CBSE Class 9 English Chapter 8 Follow That Dream Question Answers (Important) from Kaveri Book
Class 9 English Follow That Dream Question Answers – Looking for Follow That Dream question answers (NCERT solutions) for CBSE Class 9 English Kaveri Book Chapter 8? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 9 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Our solutions provide a clear idea of how to write the answers effectively. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Chapter 8: Follow That Dream now. The questions listed below are based on the latest CBSE exam pattern, wherein we have given NCERT solutions (Textbook Questions) to the chapter’s, Extract Based Questions, Multiple Choice Questions, and Extra Question Answers
Also, practising with different kinds of questions can help students learn new ways to solve problems that they may not have seen before. This can ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of the subject matter and better performance on exams.
- Follow That Dream Textbook Questions (NCERT Solution)
- Follow That Dream Grammar Exercises
- Follow That Dream Extract-Based Questions
- Follow That Dream Multiple Choice Questions
- Follow That Dream Extra Questions
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Twin Melodies Textbook Questions (NCERT Solution)
Check Your Understanding
I. State whether the following sentences are true or false. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
1. Reaching the peak of skill in a field typically demands a focused and intense dedication for about a decade.
2. The mother believes that significant effort and personal sacrifices are essential for turning aspirations into reality.
3. The path to achieving the deepest desires has very little difficulty or a few obstacles.
4. The mother is of the opinion that a person’s life goals and hopes can evolve over time.
5. Having a strong network of individuals can be a hurdle in pursuing one’s ambition.
6. The mother feels that pursuing a major life goal will not involve any financial expense or sacrifice.
7. For many individuals, their aspirations remain just wishes because they don’t move beyond mere daydreaming.
Ans.
1. True
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. False
6. False
7. True
Critical Reflection
I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
1. 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. It could be in any field—sports, science, arts, business, or design. The road may be uphill most of the way and often you are buoyed up only by the knowledge that you are doing what you love best and are doing the right thing. When stamina is running out, the prospect of success will keep you on track.
(i) Complete the analogy with a suitable word from the extract.
enthusiasm: passion:: belief: _____________
Ans. (i) conviction
(ii) Choose the correct option to complete the following sentence appropriately.
The author says that a realistic assessment of effort, investment and sacrifice is crucial for preventing _____________.
A. the need for external support network
B. an early abandonment of the dream
C. initial excitement from fading over time
D. others from questioning one’s commitment
Ans. B. an early abandonment of the dream
(iii) Complete the following with the correct option from those given in the brackets.
The word ‘plunge’ as used in the extract indicates a _____________ (complete/gradual) involvement in a task.
Ans. complete
(iv) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.
The author’s emphasis on ‘when you are doing what you love best and are doing the right thing’ works as a form of intrinsic motivation because _____________.
Ans. doing what one loves gives inner satisfaction and keeps a person motivated even without external rewards.
(v) Mention one motivating factor besides ‘prospect of success’, that might keep a person on track, despite running out of stamina.
Ans. Passion for the work / love for the field / support from family and friends
2. 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.
(i) Complete the sentence appropriately.
The phrase ‘life itself may change a person’s dreams’ suggests that dreams are not static but rather__________. (evolving/dynamic)
Ans. dynamic / evolving
(ii) What does the author mean by, ‘hopes and aspirations are no less than the original dream of younger days’?
Ans. It means that new hopes and goals are just as important and meaningful as the dreams we had in our younger days.
(iii) Identify the phrase from the extract that indicates a complex and challenging journey.
Ans. “a maze of hurdles”
(iv) Complete the sentence with an appropriate reason.
The author says, ‘people who are participants in your dreamscape would be many more’ because_________________.
Ans. Because achieving dreams often requires support, guidance, and involvement of many people over time.
(v) What is the tone of the author in this extract?
A. appreciative and celebratory
B. excited and cheerful
C. optimistic and encouraging
D. eager and inquisitive
Ans. C. optimistic and encouraging
II. Answer the following questions.
1. The letter begins thus, ‘By all means follow that dream’. What do you think Ming must have written to her mother about?
Ans. Ming must have written about her dream and her confusion or hesitation about whether she should pursue it.
