English Class 9 — Kaveri
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Follow That Dream — Critical Reflection & Exercises

🎓 Class 9 English CBSE Theory Ch 8 — Follow That Dream ⏱ ~40 min
🌐 Language: [gtranslate]

This MCQ module is based on: Follow That Dream — Critical Reflection & Exercises

This assessment will be based on: Follow That Dream — Critical Reflection & Exercises

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Critical Reflection — Extract 1

The Cost of a Dream

"It starts with a passion for a particular interest, then comes the conviction that it is imperative to realise it. Count the cost in years of effort, financial investments and sacrifice. Then if it is still burning in your blood and you are ready to commit yourself to the task, plunge. … When stamina is running out, the prospect of success will keep you on track."
Understand · L2

(i) Complete the analogy: enthusiasm : passion :: belief : ____________

conviction. Just as enthusiasm intensifies into passion, belief intensifies into conviction.
Apply · L3

(ii) A realistic assessment of effort, investment and sacrifice is crucial for preventing ____________.

Option B — an early abandonment of the dream. If the cost is realistically counted before plunging in, the dreamer is less likely to be ambushed by hardship and quit halfway.
Understand · L2

(iii) The word 'plunge' indicates a ____________ involvement in a task. (complete / gradual)

complete. To plunge is to dive in fully, not to wade in step by step.
Analyse · L4

(iv) The author's emphasis on "doing what you love best and doing the right thing" works as intrinsic motivation because ____________.

…the reward comes from inside the work itself — meaning, joy, alignment with values — rather than from external rewards (money, applause). Intrinsic motivation lasts longer because it is not damaged when external rewards are slow to arrive.
Evaluate · L5

(v) Mention one motivating factor besides 'prospect of success' that might keep a person on track when stamina runs out.

A strong support network — the friends, family or mentors who believe in you when your own belief is fading. Other equally valid factors: a small daily habit, a written purpose statement, a memory of why one started, the fear of regret in old age.

Critical Reflection — Extract 2

Dreams That Change with Life

"From my own experience, life itself may change a person's dreams. These hopes and aspirations are no less than the original dream of younger days. To fulfil them you will need to negotiate a path through a maze of hurdles. The dream will take a much longer time to realise, and the people who are participants in your dreamscape would be many more."
Understand · L2

(i) The phrase 'life itself may change a person's dreams' suggests that dreams are not static but rather ____________. (evolving / dynamic)

Both evolving and dynamic are correct — dreams shift, grow and reshape themselves with experience, rather than remaining the same fixed wish you had at fifteen.
Analyse · L4

(ii) What does the author mean by 'hopes and aspirations are no less than the original dream of younger days'?

She means that a dream which arrives later in life is just as worthy as the one you began with. Adults sometimes feel guilty for "swapping" their early ambitions for new ones. The mother insists that the new dream — born from real experience — has equal dignity, not lesser.
Analyse · L4

(iii) Identify the phrase that indicates a complex and challenging journey.

"a maze of hurdles". A maze is confusing; hurdles are barriers. The phrase combines disorientation and obstruction.
Apply · L3

(iv) The author says, 'people who are participants in your dreamscape would be many more' because ____________.

…an evolved adult dream usually involves family, colleagues, students, customers or community members. As life broadens, so does the network of people whose lives are tied to one's success — making the journey less private and more shared.
Evaluate · L5

(v) What is the tone of the author in this extract?

Option C — optimistic and encouraging. The author acknowledges difficulty ("maze of hurdles") but the overall message is positive — new dreams are valid, more people will share them, and they can still come true.

Long-Answer Comprehension

Thinking about the Letter

Q1.

The letter begins with 'By all means follow that dream.' What do you think Ming must have written to her mother about?

Ming must have written about a specific dream of hers — possibly to study an unconventional subject, take up a profession her family did not expect, or join a creative field like design, performing arts or sports. Her letter probably also carried doubt — asking whether the dream was worth pursuing given the cost. The mother's strong opening shows she wants to remove that doubt at once before adding her cautions.

Q2.

How can one attain an international level of skill in any field? Mention any two ways.

