ENGLISH CLASS- 9
CHAPTER- 4
(Vitamin-M)
Vitamin-M – Critical Reflection
I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
1(i) Choose the emotion displayed by the Grandfather.
Answer: C. nostalgic
The Grandfather fondly remembers his old house, the mango tree, and the peaceful surroundings. His words show a deep sense of nostalgia for his past life.
1(ii) Complete the following sentence with a reason.
Grandpa hated the busy and noisy city life because he preferred the peace, quiet, and independence of his small house in the town.
1(iii) Why did Grandpa come to the city despite his dislike for city life?
Grandpa came to the city because he had become too old to live alone safely. After he slipped and fell in his garden and remained outside all night without help, Ravi’s mother brought him to live with her family.
1(iv) Choose an expression similar in meaning to ‘you can even hear a leaf fall’.
Answer: D. pin drop silence
The expression indicates complete silence and peaceful surroundings.
1(v) State one advantage and one disadvantage of the Grandfather living in the house in town.
Advantage: He enjoyed independence and lived in a peaceful environment surrounded by nature.
Disadvantage: There was no one to help him during emergencies, as shown when he fell in the garden and remained unattended all night.
2(i) Choose the option that displays the tone of the Grandfather’s response.
Answer: C. calm
Grandfather speaks in a composed and relaxed manner without showing anger or irritation.
2(ii) Why was Ravi confused and embarrassed?
Ravi was confused and embarrassed because Grandfather indirectly revealed that Ravi had not stayed home as instructed. Ravi realised that Grandfather probably knew he had been secretly following him throughout the day.
2(iii) Complete the sentence with a suitable reason.
Ravi’s mother was impatient because she thought her father had forgotten Ravi’s birthday and was becoming increasingly forgetful.
2(iv) State whether the following sentence is true or false.
Statement: Grandfather forgot that Ravi’s birthday was three months ago.
Answer: False
Grandfather had not forgotten. He traditionally gave gifts to everyone on his own birthday, not on theirs.
2(v) Why did Grandpa say he didn’t know what kind of morning Ravi might have had?
Grandpa said this humorously because Ravi had spent the entire morning following him secretly instead of staying at home. He was teasing Ravi without openly exposing his actions.
II. Answer the following questions.
1. Grandpa is portrayed as a person with failing memory in the beginning of the story. Give two evidences to disprove the statement.
Although Grandpa appears forgetful at first, several incidents prove that his memory is still sharp. First, he remembers numerous famous chess games and strategies and discusses them in detail with Ravi. Second, he clearly remembers his birthday tradition of giving gifts to every family member. These examples show that Grandpa's memory is much better than others assume.
2. Give two characteristic traits of each of the following characters.
(i) Grandfather
Independent: He dislikes depending on others and insists on going out alone.
Intelligent: He cleverly outsmarts Ravi during the secret chase and remains mentally alert.
(ii) Ravi
Caring: He worries deeply about his grandfather's safety and follows him to protect him.
Curious: He eagerly observes Grandpa's activities and enjoys solving mysteries.
(iii) Ravi’s Mother
Concerned: She constantly worries about her father's health and safety.
Responsible: She takes care of Grandfather and ensures he receives proper attention and medication.
3. Why was Ravi worried about what Grandfather had at the tea stall?
Ravi was worried because Grandfather consumed several items that were restricted at home for health reasons. He drank sugary tea, ate bananas, and enjoyed ice cream despite dietary restrictions. Ravi feared that these choices might affect his health and upset his mother if she found out.
4. Do you think it was easy for Ravi to follow his Grandfather? If yes, why? If no, why not?
No, it was not easy for Ravi to follow his Grandfather. He had to hide behind bushes, trees, benches, and cars to avoid being seen. He was repeatedly embarrassed by strangers who questioned his suspicious behaviour. He also had to run after buses and constantly keep track of Grandpa in crowded places. Therefore, following Grandfather proved to be both difficult and exhausting.
5. ‘Ravi is a good detective’. Give one argument in favour of and against the given statement.
In favour: Ravi carefully followed Grandfather, observed his movements, and tried to ensure his safety throughout the day.
Against: He failed to realise that Grandfather had tricked him by giving away his yellow cap to another person, causing him to follow the wrong man.
6. Was Grandfather aware that Ravi was following him? How do you know?
Yes, Grandfather was aware that Ravi was following him. This becomes clear when he gifts Ravi a detective storybook and jokingly mentions learning how to avoid getting fooled while trailing a suspect. His remarks suggest that he knew about Ravi's actions all along and had cleverly misled him.
7. In your opinion, who needs Vitamin-M? And why?
In my opinion, Ravi’s mother needs Vitamin-M. She assumes that her father's memory is weak because of his age and often treats him like a child. However, Grandfather remembers important events, traditions, and details quite well. The story humorously suggests that it is Ravi’s mother, not Grandfather, who needs a memory-improving vitamin.
8. 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.
I have observed situations where elderly people are ignored during family discussions because others assume they do not understand modern issues. Similarly, children are sometimes not allowed to express their opinions because adults think they are too young to contribute meaningfully. Such attitudes are unfair because wisdom and valuable ideas can come from people of any age.