GSEB Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 4 A Truly Beautiful Mind Solutions

Thinking About The Text

Question 1. Here are some headings for paragraphs in the text. Write the number(s) of the paragraph(s) for each title against the heading. (The first one is done for you.)
(i) Einstein's equation
(ii) Einstein meets his future wife
(iii) The making of a violinist
(iv) Mileva and Einstein's mother
(v) A letter that launched the arms race
(vi) A desk drawer full of ideas
(vii) Marriage and divorce
Answer:
(1) 9
(2) 7
(3) 3
(4) 10
(5) 15
(6) 8
(7) 11
In simple words: Match each heading to the paragraph where that topic is mainly discussed. The numbers show which paragraph talks about each item.

Exam Tip: For this type of question, quickly scan the text of each paragraph to identify its main theme, then match it to the given headings. Note down the paragraph number as you find it.

Question 2. Who had these opinions about Einstein ?
(1) He was boring.
(2) He was stupid and would never succeed in life.
(3) He was a freak.
Answer:
(1) Einstein's playmates thought that he was boring.
(2) Einstein's headmaster thought that he was stupid and would never achieve anything in life.
(3) Einstein's mother thought that he was a freak.
In simple words: His friends, his principal, and his mother each had different negative opinions about him. His friends found him dull, his headmaster believed he wouldn't succeed, and his mother considered him unusual.

Exam Tip: When asked about opinions, identify the person or group holding the opinion and then state their exact belief clearly.

Question 3. Explain what the reasons for the following are:
(1) Einstein leaving the school in Munich for good.
(2) Einstein wanting to study in Switzerland rather than in Munich.
(3) Einstein seeing in Mileva an ally.
(4) What do these tell you about Einstein ?
Answer:
(1) Einstein left the school in Munich for good because he disliked the school's strict rules.
(2) Einstein wanted to study in Switzerland instead of Munich because it was a more open city.
(3) Einstein found Mileva to be an ally because she, like him, disagreed with the 'philistines' or people who did not enjoy art, literature, or music.
(4) These points show us that Einstein cherished freedom. He was an open-minded and cultured person.
In simple words: Einstein disliked strict rules, preferred freedom, and found people who shared his cultural interests. This tells us he valued independence and intellectual company.

Exam Tip: When explaining reasons, ensure you provide a clear "because" clause for each point. For the "What does this tell you" part, summarize the character traits inferred from the given actions.

Question 4. What did Einstein call his desk drawer at the patent office ? Why ?
Answer: Einstein called his desk drawer at the patent office the 'bureau of theoretical physics'. This was because he used to keep his secretly developed ideas in that drawer.
In simple words: He called his desk drawer a 'theoretical physics office' because he hid his new ideas there.

Exam Tip: Remember to answer both parts of the question: what he called it, and the reason why he called it that, for a complete answer.

Question 5. Why did Einstein write a letter to Franklin Roosevelt ?
Answer: Einstein wrote a letter to Franklin Roosevelt to warn about the destructive power of the atomic bomb and also desired to encourage them to create a bomb to use its destructive potential.
In simple words: Einstein wrote to Roosevelt to warn him about the atomic bomb's power and to suggest making one for strategic use.

Exam Tip: When explaining actions like writing a letter, clearly state the recipient, the main purpose (warning), and any secondary aims (encouragement to build).

Question 6. How did Einstein react to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ?
Answer: Einstein was profoundly shocked by the huge destruction on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He wrote a public letter to the United Nations. He suggested establishing a world government to prevent nuclear weapons.
In simple words: Einstein was deeply upset by the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. He then wrote to the United Nations, proposing a global government to stop nuclear weapons.

Exam Tip: Describe both Einstein's emotional response and his subsequent actions in response to such a significant event.

Question 7. Why does the world remember Einstein as a 'world citizen' ?
Answer: Einstein is remembered as a 'world citizen' as much as a brilliant scientist because of his efforts for global peace and democracy, and for his fight against using weapons.
In simple words: People remember Einstein as a 'world citizen' not just for his science, but for his hard work for peace, fairness, and stopping weapons.

Exam Tip: Highlight the two main aspects for which Einstein is remembered (scientist and world citizen) and detail the contributions for the latter title.