First, by pursuing the field singularly and intensively for at least ten years — not as a hobby but as a near-daily practice. Second, by accepting the costs honestly — financial investment, years of sacrifice, missed alternative paths — and committing only when the conviction still burns after that count. The mother also implies a third helper: a strong support network, like the host of people every Academy Award winner thanks.

Q3.

What differentiates the mere dreamers from actual achievers?

Mere dreamers stay at the wish stage — they say "I wish I could be this or the other" but never move past wishful thinking. Actual achievers add three things: conviction (a firm belief that realising the dream is imperative), commitment (the willingness to plunge after counting the cost), and endurance (years of sustained effort even when stamina runs low). The first three letters of the mother's plan — passion, conviction, commitment — separate them.

Q4.

How does Ming's mother use critical questions and personal anecdotes to persuade Ming and convey her message effectively?

She uses critical questions to make Ming pause: "Do you know that to reach world-class standard… one has to be… pursuing the subject for at least ten years?" The question is gentle but pushes Ming to think rather than just nod. She uses personal anecdotes too — the people whose Raffles College plans were destroyed by World War II, those who left school to support siblings, and her own ten-year journey to publish a book. Each story replaces preaching with evidence. By weaving questions and lived examples, the mother turns the letter into a conversation rather than a lecture, letting Ming conclude for herself.

Q5.

How does Ming's mother balance encouragement with caution?

The very first line ("By all means follow that dream") is full encouragement. But she immediately adds caution — count the cost, ten years, sacrifice, financial investments, security trade-offs, the possibility that life will change one's dreams. She does not weaken the encouragement; she equips it. She refuses to be a "wet blanket" but also refuses to flatter. The mother's tone, therefore, is that of a responsible cheerleader — saying yes to the dream while preparing Ming for the path.

Q6.

Is this advice still relevant in contemporary society?

Yes — perhaps more than ever. Today's world offers more dreams than any previous generation: tech start-ups, content creation, social entrepreneurship, gaming, design, climate work. But the core conditions remain — passion is everywhere, conviction is rarer, and ten-year commitment is rarer still. Social media compresses success into thirty-second highlight reels, hiding the years of unseen work. The mother's letter cuts through that distortion. She also names a modern truth: dreams change with life, and that is okay. Both insights — the cost of greatness and the validity of evolved dreams — speak directly to today's teenagers and their families.

Q7.

What 'costs' in terms of effort, sacrifice and time are you willing or unwilling to invest to pursue your goals?

Open response. A strong answer names two or three concrete costs the student is willing to pay (e.g., reducing screen time, postponing a gap-year holiday, choosing a less prestigious college that has the right department) and one or two costs the student is honestly unwilling to pay (e.g., damaging family relationships, sacrificing physical or mental health). The honesty matters more than the heroism — the mother of the letter would prefer a true answer to a brave one.

Vocabulary I — Compound Words with "-scape"

The "-scape" Family

Rule: The suffix -scape means "a view or scene of". So a landscape is a view of land, a seascape a view of the sea, a cityscape a view of a city, and a dreamscape the imagined world of dreams.
WordMeaning
landscapeThe visible features of an area of land — hills, valleys, fields and rivers seen together.
seascapeA view of the sea, especially as the subject of a painting or photograph.
cityscapeA view or scene of a city, especially its skyline of buildings.
mindscapeThe mental landscape of a person — the inner world of thoughts and feelings.
dreamscapeThe imagined landscape of dreams; the inner world of one's hopes.

Fill the Dialogue

Sneha: Your Goa pictures were beautiful! That (i) __________ was dreamy.
Kiran: Thanks! It was way better than our usual (ii) __________ — so peaceful.
Sneha: I get that. But sometimes the city lights have their own charm.
Kiran: True, but I'm craving a quiet (iii) __________. Forests, hills — something real.
Sneha: Yes, nature clears the (iv) __________, doesn't it?
Kiran: Exactly. Let's plan a trip that soothes — inside and out.
(i) seascape   (ii) cityscape   (iii) landscape   (iv) mindscape.

