The Fun They Had — Practice

Question 1

In which year is the story set, and what did Tommy find?

Accepted Answer

It is set in 2157; Tommy found a real, printed (paper) book about old schools.

✦ Answer: 2157; a real printed book.

Question 2

Why did Margie hate the geography sector of her mechanical teacher?

Accepted Answer

It kept giving her test after test in geography, each worse than the last.

✦ Answer: it gave her repeated, increasingly bad tests.

Question 3

Who fixed Margie's mechanical teacher and what did he do?

Accepted Answer

The County Inspector — he slowed the geography sector to the level of an average ten-year-old and reassembled the machine.

✦ Answer: the County Inspector; he slowed the geography sector.

Question 4

How was the old school different from Margie's school?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — The old school was a special building where all children went together.

Step 2 — A human teacher taught them the same things, they helped each other and played together.

✦ Answer: a shared building, a human teacher and learning together — unlike Margie's solitary, machine-taught home schooling.

Question 5

Why does Margie think of 'the fun they had'?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — She realises old-school children studied together, helped one another and played in the schoolyard.

Step 2 — Her own learning is lonely and mechanical, so she envies their companionship.

✦ Answer: because old schools offered friendship and shared joy that her mechanical school lacks.

Question 6

Why does Tommy say keeping a printed book is 'a waste'?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — In his time, books are on screens (telebooks) holding far more text.

Step 2 — A paper book can be read only once and then is just an object to store — hence 'a waste'.

✦ Answer: telebooks hold more and last; a printed book seems wasteful and silly to him.

Question 7

Asimov wrote this in 1951. In what ways was he prophetic, and what warning does the story carry?

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — He foresaw screen-based, personalised, home learning — much like today's e-books and online classes.

Step 2 — The warning: efficiency without human company makes learning lonely.

Step 3 — School's real value lies in friendship, shared learning and play — which machines cannot give.

✦ Answer: he anticipated screen learning; the warning is not to lose the human, social side of school.

Question 8

Would you prefer Margie's school or the schools of today? Justify with reference to the story.

Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Margie's school is convenient (learn at home, own pace) but lonely and rigid.

Step 2 — Today's schools offer teachers who adapt, classmates to learn and play with, and shared experiences.

Step 3 — Most would prefer today's school for its human connection, which the story shows Margie herself longing for.

✦ Answer: today's school — for companionship and human teaching, the very 'fun' Margie envies.

Practice — The Fun They Had