Chapter 8: Follow That Dream - Complete Solutions
Here are the detailed answers to all exercises from Chapter
8 of the CBSE Class 9 English textbook "Kaveri". The answers are
written in simple, easy-to-understand language.
Reflect and Respond
I. Answer these questions (based on your own thoughts)
1. What is your dream?
Sample answer: My dream is to become a successful engineer / doctor
/ artist / teacher. Everyone has a unique dream that gives them direction in
life.
2. Who inspires you to dream?
Sample answer: My parents and teachers inspire me to dream big.
They always encourage me and tell me that nothing is impossible if I work hard.
3. What qualities should you have to fulfill your dream?
The most important qualities are:
- Hard
work
- Determination
(never giving up)
- Patience
- Self-belief
(trusting yourself)
- Discipline
4. Discuss Abdul Kalam's quote: "Dream is not that
you see in sleep, dream is something that does not let you sleep."
This means a true dream is not just a fantasy you see while sleeping. A real
dream keeps you awake thinking about it and working hard to achieve it. It
constantly motivates you to take action, even at night.
II. Role of parents and community in helping children
achieve dreams
Parents and community members can help children by:
- Encouraging
and believing in them
- Providing
necessary resources and education
- Giving
emotional support during failures
- Guiding
them to make the right career choices
- Celebrating
small successes along the way
- Sharing
their own life experiences
III. Why is it important to follow a dream? (Web chart)
text
┌─────────────────────────┐
│ Gives purpose to life │
├─────────────────────────┤
│ Brings happiness and │
│ satisfaction │
├─────────────────────────┤
│ Helps us grow and │
│ learn new skills │
├─────────────────────────┤
│ Makes us feel proud │
│ of ourselves │
├─────────────────────────┤
│ Inspires others │
│ around us │
├─────────────────────────┤
│ Turns hard work into │
│ success │
└─────────────────────────┘
[Image: A colourful web chart showing reasons why
following a dream is important]
Reading for Meaning
The chapter is a letter written by a mother
(Irene Chua) to her daughter Ming, taken from the collection "My
Daughter, My Friend". The mother shares her deepest thoughts and
encourages Ming to follow her dreams, but also explains the hard work,
sacrifices, and challenges involved. She uses her own example of publishing a
book to show that dreams can change over time but are still worth pursuing.
[Image: A mother writing a letter to her daughter -
showing love and guidance]
Check Your Understanding
State whether the following sentences are True or False.
|
Statement |
Answer |
|
1. Reaching the peak of skill in a field typically demands
focused and intense dedication for about a decade. |
True (The letter says "at least ten
years") |
|
2. The mother believes that significant effort and
personal sacrifices are essential for turning aspirations into reality. |
True |
|
3. The path to achieving deepest desires has very little
difficulty or few obstacles. |
False (It is "uphill most of the
way") |
|
4. The mother is of the opinion that a person's life goals
and hopes can evolve over time. |
True |
|
5. Having a strong network of individuals can be a hurdle
in pursuing one's ambition. |
False (A support network actually helps;
winners thank many people) |
|
6. The mother feels that pursuing a major life goal will
not involve any financial expense or sacrifice. |
False (She says "Count the cost") |
|
7. For many individuals, their aspirations remain just
wishes because they don't move beyond mere daydreaming. |
True |
Critical Reflection
Extract 1 (from page 235 of the PDF)
(i) Complete the analogy:
enthusiasm : passion :: belief : conviction
(ii) Choose the correct option:
The author says that a realistic assessment of effort, investment and sacrifice
is crucial for preventing
B. an early abandonment of the dream
(iii) The word 'plunge' indicates a ________ involvement
in a task.
Answer: complete (full commitment)
(iv) Why does the author's emphasis on 'doing what you
love best' work as intrinsic motivation?
Answer: Because it comes from inside you, not from outside rewards.
When you truly love what you do, you naturally want to work hard without anyone
forcing you.
(v) Mention one motivating factor besides 'prospect of
success' that keeps a person on track.
Answer: Support from family and friends / The joy of doing what you
love / The inner satisfaction of working hard.
Extract 2 (from page 236)
(i) The phrase 'life itself may change a person's dreams'
suggests dreams are ________.
Answer: dynamic (or evolving - meaning they can change over time)
(ii) What does the author mean by 'hopes and aspirations
are no less than the original dream of younger days'?
Answer: The new dreams and goals that come later in life are just
as important and valuable as the dreams you had when you were young.
