Class 10 Fathers Help by RK Narayan Summary, Grammar, Questions and Answers

Fathers Help

Content structure

1. About the author – R.K. Narayan
2. Summary
3. Word Meanings
4. Comprehension exercise
- Unit – 1
- Unit – 2
- Unit – 3
5. Grammar in use
6. Writing activities

1. About author – R.k. Narayan

Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer Narayanaswami, known as R.K. Narayan, was born on 10th October 1906. He was one of the leading figures of early Indian literature in English. His notable works include Malgudi Days and The Guide. In 1958, The Guide earned him the Sahitya Academy Award. He passed away on 13th May 2001.

2. Summary

The story is about a schoolboy named Swaminathan, who studies at Albert Mission School. Like many boys, he dislikes going to school and often tries to find excuses to stay at home. One Monday morning, he decides not to go to school and tells his mother that he has a headache. His mother believes him and allows him to stay at home. When his father finds out, he becomes strict and insists that Swaminathan must go to school. To avoid going, Swami says that he is afraid of a teacher, Samuel, who would beat him for coming late. He describes Samuel as a very violent teacher who hits students harshly and claims that Samuel canes the boys so badly that their hands bleed and once even made a boy wear the blood on his forehead. He also says that Samuel had once skinned a boy’s knuckles. Hearing this, Swami’s father becomes angry and writes a rude complaint letter to the headmaster about Samuel. He gives the letter to Swaminathan and tells him to deliver it to the school. On the way to school, Swami starts to feel guilty for lying about his teacher. Still, he tries to convince himself that Samuel is not a good teacher, but when he reaches school, he finds that Samuel is actually kind and gentle that day. The teacher neither scolds him nor beats him. Instead, he treats Swami nicely. However, Swami misbehaves in class on purpose, hoping that Samuel will punish him, but Samuel remains calm and does not react. After the last bell of the school, Swami goes to the headmaster’s office to deliver the letter but the room is locked. The peon informs him that the headmaster has been on leave for a week, so Swami does not deliver the letter and returns home.
At home, his father asks him about the letter, Swami gives a vague reply. His father then takes the letter from him, tears it up, throws it in the wastepaper basket, and says that maybe Samuel’s punishment was well deserved.

3. Word Meanings

1. Lying – not telling the truth
2. Shudder – an act of shaking or trembling
3. Hope – to want something to happen
4. Wailed – a high-pitched cry of pain or grief
5. Headache – a continuous pain in the head
6. Generously – in a way that shows kindness or warmth towards others
7. Ought – used to indicate duty or correctness
8. Loaf – to move around slowly or do nothing important.
9. Tactics – actions or strategies planned to achieve a goal
10. Scold – to criticize angrily
11. Especially – for a particular purpose or in particular
12. Afraid – filled with fear
13. Behaviour – the way someone acts or conducts themselves
14. Unexpected – not expected
15. Avoid – to keep away from
16. Proposed – suggested a plan or idea
17. Protest – an expression of disapproval or objection
18. Envelope – a flat paper container for a letter
19. Sealed – closed securely
20. Apprehensive – uneasy or fearful about something that might happen
21. Plenty – a large or sufficient quantity
22. Worst – the most unpleasant or bad
23. Conscience – an inner sense of right and wrong
24. Bothered – concerned or troubled
25. Description – a spoken or written account of something
26. Accurate – free from error; correct
27. Imagined – formed a mental image of something
28. Regard – to have or show respect
29. Dizzy – feeling a spinning sensation or unsteady
30. Confusion – a lack of clarity or understanding
31. Deserved – to have earned something
32. Allegation – a claim made without proof
33. Grieved – felt or expressed sorrow
34. Recall – to remember or bring back to mind
35. Moustache – hair grown above the upper lip
36. Unshaven – not recently shaved
37. Sorrow – deep sadness or grief
38. Justify – to prove something to be right or reasonable
39. Entrance – a way in or point of entry
40. Severely – in an intense or harsh manner
41. Inspection – a formal or official examination
42. Appeared – came into view or became visible
43. Snatch – to grab quickly or suddenly

4. Comprehension exercise

Unit – 1

A. Choose the correct alternative to complete the following sentence :

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

Ans: (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

Ans: (i) bench

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

Ans: (ii) late

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

Information	Answers
(a) time when Swaminathan complained of a headache	(a) Nine o’clock
(b) person who ordered Swami to dress up and go to school	(b) Father ordered Swami to dress up and go to school
(c) name of the teacher mentioned by the Swami	(c) Samuel of the teacher mentioned by the Swami

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. (True)
Supporting Statement: “Headache,” Swami replied”.

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

(c) According to Swami, the headmaster was not afraid of Samuel. (False)
Supporting Statement: According to Swami, even the headmaster is afraid of Samuel.

Unit – 2

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

Ans: (iii) letter

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

Ans: (ii) headache

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

Ans: (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 the 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?
Ans: Father put the letter in an envelope, sealed it carefully, and told Swami to give it to his headmaster.

(b) What did Swami fail to decide about Samuel?
Ans: Swami felt confused because he had mixed up the difference between things that were real and things he had imagined. He couldn’t decide whether Samuel was really a good teacher or a bad one.

(c) How did Samuel look?
Ans: Samuel had a thin mustache, unshaven cheeks, and wore a yellow coat when Swami looked at him; he thought Samuel did not seem such a bad man after all.

Unit – 3

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

Ans: (ii) arithmetic

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

Ans: (i) half an hour

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

Ans: (v) week

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

(a) As Swami entered the school gate, an idea occurred to him.
(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 :

Cause	Effect
(a) Swami had a headache.	(a) Swami did not do his homework.
(b) Swami never met anyone as good as Samuel.	(b) Sad feeling of Swami.
(c) The peon told Swami the headmaster had gone on a week’s leave.	(c) Swami could not deliver the letter.

5. Grammar in use

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

(a) Rina (take/takes/took) the bus to school every day. (takes)
(b) Last Monday, while we (was watching/have been watchinh/were watching) the television, the electricity went off. (were watching)
(c) By this time tomorrow they (will have left/will have leave/will had left). (will have left)

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

Arifa, the younger _________ the two girls, has cracked IIT, while________ order one is _________ engineer ___________ a multinational company.

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

6. Writing activities

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

To,
The editor,
The Hindustan Times
4, Jawaharlal Nehru Road
kolkata – 700023

Subject: Rising concern over reckless driving in our area

Dear sir,
I had shared my concern in this letter about reckless driving. I kindly request you to highlight this issue on the front page of the newspaper, as reckless driving has now become a serious problem.

Every day, we see many drivers ignoring speed limits, running traffic lights, not wearing helmets, stopping in the middle of the road for no reason, and trying to overtake other vehicles dangerously. Many children, women, and men have lost their lives due to reckless overtaking. Elderly people also struggle to cross roads safely because of such incidents.

So I request the authorities to take immediate action before anything gets worse. I hope stronger road safety rules are made and strictly followed so drivers follow them properly and drive responsibly.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,
Rahul Roy

17/3 Bhowanipore Road
Kolkata – 700034
20.03.2022