My Childhood”.

Chapter 6 of the UP Board Class 9 English Beehive book – “My Childhood,” is about the early life of APJ Abdul Kalam. He was a famous scientist who later became the President of India. The chapter tells us about Kalam’s childhood in a small town called Rameswaram. It shows how he grew up in a simple family and faced many challenges.

UP Board Class 9 English Beehive chapter 6

UP Board Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 6 Solutions

SubjectEnglish (Beehive)
Class9th
Chapter6. My Childhood
AuthorA. P. J. Abdul Kalam
BoardUP Board

Thinking about the Text

I. Answer these questions in one or two sentences each

1 . Where was Abdul Kalam’s house?

Ans. Abdul Kalam’s house was located on Mosque Street in Rameswaram, a town in Tamil Nadu, India.

2 . What do you think Dinamani is the name of? Give a reason for your answer.

Ans. Dinamani is likely the name of a local newspaper. This can be inferred because Kalam mentions reading headlines about the Second World War in Dinamani.

3 . Who were Abdul Kalam’s school friends? What did they later become?

Ans. Kalam’s school friends were Ramanadha Sastry, Aravindan, and Shivaprakasan. They later became a temple priest, a travel business owner, and a catering contractor respectively.

4 . How did Abdul Kalam earn his first wages?

Ans. Kalam earned his first wages by helping his cousin collect bundled newspapers thrown from moving trains during World War II, when train stops were cancelled at Rameswaram.

5 . Had he earned any money before that? In what way?

Ans. Before that, Kalam had earned money by collecting and selling tamarind seeds during World War II, when they were in high demand. He earned one anna a day from this work.

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words)

1 . How does the author describe: (i) his father, (ii) his mother, (iii) himself?

Ans.

(i) The author describes his father as an honest, wise, and generous man with little formal education or wealth. He was self-disciplined and avoided unnecessary luxuries.

(ii) Kalam portrays his mother as a supportive wife with a big heart, who regularly fed many people.

(iii) He describes himself as a short boy with ordinary looks, who inherited his parents’ qualities of honesty, self-discipline, and kindness.

2 . What characteristics does he say he inherited from his parents?

Ans. Kalam says he inherited honesty and self-discipline from his father, and faith in goodness and deep kindness from his mother. These qualities shaped his character and influenced his approach to life.

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)?

Ans. The author mentions two social groups: orthodox Brahmins and Muslims. These groups were easily identifiable by their distinct dress codes and rituals. For example, Kalam wore a cap, while his friend Ramanadham wore a sacred thread. Despite these visible differences, the groups coexisted peacefully in their community.

(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.)

Ans. While aware of their differences, the two groups shared friendships and experiences naturally. Kalam’s family participated in Hindu ceremonies, like arranging boats for the Shri Sita Rama Kalyanam ceremony. Similarly, Kalam’s mother and grandmother would tell children stories from both the Ramayana and the life of the Prophet, showing a mutual respect for each other’s traditions.

(iii) The author speaks both of 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?

Ans. Some people were more aware of religious differences, like Kalam’s new teacher who tried to segregate students, and Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife who initially refused to serve Kalam in her kitchen. However, others worked to bridge these gaps. Sivasubramania Iyer himself invited Kalam to dine with him, and Lakshmana Sastry convinced the new teacher to change his discriminatory behavior.

(iv) Narrate two incidents that show how differences can be created, and also how they can be resolved. How can people change their attitudes?

Ans. Two incidents show how differences can be created: the new teacher separating Kalam from his Hindu friend, and Sivasubramania Iyer’s wife refusing to serve Kalam in her kitchen. However, these same incidents also demonstrate how differences can be resolved. Lakshmana Sastry convinced the new teacher to change his behavior, and Sivasubramania Iyer personally served Kalam to break social barriers. These actions show that with understanding and effort, social divisions can be overcome.

2 . (i) Why did Abdul Kalam want to leave Rameswaram?

Ans. Abdul Kalam wanted to leave Rameswaram to pursue higher education at the district headquarters in Ramanathapuram. He felt this move was necessary for his academic growth and future opportunities.

(ii) What did his father say to this?

Ans. Kalam’s father responded supportively, saying he knew that one day Kalam would need to leave home to grow. He compared Kalam to young seagulls that leave their parents’ nest to learn how to fly.

(iii) What do you think his words mean? Why do you think he spoke those words?

Ans. His father’s words meant that growth often requires leaving one’s comfort zone. He spoke these words to encourage Kalam’s independence and to help his wife understand that their son needed to pursue his ambitions, even if it meant leaving home. This shows his father’s wisdom and foresight in nurturing Kalam’s potential.

