Chapter 4: Vitamin-M

Suggested Answer:

Answer:

Suggested Answer:
My grandmother taught me a traditional family recipe. It is special to me because it connects me with my childhood and family culture. Whenever we prepare it, I remember family gatherings and the love with which elders passed on their knowledge. It reminds me that traditions are not only about food or stories, but also about memory, care and identity.

Answer: Grandpa disliked living in the city because he missed his quiet brick house in town with its garden and mango tree. He hated the noise, bustle, crowd and cramped flat in the city. He also felt that he was being treated like a child and was losing his independence.

Answer: Vidya did not want her father to go out alone because he had earlier got lost when he went for a walk. He had also accidentally taken a double dose of his medicines and had slipped and lain outside all night in the garden. She was worried about his safety.

Answer: No, Ravi was not in favour of his mother treating Grandpa like a child. He winced when his mother spoke to Grandpa in an over-loud tone. He also tried to defend his mother before Grandpa by saying that she would never treat him like a baby or a prisoner.

Answer: Ravi would not be able to keep his promise completely. He promised his mother that Grandpa would be safe at home, but Grandpa cleverly went out alone. Ravi then followed him secretly to make sure he came to no harm.

Answer:

Answer: No, Grandpa was not lost. He had cleverly returned home safely and was sleeping peacefully in his bedroom by the time Ravi came back.

Answer: Ravi would feel relieved, happy and affectionate. He had been frantic with worry, so seeing Grandpa safely asleep filled him with delight and love. He even hugged Grandpa in his sleep.

Answer: She may not know the complete truth immediately, because Ravi decides not to question Grandpa. However, Grandpa’s later remarks and the detective story book show that he knows Ravi followed him, so the secret may be indirectly revealed.

Answer: Ravi’s reaction shows that he loves his grandfather deeply. He is greatly relieved when he hears Grandpa snoring safely in his bedroom. He kneels near the bed, touches his cheek to Grandpa’s face and hugs him. This shows affection, concern and emotional attachment.

Answer: Grandpa’s habit shows his generosity, affection and independence. He still sees his daughter, son-in-law and grandson as his “babies” and wants to give them happiness. It also shows that he has not forgotten important family traditions, despite others assuming that his memory is weak.

Answer: Grandpa gave Ravi a detective story book because he knew Ravi had followed him secretly. His remark about learning how to avoid getting fooled while trailing a suspect clearly hints that he was aware of Ravi’s detective-like behaviour. The gift is humorous and affectionate.

Answer:

(i) C. nostalgic.
(ii) Grandpa hated the busy and noisy city life because he loved the peace, quiet and open space of his own house in town.
(iii) Grandpa came to the city because he had slipped in his garden and remained outside all night with no one to help him. His daughter felt it was unsafe for him to live alone.
(iv) D. pin drop silence.
(v) One advantage was that Grandpa had peace, independence and familiarity in his own house. One disadvantage was that he lived alone and had no immediate help in case of illness or accident.

Answer:

(i) C. calm.
(ii) Ravi was confused and embarrassed because Grandpa said Ravi had disappeared instead of staying home to look after him. Ravi knew that he had actually been following Grandpa secretly.
(iii) Ravi’s mother was impatient because she thought Grandpa had forgotten that Ravi’s birthday was three months ago.
(iv) False.
(v) Grandpa said this because he knew Ravi had been following him and had gone through a troublesome, embarrassing morning while trying to act like a detective.

1. Grandpa is portrayed as a person with failing memory in the beginning of the story. Give two evidences to disprove the statement.
Grandpa remembers thousands of chess games and can refer to famous moves made by players like Karpov and Bobby Fischer. He also remembers his own birthday and the family tradition of giving gifts to every child in the house on that day.

2. Give two characteristic traits of each character.
Grandfather: independent and clever; generous and humorous.
Ravi: caring and loyal; curious and anxious.
Ravi’s mother: protective and responsible; anxious and impatient.

3. Why was Ravi worried about what Grandfather had at the tea stall?
Ravi was worried because Grandpa drank sugary tea, ate bananas and had ice cream. These were forbidden or banned items for him at home, probably because of his health.

4. Do you think it was easy for Ravi to follow his Grandfather?
No, it was not easy. Ravi had to hide behind bushes, trees and a car. He was scolded by a child’s mother and vendors, entered the wrong shop, struggled through traffic and finally boarded a bus only to discover that he had been fooled.

5. “Ravi is a good detective.” Give one argument in favour and against.
In favour: Ravi follows Grandpa secretly, keeps watch from a distance and does not give up easily.
Against: He is noticed by many people, gets scolded, enters the wrong shop and mistakes a stranger for Grandpa.

