NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Kaveri Chapter 8 – Follow That Dream
Chapter Overview
The last prose piece of Kaveri is a letter — dated 19 June 1995 — from a mother to her teenage daughter, Ming, taken from Irene Chua’s collection My Daughter, My Friend. Ming has evidently written about a dream she wishes to chase, and her mother answers with the warmest of permissions: “By all means follow that dream.” What follows is wise, balanced counsel on what dreams truly cost — about ten years of singular, intense pursuit, effort, money and sacrifice — and what sustains a dreamer: passion, conviction, a support network and the readiness to plunge. The letter closes the book on its fitting final theme: dreams, determination and self-belief.
About the Author & the Text
Irene Chua is a Singapore-based writer whose collection My Daughter, My Friend gathers letters written by a mother to her teenage daughter, celebrating their special bond while equipping the young woman for life’s challenges. This letter shows the form at its best: personal, affectionate and practical — a mother who encourages whole-heartedly while honestly counting the cost. It also teaches students the features of an intimate personal letter: date, salutation, a direct opening, anecdotes and a warm close (“Love, Mum”).
Summary in English
The mother begins with full-throated encouragement: by all means, follow that dream — great men and women become great precisely because they dream and pursue the dream till it comes true. What separates greatness from the ordinary is the effort and sacrifice invested: reaching world-class standard in any field demands singular, intensive pursuit for at least ten years. The recipe she offers is sequence and honesty: first passion for an interest, then the conviction that it must be realised; then count the cost — years of effort, financial investment, sacrifice — and if the dream is still burning in your blood, commit and plunge, whether in sports, science, arts, business or design. The road is uphill most of the way; what keeps you afloat is the knowledge that you are doing what you love and what is right, and when stamina runs out, the prospect of success keeps you on track. She reminds Ming that no winner stands alone — Academy Award winners always thank a host of supporters.
Then comes the caution. For many people, dreams remain dreams: they never move beyond wishful thinking, or they trade their dreams for security, or circumstances intervene — like those whose hopes of Raffles College were ended forever by the Japanese invasion in World War II, or those who left school to support their siblings. The mother insists she is not throwing a wet blanket on Ming’s dreams, but the years required must be considered; if, after weighing every obstacle, the burning conviction still courses through her veins, she should go ahead and act. From her own life she adds a final wisdom: life itself may change a person’s dreams, and these later hopes are no less worthy than the original ones — they simply take longer, pass through a maze of hurdles, and involve many more participants in one’s ‘dreamscape’. Publishing this very book, she reveals, is a dream she has chased for ten years — not her youthful dream, but its matured form. She signs off wishing that at least one of Ming’s dreams comes true.
Summary in Hindi (सारांश हिंदी में)
माँ पत्र की शुरुआत पूरे प्रोत्साहन से करती है — “हर हाल में उस सपने का पीछा करो!” महान स्त्री-पुरुष महान इसीलिए बनते हैं कि वे सपना देखते हैं और उसके सच होने तक उसका पीछा करते हैं। साधारण और महान का अंतर है — सपने पर लगाया गया परिश्रम और त्याग: किसी भी क्षेत्र में विश्व-स्तर तक पहुँचने के लिए कम-से-कम दस वर्ष की एकाग्र, गहन साधना चाहिए। मार्ग यह है: पहले किसी रुचि के प्रति जुनून, फिर यह दृढ़ विश्वास कि उसे साकार करना ही है; फिर कीमत आँको — वर्षों की मेहनत, आर्थिक निवेश और त्याग — और यदि सपना फिर भी रगों में धधक रहा हो, तो कूद पड़ो — खेल, विज्ञान, कला, व्यवसाय या डिज़ाइन, कोई भी क्षेत्र हो। राह प्रायः चढ़ाई की होगी; तुम्हें थामे रखेगा यह बोध कि तुम वही कर रही हो जो सबसे प्रिय और सही है। और याद रखो — हर विजेता के पीछे सहायकों का समूह होता है, जैसे ऑस्कर विजेता मंच से अनेक लोगों का धन्यवाद करते हैं।
