Chapter--6
Strong Roots
APJ Abdul Kalam
----------------------------------------------
MCQ
👉Paid Answer (For membership User)
1. When Kalum's father was offered bowls of water, he would sanctify it by
a) pouring medicine
b) saying a prayer
c) adding syrup
d) by dipping his fingertips and saying a prayer ✔
2. During meals the food was served on
a) steel utensils
b) dishes
c) banana leaves ✔
d) plastics
3. When people, after being cured, thanked Kalum's father, he would smile and
a) ask them to thank Allah ✔
b) utter prayers
c) ask them to thank the priest
d) ask them to offer something to the poor
4. The synonym of the word 'normally' is
a) casually
b) occasionally
c) specially
d) generally ✔
5. The synonym of the word 'aromatic' is
a) armorial
b) pleasant
c) fragrant ✔
d) sweet
6. The synonym of the word 'predominantly' is
a) mostly ✔
b) predictably
c) slowly
d) clearly
7. "/ —------- ate with my mother sitting on the floor of the kitchen."
a) personally
b) generally
c) normally ✔
d) usually
8. "The Shiva temple, which made Rameswaram so famous to pilgrims, was about a from our house."
a) ten-minute walk ✔
b) five-minute walk
c) eight-minute walk
d) twenty-minute walk
9. "Our locality was
a) predominantly Hindu
b) predominantly Muslim ✔
c) partially Hindu
d) partially Muslim
10. "There were quite a lot of Hindu families, too, living amicably with their neighbors."
a) Christian
b) Buddhist
c) Jain
d) Muslim ✔
11. "There was a very old mosque in our locality where my father would take me for
a) morning prayers
b) evening prayers ✔
c) teaching Arabi
d) religious education
12. APJ Abdul Kalama was born into a
a) middle class family ✔
b) upper class family
c) lower middle class family
d) upper middle class family
13.APJ Abdul Kalam was born in a
a) Bengali family
b) Oriya family
c) Tamil family ✔
d) Telugu family
14. APJ Abdul Kalama was born in the island town of
a) Goa
b) Port Blair
c) Rajasthan
d) Rameswaram ✔
15. Jainulabdeen is the name of APJ Abdul Kalum's
a) mother
b) father ✔
c) brother
c) uncle
Short Question Answer
1. Whom does the opening pronoun 'I' refer to in 'Strong Roots'?
Ans. In 'Strong Roots' the opening pronoun 'I' refers to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalama. ['Strong Roots'
2. Where was APJ Abdul Kalama born?
Or, In which town was Dr. APJ Abdul Kalama born?
Ans. APJ Abdul Kalama was born at Rameswaram in Tamilnadu.
3. Into what type of family was Abdul Kalama born?
Ans. Abdul Kalama was born into a middle class Tamil family.
4. Who were Kalum's parents?
Or, What was the name of Kalum's father?
Ans. Jainulabdeen was APJ Abdul Kalum's father, and Ashrama was his mother.
5. What does Kalama write about his father's education and wealth?
Ans. According to APJ Abdul Kalama, his father, Jainulabdeen, had neither much formal education nor much wealth.
6. What, according to Kalama, did his father possess?
Ans. According to APJ Abdul Kalama, his father possessed great innate wisdom and a true generosity of spirit.
7. In whom did Abdul Kalum's father have an ideal helpmate?
Or, Who was the ideal helpmate of Kalum's father?
Ans. In Ashrama, APJ Abdul Kalum's father had an ideal helpmate.
8. "I was born into a middle class Tamil family in the island town of Rameswaram....."-Who is the speaker here?
Ans. APJ Abdul Kalama, a great Indian scientist, is the speaker here.
9. "...he possessed great innate wisdom and a true generosity of spirit". Who is 'he'?
Ans. Here 'he' refers to APJ Abdul Kalum's father, Jainulabdeen, who was a pious man.
10. "I do not recall the exact number of people she fed every Ans day..."-Who is 'she'?
Ans. Here 'she refers to APJ Abdul Kalum's mother. Ashrama who was very affectionate 'she'
11. "However, all necessities were provided for..."-What basic necessities does the speaker mention here?
Ans. The speaker, APJ Abdul Kalama, mentions food, medicine and clothing as basic necessities. aim
12. Why has Kalama used the adjective 'austere' to describe his father? 'austere'
Ans. While describing his father, APJ Abdul Kalama has used the adjective 'austere' to point out his father's plain and simple life-style. 'austere'
13. What was the name of Abdul Kalum's mother?
Ans. The name of APJ Abdul Kalum's mother was Ashrama.
14. How was the house of APJ Abdul Kalama?
Ans. APJ Abdul Kalama lived in their ancestral house which was a fairly large pucca house, made of limestone and brick.
1. Give a brief account of Kalum's childhood, as presented in his 'Strong Roots'. ['Strong Roots'-
Or, What does APJ Abdul Kalama say about his childhood?