Question 8. Here are some facts from Einstein's life. Arrange them in chronological order:
[ ] Einstein publishes his special theory of relativity.
[ ] He is awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
[ ] Einstein writes a letter to U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and warns against Germany's building of an atomic bomb.
[ ] Einstein attends a high school in Munich.
[ ] Einstein's family moves to Milan.
[ ] Einstein is born in the German city of Ulm.
[ ] Einstein joins a university in Zurich, where he meets Mileva.
[ ] Einstein dies.
[ ] He provides a new interpretation of gravity.
[ ] Tired of the school's regimentation, Einstein withdraws from school.
[ ] He works in a patent office as a technical expert.
[ ] When Hitler comes to power, Einstein leaves Germany for the United States.
Answer:
[1] Einstein is born in the German city of Ulm.
[2] Einstein attends a high school in Munich.
[3] Einstein's family moves to Milan.
[4] Tired of the school's strict rules, Einstein withdraws from school.
[5] Einstein joins a university in Zurich, where he meets Mileva.
[6] He works in a patent office as a technical expert.
[7] Einstein publishes his special theory of relativity.
[8] He provides a new understanding of gravity.
[9] He is awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
[10] When Hitler gains power, Einstein leaves Germany for the United States.
[11] Einstein writes a letter to U.S. President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and warns against Germany's creation of an atomic bomb.
[12] Einstein dies.
In simple words: Arrange the events of Einstein's life by when they happened, starting from his birth and ending with his death, placing key life moments and scientific achievements in between.

Exam Tip: For chronological ordering, it is helpful to list the events and mentally or physically number them as you recall the sequence from the text, ensuring no events are missed.

Vocabulary And Grammar

Vocabulary

Question 1. Fill in the blanks choosing the correct words given in the brackets:
(1) (prolonged, moved, previous, left)
The ______a______ year, Albert's parents had ______b______ to Milan, and ______c______ their son with relatives. After ______d______ discussion, Einstein got his wish to continue his education in Switzerland.
Answer:
a. previous
b. moved
c. left
d. prolonged
In simple words: Choose the best words from the list to complete the sentences, making sure they fit the meaning and grammar.

Exam Tip: Read the entire sentence with each option to check for contextual and grammatical fit. Sometimes, eliminating incorrect options can lead you to the right answer.

Question 2. Fill in the blanks choosing the correct words given in the brackets:
(2) (private, right, while, unravelling)
______a______ Einstein was solving the most difficult problems in Physics, his ______b______ life was ______c______. Albert had wanted to marry Mileva ______d______ after finishing his studies.
Answer:
a. While
b. private
c. unravelling
d. right
In simple words: Select the correct word for each empty spot in the sentence to complete the meaning accurately.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to the flow and logic of the sentence when choosing words for fill-in-the-blanks; the context is key to finding the best fit.

Question 3. Rectify the errors in the passage:
(1) At the age of two-and-half, Einstein still wasn't talk. When he finally did learn to speak, he uttered nothing twice. Einstein did not know what doing with other children, and his playmates asked him “Brother Boring.” So the old man played by himself much of the time.

Exam Tip: Carefully read each sentence to catch grammatical errors, incorrect word forms, or awkward phrasing. Focus on common mistakes like verb tense, article usage, and prepositions.

Question. Rectify the errors in the passage: (2)
A headmaster ones told Einstein's father If what Einstein chose as a profession wouldn't matter, therefore “he'll never make a success at everything.” Einstein began to learn to play the violin at the age of six, therefore his mother wanted him to.
Answer: A headmaster once told Einstein's father that what Einstein chose as a profession wouldn't matter, because “he'll never make a success at anything.” Einstein began learning to play the violin at the age of six, because his mother wanted him to.

Exam Tip: Always read through your rewritten passage to ensure it sounds natural and grammatically correct. Check for proper use of conjunctions and articles.

Question. Fill in the blanks using article(s), conjunctions(s) and preposition(s) at the correct places:
(1) Albert Einstein went .......... high school .......... Munich, .......... Einstein's family had moved .......... he was 15-months-old, scored good marks in .......... every subject.
Answer: (1) Albert Einstein went to high school in Munich, where Einstein's family had moved when he was 15-months-old, scored good marks in almost every subject.

Exam Tip: Pay close attention to prepositions and conjunctions, as they determine the relationships between parts of a sentence. Read the sentence aloud with your chosen words to check if it sounds natural.

Question. Fill in the blanks using article(s), conjunctions(s) and preposition(s) at the correct places:
(2) Einstein died .......... 1955 .......... the age .......... 76, he was celebrated .......... a visionary .......... world citizen.
Answer: (2) Einstein died in 1955 at the age of 76, he was celebrated as a visionary and world citizen.