Vocabulary II — Idioms in Context

Choose the Best Meaning

Read each sentence carefully and choose the best meaning of the underlined expression.

1. She had a dream that seemed to burn in her blood, and she wasn't going to give up on it easily.

(ii) have a passionate desire. Sample: "Dance has burned in his blood since the day he saw a Kathak performance at four."

2. Preparing for the final exam without proper notes felt like an uphill task.

(i) a tough challenge. Sample: "Convincing the panel without rehearsals was an uphill task, but I tried."

3. The team was buoyed up by their recent victory and felt confident about the next game.

(iv) lifted in spirit. Sample: "After her gentle email, I was buoyed up enough to send the application."

4. He thought he could ace the exam without studying, but that was just wishful thinking.

(iii) a hopeful belief but unlikely to be true. Sample: "Expecting her to remember every birthday was wishful thinking."

5. Don't be a wet blanket — we're trying to have fun!

(i) spoil-sport. Sample: "He turned into a wet blanket the moment we mentioned karaoke."

6. Excitement was coursing through her veins as she stepped onto the stage for the first time.

(ii) flowing through her body. Sample: "Joy was coursing through his veins when the result page finally loaded."

Grammar I — First Conditional with Imperatives

The First Conditional

Rule: The first conditional talks about real or possible future situations. Standard form: If + present simple, will + base verb.
You can replace will + verb in the main clause with an imperative — a command or piece of advice.
From the text: "After all the obstacles are considered, if the burning conviction is still coursing through your veins, then go ahead and do something about it."
Here, "go ahead and do something about it" is the imperative.

Complete with your own imperatives

  1. If the idea excites you, __________________.
  2. If you hear strange noises, __________________.
  3. If this seems too hard, __________________.
  4. If you care about the issue, __________________.
  5. If you finish early, __________________.
1. …write it down before you forget it.
2. …tell an adult immediately and stay where you are.
3. …break it into smaller steps and start with the easiest one.
4. …raise your voice — silence is also a vote.
5. …help a classmate who is still working.

Grammar II — Functions of "Could"

What "could" Can Do

Common functions of could: Past ability or purpose · Possibility (now or future) · Past possibility / speculation · Unreal or hypothetical situation · Polite request.

Match each sentence from the text to its function

SentenceFunction
1. "It could be in any field — sports, science, arts, business or design."(b) Possibility
2. "I wish I could be this or the other," they have never got beyond just wishful thinking.(d) Unreal or hypothetical situation
3. They could have preferred to trade their dream for security.(c) Past possibility or speculation
4. …they had to go out to work so that they could support their siblings…(a) Past ability or purpose

Complete with "could" — function in brackets

  1. I wish __________ without worrying about money. (unreal / hypothetical)
  2. They __________ the shorter route, but they didn't know about it. (past possibility / speculative)
  3. When I was younger, I __________ without stopping. (past ability)
  4. She __________ the library right now — she had mentioned it. (possibility)
  5. __________ repeat the question? I didn't hear it clearly. (formal / polite request)
1. I could travel without worrying about money.
2. They could have taken the shorter route, but they didn't know about it.
3. When I was younger, I could swim for hours without stopping.
4. She could be at the library right now — she had mentioned it.
5. Could you repeat the question? I didn't hear it clearly.

Grammar III — Tense Forms in a Paragraph

Experiential Learning

Fill the blanks with the suitable form of the verb in brackets.

Experiential learning is an approach to education that focuses on learning through experience, action and reflection. It (1) __________ (help) students gain practical knowledge and develop real-world skills. Traditionally, students (2) __________ (learn) by listening to lectures and memorising facts, but experiential learning has changed this process.

In an experiential setting, students (3) __________ (work) on projects, solve problems and take part in activities that reflect real-life challenges. They (4) __________ (apply) what they have learned in class to new and unfamiliar situations. For example, a student studying science (5) __________ (conduct) experiments to test a theory, while a business student (6) __________ (analyse) a case study to understand market trends.

Reflection is key to this process. After completing a task, learners (7) __________ (must / reflect) on what went well and what could be improved. This reflection (8) __________ (help) them build a deeper understanding of the topic.