2. How can one attain an international level of skill in any field? Mention any two ways.
Ans. One can attain an international level by:
- Practising consistently for many years (about a decade)
- Showing strong dedication and focused effort
3. What differentiates the mere dreamers from actual achievers?
Ans. Hard work, commitment, and action differentiate achievers from mere dreamers.
4. How does Ming’s mother use critical questions and personal anecdotes to persuade Ming and convey her message effectively?
Ans. Ming’s mother uses real-life examples and her own experiences along with thoughtful questions to make her advice practical, convincing, and relatable.
5. How does Ming’s mother balance encouragement with caution in her advice?
Ans. She encourages Ming to follow her dream, but also reminds her about effort, time, sacrifices, and possible challenges, thus balancing both.
6. In the letter, Ming’s mother specifically addresses the challenges people face in pursuing their dreams. Do you think this advice is still relevant in contemporary society? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Ans. Yes, the advice is still relevant because achieving dreams even today requires hard work, patience, planning, and support.
7. What ‘costs’ in terms of effort, sacrifice, and time are you willing or unwilling to invest to pursue your goals?
Ans. I am willing to invest time, effort, and dedication, but I may find it difficult to sacrifice comfort or financial security completely
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Follow That Dream Grammar Exercises
Vocabulary and Structures in Context
I. Read the following sentence from the text.
The dream will take a much longer time to realise, and the people who are participants in your dreamscape would be many more.
The word ‘dreamscape’ is a compound word where ‘-scape’ means ‘a view or scene of’.
Now, refer to a dictionary and find out the meaning of the following words.
| mindscape | seascape | landscape | cityscape |
Fill in the blanks in the following dialogue between two friends with the words given in the box.
1. Fill in the blanks in the following dialogue between two friends with the words given in the box.
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.
Ans.
(i) seascape
(ii) cityscape
(iii) landscape
(iv) mindscape
II. Read each sentence carefully and choose the best meaning for the underlined expression. Then, use that expression in a sentence of your own.
1. She had a dream that seemed to burn in her blood, and she wasn’t going to give up on it easily.
(i) make her angry
(ii) have a passionate desire
(iii) cause physical pain
(iv) become violent
Ans. (ii) have a passionate desire
Sentence: She has a dream to become a doctor that burns in her blood.
2. Preparing for the final exam without proper notes felt like an uphill task.
(i) a tough challenge
(ii) a slow progress
(iii) a hard routine
(iv) a difficult choice
Ans. (i) a tough challenge
Sentence: Climbing the mountain without training felt like an uphill task.
3. The team was buoyed up by their recent victory and felt confident about the next game.
(i) energised by success
(ii) encouraged by the result
(iii) motivated to improve
(iv) lifted in spirit
Ans. (iv) lifted in spirit
Sentence: The players were buoyed up by their coach’s encouraging words.
4. He thought he could ace the exam without studying, but that was just wishful thinking.
(i) a clever shortcut but no real effort behind it
(ii) a confident guess but lacking proper knowledge
(iii) a hopeful belief but unlikely to be true
(iv) a strong desire but based on facts and planning
Ans. (iii) a hopeful belief but unlikely to be true
Sentence: Thinking you can win without practice is just wishful thinking.
5. Don’t be a wet blanket—we’re trying to have fun!
(i) spoil-sport
(ii) latecomer
(iii) rule-breaker
(iv) daydream
Ans. (i) spoil-sport
Sentence: Don’t be a wet blanket and ruin everyone’s mood.
6. Excitement was coursing through her veins as she stepped onto the stage for the first time.
(i) hiding deep inside
(ii) flowing through her body
(iii) lingering in her thoughts
(iv) causing numbness
Ans. (ii) flowing through her body
Sentence: Joy was coursing through her veins after hearing the good news.
III. Read the following sentence 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, the first conditional is used to talk about real or possible situations in the future. Sometimes, instead of saying ‘will + verb’ in the main clause, we use an imperative (a command or advice).
Complete the sentences using your own words (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, ______________________________.
Ans.
1. go for it immediately.
2. check it carefully.
3. don’t give up.
4. take action now.
5. help others.
IV. Read the following sentences from the text. Analyse the usage of ‘could’ and match the sentences with their functions given in the box below.
| Past ability or purpose | Possibility |
| Past possibility or speculation | |
| Unreal or hypothetical situation |
1. It could be in any field—sports, science, arts, business or design.
2. “I wish I could be this or the other,” they have never got beyond just wishful thinking.
