Chapter 7

                                                               Helen Keller


1.When and where was Helen Keller born?

Answer: Helen Keller was born in the summer of 1880 in a small town in Alabama.


2.What did Helen’s parents name her and why?

Answer: They named her Helen Keller because they loved her dearly and wanted her to have a meaningful name.


3.What happened to Helen when she was a baby?

Answer: Helen fell seriously ill as a baby. Her fever stayed high, and her parents were worried that she might not survive.


4.Did Helen survive her illness? How was she afterward?

Answer: Helen survived her illness, but she could not see or hear, which made her condition very difficult.


5.What did Helen’s parents realize after her illness?

Answer: They realized that something was very wrong with their child because she could neither see nor hear.


6.How did people generally think about Helen?

Answer: People thought Helen could not learn anything due to her disability.


7.How did Helen’s mother feel about teaching her?

Answer: Helen’s mother did not agree with others. She believed that Helen could be taught and learned despite her disabilities.


8.What kind of behavior did Helen show as she grew up?

Answer: Helen became wild, often angry, and did not allow anyone to help her. Her clothes were often dirty.


9.Who was sent to teach Helen?

Answer: A teacher was appointed to help Helen learn and understand the world.


10.What did the teacher first give Helen?

Answer: The teacher first gave Helen a doll and started teaching her to spell words with her fingers.


11.How did the teacher teach Helen to spell?

Answer: The teacher used special hand signs and spelt the word DOLL into Helen’s hand.


12.Did Helen understand the word at first?

Answer: No, Helen copied the spelling but did not understand what it meant initially.


13.What lesson did Helen learn from the water experiment?

Answer: When the teacher put her hand into running water and spelt WATER, Helen understood that words represented things in the world.


14.What realization did Helen come to after learning WATER?

Answer: Helen understood that words were the most important things in the world, and they could tell her everything she wanted to know.


15.How did the teacher communicate with Helen?

Answer: The teacher communicated through hand spelling and special signs on Helen’s hand.


16.Why was Helen considered a bright child despite her disabilities?

Answer: Helen was intelligent and attentive; she had a curious mind and could learn quickly when taught properly.


17.Why was Helen initially wild and disobedient?

Answer: Helen was frustrated due to her inability to see or hear, which made her angry and difficult to manage.


18.What role did Helen’s mother play in her learning?

Answer: Helen’s mother was determined and believed in Helen’s potential. She looked for a teacher and encouraged learning.


19.What method helped Helen understand the meaning of words?

Answer: By feeling objects and having the teacher spell the words into her hand, Helen connected words to real things.


20.How did Helen feel after she understood the meaning of words?

Answer: She felt excited, happy, and ready to learn more, realizing that knowledge was now accessible to her.


21.Why did Helen’s parents feel sorry for her?

Answer: They felt sorry because Helen could neither see nor hear, making life very difficult for a small child.


22.How did Helen show her intelligence at an early age?

Answer: Helen quickly copied signs and tried to spell words, showing her keen ability to learn.


23.What did Helen learn about communication through hand signs?

Answer: She learned that hand signs could represent words, which allowed her to communicate and learn.


24.How important was the teacher in Helen’s life?

Answer: The teacher played a vital role, helping Helen understand the world and unlock her potential.


25.What does Helen’s story teach about overcoming difficulties?

Answer: Helen’s story shows that with patience, determination, and guidance, even someone with severe disabilities can learn and succeed.


26.How did Helen’s attitude change after learning the meaning of words?

Answer: Helen became more disciplined, focused, and attentive, eager to learn and explore.


27.Why did people underestimate Helen’s abilities?

Answer: People underestimated her because she could not see or hear, and they assumed she could not learn.


28.What quality of Helen helped her succeed?

Answer: Her curiosity, persistence, and intelligence helped her overcome her disabilities.


29.What is the main lesson we learn from Helen Keller’s childhood?

Answer: The lesson is that no obstacle is too big when determination, guidance, and patience are present.


30.How did Helen react to new learning methods?

Answer: Helen enthusiastically tried them, even if she did not understand at first, showing willingness to learn.


31.What did the teacher use to make Helen understand abstract concepts?

Answer: The teacher used hands-on experiments, like feeling running water, to connect words to real objects.


32.Why was Helen called a bright girl?

Answer: She was called bright because she learned quickly, understood concepts deeply, and responded intelligently.


33.What obstacles did Helen face as a child?

Answer: She could neither see nor hear, was initially wild and uncontrollable, and struggled to communicate.


34.How did hand signs help Helen learn?

Answer: Hand signs allowed Helen to spell words directly into her hand, letting her associate letters with objects and meanings.


35.What did Helen realize about words after the water exercise?

Answer: She realized that words could explain everything and were the key to learning about the world.


36.How did the teacher ensure Helen understood words?

Answer: By demonstrating the word through action, like using water to teach WATER, the teacher made learning concrete.


37.Why is Helen Keller an inspirational figure?

Answer: She is inspirational because she overcame blindness and deafness to learn, communicate, and achieve great things.


38.What qualities of the teacher were crucial for Helen’s learning?

Answer: The teacher was patient, intelligent, and creative, using unique methods to teach a child with disabilities.


39.What message does Helen’s early life give to parents of special children?

Answer: Parents should never give up; with love, patience, and proper guidance, children with disabilities can achieve their potential.


40.Summarize Helen’s learning journey in one sentence.

Answer: Helen Keller’s journey shows that determination, a good teacher, and innovative methods can help a child overcome even severe disabilities and learn about the world.

Answer by Mrinmoee