फिर सावधानी: बहुतों के सपने सपने ही रह जाते हैं — कुछ ‘काश मैं ऐसा होता’ से आगे नहीं बढ़ते, कुछ सुरक्षा के बदले सपना छोड़ देते हैं, और कभी परिस्थितियाँ राह बदल देती हैं — जैसे द्वितीय विश्वयुद्ध में जापानी आक्रमण ने रैफल्स कॉलेज जाने के सपनों को सदा के लिए तोड़ दिया, या जिन्हें भाई-बहनों की पढ़ाई के लिए स्कूल छोड़कर काम करना पड़ा। माँ कहती है — मैं तुम्हारे सपनों पर पानी नहीं डाल रही, पर लगने वाले वर्षों का हिसाब ज़रूर करना; सब बाधाएँ तौलने पर भी यदि संकल्प रगों में बहता रहे, तो आगे बढ़ो। अपने अनुभव से वह जोड़ती है — जीवन स्वयं सपने बदल देता है, और बाद के सपने युवावस्था के मूल सपनों से कम नहीं होते; बस समय अधिक लगता है, बाधाओं की भूलभुलैया से गुज़रना पड़ता है और ‘स्वप्न-लोक’ में सहभागी अधिक हो जाते हैं। यह पुस्तक छपवाना ही उसका दस वर्ष पुराना सपना है! अंत में आशीर्वाद — “मेरी कामना है कि तुम्हारा भी कम-से-कम एक सपना अवश्य सच हो। — प्यार सहित, माँ”
Word Meanings (शब्दार्थ)
| Word/Phrase | English Meaning | हिंदी अर्थ |
|---|---|---|
| insight | clear and deep understanding | अंतर्दृष्टि |
| by all means | certainly, definitely | अवश्य, बेझिझक |
| singularly | exclusively | एकनिष्ठ होकर |
| imperative | necessary | अनिवार्य |
| conviction | firm belief | दृढ़ विश्वास |
| burning in your blood | felt as a passionate desire | रगों में धधकना |
| plunge | throw oneself into the activity | कूद पड़ना |
| uphill | difficult, requiring constant effort | कठिन, चढ़ाई भरा |
| buoyed up | kept afloat, kept in good spirits | सहारा पाए हुए |
| prospect | the possibility (of something happening) | संभावना |
| a host of | a large number of | अनेक |
| wistfully | longingly | ललक के साथ |
| wishful thinking | hopeful belief unlikely to come true | हवाई ख़याल |
| put a wet blanket on | discourage, dampen enthusiasm | उत्साह ठंडा करना |
| coursing through your veins | flowing through your body (strongly felt) | रगों में बहना |
| negotiate | find a way through | पार करना |
| maze of hurdles | a confusing series of obstacles | बाधाओं की भूलभुलैया |
| dreamscape | a world of dreams | स्वप्न-लोक |
| aspirations | hopes, ambitions | आकांक्षाएँ |
NCERT Exercise Solutions – Complete
Reflect and Respond
I. 1. What is your dream? 2. Who inspires you to dream? 3. What qualities should you have to fulfil your dream? 4. Abdul Kalam said, “Dream is not that you see in sleep, dream is something that does not let you sleep.” Discuss.
1. My dream is to become a doctor and serve in rural India where hospitals are far away.
2. My grandmother, who could not study herself but educated all her children, inspires me; so do achievers like Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Dr. Deepa Malik.
3. Passion, determination, discipline, patience, readiness to sacrifice, and the resilience to rise after failures.
4. Kalam means that a true dream is not an idle fantasy of sleep but a goal so compelling that it fills our waking hours — it drives us to study a little longer, practise a little harder, and refuse rest until it is achieved. A dream that lets you sleep peacefully is a wish; the dream that keeps you up planning and working is a purpose.
II. What role can parents and community play to help children achieve their dreams?
Parents can encourage rather than dictate, offer honest counsel (like Ming’s mother — supporting the dream while helping count its cost), provide resources and emotional support, and stand by the child through failures. The community can supply mentors, libraries, coaching, scholarships and platforms — for, as the letter says, behind every winner stands a host of people who supported them.