3. They could have preferred to trade their dream for security.
4. I know too, of people who had wished to finish secondary school but they had to go out to work so that they could support their siblings through school.
Ans.
1. Possibility
2. Unreal or hypothetical situation
3. Past possibility or speculation
4. Past ability or purpose
V. Complete the following sentences using ‘could’ with the functions mentioned within brackets.
1. I wish ____________ without worrying about money. (unreal or hypothetical)
2. They ____________ the shorter route, but they didn’t know about it. (past possibility or 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)
Ans.
1. I could travel
2. Could have taken
3. I could run
4. Could be in
5. Could you
VI. Fill in the blanks with suitable grammatical forms of the words given 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.
Ans.
1. helps
2. learned
3. work
4. apply
5. conducts
6. analyses
7. must reflect
8. helps
9. is
10. will incorporate
Listen and Respond
I. You will listen to an announcement regarding vocational courses starting in school. As you listen, fill in the blanks with one to three exact words that you hear. (Transcript for teacher on page 275)
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.
Ans.
1. July
2. practical skills
3. Digital Marketing
4. trained professionals
5. school office
6. interested
Writing Task
An email (electronic mail) is a method of composing, sending, storing, and receiving messages over an electronic communication system.
I. You are passionate about pursuing a course in designing in future. You come across a summer workshop being conducted by a reputed design institute. Write an email to the Director of the institute enquiring the details of the workshop and expressing your interest in joining it.
Follow the guidelines given below to write the email.
- Use formal language
- Avoid use of abbreviations
- Include the following components:
- Header consisting of—sender, receiver, date, and subject
- The message—introduction, seeking permission, conclusion
- Complementary close—Yours sincerely,
- Name, (designation), and contact details of the sender
Ans.
| From: | diksha@xxxxxxxxx |
| To: | director@designinstitute.com |
| Cc: | _ |
| Bcc: | _ |
| Date: | 15 May 2026 |
| Subject: | Enquiry about Summer Design Workshop |
| Message: | Respected Sir/Madam,
I am a Class 9 student and I am interested in pursuing a career in designing. I came to know about your summer workshop and would like to get more details. Kindly provide information about the duration, fees, and registration process. I am eager to join the workshop. Thank you for your time and consideration. Yours sincerely, |
CBSE Class 9 English Chapter 8 Follow That Dream Extract-Based Questions
A.
“Great men and women become great because they have a dream and they pursue it till it comes true. What differentiates greatness from the ordinary is how much effort and sacrifice people invest to realise their dream.”
Q1. What does the mother say makes great men and women truly great?
Ans. The mother says great people become great because they have a dream and pursue it relentlessly with complete dedication and unwavering commitment until it finally comes true.
Q2. What according to the mother differentiates greatness from ordinary achievement?
Ans. The amount of effort and personal sacrifice a person is willing to invest to realize their dream is what differentiates genuine greatness from ordinary and mediocre achievement in life.
Q3. What does the word “pursue” suggest about the nature of achieving dreams?
Ans. The word “pursue” suggests that achieving dreams requires active continuous and relentless effort. Dreams do not come to those who simply wish for them but to those who actively and persistently chase them.
Q4. What is the tone of the mother in this extract?
Ans. The tone is warm inspiring and deeply encouraging. The mother is motivating Ming to believe in the power of dreams and the importance of dedicated committed effort in making them come true.
Q5. How does this extract establish the central theme of the letter?
Ans. This extract immediately establishes the central theme by showing that dreams combined with relentless effort and personal sacrifice are the foundation of all true greatness and meaningful achievement in life.
B.
“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.”
Q1. What does the mother say is the starting point of every great dream?
Ans. The mother says every great dream starts with a deep passion for a particular interest followed by the firm conviction that it is absolutely necessary and imperative to realize that interest at any cost.
Q2. What does the phrase “burning in your blood” mean?
Ans. The phrase means having a passionate deeply personal and completely essential desire for something that feels absolutely central to who you are and what you must do with your life.
Q3. What does the mother mean when she says “count the cost”?
Ans. The mother means honestly and realistically assessing all the sacrifices involved, the years of dedicated effort the financial investment required and the personal sacrifices that pursuing the dream will demand.