Or, What did APJ Abdul Kalama say of his childhood in 'Strong Roots'?
Ans. The family in which Dr. APJ Abdul Kalama was born and brought up was a middle class Tamil family. His parents were an ideal couple. Although Kalum's family was not an affluent one, he was given everything he needed. All necessities in terms of food, medicine and clothing were provided for Kalama in his childhood. He had a congenial family atmosphere. He had no emotional disturbance or material want. He was brought up in happiness. So Kalama claims that he had a secure childhood.
2. What does Dr. Kalama say about his childhood experience in the mosque?
Ans. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalama was born and brought up in a middle class Tamil family in Rameswaram. His father, Jainulabdeen, was a devout Muslim. There was a very old mosque near his ancestral house on Mosque Street. During Kalum's childhood, his father would take him to the mosque for evening prayers. As he was not familiar with Arabic, he could not understand the meaning of the Arabic
prayers. But he was convinced that those prayers would reach God. Outside the mosque, people of different religions would wait for his father. They would offer him bowls of water. He would transform this water into sacred (সেক্রেড) water by dipping (ডিপিং) his fingertips and saying a prayer. This sacred water was used as medicine for invalids.
3. What picture of communal harmony do you find in the extract from APJ Abdul Kalum's autobiography?
Ans. In the autobiographical piece 'Strong Roots' Dr. APJ Abdul Kalama has presented a fine picture of communal harmony that prevailed in Rameswaram during his childhood days. Although Rameswaram was famous for the Shiva temple, there were mosques too. The locality in which Kalama lived was predominantly Muslim. But there were a lot of Hindu families, too, living amicably with their Muslim neighbors. Kalama recounts a vivid memory of his childhood. Pasha Lakshmana Sastry, the high priest of Rameswaram temple, was an intimate friend of his father's. Although they belonged to two different religious communities, they had friendly discussions on spiritual matters. There was no enmity or rivalry between them.
4. "Every human
being is a specific element within the whole of the manifest divine
Being."-Who said this and to whom?
What does the speaker
mean to say?
Ans. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalum's father, Jainulabdeen, said this to him.
• According to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalama, his father could convey complex spiritual concepts in very simple colloquial Tamil. To illustrate this special ability of his father, Kalama quotes his father's words regarding the position of human beings in the universe. His father thought that every human being is a part of the divine Being. The divine Being manifests Himself in different forms. The world around us is nothing but a manifestation of the divine Being. Every creation in the universe has a specific identity. At any stage of life every human being is a specific element within the whole of the manifest divine Being. Although he had no formal education, he had intuition about spiritual matters.
5. "His answer filled me with strange energy and enthusiasm."-Whose answer had such an impact? Who was thus impressed? What was the answer?
Ans. The answer given by APJ Abdul Kalum's father to his son's query had such an impact
• Dr. APJ Abdul Kalama was highly impressed by his father's answer to his question.
• Once Dr. Kalum's father was explaining man's position in the universe and the positive role of adversity. On hearing this, Kalama wanted to know why he did not say that to the people who came to him for help and advice. Jainulabdeen answered that every recurrent anguish, longing and desire demands its own special helper. For the people in distress, he was a mediator in their attempts to please demonic forces with prayers and offerings. He himself did not approve of this approach. Then he gave a two-fold vision of destiny-(i) the fear- ridden vision of destiny and (ii) the vision of finding out the enemy of fulfilment within ourselves. This answer filled Kalama with a strange energy and enthusiasm.
6. "Whenever they are in trouble, they look for someone to help them." Who thought so? Who are 'they'? Explain the statement.
Ans. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalum's father, Jainulabdeen, thought so. • Here 'they' refer to human beings facing trouble in life. • Once APJ Abdul Kalum's father was explaining his spiritual concept regarding man's position in the universe and the role of adversity in life. On hearing this, Kalama asked his father why he would not explain this to the seekers of help and advice. In response to Kalum's query, his father said this as a part of his explanation. Every human being wants to lead a happy and comfortable life. But in life, troubles come and destroy our comfort and happiness. In the wake of trouble, human beings lose calmness of mind and cannot face it alone. So they look for someone who can help them in overcoming the trouble to bring back happiness.
7. How, according to Jainulabdeen, do human beings react to trouble and impasse?
Ans. Dr. APJ Abdul Kalum's
father, Jainulabdeen, was a close observer of human life and situations, as
reflected in 'Strong Roots' by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalama. He observed that human
beings face recurrent anguish longing and desire, and each type of sorrow finds
its own helper. In life, human beings may reach an impasse and find no way out.
In such a situation, they look for a guide who can show them the way out.
Similarly, whenever they are in trouble that destroys happiness and peace, they
look for someone to help them. In a troublesome situation, human beings get
confused and lose calmness of mind. Only a true guide can provide them with
strength and energy required for overcoming the trouble.
EDITING BY-- Liza Mahanta
