Critical Reflection NCERT Kaveri pages 10–13

Last updated at July 13, 2026 by

I Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. Read the extract.
“When I came back to my village, I saw my grandmother in tears. I was surprised, for I had never seen her cry even in the most difficult situations. What had happened? I was worried.

‘Avva, is everything all right? Are you okay?’

I used to call her Avva, which means mother in the Kannada spoken in north Karnataka.

She nodded but did not reply. I did not understand and forgot about it. In the night, after dinner, we were sleeping in the open terrace of our house. It was a summer night and there was a full moon. Avva came and sat next to me. Her affectionate hands touched my forehead.”
(i)

Complete the following sentence with the appropriate option.

The phrase ‘never seen her cry in the most difficult situations’ tells us that the grandmother was ________________________.

  • A. strong-willed
  • B. understanding
  • C. considerate
  • D. bold
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Answer: A. strong-willed. A person who does not cry even in the most difficult situations shows inner strength and firmness.
(ii)

Complete the following with the correct option from those given in the brackets.

Grandmother did not reply when the narrator asked if she was alright because she might have been too ________________________ (emotional/tired) to respond.

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Answer: emotional. Avva was crying and overwhelmed. Her silence was emotional, not due to tiredness.
(iii)

Identify the clue from the extract that indicates a rural setting with traditional customs.

Write one clue and explain how it suggests the setting.

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The clue is “we were sleeping in the open terrace of our house.” Sleeping on the terrace on a summer night suggests a rural Indian setting and a traditional way of living. The word “Avva” also points to the regional culture of north Karnataka.
(iv)

Which lines of the extract establish a tender atmosphere?

Quote the lines and explain the effect.

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The lines are: “Avva came and sat next to me. Her affectionate hands touched my forehead.” These lines create tenderness through the quiet physical gesture of love and care.
(v)

Which of the following aspect is NOT emphasised in the given extract?

  • A. the emotional turmoil of the grandmother
  • B. the affectionate bond between the narrator and her grandmother
  • C. the grandmother’s regret over her lack of education
  • D. the narrator’s concern for her grandmother
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Answer: C. the grandmother’s regret over her lack of education. The extract shows tears, affection and the narrator’s concern, but the reason for Avva’s tears is revealed later.
2. Read the extract.
“I have decided I want to learn the Kannada alphabet from tomorrow onwards. I will work very hard. I will keep Saraswati Puja day during Dassara as the deadline. That day I should be able to read a novel on my own. I want to be independent.”

I saw the determination on her face. Yet I laughed at her.

“Avva, at this age of sixty-two you want to learn the alphabet? All your hair is grey, your hands are wrinkled, you wear spectacles and you work so much in the kitchen...”

Childishly I made fun of the old lady. But she just smiled.

“For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle. I will work harder than anybody but I will do it. For learning there is no age bar.”
(i)

What does the grandmother’s statement, “I want to be independent,” reveal about her character?

  • A. She wanted to be literate.
  • B. She desires self-sufficiency.
  • C. She wants to prove her intelligence to others.
  • D. She feels pressured by society to learn.
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Answer: B. She desires self-sufficiency. Literacy is the means; independence is her real goal.
(ii)

Fill in the blank with the appropriate option from those given in brackets.

The grandmother’s determination shows that learning has no ___________________. (age limit/gender bias/cultural barriers)

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Answer: age limit. Avva herself says, “For learning there is no age bar.”
(iii)

Complete the following with a suitable reason.

The narrator laughs at her grandmother’s decision to learn the alphabet at the age of sixty-two because ___________________.

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The narrator laughs because, as a twelve-year-old child, she assumes that Avva’s age, grey hair, wrinkled hands, spectacles and kitchen work make learning impossible.
(iv)

List any two qualities displayed by the grandmother.

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1. Determination: She sets a deadline and promises to work hard.
2. Wisdom: She calmly says that a determined person can overcome any obstacle.
(v)

How can we say that the narrator is making assumptions about her grandmother?

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The narrator judges Avva only by surface signs of age: grey hair, wrinkled hands, spectacles and kitchen work. She assumes these make learning impossible, but Avva’s later success proves the assumption wrong.
II Answer the following questions.
1. Why do you think the grandmother felt embarrassed to ask someone else to read to her while the narrator was away?
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Avva had strong self-respect. Admitting that she could not read would expose a private weakness she had carried for years. As a well-off elder, asking someone else to read for her felt humiliating, so she decided to learn herself.
2. Why does the narrator initially laugh at her grandmother's determination to learn at the age of sixty-two?
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The narrator is only twelve and sees learning through a child’s limited perspective. She notices Avva’s grey hair, wrinkled hands and spectacles, and wrongly assumes that old age makes learning impossible.
3. What significance does the story of Kashi Yatre have in both the grandmother's life and the story?
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Kashi Yatre is the central thread of the story. It creates the weekly reading ritual, causes Avva’s pain when she cannot read it alone, and becomes the final proof of her literacy. It is also personal because Avva identifies with the protagonist.
4. What does the grandmother's desire to learn the Kannada alphabet reflect about her?
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It reflects her determination, self-respect, humility and love for learning. She refuses to remain dependent, accepts her granddaughter as teacher and turns her old regret into action.
5. What lessons can we infer from the grandmother's action of touching the narrator's feet?
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We learn that a teacher deserves respect irrespective of age, gender or family relation. Avva’s action also teaches humility: true learners are grateful to those who help them gain knowledge.
6. What does the following line tell us about the broader theme of the story? “For a good cause if you are determined, you can overcome any obstacle.”
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The line states the story’s central theme: determination can defeat age, social limits and personal difficulty. Avva proves this by learning to read at sixty-two through hard work and daily practice.
7. How effectively does the story highlight the value of education in supporting personal independence?
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The story is effective because it shows the cost of illiteracy through Avva’s helplessness and tears. Her question, “What use is money when I cannot be independent?”, makes education appear not merely useful but essential for dignity and self-reliance.
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