MCQs with answers based on A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's essay Strong Roots from his autobiography Wings of Fire.
Here are MCQs with answers based on A.P.J. Abdul Kalam's essay Strong Roots from his autobiography Wings of Fire:
1. What is the central theme of Strong Roots?
A) The technological advancements in India
B) The simplicity and values of Abdul Kalam’s childhood
C) The importance of education in Kalam’s life
D) Kalam’s scientific achievements
Answer: B) The simplicity and values of Abdul Kalam’s childhood
2. Where was A.P.J. Abdul Kalam born?
A) Chennai
B) New Delhi
C) Rameswaram
D) Bengaluru
Answer: C) Rameswaram
3. What profession did Kalam's father, Jainulabdeen, practice?
A) A fisherman
B) A boat owner and imam of a mosque
C) A schoolteacher
D) A merchant
Answer: B) A boat owner and imam of a mosque
4. What does Kalam remember most fondly about his father?
A) His wealth and influence
B) His wisdom, simplicity, and spirituality
C) His political connections
D) His knowledge of technology
Answer: B) His wisdom, simplicity, and spirituality
5. What was Kalam’s mother’s name?
A) Fatima
B) Ashiamma
C) Zubeda
D) Sharifa
Answer: B) Ashiamma
6. According to Kalam, what was the main characteristic of his father’s lifestyle?
A) Luxury and extravagance
B) Simplicity and self-discipline
C) Strictness and rigidity
D) Modernity and openness
Answer: B) Simplicity and self-discipline
7. How does Kalam describe his house in Strong Roots?
A) A luxurious mansion
B) A small, simple house with traditional values
C) A modern house with all amenities
D) A poorly maintained hut
Answer: B) A small, simple house with traditional values
8. What does Kalam say about religious harmony in his childhood?
A) There was a lack of religious unity in Rameswaram.
B) People of different religions lived harmoniously and respected each other.
C) Religious tensions frequently arose.
D) Only one religion was prominent in Rameswaram.
Answer: B) People of different religions lived harmoniously and respected each other.
9. What advice did Kalam’s father give him about prayer?
A) Prayer is a way to achieve material success.
B) Prayer is a way to purify one’s soul and connect with the divine.
C) Prayer should only be done in times of crisis.
D) Prayer is unnecessary for those who work hard.
Answer: B) Prayer is a way to purify one’s soul and connect with the divine.
10. What influence did Kalam’s father have on his perspective about life?
A) He taught Kalam to focus only on academic achievements.
B) He instilled the importance of material wealth.
C) He emphasized spirituality, simplicity, and helping others.
D) He encouraged Kalam to follow strict religious practices.
Answer: C) He emphasized spirituality, simplicity, and helping others.
11. How does Kalam describe his mother, Ashiamma, in the essay?
A) As a strict disciplinarian
B) As a loving and nurturing figure who supported the family
C) As someone who emphasized academic success
D) As a passive member of the family
Answer: B) As a loving and nurturing figure who supported the family
12. What kind of food does Kalam mention enjoying in his childhood?
A) Luxurious feasts
B) Simple, home-cooked meals prepared lovingly by his mother
C) Modern fast food
D) Exotic delicacies
Answer: B) Simple, home-cooked meals prepared lovingly by his mother
13. What role did spirituality play in Kalam’s childhood?
A) It was a minor aspect of his upbringing.
B) It was central to his family’s values and everyday life.
C) It was entirely absent in his upbringing.
D) It was overshadowed by academic pursuits.
Answer: B) It was central to his family’s values and everyday life.
14. What does Kalam’s father say about material possessions?
A) They are the key to happiness.
B) They are important for gaining respect.
C) They are temporary and not the source of real happiness.
D) They are necessary for spiritual growth.
Answer: C) They are temporary and not the source of real happiness.
15. How does Kalam view his parents’ way of life?
A) He sees it as outdated and irrelevant.
B) He admires their simplicity, wisdom, and spiritual strength.
C) He believes they were too conservative.
D) He resents their lack of ambition.
Answer: B) He admires their simplicity, wisdom, and spiritual strength.