III. Complete the web chart: Why is it important to follow a dream?
• It gives life direction and purpose • It motivates hard work and discipline • It develops our talents fully • It brings deep satisfaction and self-respect • Achieved dreams inspire others • It turns ordinary people into great ones • It prevents the regret of mere wishful thinking.
Check Your Understanding
I. State whether the following sentences are true or false.
| 1. Reaching the peak of skill in a field typically demands focused and intense dedication for about a decade. | True |
| 2. The mother believes that significant effort and personal sacrifices are essential for turning aspirations into reality. | True |
| 3. The path to achieving the deepest desires has very little difficulty or a few obstacles. | False — the road is uphill most of the way, through a maze of hurdles. |
| 4. The mother is of the opinion that a person’s life goals and hopes can evolve over time. | True |
| 5. Having a strong network of individuals can be a hurdle in pursuing one’s ambition. | False — for every winner there is a group of people who stood by him/her. |
| 6. The mother feels that pursuing a major life goal will not involve any financial expense or sacrifice. | False — she asks Ming to count the cost in effort, financial investment and sacrifice. |
| 7. For many individuals, their aspirations remain just wishes because they don’t move beyond mere daydreaming. | True |
Critical Reflection
I. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow. (Extract 1: passion, conviction and the plunge)
(i) Complete the analogy: enthusiasm : passion :: belief : _____________
conviction
(ii) A realistic assessment of effort, investment and sacrifice is crucial for preventing _____________.
B. an early abandonment of the dream
(iii) The word ‘plunge’ indicates a _____________ involvement in a task.
complete
(iv) ‘When you are doing what you love best and are doing the right thing’ works as intrinsic motivation because _____________.
…the drive comes from within the person — the joy of the work itself and the moral certainty of the path sustain the dreamer even when external rewards are still far away.
(v) Mention one motivating factor besides ‘prospect of success’ that might keep a person on track despite running out of stamina.
The support of one’s network — family, friends and mentors who stand by the dreamer (or equally, the sheer love of the work itself).
(Extract 2: life changes dreams)
(i) The phrase ‘life itself may change a person’s dreams’ suggests that dreams are not static but rather __________.
evolving (dynamic)
(ii) What does the author mean by ‘hopes and aspirations are no less than the original dream of younger days’?
She means that the dreams we form later in life — reshaped by experience and circumstances — are just as valuable and worthy of pursuit as the dreams of our youth; a changed dream is not a lesser dream.
(iii) Identify the phrase that indicates a complex and challenging journey.
“negotiate a path through a maze of hurdles”
(iv) ‘People who are participants in your dreamscape would be many more’ because ______.
…a dream pursued over a longer stretch of life draws in many more people — family, colleagues, supporters and well-wishers — who all become part of the journey towards it.
(v) What is the tone of the author in this extract?
C. optimistic and encouraging
II. Answer the following questions.
1. The letter begins, ‘By all means follow that dream’. What do you think Ming must have written to her mother about?
Ming must have written about a cherished dream or ambition — perhaps an unconventional career or a passion she wished to pursue — and asked for her mother’s opinion or permission, possibly with some hesitation about whether chasing it was wise.
2. 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 — sustained, focused practice. Second, by committing fully after counting the cost: investing years of effort, money and sacrifice, fuelled by passion and the conviction that the goal must be realised.
3. What differentiates the mere dreamers from actual achievers?
Mere dreamers stop at wishful thinking — sighing “I wish I could be this or the other” — or trade their dreams for security. Achievers convert passion into conviction, honestly count the cost, and then plunge, persisting up the uphill road with effort and sacrifice until the dream comes true.
4. How does Ming’s mother use critical questions and personal anecdotes to persuade Ming and convey her message effectively?