Educators believe that experiential learning (9) __________ (be) more effective than passive learning methods because it is engaging and meaningful. In the future, more schools and universities (10) __________ (incorporate) experiential learning into their curriculum to prepare students for the real world.
1. helps   2. learnt / learned (or used to learn)   3. work   4. apply   5. conducts   6. analyses   7. must reflect   8. helps   9. is   10. will incorporate.

Listen and Respond

Vocational Courses Announcement

Listen to an announcement at school about new vocational courses. Fill the blanks with one to three exact words you hear. (Transcript with the teacher.)

1. Vocational courses will begin in the month of __________.
2. The objective of the courses is to prepare you with __________ for future studies and jobs.
3. Offered courses include Graphic Design, __________, Web Application, and Entrepreneurship Skills, etc.
4. Classes will be conducted by __________ at school.
5. The application forms will be available at the __________.
6. Choice of course will be given to __________ applicants.
1. July / August   2. practical skills   3. Beauty & Wellness / IT   4. industry experts / trained instructors   5. school office / reception   6. early / first-come first-served. (Final answers depend on the exact transcript provided to the teacher.)

Speaking Activity — Four Voices on a Dream

Group Role-Play

Work in groups of four. Each member takes one role and uses the prompts to argue their case. Imagine the Dreamer wants to be a trekking guide.

1. The Dreamer (e.g., wants to be a trekking guide)

  • "I know this might sound challenging, but…"
  • "Ever since I was a child, I've dreamed of…"
  • "I understand it's not a usual path, but I believe…"
  • "It's an uphill journey, but I'm ready for it because…"

2. A Parent (worried about financial stability)

  • "I know you're passionate, but…"
  • "I only want what's best for you, and…"
  • "You can always pursue your dream later…"
  • "What if it doesn't…?"

3. A Mentor or Teacher (balanced advice)

  • "Remember, dreams need planning…"
  • "Let's look at the long-term view…"
  • "There are ways to combine your dream and…"
  • "Are you ready to…?"

4. A Friend or Sibling (neutral / supportive)

  • "You've always been good at … don't give up now."
  • "I don't want to be a wet blanket, but what's your backup plan?"
  • "If anyone can do this, it's you, so…"
  • "If this dream makes you happy…"
Dreamer: "Ever since I was twelve, I've dreamed of guiding people through the Himalayas. I know it's an uphill journey, but I'm ready for it because mountains are where I think most clearly."
Parent: "I know you're passionate, but trekking guides do not have a steady salary, and the season is short. What if it doesn't earn enough for you in five years?"
Mentor: "Let's look at the long-term view. You could combine certified mountaineering training with a degree in tourism management — that gives you the dream and the income side by side."
Friend: "If anyone can do this, it's you. But just to be safe — what's your backup plan if a knee injury keeps you off the trails for a year?"

Writing Task — A Formal Email

Email Enquiring About a Design Workshop

You are passionate about pursuing a course in design in future. You come across a summer workshop being conducted by a reputed design institute. Write an email to the Director enquiring about details and expressing your interest.

Format Guide 
From:    [your-email]
To:      [director@institute]
Cc:      [optional]
Bcc:     [optional]
Subject: A short, specific line — usually starts with the
         purpose ("Enquiry regarding…")

Salutation: Dear Sir / Madam,

Paragraph 1 — Introduction
   Who you are, your class and school.
   How you came across the workshop.
Paragraph 2 — Seeking details
   Dates · eligibility · fee · syllabus · application steps
   · accommodation · last date.
Paragraph 3 — Conclusion
   Express interest, request a reply, thank politely.

Complementary close: Yours sincerely,
Name
(Class / school / contact details)

Sample Email (~160 words)

From: ananya.r@students.kvp.ac.in
To: director@neodesignacademy.in
Subject: Enquiry regarding the Summer Design Workshop 2026

Dear Sir / Madam,

I am Ananya Ramachandran, a Class 9 student at Kendriya Vidyalaya Pune. I came across the announcement of your Summer Design Workshop 2026 on the institute's official website. I have been working with sketching, typography and digital illustration for the last three years, and I am keen to take my interest forward in a structured setting.