16. What was the cultural environment of Rameswaram like, according to Kalam?
A) Divisive and politically charged
B) Traditional but harmonious
C) Modern and fast-paced
D) Isolated and intolerant
Answer: B) Traditional but harmonious
17. What impact did Kalam’s father’s values have on Kalam’s later life?
A) They inspired his scientific achievements.
B) They shaped his moral and spiritual outlook on life.
C) They discouraged him from pursuing material success.
D) They had little influence on his professional career.
Answer: B) They shaped his moral and spiritual outlook on life.
18. What does the title Strong Roots symbolize?
A) Kalam’s love for his hometown
B) The foundational values and lessons imparted by his family
C) The strength of the casuarina trees in Rameswaram
D) Kalam’s connection to Indian traditions
Answer: B) The foundational values and lessons imparted by his family
19. What does Kalam admire most about his father’s personality?
A) His knowledge of technology
B) His humility and spiritual wisdom
C) His ambition and wealth
D) His ability to enforce discipline
Answer: B) His humility and spiritual wisdom
20. What does Kalam credit his parents with giving him?
A) An extraordinary education
B) Strong moral and spiritual guidance
C) Access to modern facilities
D) A lavish lifestyle
Answer: B) Strong moral and spiritual guidance
21. What values did Kalam’s father emphasize to live a meaningful life?
A) Hard work and strict discipline
B) Wealth and social status
C) Faith in divine power, simplicity, and selflessness
D) Education and competitive success
Answer: C) Faith in divine power, simplicity, and selflessness
22. How does Kalam describe his childhood in Rameswaram?
A) Filled with struggle and hardships
B) Simple, peaceful, and nurturing
C) Competitive and ambitious
D) Modern and progressive
Answer: B) Simple, peaceful, and nurturing
23. What does Kalam recall about the morning prayers in his house?
A) They were loud and elaborate.
B) They created an aura of calmness and divinity.
C) They were mandatory and strict.
D) They were often neglected.
Answer: B) They created an aura of calmness and divinity.
24. What does Kalam’s father compare prayer to?
A) A ritual for worldly success
B) A source of divine energy and connection
C) A means to gain social acceptance
D) A way to achieve miracles
Answer: B) A source of divine energy and connection
25. What lesson does Kalam learn from his father about adversity?
A) Adversity can only be overcome with hard work.
B) Adversity is a natural part of life and must be faced with faith and inner strength.
C) Adversity should be avoided at all costs.
D) Adversity leads to failure.
Answer: B) Adversity is a natural part of life and must be faced with faith and inner strength.
26. What role did Kalam’s family play in the Rameswaram community?
A) They were wealthy landowners.
B) They were spiritual leaders who guided others with wisdom.
C) They were influential politicians.
D) They were educators who ran a school.
Answer: B) They were spiritual leaders who guided others with wisdom.
27. How does Kalam describe his father's daily routine?
A) Busy with business meetings and social obligations
B) Simple and disciplined, devoted to spirituality and work
C) Filled with travel and intellectual debates
D) Relaxed and luxurious
Answer: B) Simple and disciplined, devoted to spirituality and work
28. What kind of relationship did Kalam’s family have with people of other religions?
A) They avoided interactions with people of other faiths.
B) They maintained harmonious and respectful relationships.
C) They often engaged in religious disputes.
D) They were indifferent to other religions.
Answer: B) They maintained harmonious and respectful relationships.
29. What does Kalam’s mother symbolize in Strong Roots?
A) A figure of traditional values and selflessness
B) A strict disciplinarian
C) An intellectual guide for the family
D) A supporter of modern ideals
Answer: A) A figure of traditional values and selflessness
30. What was one of the key influences of Kalam’s father on his personality?
A) Encouraging him to pursue material success
B) Instilling curiosity about science and technology
C) Teaching him to value spirituality and humility
D) Motivating him to become a religious leader
Answer: C) Teaching him to value spirituality and humility
31. What was Kalam’s perspective on his family’s financial situation during his childhood?
A) He was content and never felt deprived.
B) He resented their lack of wealth.
C) He aspired to gain wealth to improve their condition.
D) He blamed his parents for not working harder.
Answer: A) He was content and never felt deprived.
