Class IX THE FUN THEY HAD-by ISAAC ASIMOV 2025-26
This handout is for reference and practice only.
Central idea of the story: Through the story Isaac Asimov has constructed a futuristic world. He
has set this story in the year 2157, when traditional school system has been replaced with the
computerized homeschooling system. The importance of the traditional form of education has been
highlighted. The story also focuses on preserving the things we have, since we live in a fast-
changing world.
The story follows an eleven year old girl, Margie, who is mystified at the discovery of a real book, by
her friend Tommy. The book is centuries old, and has captured Margie’s attention. It makes her
wonder why anyone would write about school, since she hated school herself. However, when she
reads about the old schools, she begins to wonder how much fun they must have been. She longs
to experience a school like the one her ancestors used to go to.
Questions and answers:
1. Why did Margie hate school?
Ans: Margie had always hated school. Of late, she hated it even more. The mechanical teacher had
been giving her test after test in geography, and she had been doing worse and worse at them.
2. Why did Margie feel that the schools of the olden times were more fun?
Ans: Margie thought about the old schools they had when her grandfather's grandfather was a
little boy. All the kids from the whole neighborhood came, laughing and shouting in the
schoolyard, sitting together in the schoolroom, going home together at the end of the day. They
learned the same things so they could help one another on the homework and talk about it. And
the teachers were people.
3. Why do you think Margie was disappointed after the geography sector of her teacher was set
right?
Ans: Margie’s mechanical teacher had been giving her test after test in geography and her mother
had asked the County Inspector to look into it. Margie had hoped that her mechanical teacher
would be taken away for some time as Tommy’s had been when it had malfunctioned. She wished
so because she was trying to avoid the lessons. She was disappointed when the County Inspector
set the mechanical teacher right there and then.
4. Write whether the following statements are True or False:
a) Margie went to school that was within her house.
b) Margie was writing in her diary in 2025.
c) Tommy left the real book with Margie.
d) Margie learnt that teachers used to be robots.
e) Margie felt that real schools were more fun.
f) Margie hated Arithmetic.
g) Margie’s homework was written down in sheets of paper.
h) The letters in real books remained static and could be found again if one had to turn the
pages.
5. Identify a theme from the story.
a) School is better in the future because there is a robot teacher.
b) Tommy should share his book, so Margie can learn about old schools.
c) Learning about the past is important because it shows change.
d) Learning without technology provides more social interaction.
6. Find a piece of evidence that supports your answer from Question 5.
a) “Margie was thinking about how the kids must have loved it in the old days. She was
thinking about the fun they had”
b) “It was right next to her bedroom, and the mechanical teacher was on and waiting for her”.
c) “He walked away whistling, the dusty old book tucked beneath his arm”.
d) “Sure they had a teacher, but it wasn't a regular teacher. It was a man”.
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Long Answer Type Questions
1. What are the main features of the mechanical teachers and the schoolrooms that Margie
and Tommy have in the story?
A. Margie and Tommy were taught by mechanical teachers. They had large black screen on
which the lessons appeared. The lessons were followed by questions. The students had to
insert homework and test papers in the slots provided. They had to write down the work in a
punch code which was a computing language. The mechanical teacher checked the papers
and gave them marks within a few seconds. These classrooms were in the student’s home
itself. Every student studied from his respective mechanical teacher. Each teacher was
adjusted according to the level of the learner. They did not have classmates. They studied
various subjects like Geography, History and Mathematics. Margie studied everyday at the
same time except Saturdays and Sundays. Her mother said that she would learn better if
she studied that way. The learning process was mechanical, dull and boring for them.
2. Why did Margie hate school? Why did she think the old kind of school must have been
fun?
A. Margie hated school because it was not fun. There was a mechanical teacher and the
learning process lacked life. It was like a machine carrying out the usual working, there was
nothing new, no fun or laughter. Margie’s mechanical teacher was giving her tests in
Geography and she was performing badly at them. Later it was discovered that the teacher
had developed a fault due to which it was giving her tests of a higher level. Margie’s mother
called the County Inspector. He opened the teacher, found the fault and rectified it. Margie
disliked the teacher and hoped that he would not be able to repair it. She hated inserting
the homework and test papers into the slot provided. She thought that the children in the
past must have had a lot of fun when they went to school with fellow children. She found it
amazing that all the children studied together, the same things and could discuss studies
and help each other with the homework too. As the teachers were people, they would not
behave like machines. The human aspect of education in the past made her feel that the
school of the past was fun
