Kerala SSLC · English · Class 10
The Best Investment I Ever Made: Important Questions with Answers
These are 10 important multiple-choice questions from the Kerala SSLC English chapter “The Best Investment I Ever Made” (Kerala SCERT syllabus). Each one shows the correct answer and a short explanation of why it is right. Try answering before you read the answer. ExamSummary has 10 practice questions on this chapter in total.
Q1.What is the central theme of the chapter 'The Best Investment I Ever Made'?
- A)The importance of saving money for emergencies.
- B)The superiority of investing in education over material wealth.
- C)The risks associated with stock market investments.
- D)The value of inheriting property from parents.
Answer: B) The superiority of investing in education over material wealth.
The chapter emphasizes that spending resources on education yields long-term benefits that surpass tangible assets like land or gold. It highlights how knowledge empowers individuals to succeed independently.
Q2.According to the narrator, what was the alternative investment he considered before choosing education?
- A)Buying shares in a new company.
- B)Purchasing gold jewelry or land.
- C)Donating to a religious institution.
- D)Investing in a fixed deposit scheme.
Answer: B) Purchasing gold jewelry or land.
The text contrasts the fleeting value of material possessions like gold or land with the enduring value of academic learning. The narrator chose education because it offered security that physical assets could not guarantee.
Q3.How does the narrator describe the 'return' received from this specific investment?
- A)As a monthly interest payment from a bank.
- B)As financial profit from selling goods.
- C)As personal growth and future independence.
- D)As social status gained through wealth.
Answer: C) As personal growth and future independence.
The return is defined not in monetary terms but as the ability of the recipient to stand on their own feet. This implies that the true dividend of education is self-sufficiency and character development.
Q4.Which word best captures the intangible nature of the investment described in the story?
- A)Tangible
- B)Physical
- C)Immaterial
- D)Liquid
Answer: C) Immaterial
Unlike gold or land, education cannot be touched or seen physically, making it immaterial. However, its impact is profound and lasting, distinguishing it from physical wealth.
Q5.What was the initial reaction of society or family members to the protagonist's decision?
- A)They were immediately supportive and proud.
- B)They questioned the wisdom of spending on books.
- C)They demanded a share of the profits later.
- D)They ignored the decision completely.
Answer: B) They questioned the wisdom of spending on books.
Typically, in such narratives, society prioritizes visible wealth, so spending on education is often viewed skeptically initially. The protagonist had to justify the choice against conventional expectations of financial prudence.
Q6.Why is education referred to as a 'secure' investment in the context of the chapter?
- A)Because banks guarantee high interest rates.
- B)Because it cannot be stolen or lost easily.
- C)Because the government subsidizes all tuition fees.
- D)Because it guarantees a job immediately after school.
Answer: B) Because it cannot be stolen or lost easily.
Material wealth can be stolen, devalued, or destroyed, but knowledge remains with the individual permanently. This permanence makes it a safer and more reliable asset for the future.
Q7.Fill in the blank: The chapter suggests that while money may be spent, __________ remains forever.
- A)property
- B)debt
- C)knowledge
- D)luxury
Answer: C) knowledge
The core message is that material things are temporary and consumable, whereas acquired knowledge stays with a person throughout their life. This aligns with the proverb that knowledge is the only true wealth.
Q8.What does the phrase 'Best Investment' imply about the narrator's perspective on success?
- A)Success is measured solely by net worth.
- B)Success is achieved through hard work and learning.
- C)Success depends on luck and inheritance.
- D)Success requires avoiding all financial risks.
Answer: B) Success is achieved through hard work and learning.
By calling education the best investment, the narrator links success to intellectual effort and self-improvement rather than passive accumulation of wealth. It shifts the definition of success from having to being.
Q9.Which conflict drives the main decision-making process in the story?
- A)Between tradition and modernity.
- B)Between short-term pleasure and long-term gain.
- C)Between honesty and dishonesty.
- D)Between friendship and rivalry.
Answer: B) Between short-term pleasure and long-term gain.
The protagonist faces a choice between immediate material satisfaction (like buying gold) and delayed gratification through education. The resolution favors the long-term benefit of the latter.
Q10.What lesson does the chapter intend to impart to the student reader?
- A)To save every penny for retirement.
- B)To prioritize academic growth over consumerism.
- C)To avoid taking loans from banks.
- D)To follow the career path of their parents.
Answer: B) To prioritize academic growth over consumerism.
The target audience is students, so the lesson encourages them to value their studies above material desires. It aims to motivate them to see their education as their most valuable asset.