32. How did the communal harmony in Rameswaram shape Kalam’s worldview?
A) It taught him to focus only on his own community.
B) It influenced him to value unity and mutual respect among different faiths.
C) It made him skeptical of religious diversity.
D) It had little impact on his personal beliefs.
Answer: B) It influenced him to value unity and mutual respect among different faiths.
33. What advice did Kalam’s father give about solving problems?
A) Seek immediate solutions through external help.
B) Understand that problems are part of life and look inward for strength.
C) Ignore problems and focus on other goals.
D) Rely entirely on prayers for solutions.
Answer: B) Understand that problems are part of life and look inward for strength.
34. How did Kalam’s upbringing prepare him for his future life?
A) It gave him strong moral and spiritual foundations.
B) It focused primarily on academic success.
C) It isolated him from worldly challenges.
D) It discouraged him from pursuing material goals.
Answer: A) It gave him strong moral and spiritual foundations.
35. What does Kalam emphasize about his father’s understanding of religion?
A) It was rigid and ritualistic.
B) It was open-minded and based on universal truths.
C) It was focused only on Islamic teachings.
D) It was conservative and outdated.
Answer: B) It was open-minded and based on universal truths.
36. How does Kalam describe the role of spirituality in his family’s life?
A) It was central and guided their thoughts and actions.
B) It was a minor aspect of their routine.
C) It was less important than material success.
D) It was focused entirely on formal religious practices.
Answer: A) It was central and guided their thoughts and actions.
37. What does Kalam’s father believe about human suffering?
A) It is punishment for sins.
B) It is inevitable and helps one grow spiritually.
C) It should be avoided at all costs.
D) It can be eliminated through wealth and power.
Answer: B) It is inevitable and helps one grow spiritually.
38. What does Strong Roots highlight about Kalam’s view of India?
A) India’s spiritual heritage and cultural diversity
B) India’s advancements in science and technology
C) India’s political struggles
D) India’s rapid industrialization
Answer: A) India’s spiritual heritage and cultural diversity
39. What lasting impression did Kalam’s father leave on him?
A) A deep understanding of academic excellence
B) A commitment to simple living and spiritual thinking
C) A desire to move away from his hometown
D) A strong ambition for material success
Answer: B) A commitment to simple living and spiritual thinking
40. What does the essay Strong Roots teach about family values?
A) They are the foundation of a person’s character and success.
B) They can be neglected in the pursuit of ambition.
C) They are not necessary in a modern world.
D) They should be replaced by academic and professional goals.
Answer: A) They are the foundation of a person’s character and success.
41. What does Kalam mention about the special energy in his house during his childhood?
A) It came from the simplicity and spirituality of his parents.
B) It was due to the large gatherings in his home.
C) It was created by regular religious debates.
D) It was due to modern amenities.
Answer: A) It came from the simplicity and spirituality of his parents.
42. What does Kalam recall about the social environment in Rameswaram?
A) It was competitive and divided.
B) It fostered communal harmony and mutual respect.
C) It was highly influenced by political movements.
D) It was dominated by one religion.
Answer: B) It fostered communal harmony and mutual respect.
43. How does Kalam describe the influence of his father’s prayers on him?
A) They were a daily chore with no lasting impact.
B) They inspired a sense of peace and connection to the divine.
C) They emphasized strict rituals over understanding.
D) They encouraged him to seek material rewards.
Answer: B) They inspired a sense of peace and connection to the divine.
44. What role did Kalam’s mother play in shaping his personality?
A) She ensured his academic success through strict discipline.
B) She nurtured his spiritual and emotional growth with love and care.
C) She taught him the art of storytelling.
D) She focused only on household chores.
Answer: B) She nurtured his spiritual and emotional growth with love and care.
45. What does Kalam describe as the “bedrock of his family”?
A) Financial stability
B) Education and ambition
C) Honesty and self-discipline
D) Political connections
Answer: C) Honesty and self-discipline
46. What was Kalam’s attitude toward his simple upbringing?
A) He felt embarrassed about it.
B) He was grateful and proud of its influence on his life.
C) He wished for a more modern lifestyle.
D) He believed it hindered his early success.
Answer: B) He was grateful and proud of its influence on his life.
