THE FUN THEY HAD

The Fun They Had

Setting & Background:

The story takes place in 2157, a future in which all aspects of schooling have been mechanised. Kids don't go to school the way they used to. Instead, a mechanical teacher—a robot trained to teach particular subjects—teaches each child personally at home.

Main Characters:

1. Margie – An 11-year-old girl who dislikes the mechanical way of learning.
2. Tommy – A 13-year-old boy and Margie’s friend, more curious and interested in technology.
3. The County Inspector – A technician who repairs the mechanical teacher.

Plot Summary:

On May 17, 2157, Margie writes in her diary about an astonishing incident - Tommy discovered a real printed book in his home's attic. Margie is fascinated because books, as she knows them, are only on screens. She finds it strange that the words on paper don’t move or disappear like on a screen.

Tommy informs her that the book is about schools in the past, when kids attended a school in a building, learnt together, and had human teachers. Margie finds this surprising because she can't envision kids playing together, laughing, or learning the same lesson.

The idea that a human teacher was sufficiently knowledgeable to instruct students and that they interacted and supported one another particularly astounds Margie. She compares this to her life, where she learns from a mechanical teacher while sitting by herself in a room.

Her own experience is dull and uninteresting. She especially hates geography, and when her mechanical teacher malfunctions, the County Inspector comes to fix it. Margie hopes it’s broken for good, but it is quickly repaired, and she must return to her boring schedule.

As the story comes to a close, Margie considers the "fun" that kids used to have—attending school together, forming friendships, and learning in a relatable and participatory manner. This thought lingers in her mind even as she resumes her lesson with the mechanical teacher.

Themes & Message:

1. Impact of Technology on Education – The story explores how over-reliance on machines may take the human touch out of learning.
2. Isolation vs. Social Learning – Margie's loneliness contrasts with the joyful social learning of the past.
3. Curiosity about the Past – Despite being in a futuristic world, children still long for warmth and connection.
4. Nostalgia – The title is ironic. Margie never experienced the old schooling, but she yearns for what it offers.

Conclusion:

Through this futuristic story, Isaac Asimov emphasises the importance of teachers, interpersonal relationships, and shared experiences in education. Even in a technologically advanced world, the essence of learning lies in interaction, not just information delivery.

1.      Who is the author of "The Fun They Had"?
a) Roald Dahl
b) Isaac Asimov
c) Ruskin Bond
d) R. K. Narayan
✅ Answer: b) Isaac Asimov

2.      When did Margie write her diary entry?
a) May 17, 2157
b) July 22, 2020
c) January 5, 2100
d) March 15, 2090
✅ Answer: a) May 17, 2157

3.      Who found the real book?
a) Margie
b) Margie's mother
c) Tommy
d) County Inspector
✅ Answer: c) Tommy

4.      What kind of book did Tommy find?
a) A digital book
b) A printed book
c) An e-book
d) A holographic book
✅ Answer: b) A printed book

5.      What subject did Margie hate the most?
a) Mathematics
b) History
c) Geography
d) English
✅ Answer: c) Geography

6.      Who came to repair Margie’s mechanical teacher?
a) Tommy’s father
b) Her mother
c) The County Inspector
d) A technician from the school
✅ Answer: c) The County Inspector

7.      How old was Margie?
a) 9 years old
b) 11 years old
c) 13 years old
d) 10 years old
✅ Answer: b) 11 years old

8.      What surprised Margie about old schools?
a) They used to study on Mars
b) There were no exams
c) Children learned together in a building
d) Robots used to teach
✅ Answer: c) Children learned together in a building

9.      Why did Margie’s mother call the County Inspector?
a) Margie was unwell
b) The teacher was too fast
c) The geography section wasn’t working properly
d) Margie refused to study
✅ Answer: c) The geography section wasn’t working properly

10.  Where did the mechanical teacher appear?
a) On a tablet
b) On a TV
c) On a screen attached to a robot
d) On the wall of the room
✅ Answer: d) On the wall of the room

11.  How was the real book different from the digital books?
a) It was heavier
b) Its pages turned yellow
c) The words didn’t move
d) It made sounds
✅ Answer: c) The words didn’t move

