Chapter 6
A Robot Called Makito
Q:1 Who was Robin and what was his personality like?
Ans: Robin was the only child of his parents and was sixteen years old. He was tall, slim, had bright black eyes, and was very curious. He loved reading books, making new things, and had a sharp brain and excellent memory. While other children played, Robin preferred to spend his time in the library reading.
Q:2 How did Robin react when his mother died?
Ans: Robin was very sad when his mother, who had cancer, died. He stopped talking to anyone and remained in deep depression. He was unable to come out of his sadness despite his father’s efforts.
Q:3 How did Robin’s aunt try to help him overcome his sadness?
Ans: Robin’s aunt arrived from London with a bag full of books, knowing Robin’s love for reading. She gave him books, especially on robots, to distract him and lift his spirits. Robin became completely absorbed in reading them.
Q:4 What effect did reading about robots have on Robin?
Ans: Reading about robots inspired Robin to go back to school and pursue his interest in learning more about them. He became enthusiastic and determined to learn how to make robots himself.
Q:5 What did Robin learn about robots from the library book?
Ans: Robin learned that robots are machines designed to work like humans. The word 'robot' comes from the Czech word meaning 'work.' Early robots, called 'mobots,' could lift and move objects. Robots were later used for repetitive tasks and for working in dangerous environments, mainly in factories.
Q:6 What kind of robot did Robin dream of making?
Ans: Robin dreamed of making a robot that could talk to him and also do small tasks for him in his room. He wanted it to be more interactive and helpful than ordinary factory robots.
Q:7 How did Robin plan to learn about making robots?
Ans: After clearing his twelfth-grade exams, Robin told his father he wanted to learn to make robots. His father, a businessman who owned a car factory, introduced him to his Japanese partner, Mr Yamawaki, who helped him pursue this goal.
Q:8 Why did Mr Yamawaki advise Robin to learn Japanese first?
Ans: Mr Yamawaki suggested Robin learn Japanese at the local Japanese Cultural Centre to help him communicate in Japan, where he would study robot-making and stay with the Yamawaki family.
Q:9 What did Robin learn about Japan at the Japanese Cultural Centre?
Ans: Robin learned that Japan consists of four main islands—Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku—along with smaller ones. He also learned about Japan’s geography, forests, lakes, rivers, frequent earthquakes, and volcanoes, including Mount Fuji.
Q:10 When Robin reached Japan, how was he received?
Ans: Robin was received at the airport by Mrs Yamawaki, who was a pretty lady with bright black eyes and curly hair. She took him to their home, where he met her son, Kitaro, who could not speak English.
Q:11 How did Robin and Kitaro plan to communicate with each other?
Ans: Robin promised to teach Kitaro English, while Kitaro promised to teach Robin Japanese, allowing them to learn from each other during Robin’s stay in Japan.
Q:12 What fascinated Robin at the robot factory in Japan?
Ans: Robin was fascinated by the robots, the technology, and the factory operations. He was introduced to the workers, exchanged greetings in Japanese, and observed the complex robot-making processes.
Q:13 How did Robin overcome the language barrier at the factory?
Ans: Some workers spoke English, so Robin could communicate with them. He also greeted other workers in Japanese, which delighted them and helped him integrate into the factory environment.
Q:14 What kind of robot did Robin create at the factory?
Ans: Robin created a small robot named 'Makito.' It could walk, move its hands, perform small tasks, and respond by saying ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ in different sounds.
Q:15 How did Makito help Robin in his daily life?
Ans: In the mornings, Makito helped Robin tidy his room. In the evenings, it assisted Mrs Yamawaki in laying the table. On days when it didn’t want to work, it rested in its special box.
Q:16 What made Robin thrilled about Makito?
Ans: Robin was thrilled because Makito successfully performed all the tasks he had programmed it to do, demonstrating intelligence, responsiveness, and reliability.
Q:17 How long did Robin spend at the robot factory in Japan?
Ans: Robin spent a year at the factory learning how to make robots and creating Makito for himself, as well as acquiring knowledge to build robots for his father’s car factory in India.
Q:18 How did Robin prepare for his return to India?
Ans: Robin packed Makito safely in its special box and ensured it was securely placed in the luggage hold of the plane for its safe journey back to India.
Q:19 What role did Robin’s curiosity play in his life?
Ans: Robin’s curiosity drove him to read extensively, explore robots, learn new languages, and travel to Japan to gain hands-on experience, showing that curiosity motivated his learning and achievements.
Q:20 How did Robin’s love for books help him overcome depression?
Ans: Books, especially about robots, provided Robin with a focus and inspiration. They gave him a purpose, helping him overcome his sadness after his mother’s death and regain interest in life and learning.
Q:21 How did Robin’s father support his ambitions?
Ans: Robin’s father encouraged him to pursue his interest in robots. He introduced him to his Japanese business partner and allowed him to go to Japan to learn practical skills in robot-making.
Q:22 How was Robin introduced to Japanese culture before going to Japan?
Ans: Robin spent a year at the Japanese Cultural Centre learning the language, geography, and cultural practices of Japan, preparing him to live and work there effectively.
Q:23 Why was learning Japanese important for Robin?
Ans: Learning Japanese was essential for communication with the factory workers and the Yamawaki family. It enabled him to learn efficiently and integrate into Japanese society during his stay.
Q:24 How did Robin’s robot, Makito, show human-like qualities?
Ans: Makito could walk, move its hands, respond to commands with ‘Yes’ or ‘No,’ and perform small tasks autonomously, demonstrating behavior similar to a human assistant.
Q:25 What tasks did Makito refuse to do sometimes?
Ans: On some days, Makito did not want to work and said ‘No.’ Robin respected its programmed autonomy and allowed it to rest in its special box.
Q:26 How did Robin balance learning and creating robots?
Ans: Robin combined theoretical knowledge from books with practical hands-on experience in the Japanese factory, applying his learning to design and program Makito successfully.
Q:27 What did Robin learn about robots in factories?
Ans: He learned that robots were initially designed to lift and move things, later used for repetitive tasks, and could work in hazardous environments where humans could not safely operate.
Q:28 What qualities made Robin suitable to learn robot-making?
Ans: Robin was intelligent, curious, determined, had a good memory, and loved learning. These qualities helped him understand complex machinery and programming.
Q:29 How did Robin’s relationship with Kitaro benefit both children?
Ans: Robin taught Kitaro English, and Kitaro taught Robin Japanese. This cultural exchange helped them learn new languages, fostered friendship, and eased Robin’s stay in Japan.
Q:30 Why did Robin name his robot Makito?
Ans: Robin chose the Japanese name 'Makito' to honor the culture and people of Japan, where he built the robot with guidance from the factory workers.
Answer by Mrinmoee