47. What does Kalam highlight about the relationship between man and nature in Strong Roots?
A) Humans are separate from nature.
B) Spirituality connects humans deeply with nature.
C) Nature should be dominated by human intellect.
D) Nature is irrelevant to human development.
Answer: B) Spirituality connects humans deeply with nature.
48. How does Kalam’s father explain the concept of divinity to him?
A) Divinity is achieved through wealth and success.
B) Divinity lies in simplicity and service to others.
C) Divinity is an abstract and unreachable concept.
D) Divinity requires strict adherence to rituals.
Answer: B) Divinity lies in simplicity and service to others.
49. What aspect of Kalam’s father’s character does he admire most?
A) His formal education
B) His humility and wisdom
C) His ambition to rise socially
D) His ability to enforce discipline
Answer: B) His humility and wisdom
50. Why does Kalam emphasize his father’s spiritual wisdom in the essay?
A) It shaped Kalam’s understanding of life and success.
B) It helped Kalam achieve material success.
C) It discouraged him from pursuing personal goals.
D) It isolated him from his peers.
Answer: A) It shaped Kalam’s understanding of life and success.
51. What was Kalam’s father’s view on the difference between material and spiritual needs?
A) Material needs are more important than spiritual needs.
B) Spiritual needs are enduring, while material needs are temporary.
C) Both material and spiritual needs are equally important.
D) Material needs lead to spiritual fulfillment.
Answer: B) Spiritual needs are enduring, while material needs are temporary.
52. What did Kalam learn about problem-solving from his father?
A) Problems can be solved by logical reasoning alone.
B) Problems are best faced with faith, patience, and effort.
C) Problems should be avoided wherever possible.
D) Problems can only be solved by external help.
Answer: B) Problems are best faced with faith, patience, and effort.
53. How does Kalam describe the aura of his father’s prayers?
A) As formal rituals performed in public
B) As a source of peace and spiritual energy
C) As complex and difficult to follow
D) As a mechanical process without emotion
Answer: B) As a source of peace and spiritual energy
54. What makes the essay Strong Roots relatable to readers?
A) Its emphasis on universal values like humility, simplicity, and harmony
B) Its focus on scientific and technological achievements
C) Its detailed discussion of religious rituals
D) Its critique of modern society
Answer: A) Its emphasis on universal values like humility, simplicity, and harmony
55. Why does Kalam feel “privileged” about his upbringing?
A) He belonged to a wealthy family.
B) He inherited strong moral and spiritual values from his parents.
C) He had access to the best education.
D) He lived in a politically influential household.
Answer: B) He inherited strong moral and spiritual values from his parents.
56. What does Kalam mean by the term “strong roots”?
A) The strength of his family’s cultural heritage
B) The physical strength of trees in Rameswaram
C) The deep values and ethics instilled in him during his childhood
D) The religious rituals followed by his family
Answer: C) The deep values and ethics instilled in him during his childhood
57. How does Kalam’s father address social differences in the community?
A) He encourages people to focus on their similarities.
B) He teaches that everyone is equal in the eyes of God.
C) He avoids discussing social issues.
D) He emphasizes the importance of hierarchy.
Answer: B) He teaches that everyone is equal in the eyes of God.
58. What does Strong Roots teach about the importance of family?
A) Family provides a foundation for spiritual and moral growth.
B) Family should prioritize wealth and success over values.
C) Family bonds are secondary to individual ambitions.
D) Family is irrelevant in modern society.
Answer: A) Family provides a foundation for spiritual and moral growth.
59. Why does the essay resonate with readers across cultures?
A) It highlights specific religious practices.
B) It emphasizes universal human values like faith, humility, and harmony.
C) It focuses on India’s technological progress.
D) It narrates Kalam’s journey as a scientist.
Answer: B) It emphasizes universal human values like faith, humility, and harmony.
60. How does Strong Roots reflect A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s personality?
A) It shows his strong scientific background.
B) It reveals his humility, spirituality, and deep respect for his parents.
C) It focuses on his academic and professional achievements.
D) It highlights his competitive nature.
Answer: B) It reveals his humility, spirituality, and deep respect for his parents.
Suggestive Short answer type questions from "Strong Roots".