(iii) Identify the phrase from the extract that indicates
a complex and challenging journey.
Answer: "negotiate a path through a maze of hurdles"
(iv) Why does the author say 'people who are participants
in your dreamscape would be many more'?
Answer: As you grow older, more people like family members,
colleagues, friends, and mentors become involved in helping you achieve your
dreams.
(v) What is the tone of the author in this extract?
Answer: C. optimistic and encouraging
Answer the following questions (in your own words)
1. What do you think Ming must have written to her mother
about?
Ming probably wrote a letter to her mother saying that she has a dream she
wants to follow. She might be feeling scared or unsure about whether she should
pursue it. She asked her mother for advice, guidance, and encouragement.
2. How can one attain an international level of skill in
any field? Mention any two ways.
- Practice
intensively and consistently for at least ten years
- Make financial
investments and personal sacrifices (give up comfort and leisure
time)
3. What differentiates mere dreamers from actual
achievers?
Mere dreamers only wish and imagine. Actual achievers take action -
they put in hard work, make sacrifices, count the costs, and then
"plunge" into the task. They don't stop at wishful thinking.
4. How does Ming's mother use critical questions and
personal anecdotes to persuade Ming?
She asks important questions like "Count the cost in years of effort,
financial investments and sacrifice." This makes Ming think realistically.
She also shares her own example of how publishing a book took ten years and how
her original dream changed over time. This shows that dreams evolve but are
still worth pursuing.
5. How does Ming's mother balance encouragement with
caution?
She first encourages Ming by saying "By all means follow that dream."
But she also gives caution by explaining the hard work,
obstacles, and time needed. She says she is not putting a "wet
blanket" on dreams, but Ming must think carefully before jumping in. This
balanced advice is very practical.
6. Is this advice still relevant in contemporary society?
Why?
Yes, this advice is still very relevant today. Even in modern times,
achieving big dreams requires hard work, dedication, time, and sacrifice. The
challenges might be different (like technology or competition), but the basic
principles of hard work and commitment remain the same.
7. What 'costs' are you willing or unwilling to invest to
pursue your goals? (Sample answer)
I am willing to invest my time, hard work, and focus. I am
willing to wake up early and practice daily. But I am not willing to
give up my health, family relationships, or values. A good balance is
important.
Vocabulary and Structures in Context
I. Compound words with '-scape' (meaning 'view or scene
of')
|
Word |
Meaning |
|
mindscape |
a mental view or scene (what you imagine in your mind) |
|
seascape |
view of the sea |
|
landscape |
view of land area (mountains, fields, forests) |
|
cityscape |
view of a city (buildings, streets, lights) |
Fill in the dialogue:
Sneha: "Your Goa pictures were beautiful! That (i)
seascape was dreamy."
Kiran: "Thanks! It was way better than our usual (ii)
cityscape, so peaceful."
Sneha: "I get that. But sometimes the city lights have
their own charm."
Kiran: "True, but I'm craving a quiet (iii)
landscape. Forests, hills—something real."
Sneha: "Yes, nature clears the (iv) mindscape,
doesn't it?"
II. Meanings of expressions
|
Expression |
Meaning |
Your own sentence |
|
burn in her blood |
have a passionate desire |
Her love for music burned in her blood. |
|
uphill task |
a tough challenge |
Climbing the mountain was an uphill task. |
|
buoyed up |
lifted in spirit |
She was buoyed up by her friend's kind words. |
|
wishful thinking |
a hopeful belief but unlikely to be true |
Thinking you can pass without studying is just wishful
thinking. |
|
wet blanket |
a spoilsport who ruins fun |
Don't be a wet blanket; come join the party! |
|
coursing through her veins |
flowing through her body (strong feeling) |
Excitement was coursing through her veins before the
race. |
III. First conditional with imperatives
Complete these sentences with your own ideas:
- If
the idea excites you, go for it without any delay.
- If
you hear strange noises, inform an adult immediately.
- If
this seems too hard, break it into smaller, manageable steps.
- If
you care about the issue, speak up and take action.
- If
you finish early, help others who are still working.
IV. Usage of 'could' - match the functions
|
Sentence |
Function |
|
"It could be in any field – sports, science,
arts..." |
Possibility |
|
"I wish I could be this or the other" |
Unreal or hypothetical situation |
|
"They could have preferred to trade their dream for
security" |
Past possibility or speculation |
|
"so that they could support their siblings through
school" |
Past ability or purpose |
V. Fill in the blanks with 'could'
- I
wish I could travel without worrying about money.