6. Was Grandfather aware that Ravi was following him? How do you know?
Yes, Grandpa was aware. He gives his yellow cap to a stranger and later gifts Ravi a detective story book, saying it may teach him how not to get fooled while trailing a suspect. This clearly shows that he knew Ravi was following him.

7. In your opinion, who needs Vitamin-M? And why?
Ravi’s mother needs Vitamin-M the most because she forgets Grandpa’s birthday even though she had marked it on the calendar. More importantly, the story suggests that younger people need to remember the dignity, intelligence and independence of the elderly.

8. Give an example of age-based discrimination.
Age-based discrimination can happen when young people are not allowed to express opinions because elders think they are too inexperienced, or when old people are ignored because others assume they cannot understand modern life. Such behaviour is unfair because every person deserves respect irrespective of age.

Classification:
Paragraph Completion:
Detective Shankar, trailing the mysterious suspect through the dimly lit side lanes, away from the bustle of the city, quickened his pace briskly. The suspect’s heavy footsteps thudded across the street, unaware of the pursuit. Shankar darted his magnifying glass, had to crouch behind the market stalls, creeping through the lanes to avoid being seen. Shankar grunted when he hit himself against a pole. This alarmed the suspect and he sprinted into the night leaving only the distant whirr of the sleeping city behind.

Answer:
1. Quandary
2. Predicament

Answer:

Answer:
Extra meaning: to be confused.

Answer:
I walked through the village, crossed a bridge over a brook, and found a quiet garden near a cottage. Sitting on a bench in the garden, I enjoyed the peaceful surroundings. Later, I strolled along a riverbank, exploring the forest and heading into the unknown.

Answer:
A. The words in the quotes are interrogative sentences.
B. Sentences 1, 4, and 5 are Yes/No type interrogative sentences.
C. Sentences 2 and 3 are Wh-type interrogative sentences.
D. So, there are two types of interrogative sentences.

Answer:
Arvind asked Priya if she helped in taking care of her grandparents at home, for which Priya replied in the affirmative and said that they took turns making sure they were alright. Priya further asked Arvind if he had grandparents living with him. Arvind replied in the negative and said that his parents and he visited his grandpa every weekend. He further enquired how she managed her grandparents’ medical needs. Priya responded by saying that they had a schedule for giving medications and visits to the doctor.

Answer: This is an audio-based task. The exact answers should be filled after listening to the classroom audio/transcript. The blanks are about how meditation refreshes the mind, improves health, lessens undesirable feelings, becomes a habit and helps in tackling challenges comfortably.

Suggested Practice:
Wh-question: “What did you both do today?” — Use falling intonation.
Yes/No question: “Are you playing hide and seek?” — Use rising intonation.
Choice question: “Shall we play chess or watch the cricket match on TV?” — Use rise-fall intonation.
Question tag: “This is your notebook, isn’t it?” — Use rising intonation when fairly sure of the answer.

Sample Answer:

The person I had the privilege of taking care of was my grandfather. During his illness, I helped him with small tasks such as giving water, bringing medicines, reading the newspaper to him and sitting with him in the evening.

This experience taught me patience and responsibility. I realised that elderly people need not only physical help but also emotional support. I learned that listening to them carefully makes them feel respected and valued.

Caring for him also helped me understand the challenges of ageing, such as weakness, loneliness and dependence. It made me more sensitive and grateful towards the elderly members of my family.

Answer:

Our Inspiring Elderly
By A Student, Class 9

The elderly members of our families and society are a source of wisdom, patience and strength. They have lived through many experiences and can teach us valuable lessons about life, responsibility and resilience.

The elderly inspire us through their stories, habits and values. Many of them have faced difficult times with courage and dignity. They teach us to be patient, hardworking and grateful. Their memories connect us to our family history, traditions and culture. As the saying goes, “Old age is not a burden, but a library of lived experience.”

Many elderly people overcome loneliness, health issues and dependence with great strength. When we spend time with them, we learn empathy and respect. They also remind us that independence and dignity are important at every age, just as Grandpa in “Vitamin-M” proves through his cleverness and humour.

We must care for the elderly with love and respect. They do not need pity; they need understanding, patience and companionship. Our inspiring elderly help us become better human beings.

Answer: The correct image should show a shiny black mahogany walking stick with a brass handle carved in the shape of an eagle’s head.

Suggested Slide Points:
1. When and where the photograph was clicked.
2. Who the people in the photograph are.
3. Why the photograph is memorable.
4. What emotion or memory it brings back.
5. What it tells about family bonds and shared experiences.

Suggested Response:
“The Lost Child” by Mulk Raj Anand shows the deep bond between a child and his parents. At the fair, the child is attracted by toys, sweets, flowers, balloons, music and the roundabout. But when he realises that his parents are missing, all these attractions lose meaning. He only wants his mother and father. The story teaches us that parental love and security are more valuable to a child than material pleasures.