Father’s Help by R. K. Narayan – Textual Questions and Answers

In this document, you will find answers to all the textual questions from R.K. Narayan‘s short story Father’s Help, which is included in the WBBSE Class X English textbook. The answers are structured to help students understand the story better and prepare effectively for their examinations. Each question has been carefully answered based on the text to ensure accuracy and clarity.

Father’s Help by R. K. Narayan – Solved Textual Questions

1. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

(a) With a shudder Swami realized that it was (i) Friday (ii) Thursday (iii) Wednesday (iv) Monday

(b) When Swami ought to have been in the school prayer hall, he was lying on the (i) bench (ii) table (iii) bed (iv) desk

c) According to Swami, Samuel is especially angry with boys who are (i) absent (ii) late (ii) inattentive (ii) undisciplined

2. Fill in the chart with information from the text:

(a) Time when Swami complained of a headache: 9 o’clock

(b) Person who ordered Swami to dress up and go to school: Father

(c) Name of the teacher mentioned by Swami: Samuel

3. State whether the following statements are True or False. Provide sentences/phrases/words in support of your answer:

(a) Swami said that he had a headache.
Answer: True
Supporting statement: At nine o’clock, Swaminathan wailed, “I have a headache.”

(b) Swami was lying in his father’s room.
Answer: False
Supporting statement: Swami was lying on the bench in Mother’s room.

(c) According to Swami, the headmaster was not afraid of Samuel.
Answer: False
Supporting statement: “They say that even the headmaster is afraid of him.”

4. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

(a) Father decided to send the headmaster a (i) telegram (ii) notice (iii) letter (iv) report

(b) While going to school Swami was bothered by (i) conscience (ii) headache (ii) toothache (iv) fever

(c) The colour of Samuel’s coat was (i) black (ii) blue (iii) white (iv) yellow

5. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:

(a) Father’s behaviour took an unexpected turn.

(b) Swami went to school feeling that he was the worst boy on earth.

(c) Swami stopped on the roadside to make up his mind about Samuel.

6. Answer the following questions:

(a) Where did Father put the letter?
Answer: Father put the letter in an envelope and sealed it.

(b) What did Swami fail to decide about Samuel?
Answer: Swami could not decide if Samuel really deserved the allegations made against him in the letter.

(c) How did Samuel look?
Answer: Samuel had a dark face, a thin mustache, an unshaven cheek, and wore a yellow coat.

7. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

(a) When Swami entered the class, Samuel was teaching (i) history (ii) arithmetic (iii) science (iv) geography

(b) Swami was late to school by (i) half an hour (ii) an hour (iii) two hours (iv) three hours

(c) The headmaster was on a leave for one (i) day (ii) month (iii) year (iv) week

8. Complete the following sentences with information from the text:

(a) As Swami entered the school gate, an idea occurred to him that he would deliver the letter to the headmaster at the end of the day.

(b) Swami stood at the entrance to his class.

(c) Father snatched the letter away from Swami and tore it up.

9. Fill in the chart with information from the text:

(a) Swami did not do his homework.
Cause: He had a headache.

(b) Swami never met anyone as good as Samuel.
Effect: He sat down, feeling sad.

(c) Swami could not deliver the letter.
Cause: The headmaster was on a week’s leave.

10. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentences:

(a) Rina (take/takes/took) the bus to school everyday.

(b) Last Monday, while we (was watching/have been watching/were watching) the television, the electricity went off.

(c) By this time tomorrow they (will have left/will have leave/will had left).

11. Fill in the blanks with appropriate articles and prepositions:

Arifa, the younger of the two girls, has cracked IIT, while the older one is an engineer at a multinational company.

12. Write a letter to the editor of a newspaper (within 100 words) about the problems faced by commuters due to reckless driving of public vehicles.

Click here for the letter