I would be grateful if you could share details on the following: the workshop dates and daily timings; eligibility criteria for Class 9 students; fee and any scholarship options; the indicative syllabus or modules; the application procedure and last date; and whether out-station candidates are offered residential facilities.

I am eager to participate and look forward to your reply. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,
Ananya Ramachandran
Class 9-B, Kendriya Vidyalaya Pune · +91-98XXXXXX12

Learning Beyond the Text

Create Your Vision Board

A vision board is a visual map of your goals, dreams and inspirations. It helps you focus on what you want to achieve and stay motivated. Use pictures, words and symbols. Plan it in five sections:

  1. My Dreams — what you wish for in the future (becoming an artist, serving the nation, learning a new skill).
  2. I Want to Try — new things you want to experience this year (auditioning for a play, starting a journal, learning to ride a bicycle).
  3. Goals — specific, measurable goals ("Read 10 books this year", "Improve my handwriting").
  4. Places I Will Go — real or imaginary places (a city, a hill station, even outer space).
  5. Inspiration — a person, a quote or a memory that gives you strength.

Mothers Who Shaped Great Children — Two Indian Examples

Jijabai & Chhatrapati Shivaji. Shivaji's mother instilled in him a strong sense of dharma, patriotism and justice. The tales she told from the Ramayana and Mahabharata shaped his leadership ideals and his bravery on the battlefield.

Queen Madālasa. Wife of King Ritudhwaja, she nurtured in her children a deep understanding of the soul and detachment from material desires. Her wisdom led her sons towards spiritual liberation. Madālasa is a timeless example of a mother guiding her children on the path of enlightenment.

Continue with Part 3

Pre-reading on courage · Robert Langley's poem Believe in Yourself · Stanza-wise central ideas · Symbolism, Antithesis, Metaphor · Critical Reflection · Latin expressions · Rhetorical Questions · Listening · Proverb role-play · Speech Writing · Bonus poem Always Believe in Yourself · Stories of Ambedkar, Shastri and Kalam

Frequently Asked Questions — Follow That Dream — Critical Reflection & Exercises

What is in the Follow That Dream exercises section in NCERT Class 9 Kaveri?

The exercises cover Critical Reflection on two extracts, seven long-answer comprehension questions, compound words with the suffix ‘-scape’, six idioms in context (burn in your blood, uphill task, buoyed up, wishful thinking, wet blanket, coursing through your veins), the First Conditional with imperatives, the modal verb ‘could’, a 10-blank tense paragraph, listening on vocational courses, a four-role group speaking activity and a formal email-writing task.

How is the First Conditional explained in Follow That Dream?

The First Conditional is introduced with the rule ‘If + present simple, will + base verb’ and the chapter’s example: “If the burning conviction is still coursing through your veins, then go ahead and do something about it.” The lesson shows how the main clause can be replaced by an imperative, and gives five ‘If … then’ sentences for students to complete with their own commands.

How do you write a formal email in NCERT Class 9 Kaveri?

A formal email begins with a clear subject line, uses Dear Sir/Madam as salutation, and follows three paragraphs — introduction (who you are and how you came across the opportunity), seeking details (dates, eligibility, fee, syllabus, last date) and conclusion (express interest, request a reply, thank politely). The lesson includes a 160-word sample email enquiring about a summer design workshop.

What are compound words with -scape covered in Follow That Dream?

The suffix ‘-scape’ means ‘a view or scene of’. The lesson explains five members of this family — landscape, seascape, cityscape, mindscape and dreamscape — with definitions and a four-blank dialogue practice between Sneha and Kiran on a Goa holiday. Answers are revealed with a button click.

How do these exercises help CBSE Class 9 board preparation?

The exercises follow the exact CBSE Class 9 board format — Bloom-tagged extract questions, idiom-meaning MCQs, integrated grammar from the passage, listening fill-ins, formal letter/email writing with format guides and a sample response. Every section ends with a ‘Show Answer’ button revealing a model answer.

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