She makes Ming think rather than merely obey: ‘count the cost’, consider the years required, check whether the conviction still burns after weighing the obstacles. Her anecdotes ground each point in reality — Academy Award winners thanking their support networks, people whose Raffles College dreams were destroyed by the Japanese invasion, those who left school to support siblings, and her own ten-year pursuit of publishing the very book in hand. The mix of probing questions and lived examples makes her advice persuasive without being preachy.
5. How does Ming’s mother balance encouragement with caution in her advice?
Her encouragement is unconditional — “By all means follow that dream”, “plunge”, “go ahead and do something about it”. Her caution is equally honest: world-class skill needs ten years; the road is uphill; effort, money and sacrifice must be counted; circumstances can derail anyone. She explicitly refuses to be a wet blanket, yet insists Ming consider the years required — blessing the dream while arming the dreamer.
6. Is this advice still relevant in contemporary society?
Yes, perhaps more than ever. Social media tempts today’s youth with myths of overnight success, while the mother’s ‘ten-year rule’ matches what modern research calls deliberate practice. Start-up culture proves both her points: passion drives founders, but those who fail to count the cost abandon ship early. And in an age of influencers, her reminder that every winner thanks a host of supporters restores a humbler, truer picture of achievement.
7. What ‘costs’ are you willing or unwilling to invest to pursue your goals?
(Model answer) I am willing to invest years of daily practice, give up much of my screen-time and entertainment, face repeated failure and study beyond the syllabus. I am willing to accept financial sacrifice within my family’s means. But I am unwilling to sacrifice my health, my integrity or my family’s essential needs — a dream achieved at those costs, I believe, would not be worth having.
Vocabulary and Structures in Context
I. ‘-scape’ words: fill in the blanks in the dialogue.
(i) seascape (the Goa pictures) (ii) cityscape (iii) landscape (iv) mindscape
Meanings: mindscape — the inner world of one’s thoughts; seascape — a view of the sea; landscape — a view of an area of land; cityscape — a view of a city.
II. Choose the best meaning for the underlined expressions; use each in a sentence.
1. burn in her blood — (ii) have a passionate desire: The wish to fly fighter jets burns in her blood.
2. an uphill task — (i) a tough challenge: Clearing the entrance exam without coaching was an uphill task.
3. buoyed up — (iv) lifted in spirit: Buoyed up by the audience’s cheers, she sang even better.
4. wishful thinking — (iii) a hopeful belief but unlikely to be true: Expecting top marks without revision is wishful thinking.
5. a wet blanket — (i) spoil-sport: Don’t be a wet blanket; join the celebration!
6. coursing through her veins — (ii) flowing through her body: Determination was coursing through his veins as the race began.
III. Complete the first-conditional sentences using imperatives.
1. If the idea excites you, pursue it wholeheartedly.
2. If you hear strange noises, inform an elder at once.
3. If this seems too hard, break it into smaller steps.
4. If you care about the issue, speak up and act.
5. If you finish early, revise your answers carefully.
IV. Analyse the usage of ‘could’ and match the sentences with their functions.
1. “It could be in any field…” — possibility
2. “I wish I could be this or the other” — unreal or hypothetical situation
3. “They could have preferred to trade their dream for security.” — past possibility or speculation
4. “…so that they could support their siblings through school.” — past ability or purpose
V. Complete the sentences using ‘could’ with the given functions.
1. I wish I could travel the world without worrying about money. (unreal/hypothetical)
2. They could have taken the shorter route, but they didn’t know about it. (past possibility)
3. When I was younger, I could run for hours without stopping. (past ability)
4. She could be at the library right now — she had mentioned it. (possibility)
5. Could you repeat the question? I didn’t hear it clearly. (polite request)
VI. Fill in the blanks with suitable grammatical forms.
1. helps 2. learned (used to learn) 3. work 4. apply 5. may conduct (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. Fill in the blanks with one to three exact words.
