Father's Help || R. K. Narayana || Comprehension Exercises || Grammar and Vocablary || Writing Skills

Class - 10

Lesson - 1

Father's Help

by - R. K. Narayana

Comprehension Exercises :

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 

 (iii) inattentive

 (iv) undisciplined

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

(a) time when Swami complained of a headache	At nine o’clock
(b) person who ordered Swami to dress up and go to school	His father
(c) name of the teacher mentioned by Swami	Samuel

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

(a) Swami said that he had a headache. True

S.S. :- Swaminathan wailed I have a headache.

(b) Swami was lying in his father's bed. False

S.S. :- Swami was lying on the bench in mother's room.          

(c) According to Swami, the headmaster was not afraid of Swami. False

S.S. :- “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

   (iii) 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 to 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 question:

(a) Where did Father put the letter?

Ans :- Father put the letter in an envelope.

(b)  What did Swami fail to decide about Samuel?

Ans :- Swami failed to decide that the description he had made of Samuel was accurate or not.

(c) How did Samuel look?

Ans :- Samuel had a dark face, thin moustache, and an unshaven chick.

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)  there 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 him.
(b) Swami stood at the entrance to his class.
(c) Father snatched the letter away from Swaminathan 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) Swami felt sad.
(c)The headmaster had gone on a week's leave.	(c) Swami could not deliver the letter.

Grammar in Use

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

(a) Rina (take/takes/took) the hue to school every day.
(b) Last Monday, while we..... (was watching/ hand 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 article and prepositions:

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

Writing activities 

Read the following letter carefully: 

To

The Editor 

The Statesman 4, 

Chowringhee Square 

Kolkata-700001 

Sub: Irregular clearance of garbage 

Sir, 

Through your esteemed daily, would like to express my concern about irregular clearance of garbage in my locality that has made the lives of the people living here unbearable. The environment of the locality has become unhygienic. The garbage bins and the pavements are overflowing with heaps of waste. The uncollected garbage is left to rot and the air is filled with foul smell. This is also creating health hazards. The locality has become a breeding ground of mosquitoes and flies that spread diseases like cholera and malaria. Some residents suffering from such diseases have already been hospitalized. If measures are not immediately taken for regular removal of garbage in the area, then the spread of diseases might rise to alarming proportions. 

     I would therefore, on behalf of the residents of the locality, request the authorities to arrange for regular disposal of garbage. 

Thanking you 

Yours sincerely, 

Ranjan Ghosh 

16, Panchanantala Lane 

Howrah -711312 

23rd May, 2026

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.

To  

The Editor  

The Telegraph  

Kolkata  

subject : the problems faced by commuters due to reckless driving of public vehicles

Sir,  

Through your newspaper, I want to draw attention to the reckless driving of buses and autos in our city. Drivers often overspeed, break traffic rules, and stop vehicles anywhere. This causes accidents, traffic jams, and great trouble for commuters. School children and office workers feel unsafe while traveling daily. 

          The authorities must take strict action against such drivers. Regular checking, heavy fines, and awareness campaigns are urgently needed. Public transport should be made safe and disciplined so that citizens can travel without fear. I request the concerned officials to look into this matter immediately and ensure safety for all.  

Yours faithfully,  

Mukesh  

16, Panchanantala Lane 

Howrah -711312 

23rd May, 2026