Chapter 4: Vitamin-M (0903CH04)
Kaveri · 51 questions · 12 sections
Chapter code: 0903ch04 · Book: Kaveri · Class 9 English
Find complete NCERT solutions for Class 9 English, Kaveri Chapter 4. This page covers Vitamin-M with clear answers for chapter code 0903CH04.
Reflect and Respond(3 questions)
Caring for the elderly — graphic organiser.
Why care: They give wisdom, love, and guidance. Problems faced: Weak health, loneliness, memory loss. Reasons: Ageing, lack of support, city life stress. How to care: Show respect, spend time, provide medical help, listen patiently.
Meanings of words.
frail → weak and delicate shuddered → trembled with fear or discomfort poky → small and cramped forbid → to prohibit pottering → moving about aimlessly, doing small tasks winced → showed embarrassment or pain
Share a tradition/story/recipe from your grandparents. (30–40 words)
My grandmother passed down a recipe for mango pickle. It connects me to childhood summers, reminding me of family gatherings and her love. Such traditions preserve memories and strengthen bonds across generations.
Check Your Understanding (Part I)(4 questions)
Why did Grandpa dislike living in the city?
He hated the noise, crowd, and bustle. He missed his quiet brick house with a mango tree, where evenings were peaceful enough to hear a leaf fall.
Why did Vidya not want her father to go out alone?
Because he had earlier taken wrong doses of medicine and once got lost. She feared for his safety and wanted to prevent accidents.
Was Ravi in favour of his mother treating Grandpa like a child? How can you say so?
No, Ravi winced when his mother spoke loudly to Grandpa as if he were a child. He felt it was disrespectful and tried to treat Grandpa with dignity.
Would Ravi be able to keep up his promise to his mother?
No, because Grandpa tricked him and went out alone. Ravi followed secretly but could not stop him, showing he failed to keep the promise.
Check Your Understanding (Part II)(4 questions)
Complete Grandpa's day out flow chart.
1. children's park 2. peanuts (watches children play) 3. the tea stall 4. the boy's mother and the vendors 5. tea (eats bananas and ice cream) 6. barber shop 7. bus stop (and boards a bus) — where Ravi discovers he had been following a stranger wearing an identical cap.
Was Grandpa lost as feared by Ravi's mother?
No, Grandpa returned home safely and was found snoring peacefully in his room.
How would Ravi feel after seeing Grandpa? (30–40 words)
Ravi felt immense relief and affection. He knelt by Grandpa, hugged him, and realised his deep love. His worry turned into joy, showing how much he cared for his grandfather's safety and presence.
Do you think Ravi's mother will get to know what happened?
No, because Grandpa cleverly told her Ravi disappeared instead of staying home, hiding the truth.
Check Your Understanding (Part III)(3 questions)
Ravi's emotional reaction on finding Grandpa safe. (30–40 words)
Ravi was overcome with affection and relief. He hugged Grandpa, felt his wrinkled skin, and realised his love. His emotions revealed deep attachment and worry, showing how much he valued his grandfather.
Significance of Grandpa's habit of giving gifts.
It shows his generosity and love. Instead of receiving, he gave gifts to family, treating them as his "babies." It reflects his caring nature and desire to spread joy.
Why did Grandpa give Ravi a detective story book?
Because he knew Ravi had followed him all day. The gift showed Grandpa's awareness and humour, encouraging Ravi to improve his detective skills.
Critical Reflection: Extract 1(5 questions)
Identify the emotion.
Nostalgic
Why did Grandpa hate city life?
Because it was noisy and crowded.
Why did he come to the city?
He slipped in his garden and needed care.
Identify the expression used.
Pin drop silence
State one advantage and one disadvantage.
Advantage: peaceful environment; Disadvantage: unsafe when alone.
Critical Reflection: Extract 2(5 questions)
Identify the tone.
Calm
Why was Ravi confused and embarrassed?
Because Grandpa revealed he hadn't stayed home as instructed.
Why was Ravi's mother impatient?
Because she believed Grandpa's memory was failing — he was giving Ravi a birthday gift even though Ravi's actual birthday had passed three months earlier.
True or False, with reason.
False — Grandpa had not forgotten; the gift was not for Ravi's birthday at all, but part of Grandpa's own tradition of gifting everyone on his birthday.
Why did Grandpa say he didn't know what kind of morning Ravi might have had?
Grandpa was playfully pretending not to know that Ravi had secretly followed him all morning, shielding Ravi from trouble while enjoying a private joke at his expense.
Answer the Following (Paragraphs 30–40 words)(8 questions)
Give two evidences to disprove Grandpa's failing memory.
He remembered famous chess games in detail and his tradition of giving gifts on his birthday. These show his memory was sharp in important matters despite occasional forgetfulness.
Traits of the characters.
Grandfather: witty, independent Ravi: loyal, caring Ravi's mother: anxious, protective
Why was Ravi worried about Grandpa at the tea stall?
