NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Kaveri Chapter 4 Vitamin-M
Page 102 – Check Your Understanding
Question 1:
Why did Grandpa dislike living in the city with his daughter?
Answer:
Grandpa disliked living in the city because it was noisy, crowded, and uncomfortable. The small house made him feel confined and he missed the freedom and peace of his village life.
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Question 2:
Why did Vidya not want her father to go out alone?
Answer:
Vidya did not want her father to go out alone because he was old, forgetful, and physically weak. She feared that he might get lost or meet with an accident.
Question 3:
Was Ravi in favour of his mother treating Grandpa like a child? How can you say so?
Answer:
No, Ravi was not in favour of his mother treating Grandpa like a child. He felt that Grandpa deserved respect and dignity despite his old age.
Question 4:
Would Ravi be able to keep up his promise to his mother?
Answer:
Ravi found it difficult to keep his promise because he understood Grandpa’s need for freedom. His sympathy for Grandpa made him choose understanding over strict obedience.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Kaveri Chapter 4 Vitamin-M
Pages 106-107 Check Your Understanding
I. Complete the flow chart by describing Grandpa’s day out.

Answer:
1, Children’s park
2. peanuts, children playing
3. tea stall
4. angry mother and vendors
5. sugary cup of tea, two bananas and ice-cream
6. barber shop
7. bus stop, boards the bus
II. Was Grandpa lost as feared by Ravi’s mother?
Answer:
No, Grandpa didn’t get lost as Ravi’s mother feared. Instead, he returned comfortably and went to sleep.
III. How would Ravi feel after seeing Grandpa?
Answer:
Ravi will feel relaxed and happy when he sees his Grandpa back at home.
IV. Do you think Ravi’s mother will get to know about what had happened?
Answer:
Ravi’s mother wouldn’t know about what had happened unless he told her the whole incident.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Kaveri Chapter 4 Vitamin-M
Page 109 Check Your Understanding
I. Describe how Ravi’s emotional reaction upon finding Grandpa safe at home reveals his feelings towards his grandfather.
Answer:
When Ravi found Grandpa safe at home, he felt greatly relieved and happy. He hugged his grandfather with tears of joy, showing how deeply he loved and cared for him. His emotional reaction reveals the strong bond, affection, and concern he had for his grandfather.
II. What might be the significance of Grandpa’s habit of giving gifts to everyone on his birthday rather than receiving them?
Answer:
Grandpa giving gifts instead of receiving them shows his generosity and dignity. It suggests that he does not see himself as weak or dependent, but as someone capable of giving happiness to others. This act helps him maintain his self-respect and proves that old age has not taken away his confidence or sense of responsibility.
III. Why do you think Grandpa gave Ravi a detective story book as a gift? What might this suggest about Grandpa’s awareness of Ravi’s actions earlier in the day?
Answer:
Grandpa gave Ravi a detective story book because he was aware that Ravi had secretly followed him throughout the day. By choosing this gift, Grandpa indirectly acknowledged Ravi’s cleverness and concern. It suggests that Grandpa was fully aware of Ravi’s actions and appreciated his care, while calmly showing that his own mind was still sharp.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Kaveri Chapter 4 Vitamin-M
Pages 109-111 Critical Reflection
I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Grandpa hated the noise and bustle of city life and when they were on their own, he often spoke longingly of his small brick house in town, “Such a wonderful place…! With that big mango tree in the garden! It is so quiet that at dusk you can even hear a leaf fall!” But then Grandpa had slipped and fallen in the garden late one evening while he was pottering around and lain outside all night because there was no one at home to help him up.
(i) Choose the emotion displayed by the Grandfather.
A. regretful
B. apologetic
C. nostalgic
D. wistful
Answer:
C. nostalgic
(ii) Complete the following sentence with a reason.
Grandpa hated the busy and noisy city life because _____________.
Answer:
Grandpa hated the busy and noisy city life because it was crowded, loud, and made him feel uncomfortable and restricted, unlike the calm and open life of his village.
(iii) Why did Grandpa come to the city despite his dislike for city life?
Answer:
Grandpa came to the city because his daughter was deeply worried about his safety after his accident and wanted to take proper care of him.
(iv) Choose an expression similar in meaning to, ‘you can even hear a leaf fall’.
A. end of one’s life
B. arrival of autumn
C. sign of good luck
D. pin drop silence
Answer:
D. Pin drop silence.
(v) State one advantage and one disadvantage of the Grandfather living in the house in town.
Answer:
Advantage: Grandpa received proper care, safety, and medical attention from his family.
Disadvantage: He lost his freedom and felt confined and dependent.
2. “I had a quiet morning, but I don’t know about Ravi. He just disappeared instead of staying at home to look after me like you told him to,” answered Grandpa coolly, while Ravi just looked confused and embarrassed.
Grandpa had another surprise for Ravi. A giftwrapped parcel!