Thinking about Language

I. Find the sentences in the text where these words occur

Erupt, surge, trace, undistinguished, casualty

Ans. The sentences in the text where these words occur are the following:-

(i) a sudden demand for tamarind seeds erupted in the market.

(ii) I can still feel the surge of pride in earning my own money for the first time.

(iii) I would later attempt to trace in the headlines in Dinamani.

(iv) a short boy with rather undistinguished looks, born to tall and handsome parents.

(v) The first casualty came in the form of the suspension of the train halt at Rameswaram Station.

Look these words up in a dictionary which gives examples of how they are used.

Now answer the following questions.

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?

Ans. A few things that can erupt are violence, volcano, emotions, riots, etc.

Different sentences to explain the various meanings of erupt are given below:

(i) Violence erupted during the protests.

(ii) He erupted in anger.

(iii) The volcano erupted, spewing lava across a wide area.

(iv) On the day of the party, a pimple erupted on her face

Things that can surge are waves, electric current or voltage, boat, prices, crowd, etc.

Different sentences to explain the various meaning of surge are given below:

(i) A power surge at that generator created a blackout across the whole district.

(ii) The fans surged forward to see their favourite actor.

(iii) The army surged towards their enemy.

(iv) The prices of gold surged tremendously this year.

2 . What are the meanings of the word trace and which of the meanings is closest to the word in the text?

Ans. The different meanings of the word trace are:

(i) To move along, follow, or traverse

(ii) To find something or someone through investigation

(ii) To follow the development or process of something

(iii) To draw, sketch, outline, etc.

The closest meaning of the word ‘trace’ in the text is to find something or someone through investigation.

3 . Can you find undistinguished in your dictionary? (If not, look for the word distinguished and say what undistinguished mean.)

Ans. No, the word undistinguished does not exist in the dictionary. It is the antonym of the word ‘distinguished’ which means eminent, famous, prominent, etc. Thus, undistinguished means ordinary, not prominent, common, etc.

II. 1. Match the phrases in Column A with their meanings in Column B

Ans.

AB
(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 not able to tolerate
(v) generosity of spirit(a) an attitude of kindness, a readiness to give freely
(vi) figures of authority(e) persons with power to make decisions

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).

Ans.

InadequateUnacceptableIrregularIntolerant
UndemandingInactiveUntrueImpermanent
UnpatrioticUndisputedInaccessibleIncoherent
IllogicalIllegalIrresponsibleImpossible

IV. Rewrite the sentences below, changing the verbs in brackets into the passive form

  1. In yesterday’s competition the prizes were given away by the Principal.
  2. In spite of financial difficulties, the labourers were paid on time.
  3. On Republic Day, vehicles are not allowed beyond this point.
  4. Second-hand books are bought and sold on the pavement every Saturday.
  5. Elections to the Lok Sabha are held every five years.
  6. Our National Anthem was composed by Rabindranath Tagore.

V. Rewrite the paragraphs below, using the correct form of the verb given in brackets

1 . How Helmets Came To Be Used in Cricket

Nari Contractor was the Captain and an opening batsman for India in the1960s. The Indian cricket team went on a tour to the West Indies in 1962. In a match against Barbados in Bridgetown, Nari Contractor (seriously injure and collapse). 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 (donate) by the West Indies players. Thanks to the timely help, Contractor (save). Nowadays helmets (routinely use) against bowlers.

Ans.

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 got seriously injured and collapsed. In those days helmets were not worn. Contractor was hit on the head by a bouncer from Charlie Griffith. Contractor’s skull had fractured. The entire team was deeply concerned. The West Indies players were worried. Contractor was rushed to hospital. He was accompanied by Frank Worrell, the Captain of the West Indies Team. Blood was donated by the West Indies players. Thanks to the timely help, Contractor was saved. Nowadays helmets are routinely used against bowlers.

2 . Oil from Seeds

Vegetable oils (make) 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) up on the pressing machine which will gently squeeze them to produce olive oil.

Ans.

Vegetable oils are made from seeds and fruits of many plants growing all over the world, from tiny sesame seeds to big, juicy coconuts. Oil is produced from cotton seeds, groundnuts, soya beans and sunflower seeds. Olive oil is used for cooking, salad dressing, etc. Olives are shaken from the trees and gathered up, usually by hand. The olives are ground to a thick paste which is spread onto special mats. Then the mats are layered up on the pressing machine which will gently squeeze them to produce olive oil.

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