Q4. What does the word “plunge” suggest about the commitment required?
Ans. The word “plunge” suggests a complete wholehearted and fearless commitment to the dream. It means throwing oneself fully into the pursuit without hesitation once the decision to commit has been honestly and firmly made.
Q5. What is the central message of this extract?
Ans. The central message is that pursuing a dream requires passion conviction honest preparation and complete wholehearted commitment. Only when all these elements are genuinely present should a person fully commit to chasing their dream.
C.
“No, I am not going to put a wet blanket on your dreams…but you will also have to consider the years you need to chase your dream. After all the obstacles are considered, if the burning conviction is still coursing through your veins, then go ahead and do something about it.”
Q1. What does the phrase “put a wet blanket” mean?
Ans. The phrase “put a wet blanket” means to discourage someone or dampen their enthusiasm. The mother assures Ming she is not trying to discourage her but to prepare her honestly for the challenges ahead.
Q2. What does the mother want Ming to consider before pursuing her dream?
Ans. The mother wants Ming to carefully consider all the years of dedicated effort all the obstacles and all the personal sacrifices that will be required before fully committing herself to chasing her dream.
Q3. What does the phrase “coursing through your veins” suggest?
Ans. The phrase suggests a strong powerful and completely unstoppable conviction that flows through the entire body like blood in the veins showing the depth and intensity of the passion needed to pursue a great dream.
Q4. How does this extract show the mother’s balanced approach to Ming’s dream?
Ans. This extract perfectly shows the mother’s balanced approach — she neither discourages Ming’s dream nor encourages her blindly. She honestly acknowledges the challenges while warmly encouraging Ming to pursue her dream if her conviction remains strong.
Q5. What advice does the mother finally give Ming in this extract?
Ans. The mother finally advises Ming that after honestly considering all obstacles if the burning conviction is still strongly coursing through her veins then she should go ahead and actively do something about pursuing her dream.
D.
“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.”
Q1. What personal insight does the mother share in this extract?
Ans. The mother shares the personal insight that life itself can change a person’s dreams over time and that the new hopes and aspirations that emerge are no less valuable than the original dreams of youth.
Q2. What does “negotiate a path through a maze of hurdles” mean?
Ans. This phrase means carefully and skillfully finding one’s way through a complex and challenging series of obstacles and difficulties on the long and often unpredictable journey toward achieving a meaningful dream.
Q3. How does the mother’s personal example make the letter more effective?
Ans. The mother’s personal example of chasing her dream of publishing a book for ten years makes the letter more authentic believable and deeply convincing showing that her advice comes from real lived personal experience rather than just theory.
Q4. What does the mother mean by “hopes and aspirations are no less than the original dream”?
Ans. The mother means that dreams which evolve and change over time through life’s experiences are just as valuable worthy and meaningful as the original dreams we have in our youth and deserve the same passionate and dedicated pursuit.
Q5. What is the tone of the mother in this extract?
Ans. The tone is optimistic encouraging and deeply personal. The mother speaks from her own genuine life experience creating a warm and completely authentic connection with Ming that makes her advice feel both deeply meaningful and genuinely trustworthy.
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Class 9 Follow That Dream Multiple Choice Questions