1. Vocational courses will begin in the month of April (registration from Monday, 04 April).
2. The objective is to prepare you with practical skills for future studies and jobs.
3. Offered courses include Graphic Design, Basic Coding, Web Application, and Entrepreneurship Skills, etc.
4. Classes will be conducted by trained professionals at school.
5. The application forms will be available at the school office.
6. Choice of course will be given to early applicants.
Speaking Activity
I. Role play in groups of four: the Dreamer, a worried Parent, a Mentor and a Friend.
Dreamer: I know this might sound challenging, but ever since I was a child, I’ve dreamed of becoming a trekking guide in the Himalayas. It’s an uphill journey — literally! — but I’m ready for it because the mountains are where I feel most alive.
Parent: I know you’re passionate, but I only want what’s best for you — what if it doesn’t pay enough to support you? You can always pursue your dream later, after a stable degree.
Mentor: Remember, dreams need planning. Let’s look at the long-term view: there are certified mountaineering courses, tourism degrees and ways to combine your dream and a career. Are you ready to commit ten years to becoming truly world-class?
Friend: You’ve always been good at leading our school treks — don’t give up now. I don’t want to be a wet blanket, but what’s your backup plan? Still, if anyone can do this, it’s you — and if this dream makes you happy, count me in your support network!
Writing Task
I. Write an email to the Director of a design institute enquiring about their summer workshop and expressing your interest.
From: mira.sharma@email.com
To: director@creativedesigninstitute.in
Cc: —
Bcc: —
Subject: Enquiry Regarding Summer Design Workshop
Respected Sir/Madam,
I am Mira Sharma, a student of Class IX at Sunrise Public School, Jaipur. I came across the announcement of your institute’s summer workshop on design and am writing to express my keen interest in joining it.
Designing is the dream I wish to pursue as a career, and a workshop under your reputed institute would be an invaluable first step. I request you to kindly share the details of the workshop — the dates and duration, eligibility for school students, the topics covered, the fee structure, and the procedure and last date for registration. I would also be grateful to know whether any prior portfolio is required.
I look forward to your reply and to the opportunity of learning at your institute.
Yours sincerely,
Mira Sharma
Class IX, Sunrise Public School, Jaipur
Contact: 98XXXXXX21
Learning Beyond the Text
I. Vision Board: divide a chart into five spaces — My Dreams (e.g., becoming a doctor), I Want to Try (auditioning for the school play, starting a journal), Goals (“Read 10 books this year”, “Improve my handwriting”), Places I Will Go (the Himalayas, ISRO, the ocean floor) and Inspiration (a parent, teacher or a quotation that gives you strength). Use pictures, words and symbols, and keep it where you can see it daily.
II. Great personalities inspired by their parents: remember the textbook’s examples — Chhatrapati Shivaji, whose mother Jijabai instilled dharma, patriotism and justice through tales of the Ramayana and Mahabharata; and Queen Madalasa, whose wisdom led her sons towards enlightenment. The unit also recalls leaders who turned challenges into opportunities: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (rose above discrimination to chair the Constitution’s Drafting Committee), Lal Bahadur Shastri (walked miles barefoot to school and became Prime Minister) and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (delivered newspapers at dawn and became the ‘Missile Man’ and President of India). Research a similar achiever from your own town and present their story.
Extra Questions with Answers
Q1. What, according to the letter, does it take to reach world-class standard in any field? (30–40 words)
It takes singular and intensive pursuit of the field for at least ten years — driven by passion, the conviction that the dream must be realised, and the readiness to invest effort, money and sacrifice.
Q2. Why does the mother mention the Academy Awards? (30–40 words)
Because winners always thank a host of people who formed their support network — proving her point that behind every single winner stands a whole group of supporters; no one achieves a dream entirely alone.
Q3. What examples does the mother give of circumstances changing people’s destinies? (30–40 words)
She cites people whose dream of attending Raffles College was destroyed forever by the Japanese invasion in World War II, and others who had to leave secondary school and work to support their siblings’ education.
Q4. What was the mother’s own ten-year dream? (30–40 words)
Publishing her book — a dream she had chased for the previous ten years. It was not her original youthful dream but its evolved form, proving her point that life changes our dreams without making them less precious.