12.  How did Margie feel about the book Tommy found?
a) Uninterested
b) Curious
c) Annoyed
d) Scared
✅ Answer: b) Curious

13.  What was the mechanical teacher programmed to do?
a) Play games
b) Teach and test
c) Tell stories
d) Control the house
✅ Answer: b) Teach and test

14.  What does the story suggest about future education?
a) It will be very expensive
b) It will be more personal
c) It will be isolated and machine-based
d) It will be fun and interactive
✅ Answer: c) It will be isolated and machine-based

15.  What does Margie long for at the end of the story?
a) More screen time
b) A better teacher
c) The fun children had in old schools
d) A newer computer
✅ Answer: c) The fun children had in old schools

16.  What is the tone of the story?
a) Critical
b) Humorous
c) Nostalgic
d) Angry
✅ Answer: c) Nostalgic

17.  What is the moral of the story?
a) Technology is always better
b) Learning should be enjoyable and social
c) Machines should replace teachers
d) Studying alone is best
✅ Answer: b) Learning should be enjoyable and social

18.  What does the mechanical teacher use to give tests?
a) Worksheets
b) Printed books
c) A slot for inserting answers
d) Touchscreen buttons
✅ Answer: c) A slot for inserting answers

19.  Why does Margie hate school more after reading the book?
a) Because her teacher is too kind
b) Because she learns alone
c) Because she wants to be a scientist
d) Because she likes books
✅ Answer: b) Because she learns alone

20.  What was ironic about the title “The Fun They Had”?
a) They had no fun
b) Margie and Tommy didn’t believe it was fun
c) It describes something the characters never experienced
d) It refers to a festival
✅ Answer: c) It describes something the characters never experienced

 21.  What kind of teachers did the old schools have?

a) Mechanical
b) Robotic
c) Human
d) Virtual
✅ Answer: c) Human

22.  What amazed Margie about old schools the most?
a) No homework
b) Human teachers taught children
c) They studied in parks
d) They used tablets
✅ Answer: b) Human teachers taught children

23.  Where did Tommy find the book?
a) Under his bed
b) In his schoolbag
c) In his attic
d) In a library
✅ Answer: c) In his attic

24.  What colour was the book that Tommy found?
a) Yellow and old
b) White and torn
c) Green and shining
d) It is not mentioned
✅ Answer: a) Yellow and old

25.  What was the book made of?
a) Metal sheets
b) Glass
c) Paper
d) Digital display
✅ Answer: c) Paper

26.  How did the pages of the book feel?
a) Cold
b) Soft and warm
c) Yellow and crinkly
d) Smooth and glassy
✅ Answer: c) Yellow and crinkly

27.  Who fixed Margie’s mechanical teacher?
a) Tommy
b) Margie’s father
c) County Inspector
d) Computer technician
✅ Answer: c) County Inspector

28.  What was the screen size of Margie’s teacher?
a) Large wall-sized
b) 10 inches
c) Big and black
d) It was not specified
✅ Answer: a) Large wall-sized

29.  Where did Margie have to insert her homework?
a) Into her laptop
b) Into a notebook
c) Into a slot of the mechanical teacher
d) On her tablet
✅ Answer: c) Into a slot of the mechanical teacher

30.  How did Margie submit her tests?
a) Verbally
b) By mailing them
c) By typing in answers
d) By writing in punch code
✅ Answer: d) By writing in punch code

31.  What age group studied together in old schools?
a) Only same-age children
b) Mixed ages
c) Only adults
d) Only boys
✅ Answer: b) Mixed ages

32.  What subject was giving Margie trouble?
a) History
b) Literature
c) Geography
d) Biology
✅ Answer: c) Geography

33.  How long did the County Inspector take to repair the mechanical teacher?
a) One week
b) A few hours
c) Less than an hour
d) Two days
✅ Answer: c) Less than an hour

34.  How did Margie feel about the County Inspector’s visit?
a) Scared
b) Curious
c) Excited and hopeful
d) Angry
✅ Answer: c) Excited and hopeful