1. What is the main message of the letter?
A. Avoid taking risks
B. Follow your dreams with effort
C. Dreams are unrealistic
D. Only talented people succeed
Ans. B. Follow your dreams with effort
2. Who wrote the letter?
A. Ming
B. Irene Chua
C. A teacher
D. A friend
Ans. B. Irene Chua
3. The letter is written to:
A. Ching
B. King
C. Ming
D. Irene
Ans. C. Ming
4. According to the author, greatness comes from:
A. Luck
B. Talent only
C. Effort and sacrifice
D. Wealth
Ans. C. Effort and sacrifice
5. How many years are needed to reach world-class level?
A. 5 years
B. 10 years
C. 15 years
D. 20 years
Ans. : B. 10 years
6. What starts the journey towards a dream?
A. Money
B. Passion
C. Luck
D. Support
Ans. B. Passion
7. The word ‘plunge’ means:
A. Think deeply
B. Start slowly
C. Jump fully into something
D. Avoid effort
Ans. C. Jump fully into something
8. The road to success is described as:
A. Easy
B. Smooth
C. Uphill
D. Short
Ans. C. Uphill
9. What keeps a person going when tired?
A. Money
B. Fame
C. Prospect of success
D. Friends
Ans. C. Prospect of success
10. What do winners thank at award shows?
A. Their talent
B. Their support network
C. Their luck
D. Their teachers only
Ans. B. Their support network
11. Many people fail to achieve dreams because:
A. They are lazy
B. They lack talent
C. They stop at wishful thinking
D. They are poor
Ans. C. They stop at wishful thinking
12. What does ‘wistfully’ mean?
A. Happily
B. Angrily
C. Longingly
D. Quickly
Ans. C. Longingly
13. What may change a person’s dreams?
A. Luck
B. Time and life experiences
C. Teachers
D. Friends
Ans. B. Time and life experiences
14. The phrase ‘burning conviction’ means:
A. Weak belief
B. Strong determination
C. Fear
D. Confusion
Ans. B. Strong determination
15. What does ‘maze of hurdles’ suggest?
A. Easy journey
B. Confusing and difficult path
C. Short route
D. Straight path
Ans. B. Confusing and difficult path
16. What example does the author give about changing dreams?
A. Sports career
B. Business idea
C. Publishing a book
D. Acting career
Ans. C. Publishing a book
17. Why do some people give up their dreams?
A. Lack of interest
B. Prefer security
C. No support
D. No education
Ans. B. Prefer security
18. What role do others play in success?
A. They distract
B. They are unnecessary
C. They support and encourage
D. They compete
Ans. C. They support and encourage
19. What tone does the letter have?
A. Angry
B. Sad
C. Encouraging
D. Humorous
Ans. C. Encouraging
20. What should one do if the dream still feels strong?
A. Ignore it
B. Wait for others
C. Give up
D. Go ahead and pursue it
Ans. D. Go ahead and pursue it
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CBSE Class 9 English Kaveri Book Chapter 8– Follow That Dream Extra Question and Answers
Answer the following questions
Q1. What is the letter “Follow That Dream” about?
Ans. It is a deeply inspiring letter from a loving mother Irene Chua to her daughter Ming encouraging her to follow her dream while honestly advising her about the effort sacrifice and commitment that pursuing any great dream truly requires.
Q2. How long must one dedicate to reach world-class standard in any field?
Ans. According to the mother one must dedicate at least ten years of singularly focused and intensively pursued effort to reach world-class standard in any chosen field of endeavor.
Q3. What does the mother say is the road to achieving a dream like?
Ans. The mother says the road to achieving a dream is uphill most of the way and filled with obstacles and difficulties. Only the knowledge of doing what one loves and the prospect of success keeps a person going.
Q4. What example does the mother use from the Academy Awards?
Ans. The mother uses the example of Academy Awards winners who always thank a host of people showing that every successful person has a strong support network that stands by them throughout their entire journey.
Q5. Why do many people’s dreams remain just dreams?
Ans. Many people’s dreams remain just dreams because they never move beyond wishful thinking. Some trade dreams for security while others have their circumstances changed forever by factors completely beyond their personal control.
Q6. What examples does the mother give of circumstances changing dreams?
Ans. The mother gives two examples, people whose dream of going to Raffles College was destroyed by the Japanese invasion during World War II and people who had to give up school to work and support their siblings.
Q7. What does the mother mean by “buoyed up”?
Ans. The phrase “buoyed up” means kept afloat or sustained. The mother uses it to describe how the knowledge of doing what one loves keeps a person emotionally and spiritually sustained during the most difficult and exhausting parts of their journey.
Q8. What is the mother’s own dream mentioned in the letter?
Ans. The mother’s own dream mentioned in the letter is publishing a book, a dream she had been actively chasing for ten years. This was not her original dream but had become just as precious and exciting to her over time.
Q9. What does the mother wish for Ming at the end of the letter?
Ans. At the end of the letter the mother warmly and lovingly wishes that at least one of Ming’s dreams comes true showing her deep love care and genuine support for her daughter’s hopes and aspirations.
Q10. What is the central message of “Follow That Dream”?
Ans. The central message is that dreams are worth pursuing with passion and complete commitment but require honest preparation years of dedicated effort personal sacrifice and an unbreakable burning conviction that sustains a person through every difficulty and obstacle along the way.
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