- They could
have taken the shorter route, but they didn't know about it.
- When
I was younger, I could run without stopping.
- She could
be in the library right now – she had mentioned it.
- Could
you repeat the question? I didn't hear it clearly.
VI. Fill in the blanks with correct verb forms
Experiential learning paragraph:
- helps
- learned (or
learnt)
- work
- apply
- conducts
- analyses
- must
reflect
- helps
- is
- will
incorporate
Listen and Respond (Page 241)
Based on the audio transcript on page 275 of the PDF
- Vocational
courses will begin in the month of April.
- The
objective of the courses is to prepare you with practical skills for
future studies and jobs.
- Offered
courses include Graphic Design, Basic Coding, Web Application,
and Entrepreneurship Skills, etc.
- Classes
will be conducted by trained professionals at school.
- The
application forms will be available at the school office.
- Choice
of course will be given to early applicants.
[Image: Students learning vocational skills like coding
or graphic design]
Speaking Activity (Page 241)
Role Play – Four Characters
Use these sentence starters for your role play:
|
Character |
Sentence Starters |
|
The Dreamer (e.g., wants to be a trekking
guide) |
"I know this might sound challenging, but..." |
|
A Parent (worried about stability) |
"I know you're passionate, but..." |
|
A Mentor or Teacher (balanced advice) |
"Remember, dreams need planning..." |
|
A Friend/Sibling (supportive) |
"You've always been good at this – don't give
up!" |
Writing Task (Page 242)
Email enquiry about a summer workshop
text
From: yourname@email.com
To: director@designinstitute.com
Cc:
Bcc:
Subject: Enquiry about Summer Design Workshop
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am a student of Grade 9 and I am very passionate
about pursuing a career in designing. I recently came
across information about a summer workshop being
conducted by your reputed institute.
I would like to request you to provide me with the
following details:
1. Dates and duration of the workshop
2. Eligibility criteria for students
3. Fees and registration process
4. Topics that will be covered during the workshop
I am very keen to join this workshop to learn and
improve my design skills. Kindly let me know if there
are any prerequisites or materials I need to bring.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
Grade 9, [School Name]
Contact: [your phone number]
[Image: A laptop showing an email being written – visual
of the format]
Learning Beyond the Text
I. Create a Vision Board
A vision board is a visual representation of your goals,
dreams, and inspirations. Create one with these sections:
|
Section |
What to include |
|
My Dreams |
What you wish for in the future (e.g., become an artist,
serve the nation, learn a new skill) |
|
I Want to Try |
New things to experience this year (e.g., try out for a
play, start a journal, learn cycling) |
|
Goals |
Specific things to achieve (e.g., "Read 10 books this
year", "Improve my writing") |
|
Places I Will Go |
Real or imaginary places (e.g., mountains, seashore,
space, ocean) |
|
Inspiration |
People or quotes that motivate you (e.g., family member,
teacher, famous personality) |
[Image: A sample vision board with pictures, quotes, and
colourful sections]
II. Inspirational Personalities
The PDF mentions two great examples:
- Chhatrapati
Shivaji's mother Jijabai – She told him stories from the Ramayana
and Mahabharata, which shaped his leadership, bravery, and sense of
justice.
- Queen
Madalasa – She taught her children deep wisdom about the soul and
detachment from material desires. She is a timeless example of a mother
guiding her children on the path of enlightenment.
Additional example from the PDF (Chapter 9, but good for
inspiration):
Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam – He delivered newspapers
early in the morning to support his education. Through hard work and
perseverance, he became a great scientist and the 11th President of India.
Summary of the Chapter
|
Key Learning Points |
|
A true dream keeps you awake and motivates you to work
hard |
|
Following a dream requires at least ten years of dedicated
practice |
|
You must count the costs – time, money, and sacrifices |
|
A strong support network (family, friends, mentors) is
very helpful |
|
Dreams can change over time – that's perfectly normal |
|
Mere wishful thinking leads nowhere; action is essential |
|
Parents should encourage but also guide children with
practical advice |
Important Vocabulary from the Chapter
|
Word/Phrase |
Meaning |
|
imperative |
absolutely necessary |
|
plunge |
throw yourself into an activity with full commitment |
|
buoyed up |
kept afloat; encouraged |
|
wistfully |
in a longing or sad way |
|
dreamscape |
a world of dreams |
|
uphill task |
a difficult challenge |
|
wet blanket |
someone who spoils others' fun |
|
coursing through veins |
feeling strongly inside you |