Exam Tip: For dates and ages, specific prepositions are often used: 'in' for years, 'at' for a specific age, and 'of' to connect age to a number.

Question. Punctuate the following passage:
He especially loved mechanical toys looking at his newborn sister Maja he is said to have said fine but where are her wheels
Answer: He especially loved mechanical toys. Looking at his newborn sister, Maja, he is said to have said, "Fine, but where are her wheels ?"
In simple words: We added periods, a comma, quotation marks, and a question mark to the passage to make it easier to read and understand the meaning.

Exam Tip: Punctuation helps convey meaning and tone. Always enclose direct speech in quotation marks and use commas to separate clauses or items in a list. Don't forget capital letters for the start of new sentences and proper nouns.

Question. Convert the following into Indirect Speech:
Einstein said, "How happy and proud I shall be when we both have brought our work on relativity to a victorious conclusion!”
Answer: Einstein exclaimed with great joy that he would be extremely happy and proud when they both had brought their work on relativity to a victorious conclusion.
In simple words: We changed Einstein's direct words into a reported statement, adjusting pronouns, tenses, and exclamation to fit indirect speech rules.

Exam Tip: When converting to indirect speech, remember to change pronouns (I to he/she), adjust tenses (shall be to would be), and convert exclamations to descriptive phrases (e.g., exclaimed with joy).

Question. Rewrite as directed:
(1) To Einstein's mother, his head seemed much too large. (Remove 'too'.)
(2) At the age two-and-a-half, Einstein still wasn't talking. (Turn into Affirmative.)
(3) He will never make a success at anything. (Turn into Complex.)
(4) Einstein hated the school's regimentation. (Turn into Negative.)
(5) Einstein was highly gifted in Mathematics. (Turn into Exclamatory.)
(6) Albert wanted to marry Mileva right after finishing his studies, but his mother was against it. (Use 'Though'.)
(7) Mileva was older than Einstein. (Change the Voice.)
Answer:
(1) To Einstein's mother, his head seemed abnormally large.
(2) At the age two-and-a-half, Einstein still kept mute.
(3) He will never make a success in whatever he does.
(4) Einstein did not like the school's regimentation.
(5) How gifted Einstein was in Mathematics !
(6) Though Albert wanted to marry Mileva right after finishing his studies, his mother was against it.
(7) Einstein was not so old as Mileva.
In simple words: We changed each sentence as asked, for example, making a negative sentence positive or using specific connecting words.

Exam Tip: Read the instruction carefully for each sentence transformation. Understand the specific grammatical rule being tested, whether it's removing 'too', changing sentence type, or using a particular conjunction.

A Truly Beautiful Mind Summary in English

A Truly Beautiful Mind Summary:

This section offers a short explanation of a visionary and world-renowned figure - Albert Einstein, an extraordinary genius. Albert Einstein, born on 14 March 1879, in the German city of Ulm, was seen as peculiar by his mother. He would say everything twice. He did not know how to interact with other children, so his playmates called him 'Brother Boring'. He enjoyed mechanical toys. His headmaster informed his father, “He will never be successful at anything." He started learning violin at the age of six and became a talented violinist. This talent stayed with him throughout his life.

Einstein disliked the school's strict rules and often argued with his teachers. He left school at the age of 15. His parents moved to Milan. He enrolled in the university in Zurich. There he fell in love with Mileva Marie, whom he considered a 'clever person'. But because his mother did not want him to marry Mileva, their wedding was delayed. However, in 1903, the couple got married and had two sons. But due to constant disagreements between them, they divorced in 1919. The same year, Einstein married his cousin, Elsa. In 1905, Einstein's famous works - his Special Theory of Relativity - were published.

According to this theory, he proved that time and distance are not fixed. They are relative, and this led to the formula \( E = mc^2 \). In 1915, he published his General Theory of Relativity, which gave a new way of understanding gravity. He received the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. When the Nazis came to power in Germany in 1933, Einstein moved to the United States. Following the development and use of the atomic bomb, Einstein wrote a letter to the American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, on 2 August 1939. In this letter, he warned about the devastating effects of the atomic bomb. America then developed the atomic bomb, which resulted in the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. He later wrote another public letter to the United Nations, suggesting the formation of a world government. This letter, however, did not have the same impact. But over the next ten years, Einstein became more involved in politics - actively working to end the build-up of arms and using his fame to promote peace and democracy. He passed away in 1955 at the age of 76.