Because Grandpa ate sugar, bananas, and ice cream, all forbidden at home. Ravi feared his mother's reaction and worried about Grandpa's health.
Was it easy for Ravi to follow Grandpa?
No, because he had to hide behind bushes, trees, and cars, facing humiliation and confusion. It was tiring and embarrassing.
'Ravi is a good detective' — argument for and against.
For: He followed Grandpa closely and observed details. Against: He got fooled by a stranger with the same cap, showing lack of skill.
Was Grandpa aware Ravi was following him?
Yes, his gift of a detective book and twinkle in his eye showed he knew Ravi's actions.
Who needs Vitamin-M? Why?
Ravi's mother needs it, as Grandpa joked, because she forgot his birthday tradition. It symbolises memory support.
Give an example of age bias. (30–40 words)
In many families, children's opinions are ignored because they are considered too young. Similarly, elderly people's views are dismissed as outdated. This shows discrimination where age becomes a reason to disregard valuable perspectives.
Vocabulary and Structures(8 questions)
Classify Movement vs Sound words.
Movement: pottering, twirling, crouch, bustle, crawl, creeping, ducked, zigzagging, evicted, briskly, sprinting, jumping, darted, trailing Sound: boomed, thudded, whirr, shrieks, grunted, snoring
Fill in the blanks (detective story).
1. trailing 2. bustle 3. briskly 4. thudded 5. twirling 6. crouch 7. creeping 8. grunted 9. darted 10. snoring
Synonyms for dilemma.
Quandary, Predicament
Word meanings table — part of speech, synonym, antonym.
craftily → cleverly (adv) | synonym: cunningly | antonym: honestly dilemma → difficult choice (noun) | synonym: predicament | antonym: certainty furious → very angry (adj) | synonym: enraged | antonym: calm boomed → spoke loudly (verb) | synonym: thundered | antonym: whispered humiliation → embarrassment (noun) | synonym: disgrace | antonym: pride attire → clothing (noun) | synonym: outfit | antonym: undress
Match emotions/expressions.
embarrassed → felt uncomfortable countered → reply to an argument flushed → became red in the face stricken → affected severely by unpleasant feeling gleam → expression of emotion
Prepositions exercise.
(i) through (ii) over (iii) near (iv) in (v) along (vi) into
Interrogative sentences.
A. Words in quotes are interrogative. B. Sentences 1, 4, 5 → Yes/No type. C. Sentences 2, 3 → Wh-type. D. Two types of interrogative sentences.
Reported speech exercise.
1. helped in taking care of grandparents 2. took turns making sure they were alright 3. if he had grandparents living with him 4. he visited his grandpa every weekend 5. how they managed medical needs 6. they had a schedule for medications and doctor visits
Learning Beyond the Text(3 questions)
Revisit the story and choose the image that correctly displays Grandpa’s walking stick.
Model: choose the image showing a sturdy, slightly curved wooden stick — Grandpa used it for support while walking.
Explore and revisit memories: collect a few memorable photographs of yourself and your family. Make a slide show with details.
Model: gather 5–6 photos of festivals, birthdays and trips. For each, write who is in it, when it was taken, and why it is special. Arrange them in order and present the story behind each memory.
Read and discuss the story ‘The Lost Child’ by Mulk Raj Anand (abridged).
Model: the story is about a child who is fascinated by fair attractions but loses his parents in the crowd. Once separated, he refuses sweets and toys — he only wants his mother and father. Discuss the theme that parental love matters more than material things.
Listen and Respond(5 questions)
Meditation is a form of yoga that usually refreshes the mind and helps with _______.
stress management (relaxation and stress management)
Meditation leads to a better health condition both _______.
physically and emotionally
Meditation also aids in lessening undesirable feelings and improving _______.
self-awareness
It is advised that we meditate every day so that it becomes a _______.
routine
Meditating on a daily basis is beneficial in comfortably tackling _______.
exam-related pressure
Speaking Activity — Intonation and Presentation(2 questions)
Practise intonation using different question types from the story (rising/falling patterns); work in pairs and speak them aloud.
Model: Yes/No questions rise at the end: "Did you go out?" Wh- questions fall: "Where did you go?" Practise tag questions and statements with proper stress for natural speech.
Make a presentation about a brief personal experience related to taking care of an older person. (Use given prompts.)
Model: when my grandmother was unwell, I brought her meals and medicines on time, read newspapers to her, and sat with her in the evening. I learned patience, respect and the value of family care.
Writing Task — Article(1 questions)
Write an article for your school magazine on the topic 'Our Inspiring Elderly' based on lessons learned from them.
Our Inspiring Elderly Our grandparents teach us patience, courage and wisdom through their simple daily lives. They work hard without complaint, forgive quickly, and value relationships over material things. From their stories we learn history, from their habits we learn discipline. We must care for them, listen to them, and let them guide our growing years.