35.  What did Margie think about the Inspector’s toolkit?
a) It was heavy
b) It looked like a doctor’s bag
c) It had glowing buttons
d) It was made of plastic
✅ Answer: b) It looked like a doctor’s bag

36.  Why did Margie hope the teacher would be taken away?
a) So she wouldn’t have to study
b) She wanted a new one
c) It was too slow
d) She liked the old schools
✅ Answer: a) So she wouldn’t have to study

37.  Where was Margie’s classroom?
a) In the school building
b) In her friend’s house
c) In her bedroom
d) In the attic
✅ Answer: c) In her bedroom

38.  Why did Tommy call Margie “stupid”?
a) She asked too many questions
b) She didn't understand how books worked
c) She refused to study
d) She hated old schools
✅ Answer: b) She didn't understand how books worked

39.  How did Margie describe old schools?
a) Boring
b) Dirty
c) Funny
d) Strange
✅ Answer: d) Strange

40.  What did Margie imagine while thinking of old schools?
a) Children laughing and learning together
b) Teachers shouting
c) Dusty classrooms
d) Long homework
✅ Answer: a) Children laughing and learning together

41.  What was Tommy’s age?
a) 12
b) 13
c) 11
d) 14
✅ Answer: b) 13

42.  What is punch code?
a) A spoken language
b) A card with tiny holes for programming
c) A special drawing method
d) A teacher's rulebook
✅ Answer: b) A card with tiny holes for programming

43.  What does the story suggest about personal learning?
a) It is the most effective
b) It can be lonely
c) It is fun
d) It needs no help
✅ Answer: b) It can be lonely

44.  What is the narrator’s view of the future of schooling?
a) Supportive of machines
b) Critical of human teachers
c) Longing for traditional schooling
d) Happy with digital change
✅ Answer: c) Longing for traditional schooling

45.  Why didn’t Margie like her mechanical teacher?
a) It was too friendly
b) It punished her
c) It gave her too many tests
d) It never smiled
✅ Answer: c) It gave her too many tests

46.  What did Tommy mean by “a man was a teacher”?
a) Men were robots
b) A human used to teach
c) Men were strict
d) Teachers were always male
✅ Answer: b) A human used to teach

47.  What does the story critique indirectly?
a) Technology as evil
b) Overdependence on machines in education
c) The role of exams
d) The government system
✅ Answer: b) Overdependence on machines in education

48.  What word best describes the theme of the story?
a) Hope
b) Isolation
c) Nostalgia
d) Technology
✅ Answer: c) Nostalgia

49.  How did the children in old schools learn?
a) Through games
b) On their own
c) Together with interaction
d) By memorising data
✅ Answer: c) Together with interaction

50.  Why is the title “The Fun They Had” ironic?
a) They never had fun
b) It refers to people who hated school
c) It highlights what present children missed
d) It mocks the future
✅ Answer: c) It highlights what present children missed

 

Fill-in-the-Blanks (with Answers)

1.      Margie wrote in her diary on __________.
✅ Answer: May 17, 2157

2.      The story is set in the year __________.
✅ Answer: 2157

3.      The name of Margie’s friend who found the book is __________.
✅ Answer: Tommy

4.      Tommy was __________ years old.
✅ Answer: 13

5.      Margie hated the subject __________ the most.
✅ Answer: Geography

6.      The book Tommy found was very __________ and crinkly.
✅ Answer: old

7.      The mechanical teacher was located in __________ room.
✅ Answer: Margie's

8.      In the old days, children used to go to a __________ to study together.
✅ Answer: school

9.      The teacher in the olden days was a __________.
✅ Answer: human being

10.  Margie’s mechanical teacher had a big __________ screen.
✅ Answer: black

11.  The __________ __________ came to repair the mechanical teacher.
✅ Answer: County Inspector

12.  The County Inspector carried a __________-shaped tool kit.
✅ Answer: doctor

13.  Margie was __________ years old.
✅ Answer: 11

14.  Tommy found the old book in the __________ of his house.
✅ Answer: attic

15.  Margie submitted her homework in a __________ on the mechanical teacher.
✅ Answer: slot

16.  Old books had words printed on __________.
✅ Answer: paper

17.  Margie thought the old schools were a lot more __________.
✅ Answer: fun

18.  The mechanical teacher gave Margie tests and calculated her __________.
✅ Answer: marks

19.  The title of the story is “The Fun __________ __________.”
✅ Answer: They Had

20.  Isaac Asimov was a famous __________ fiction writer.
✅ Answer: science

 

True or False Worksheet

Instructions: Write T for True and F for False.