“But, Papa, Ravi’s birthday was three months ago. Have you forgotten?” exclaimed Ravi’s mother, impatiently.
(i) Choose the option that displays the tone of the Grandfather’s response.
A. apologetic
B. hurtful
C. calm
D. puzzled
Answer:
C. calm
(ii) Why was Ravi confused and embarrassed?
Answer:
Ravi was confused and embarrassed because Grandpa spoke coolly about him “disappearing” instead of staying at home to look after him, as he had been told to. Ravi didn’t know how to respond to this and felt awkward when his actions were pointed out.
(iii) Complete the sentence with a suitable reason. Ravi’s mother was impatient because _________ .
Answer:
Ravi’s mother was impatient because Grandpa gave Ravi a gift-wrapped parcel even though his birthday had already passed three months ago.
(iv) State whether the following sentence is true or false.
Grandfather forgot that Ravi’s birthday was three months ago.
Answer:
False. (Grandfather remembered Ravi’s birthday. But, he gave him a gift because it was his birthday, and he always gave gifts to every child in the house on that occasion.)
(v) Why did Grandpa say he didn’t know what kind of morning Ravi might have had?
Answer:
Grandpa said this because he had told Ravi’s mother that Ravi left home instead of taking care of him, as she had instructed.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Kaveri Chapter 4 Vitamin-M
II. Answer the following questions
Question 1.
Grandpa is portrayed as a person with failing memory in the beginning of the story. Give two evidences to disprove the statement.
Answer:
Although Grandpa is shown as forgetful in daily matters, there are clear instances that prove his memory is not completely weak.
(1) Grandpa displays a sharp memory while playing chess. He remembers famous matches, players, and their moves accurately, which surprises Ravi.
(2) Grandpa plans his outing carefully and moves confidently through the park and market without getting confused. These incidents show that while his short-term memory is weak, his mind remains active and alert in areas of deep interest and habit. Moreover, he knew that his grandson, Ravi, was following him.
Question 2.
Give two characteristic traits of each of the following characters.
(i) Grandfather
Answer:
Grandfather
Grandfather is a proud and dignified person who values his independence. He dislikes being treated like a helpless child and wants to live life on his own terms. At the same time, he is intelligent and mentally alert, as seen in his love for chess and his awareness of his surroundings.
(ii) Ravi
Answer:
Ravi
Ravi is caring and sensitive towards his grandfather. He understands Grandpa’s need for freedom and dignity. He is also responsible and observant, as he secretly follows Grandpa to ensure his safety without hurting his feelings.
(iii) Ravi’s mother
Answer:
Ravi’s Mother (Vidya)
Ravi’s mother is loving and devoted to her father. Her actions are guided by concern for his safety. However, she is also overprotective and anxious, which makes her treat Grandpa like a child, often ignoring his emotional needs.
Question 3.
Why was Ravi worried about what Grandfather had at the tea stall?
Answer:
Ravi was worried because his grandfather was drinking a sugary cup of tea though he was forbidden sugar at home.
Question 4.
Do you think it was easy for Ravi to follow his Grandfather? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Answer:
No, it was not easy for Ravi to follow his grandfather. Ravi had to maintain a safe distance so that Grandpa would not notice him, while at the same time keeping a close watch on his movements. He was also emotionally anxious, fearing that something might go wrong. Ravi’s task required patience, alertness, and courage, making it a difficult responsibility.
Question 5.
‘Ravi is a good detective’. Give one argument in favour of and against the given statement.
Answer:
In favour:
Ravi is a good detective because he carefully observed the clues and correctly guessed where Grandpa had gone. His alertness and logical thinking helped him understand Grandpa’s actions.
Against:
On the other hand, Ravi became worried too quickly and assumed that Grandpa was lost. He did not have enough evidence before reaching that conclusion.
Question 6.
Was Grandfather aware that Ravi was following him? How do you know?
Answer:
At first, it seemed that Ravi’s grandfather was unaware that Ravi was following him. But in the end, when he gifted Ravi a detective storybook and said, “Pick up some really good tips on how to be a detective,’ it showed that he knew Ravi had been following him.
Question 7.
In your opinion, who needs Vitamin-M? And why?
Answer:
Elderly people need Vitamin M because it symbolises care, patience, emotional support, and understanding. Old age often brings memory loss and physical weakness, but what the elderly need most is love, respect, and dignity. Vitamin M represents society’s responsibility to support the elderly with compassion rather than control.
Question 8.
Some people believe society shows bias based on age (being young or old). Give an example where you might have experienced or observed such discrimination, when opinions were disregarded because of age.
Answer:
I have observed age-based discrimination during family discussions. Sometimes, the opinions of grandparents are ignored because they are considered old-fashioned. Similarly, children are often told that they are too young to understand important matters. This shows that people are sometimes judged by their age rather than by the value of their ideas.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Kaveri Chapter 4 Vitamin-M