1) Who was Kalam's father's helpmate?
Ans: Kalam's father's helpmate was Kalam's mother.
2) What did Kalam think of prayers as a child?
Ans: Kalam did not have any idea about the Arabic prayers chanted there but he thought they reached God.
3) What was Kalam's father's answer when he asked about the relevance of prayer?
Ans: Kalam's father opined that prayer made possible a communion of the spirit between people.
4) "I do not recall..."- What Kalam recall?
Ans: Kalam can not recall the exact number of people his mother fed everyday.
5) Why was Rameswaram famous to pilgrims?
Ans: Rameswaram was famous to pilgrims for the Shiva temple.
6) Where is there no division of wealth, age, caste or creed?
Ans: There is no division of wealth, age, caste or creed in the cosmos.
7) What did Kalam try to understand from his father?
Ans: Kalam tried to understand the fundamental truths of life revealed to him by his father.
8) "This is not a correct approach at all..."- What is not a correct approach?
Ans: To propitiate demonic forces with prayers and offerings by a go-between is not a correct approach.
9) What, according to Kalam did his father possess?
Ans: According to Kalam, his father possessed great innate wisdom and a true generosity of spirit.
10) What is Kalam's belief about divine power?
Ans: Kalam firmly believes that there exists a divine power that controls our life.
Ans: Abul Kalam's father took his son to a local mosque for prayers.
Long questions and answers for class 12 from "Strong Roots".
A.P.J Abdul Kalam
1) "despite these disadvantages...innate wisdom..."- Who is 'he' referred to here? What were the disadvantages of the person spoken to? And what were the advantages received from the person spoken to?
Ans: ★ Here 'he' refers to Kalam's father Jainulabdeen.
★Kalam said that his father, Jainulabdeen, had no formal education. He was not also a man of rich wealth. These were supposed to be the disadvantages of his father.
★Jainulabdeen was a man of extraordinery wisdom. He was a man of generous thinking. He had an ideal helpmate in Kalam's mother. He was dutiful to every member of his family. Due to economic limitations, he avoided all inessential comforts and luxeriesin life. Yet, he provided everyone all the necessities, like food, medicine and clothing. These were the advantages received by Kalam's family from his father.
2) "One of the most vivid memories, of my early childhood is of the two men"- Who were the 'two men' referred to here? How were the two men related? What did they discuss? What impression do you form of them from their discussion?
Ans:
★The 'two men' referred to here were Pakshi Lakahmana Sastry and Jainulabdeen.
★Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry was the high priest of Rameswaram temple. He was a very close friend of Jainulabdeen, Kalam's father. In this way, they were related.
★Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry and Jainulabdeem discussed spiritual matters according to their capacity.
★ I think Pakshi Lakshmana Sastry and Kalam's father discussed spiritual matters in free, open, friendly and pleasant atmosphere.They did not believe in division of man based on cast, creed and community. Religion to them was a wider range where thoughts and ideas of people found expression irrespective of diversity.
3) "Adversity always presents opportunities for introspections"- Who said this and to whom? How did the speaker's attitude to adversity influence the person spoken to?
Ans:
★Kalam's father said this to him.
★Kalam had deep affection and respect for his father. According to Kalam's father, when troubles come, we should neither hold God responsible for it, nor should we get afraid of the suffering. We should keep our head and must try to understand the relevance of our sufferings. When adversity appears before us, we should not be hopeless. We should find a way out with our sincere thoughts, sense of reason and deep feeling as adversity always presents opportunities for introspection.
4) "His answer filled me with a strange energy and enthusiasm"- Whose answer is referred to here? Who was filled with a strange energy and enthusiasm? What was the answer given by the person spoken to?
Ans:
★The answer of Kalam's father is referred to here.
★ Kalam's father answered in a low, deep voice.
★ Boy Kalam was filled with a strange energy.
★Kalam wanted to know from his father why he did not say to the people coming to him for help and advice that there was nothing mysterious about praher. His father answered that every recurrent anguish, longing and desire finds its own helper. And he only played the role of that helper to appease people's demonic forces with offerings and prayers. He merely wanted to give them nothing but mental strength. Hearing the answer, Kalam was filled with wonder.