1.      Margie wrote in her diary on May 17, 2057.
✅ False – (It was 2157)

2.      Tommy found an old printed book in the attic.
✅ True

3.      The book Tommy found had glowing digital pages.
✅ False – (It had printed pages)

4.      Margie liked the subject Geography.
✅ False

5.      The County Inspector fixed Margie’s teacher in less than an hour.
✅ True

6.      Margie studied in a school building with many other children.
✅ False – (She studied alone at home)

7.      The mechanical teacher was attached to the wall of Margie’s room.
✅ True

8.      In the old days, children were taught by human teachers.
✅ True

9.      The mechanical teacher was kind and friendly.
✅ False – (It was mechanical, with no emotion)

10.  Margie thought the old schools were strange but fun.
✅ True

11.  Margie had never seen a real book before.
✅ True

12.  In the old schools, each student had a separate mechanical teacher.
✅ False – (They had human teachers teaching groups)

13.  Margie had to insert her homework in a slot on the teacher's face.
✅ False – (She inserted it into a slot on the machine, not its face)

14.  Tommy thought old books were useless and boring.
✅ False

15.  Margie imagined children laughing and learning together in old schools.
✅ True

16.  The mechanical teacher used to blink and make sounds.
✅ False

17.  The book's pages were moving just like on Tommy’s screen.
✅ False

18.  Tommy was older than Margie.
✅ True

19.  Margie wanted her mechanical teacher to be taken away completely.
✅ True

20.  Isaac Asimov was a scientist and science fiction writer.
✅ True

 

Very Short Answer Questions (with Answers)

