Q1. Why did the author feel awkward in his first year of high school?
a) He failed in exams
b) The school was smaller
c) He had to start over in a bigger school without his close friends
d) He disliked studies
Answer: c) He had to start over in a bigger school without his close friends

Q2. The new high school was ______ compared to his old school.
a) smaller
b) twice as big
c) the same size
d) very old
Answer: b) twice as big

Q3. Why did the author feel isolated?
a) He had no teachers
b) His closest friends went to another school
c) He changed his subjects
d) He moved to another country
Answer: b) His closest friends went to another school

Q4. What advice did his old teachers give him?
a) Leave the new school
b) Focus only on studies
c) Get involved in school activities to meet new people
d) Ignore everyone
Answer: c) Get involved in school activities to meet new people

Q5. What promise did he make to his old teachers?
a) To return to old school
b) To study harder
c) To visit them even if he started loving his new school
d) To bring gifts
Answer: c) To visit them even if he started loving his new school

Q6. What was the author doing when the fire started?
a) Sleeping
b) Playing outside
c) Doing homework at the dining table
d) Watching TV
Answer: c) Doing homework at the dining table

Q7. What was the weather like on the day of the fire?
a) Hot and sunny
b) Cold and windy
c) Rainy
d) Snowy
Answer: b) Cold and windy

Q8. Where was the cat lying while the author was doing homework?
a) Under the table
b) On the sofa
c) On top of his papers
d) Outside the house
Answer: c) On top of his papers

Q9. Why did the author feel the cat knew he had given her ‘the good life’?
a) He bought her toys
b) He rescued her as a kitten
c) He trained her
d) He sold her
Answer: b) He rescued her as a kitten

Q10. What was the first sign of danger?
a) Loud noise
b) Bright flames
c) Strange smell and smoke from the ceiling
d) Shouting outside
Answer: c) Strange smell and smoke from the ceiling

Q11. What did the mother first save from the burning house?
a) Clothes
b) Jewellery
c) A small metal box with important documents
d) Furniture
Answer: c) A small metal box with important documents

Q12. Why did the mother run back into the house again?
a) To save money
b) To save clothes
c) To save pictures and letters of her dead husband
d) To save books
Answer: c) To save pictures and letters of her dead husband

Q13. Who stopped the author from running into the burning house?
a) His neighbour
b) A teacher
c) A fireman
d) His friend
Answer: c) A fireman

Q14. What did the fireman do to comfort the author?
a) Gave him water
b) Wrapped a blanket around him and made him sit in the car
c) Took him away
d) Ignored him
Answer: b) Wrapped a blanket around him and made him sit in the car

Q15. What happened to the mother after she came out of the house?
a) She fainted
b) She was badly injured
c) She inhaled smoke and was given oxygen
d) She cried loudly
Answer: c) She inhaled smoke and was given oxygen

Q16. How long did it take to control the fire?
a) One hour
b) Two hours
c) Five hours
d) Whole day
Answer: c) Five hours

Q17. Why did the author break down in tears after the fire?
a) He failed in school
b) He realised his cat was missing
c) He lost his books
d) He was tired
Answer: b) He realised his cat was missing

Q18. Where did the family spend the night after the fire?
a) In a hotel
b) At a neighbour’s house
c) In the car
d) At his grandparents’ house
Answer: d) At his grandparents’ house

Q19. Why was the author embarrassed at school the next day?
a) He failed in test
b) He had no uniform, books, or backpack
c) He fought with someone
d) He came late
Answer: b) He had no uniform, books, or backpack

Q20. Which words show his fear and insecurity?
a) happy and cheerful
b) brave and bold
c) outcast and geek
d) confident and proud
Answer: c) outcast and geek

Q21. What had survived the fire?
a) Furniture
b) Kitchen items
c) Photo albums and documents saved by his mother
d) Clothes
Answer: c) Photo albums and documents saved by his mother

Q22. Why did they borrow money from grandparents?
a) To buy a car
b) Because everything including cash and identification was destroyed
c) To travel
d) To celebrate
Answer: b) Because everything including cash and identification was destroyed

Q23. Assertion (A): The author felt he had lost all security in life.
Reason (R): His old school, friends, house and cat were gone.
a) Both A and R are true and R is correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R are true but R is not correct explanation
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
Answer: a) Both A and R are true and R is correct explanation of A

Q24. Assertion (A): The author did not want to grow up.
Reason (R): He felt life was too painful and difficult.
a) Both A and R are true and R is correct explanation
b) Both are true but R is not explanation
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
Answer: a) Both A and R are true and R is correct explanation

Q25. What lesson was slowly beginning to form in the author’s life after the tragedy?
a) Money is everything
b) Life is unfair
c) People can show kindness and support in difficult times
d) One should stay alone
Answer: c) People can show kindness and support in difficult times

