Kerala SSLC · English · Class 10
The Castaway: Important Questions with Answers
These are 10 important multiple-choice questions from the Kerala SSLC English chapter “The Castaway” (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.Which famous novel serves as the basis for the chapter 'The Castaway'?
- A)Gulliver's Travels
- B)Robinson Crusoe
- C)Treasure Island
- D)Moby Dick
Answer: B) Robinson Crusoe
The chapter is an adaptation of Daniel Defoe's classic novel 'Robinson Crusoe'. It follows the protagonist's journey of survival after being shipwrecked.
Q2.What was the primary cause of the narrator becoming a castaway?
- A)Voluntary exile
- B)A violent storm and shipwreck
- C)Abandonment by crew
- D)Choosing to explore unknown lands
Answer: B) A violent storm and shipwreck
The story begins with a catastrophic storm that destroys the ship. This forces the narrator to swim ashore and leave civilization behind.
Q3.In the context of the chapter, what does the term 'castaway' primarily signify?
- A)A wealthy merchant
- B)A lost treasure hunter
- C)An individual stranded away from society
- D)A sailor returning home
Answer: C) An individual stranded away from society
A castaway refers to someone who has been left behind or stranded, usually due to a disaster. The chapter explores the challenges faced by such an isolated individual.
Q4.How does the narrator initially cope with the overwhelming sense of loneliness?
- A)By sleeping constantly
- B)By writing in a diary
- C)By shouting for help
- D)By ignoring his situation
Answer: B) By writing in a diary
Writing in a diary becomes a crucial tool for the narrator to process his thoughts. It helps him maintain sanity and record events during his isolation.
Q5.Which action best demonstrates the narrator's resourcefulness?
- A)Waiting passively for rescue
- B)Building a shelter using available materials
- C)Swimming back to the ship repeatedly
- D)Eating only raw fish immediately
Answer: B) Building a shelter using available materials
Constructing a shelter shows practical problem-solving skills essential for survival. It indicates a shift from despair to taking active control of his environment.
Q6.Complete the sentence: The island is described as a place of _______.
- A)Wealth and comfort
- B)Desolation and silence
- C)Crowds and noise
- D)Danger and war
Answer: B) Desolation and silence
The setting is portrayed as wild and empty, emphasizing the narrator's isolation. Words like desolate highlight the harshness of the natural environment.
Q7.What role does faith play in the narrator's survival strategy?
- A)It distracts him from reality
- B)It provides mental strength and hope
- C)It causes him to give up
- D)It is irrelevant to the plot
Answer: B) It provides mental strength and hope
Spiritual belief offers the narrator inner peace when physical resources run low. It acts as a psychological anchor against the fear of death.
Q8.Why does the narrator build a fence around his living space?
- A)To mark territory for animals
- B)To protect himself from wild beasts
- C)To prevent rain from entering
- D)To create a garden for crops
Answer: B) To protect himself from wild beasts
Security is a major concern in an unknown wilderness with potential predators. The fence serves as a defensive barrier against threats from nature.
Q9.What is the central theme conveyed through the narrator's experiences?
- A)The joy of travel
- B)Human resilience and self-reliance
- C)The importance of wealth
- D)The beauty of ocean voyages
Answer: B) Human resilience and self-reliance
The story emphasizes how humans can endure extreme hardship through determination. Self-reliance is shown as the key to overcoming adversity.
Q10.How does the narrator's attitude towards his situation change over time?
- A)From hope to despair
- B)From anger to indifference
- C)From fear to acceptance and gratitude
- D)From confidence to panic
Answer: C) From fear to acceptance and gratitude
Initially overwhelmed by fear, the narrator gradually finds purpose in his struggle. This evolution highlights the growth of character through suffering.