1.      Who is the author of "The Fun They Had"?
Answer: Isaac Asimov.

2.      What is the setting year of the story?
Answer: The year 2157.

3.      On what date did Margie write her diary?
Answer: May 17, 2157.

4.      How old is Margie in the story?
Answer: 11 years old.

5.      How old is Tommy?
Answer: 13 years old.

6.      Where did Tommy find the old book?
Answer: In the attic of his house.

7.      What was strange about the book to Margie and Tommy?
Answer: The words stayed still and didn’t move.

8.      What kind of book did Tommy find?
Answer: A printed book with paper pages.

9.      What subject did Margie hate the most?
Answer: Geography.

10.  What had gone wrong with Margie’s mechanical teacher?
Answer: Its geography sector had become too fast.

11.  Who came to repair the mechanical teacher?
Answer: The County Inspector.

12.  How did Margie submit her homework?
Answer: By inserting it into a slot in the mechanical teacher.

13.  Where was Margie’s classroom?
Answer: In her bedroom.

14.  What colour was the old book?
Answer: Yellow and crinkly.

15.  What did the County Inspector carry?
Answer: A tool kit that looked like a doctor’s bag.

16.  What was Margie’s mechanical teacher fixed to?
Answer: A wall in her room.

17.  What did the mechanical teacher do when it was repaired?
Answer: It continued teaching Margie at her level.

18.  What did Tommy think about old schools?
Answer: He thought they were funny and strange.

19.  Who taught in the old schools according to the book?
Answer: A human teacher.

20.  How did Margie react to learning about old schools?
Answer: She felt curious and a bit jealous.

21.  Did Margie like school?
Answer: No, she hated school.

22.  What type of screen did the mechanical teacher have?
Answer: A large black screen.

23.  What time did Margie study every day?
Answer: At the same time every day except Saturday and Sunday.

24.  Who made Margie continue her lessons?
Answer: Her mother.

25.  What did Margie think about the old kind of teacher?
Answer: She thought it was better because it was human.

26.  Why did Tommy call Margie stupid?
Answer: Because she asked silly questions about books.

27.  Did Tommy read the entire old book?
Answer: No, he was still reading it.

28.  What fascinated Margie about schools in the past?
Answer: The children went to a building and learned together.

29.  How were students grouped in old schools?
Answer: By age and learning levels.

30.  What did Margie imagine about children in old schools?
Answer: They laughed and shouted in the schoolyard.

31.  What is a mechanical teacher?
Answer: A computerised machine that teaches students.

32.  Did Margie enjoy reading the book with Tommy?
Answer: Yes, she found it interesting.

33.  What did Margie think about teachers who lived in houses?
Answer: She found it strange.

34.  Why did Margie hope the teacher would be taken away?
Answer: So she wouldn't have to study anymore.

35.  What does the story suggest about future education?
Answer: It may be isolated and machine-based.

36.  What made Margie more curious about old schools?
Answer: The printed book Tommy found.

37.  Why did the mechanical teacher give test after test?
Answer: To assess Margie’s learning.

38.  How did Margie feel after her teacher was repaired?
Answer: Disappointed.

39.  Was the mechanical teacher fun for Margie?
Answer: No, it was boring and strict.

40.  What kind of education system is shown in the future?
Answer: A computerised and isolated system.

41.  Did Margie think the old school was better?
Answer: Yes, she thought it was more fun.

42.  What was written in Margie’s diary?
Answer: “Today Tommy found a real book!”

43.  What was the tone of the story?
Answer: Nostalgic and futuristic.

44.  What was the punch code used for?
Answer: Writing homework and tests.

45.  Why didn’t Margie like her teacher’s speed?
Answer: It was too fast for her level.

46.  What lesson does the story convey?
Answer: That learning is better when it's interactive and shared.

47.  Who programmed the mechanical teacher?
Answer: It was pre-programmed and adjustable.

48.  Did Margie understand how books worked?
Answer: No, she was confused at first.

49.  Did the book have any pictures or only text?
Answer: It’s not mentioned clearly, likely only text.

50.  What is ironic about the title “The Fun They Had”?
Answer: Margie and Tommy never experienced that kind of fun.

 

Two-Mark Questions and Answers

1.      Who are the main characters in the story?

Answer: The main characters are Margie and Tommy, two school-going children living in the year 2157.

2.      What did Tommy find in the attic?

Answer: Tommy found an old, dusty, yellow-paged printed book in the attic of his house.

3.      What was unusual about the book for Margie and Tommy?

Answer: They were surprised the words didn’t move and stayed on the pages, unlike their screen-based texts.

4.      What subject did Margie hate most and why?

Answer: Margie hated geography the most because her mechanical teacher gave her tests repeatedly, and she performed poorly.

5.      Who was the County Inspector and what did he do?

Answer: The County Inspector was a technician who repaired Margie’s mechanical teacher when it malfunctioned.

6.      How did the mechanical teacher work?

Answer: It was a machine installed on the wall with a screen and a slot for homework; it taught and evaluated students.

7.      How did Margie and Tommy view the printed book?

Answer: They found it fascinating and strange, as it was very different from their digital learning systems.

8.      What does the story say about schools in the past?

Answer: It says children went to a building, sat in classrooms, and were taught by human teachers in groups.

9.      Why was Margie disappointed after the mechanical teacher was repaired?

Answer: She had hoped it would be taken away permanently so she wouldn’t have to study anymore.

10.  What made Margie interested in the book?

Answer: The idea of real schools and human teachers fascinated her, making her curious about past learning.

11.  How was Tommy’s behaviour different from Margie’s?

Answer: Tommy was more curious and knowledgeable about the book, whereas Margie asked basic questions.

12.  Describe Margie’s school setup.

Answer: Her classroom was a room in her house with a mechanical teacher installed on the wall.

13.  What were Margie’s thoughts about old schools?

Answer: She thought they were fun because children studied together and were taught by real people.

14.  Why did Margie perform poorly in geography?

Answer: The mechanical teacher’s settings were too advanced, making it hard for her to understand.

