The Fun They Had

The vocabulary of the lesson ‘The Fun They Had’

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning
attic	noun	a space or room inside or partly inside the roof of a building.
awfully	adv	very badly or unpleasantly.
Beneath	pre/adv	extending or directly underneath. at a lower level or layer than.
betcha	contraction	bet you (used to express confidence or certainty that something is the case or will happen).
contemptuous	adjective	showing contempt; scornful. not having respect
county inspector	Compound noun	An inspector assigned to a territorial division of some countries,
crinkly	adjective	full of creases or wrinkles; wrinkled.
dials	noun	a face of a clock or watch that is marked to show units
digitalize	verb	convert (pictures, text, or sound) into a digital form that can be processed by a computer.
disappointed	adjective	sad or displeased because someone or something has failed to fulfill one's hopes or expectations
dispute	noun/verb	a disagreement or argument.
enthusiasm	noun	intense and eager enjoyment, interest, or approval
exist	verb	have objective reality or being
flashing	verb	shine in a bright but brief, sudden, or intermittent way.
geared	verb	calculated, caliber
headed	verb	go in the direction of
initiated	verb	began
initiatives	noun	beginnings
Issac Assimov	Proper Noun	An American writer
loftily	adverb	high above
Margie	Proper Noun	A character in this lesson
mechanical teacher	Compound noun	A machine which acts like a teacher
nonchalantly	adverb	in a casually calm and relaxed manner.
optimize	verb	make the best or most effective use of (a situation or resource)
patted	verb	to touch affectionately
plenty	adverb	many (used to emphasize the degree of something)
probably	adverb	almost certainly; as far as one knows or can tell.
pronouncing	verb	declare or announce in a formal or solemn way.
punch code	Compound noun	A code which uses holes on a sheet of paper
Real book	Compound noun	A book made with paper
regular	adjective	usual
robotic	adjective	relating to robots
satisfactory	adjective	fulfilling expectations or needs; acceptable, t
school room	Compound noun	A room set aside in a house for schooling
scornful	adjective	feeling or expressing contempt or disrespect
screamed	verb	made loud sound
sigh	noun/verb	long, deep audible breath expressing sadness, relief, tiredness, or similar
slot	noun	place
sorrowfully	adjective	sadly
Superior	adjective	higher in rank, status, or quality.
tabulate	verb	arrange (data) in tabular form.
telebooks	noun	books that are in electronic form
trodden	verb	stepped on (tread-trod-trodden)
virtual	adjective	not real
whistling	verb	emit a clear, high-pitched sound

 

Summary

The story happens in the future, in the year 2157. There are no schools. Children are educated in their own homes with the help of computers.

The story begins with Margie writing in her diary about an old book. The book was found by Tommy. Margie was reminded of her grandfather who had once talked about his grandfather who went to an actual school where the students were taught by human teachers.

Margie and Tommy live in the future world, in the year 2157. Education is completely computerized. They do not go to school. Instead, they have a special study room where a computer teaches them. The computer teacher is programmed and adjusted according to the needs of each child. Now and then the computer teacher develops faults. These faults are fixed by a County Inspector, who is in charge of education.

Both Tommy and Margie are wondered by the real book, printed on paper found by Tommy in the attic. They are wondered because they never saw real books. They read books on the screens of their computer teacher. Margie feels that the computer teacher is boring; she doesn’t like the method of mechanical teaching and learning. She wonders how much fun it would be studying in a real school, learning in a fun way, with other children, and taught by a human teacher.