Q26. What was happening at school when the author went for gym class?
a) A sports competition
b) A farewell party
c) A collection had been arranged for him
d) A surprise test
Answer: c) A collection had been arranged for him

Q27. What items were kept on the table for the author?
a) Only books
b) School supplies and clothes
c) Only food items
d) Money envelopes
Answer: b) School supplies and clothes

Q28. How did the author feel when he saw the table arranged for him?
a) Angry
b) Confused
c) Overcome with emotion
d) Indifferent
Answer: c) Overcome with emotion

Q29. What did the author realise for the first time after seeing his classmates’ support?
a) He should change school
b) Things were going to be okay
c) Life was unfair
d) He should stay alone
Answer: b) Things were going to be okay

Q30. What helped the author make new friends?
a) His intelligence
b) His sports talent
c) The genuine concern shown by classmates
d) His old friends
Answer: c) The genuine concern shown by classmates

Q31. A month later, where was the author sitting with his new friends?
a) At school
b) At the playground
c) Outside his house watching it being rebuilt
d) At his grandparents’ house
Answer: c) Outside his house watching it being rebuilt

Q32. What did the rebuilding of the house symbolise for the author?
a) Construction work
b) Wealth
c) His life being rebuilt again
d) A new design
Answer: c) His life being rebuilt again

Q33. Who brought the cat back to the author?
a) A fireman
b) His friend
c) A kind woman
d) His teacher
Answer: c) A kind woman

Q34. How far had the cat run away after the fire?
a) A few steps
b) A few metres
c) Over a mile
d) Ten miles
Answer: c) Over a mile

Q35. Why couldn’t the woman contact the author immediately?
a) She forgot
b) The phone number was wrong
c) Their phones were destroyed and disconnected
d) The cat ran again
Answer: c) Their phones were destroyed and disconnected

Q36. What does the line “My cat was back and so was I” mean?
a) He had gone somewhere physically
b) He had returned from a trip
c) He emotionally recovered from his trauma
d) He had changed schools
Answer: c) He emotionally recovered from his trauma

Q37. Assertion (A): The fire helped the author change his attitude towards life.
Reason (R): It made him open up to people and accept their kindness.
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
b) Both are true but R is not explanation
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
Answer: a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation

Q38. Assertion (A): The author felt embarrassed because he thought he was responsible for the fire.
Reason (R): He believed others were judging him.
a) Both A and R are true and R explains A
b) Both A and R are true but R does not explain A
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
Answer: a) Both A and R are true and R explains A

Q39. What emotion did the author feel while watching his house burn?
a) Anger
b) Helplessness
c) Excitement
d) Pride
Answer: b) Helplessness

Q40. What does the title “A House Is Not a Home” suggest?
a) Houses are expensive
b) Homes are made of bricks
c) A home is built with love, family and emotions
d) Houses can burn easily
Answer: c) A home is built with love, family and emotions

Q41. The author describes himself as walking around school like a ______.
a) hero
b) zombie
c) teacher
d) stranger
Answer: b) zombie

Q42. What does the word ‘surreal’ mean in the story?
a) Normal
b) Strange and unreal
c) Happy
d) Easy
Answer: b) Strange and unreal

Q43. Why did the author feel there was no time to grieve?
a) He had exams
b) He had to find a place to live and buy clothes
c) He had to travel
d) He had guests
Answer: b) He had to find a place to live and buy clothes

Q44. What shows the strong bond between the author and his cat?
a) The cat stayed outside
b) The cat ignored him
c) The cat followed him and climbed into his robe pocket
d) The cat scratched him
Answer: c) The cat followed him and climbed into his robe pocket

Q45. Assertion (A): The mother was brave during the fire.
Reason (R): She risked her life to save memories of her husband.
a) Both A and R are true and R explains A
b) Both are true but R does not explain A
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
Answer: a) Both A and R are true and R explains A

Q46. What changed the author’s understanding of people?
a) Advice of teachers
b) Firefighters’ help
c) Classmates’ generosity and kindness
d) Moving to a new house
Answer: c) Classmates’ generosity and kindness

Q47. What feeling replaced the author’s loneliness?
a) Anger
b) Gratitude and friendship
c) Jealousy
d) Fear
Answer: b) Gratitude and friendship

Q48. What does the story mainly teach about difficulties in life?
a) Avoid problems
b) Run away from challenges
c) Difficulties can bring growth and new relationships
d) Depend only on money
Answer: c) Difficulties can bring growth and new relationships

Q49. How did the author’s new friends help him emotionally?
a) By ignoring him
b) By making fun of him
c) By supporting, inviting and comforting him
d) By giving him advice only
Answer: c) By supporting, inviting and comforting him

Q50. Which statement best describes the transformation of the author?
a) He became more isolated
b) He lost faith in people
c) He moved from insecurity and loneliness to confidence and connection
d) He stopped caring about others
Answer: c) He moved from insecurity and loneliness to confidence and connection