Tommy and Margie found something about the (i)__ of the past. Tommy found a (ii) ___which has been printed on paper. The book was old and the pages were (iii) ___ At present, the (iv) ____ were moving on a television screen. The television had over (v) ___. He had found the old book in the 

(vi) ____ of his house. While reading Tommy found that it was about the old schools. Margie hated school because she was having problems with learning (vii) ____. The mechanical teacher was black and large with a screen. Margie hated the slot where she had to insert her homework or (viii) ____. Margie did not understand how a (ix) ___ could be a teacher and how the students were taught the 

(x) ____.Then it was (xi) ____ for Margie and Tommy. Margie went to the schoolroom in her 

(xii) ____, where the mechanical teacher stood. She was thinking about the old school and how much fun the children had, (xiii) ___ time together.

      Margie’s school                                            

Teacher is a machine.

School is at home.

There is no playground.                          

Teacher is a human being.

Books are in printed form.

School is at a special building. 

1. The old book was found by ____. Ans: Tommy.

2. Margie was surprised to see the old book because _____. 

        Ans: The words stood still, instead still, instead of moving.

3. The mechanical teacher was giving Margie____. 

        Ans:  test after test in geography.

4. Margie had to study always at the same time every day, because her mother said little girls ____. 

        Ans:  learned letter, if they learned at regular hours

5. The geography sector in mechanical teacher was ____. Ans:  geared a little too quickly.

THINK AND WRITE: 

E. On the basis of your reading and using your own ideas, answer the following in about 125 – 150 words each: 

1. Describe Margie’s mechanical teacher and her classroom in your own words. 

     Tommy found the hook on 17 May 2157. It was a very old book. The pages, were yellow and crinkly, and it was awfully funny to read the words that stood still instead of moving the way they were supposed to, on a screen. The mechanical teacher had been giving her test after test in geography and she had been doing worse and worse until her mother had shaken her head sorrowfully and sent for the county inspector.

2. Why did Margie hate her school? What was she thinking about at the end of the story? 

     The part Margie hated most was the slot where she had to put homework and test papers. The geography sector was geared a little too quickly. She had been hoping that they would take the teacher away altogether. She was thinking about the old schools where the teacher told boys and girls things and gave them homework and asked them questions. ‘The students had a special building and all the kids went there. All the kids learned the same thing. 

3. What was strange about the ‘book’? Why did Margie find it strange? 

     The pages of the ‘book’ were yellow and crinkly. It was awfully funny to read words that stood still, unlike moving on a screen. When Margie turned back to the previous page, the page had the same words on it, when she read it the first time. All these things were strange for Margie, as she used to read only telebooks through a computer screen, without any knowledge of a real book.