15.  What kind of education system does the story depict?

Answer: A futuristic, technology-driven system where learning is done at home through machines.

16.  Why did Tommy call Margie “stupid”?

Answer: Because she found it strange that people had human teachers in the past.

17.  How did children in the olden days learn according to the book?

Answer: They learned in classrooms with other children, taught by human teachers.

18.  What did Margie write in her diary?

Answer: “Today Tommy found a real book!”

19.  Why did the mechanical teacher have to be adjusted?

Answer: Because its geography section was working too fast and beyond Margie’s level.

20.  What is the central theme of the story?

Answer: The impact of technology on education and the value of social learning.

21.  How did Margie feel after reading about old schools?

Answer: She felt nostalgic and wished she could experience that kind of schooling.

22.  What made the printed book different from Tommy and Margie’s textbooks?

Answer: It was made of paper with permanent words instead of flashing text on a screen.

23.  Why did Tommy say the book was a waste?

Answer: Because once read, it can’t be updated or used again like digital books.

24.  How did Margie’s mother ensure her studies?

Answer: By setting regular study hours and calling the County Inspector when needed.

25.  Why did Margie think human teachers were better?

Answer: Because they could understand and interact with students better than machines.

26.  What did Margie imagine about children in the past?

Answer: She imagined them laughing, playing, and learning together in schools.

27.  What was the attitude of Margie towards the mechanical teacher?

Answer: She disliked it because it was dull and strict.

28.  Describe Tommy’s views on the printed book.

Answer: He found it interesting but outdated and preferred his digital books.

29.  How did old schools help children socialise?

Answer: By letting them learn, play, and grow up together in shared environments.

30.  What was the size of the screen in Margie’s classroom?

Answer: It was a big black screen fitted on the wall.

31.  How did Margie complete her homework?

Answer: She typed answers and submitted them through a slot in the mechanical teacher.

32.  Why did Margie envy the children of the past?

Answer: Because they had fun learning together instead of being alone with machines.

33.  What is ironic about the title “The Fun They Had”?

Answer: Margie and Tommy never experienced such fun; it existed only in the past.

34.  What role did Margie’s mother play in her education?

Answer: She managed her schedule and called for help when the teacher malfunctioned.

35.  How were the old schools different from Margie’s school?

Answer: Old schools had physical interaction, while Margie’s learning was isolated and machine-driven.

36.  What did Margie feel about the old kind of teachers?

Answer: She thought they were better because they could explain and help students better.

37.  How did Margie feel when the Inspector left?

Answer: She was sad because the mechanical teacher started working again.

38.  Why does the story create a contrast between past and future education?

Answer: To highlight the emotional and social aspects of traditional schooling.

39.  What is the tone of the story?

Answer: Nostalgic, reflective, and mildly critical of an overly mechanised future.

40.  What are the disadvantages of mechanical teaching as per the story?

Answer: Lack of personal attention, interaction, and emotional connection.

41.  How did Tommy and Margie read the book?

Answer: Slowly, turning the yellow pages with printed text.

42.  What does the story suggest about human connection in learning?

Answer: That it is important and irreplaceable by machines.

43.  Why is the story considered science fiction?

Answer: It presents a futuristic world with advanced technology and machines teaching children.

44.  What shows that Tommy was more mature than Margie?

Answer: His understanding of the book and ability to explain old schools to Margie.

45.  What is meant by the phrase "slot where Margie had to put homework"?

Answer: A space in the machine where Margie inserted her written work for evaluation.

46.  What does the story reflect about future lifestyles?

Answer: A highly digitised, isolated way of living with limited human contact.

47.  Why was the mechanical teacher not able to connect with Margie?

Answer: Because it lacked empathy and personal engagement.

48.  What made the children of the future lose the ‘fun’ in learning?

Answer: Learning alone with machines without friends or a lively school environment.

49.  Why is the story relevant to today’s world?

Answer:  It relates to the increasing role of technology in education and questions its limits.

50.  What is the message of “The Fun They Had”?

Answer: While technology can aid learning, human interaction and shared experiences are irreplaceable in education.