Q5. “The letter is both a green signal and a map.” Discuss. (100–120 words)
As a green signal, the letter waves Ming forward from its very first line — “By all means follow that dream” — and ends wishing her dreams come true; the mother never once forbids. But she also hands her daughter a map of the terrain ahead: the ten-year rule of world-class mastery, the sequence from passion to conviction to commitment, the costs to be counted in effort, money and sacrifice, the uphill gradient of the road, and the support network every traveller needs. She even marks the dead-ends where others stalled — wishful thinking, the trade for security, cruel circumstance. Permission without preparation would be careless; preparation without permission would be discouraging. The letter’s wisdom is that it gives both.
Q6. What lessons can today’s students draw from ‘Follow That Dream’? (100–120 words)
First, dream boldly — greatness begins with a dream pursued till it comes true. Second, respect the price tag: world-class skill demands about a decade of focused effort, so beware of shortcuts and overnight-success myths. Third, test your passion into conviction before you plunge, and once committed, let love of the work carry you up the uphill road. Fourth, build and honour your support network — winners are never alone. Fifth, do not despise changed dreams: life redirects us, and later aspirations deserve the same devotion. Finally, act — the difference between dreamers and achievers is simply moving beyond “I wish” to “I will”. The letter turns ambition from a feeling into a discipline.
Additional MCQs
1. ‘Follow That Dream’ is a — (a) speech (b) diary entry (c) letter (d) interview
2. The letter is taken from the collection — (a) My Mother, My Guide (b) My Daughter, My Friend (c) Letters to Ming (d) Dreams and Destiny
3. Its author is — (a) Mitra Phukan (b) Asha Nehemiah (c) Irene Chua (d) Temsula Ao
4. The letter is addressed to — (a) Mei (b) Ming (c) Min (d) Mai
5. World-class standard requires intensive pursuit for at least — (a) five years (b) ten years (c) fifteen years (d) twenty years
6. The dream chase starts with — (a) money (b) luck (c) a passion for a particular interest (d) a degree
7. Award winners always thank — (a) their critics (b) a host of supporters (c) the media (d) their rivals
8. The dreams of Raffles College aspirants were destroyed by — (a) poverty (b) floods (c) the Japanese invasion in World War II (d) illness
9. ‘To put a wet blanket on’ means to — (a) protect (b) discourage (c) delay (d) hide
10. The mother’s own ten-year dream was — (a) visiting Singapore (b) becoming a teacher (c) publishing her book (d) opening a school
Answer key: 1-c, 2-b, 3-c, 4-b, 5-b, 6-c, 7-b, 8-c, 9-b, 10-c
Assertion–Reason Questions
Options for each: (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A. (b) Both A and R are true but R does not explain A. (c) A is true, R is false. (d) A is false, R is true.
1. A: The mother asks Ming to ‘count the cost’ before plunging. R: A realistic assessment prevents early abandonment of the dream. — (a)
2. A: For many people, dreams remain dreams. R: They never move beyond wishful thinking or they trade their dreams for security. — (a)
3. A: The mother asks Ming to consider the years needed to chase her dream. R: She does not want to put a wet blanket on Ming’s dreams. — (b)
4. A: Dreams formed later in life deserve pursuit. R: Life itself may change a person’s dreams without making them less worthy. — (a)
5. A: No winner achieves a dream entirely alone. R: Behind every winner stands a support network of many people. — (a)
FAQs
Who wrote Follow That Dream and what type of text is it?
It is a letter by Irene Chua from her collection My Daughter, My Friend — written by a mother to her teenage daughter Ming, dated 19 June 1995.
What is the ‘ten-year rule’ mentioned in the chapter?
To reach world-class standard in any field, one must pursue the subject singularly and intensively for at least ten years — the letter’s central truth about the cost of greatness.
What is the main message of Follow That Dream?
Follow your dream by all means — but convert passion into conviction, count the cost honestly, commit completely, lean on your support network, and remember that even changed dreams deserve full pursuit.
Also read: Chapter 7 – Carrier of Words · Kaveri – All Chapters · NCERT Solutions Home. Official textbook PDF: ncert.nic.in