The Doctor's Word

By R K Narayan
Multiple Choice Question and Answer

1. What does "on one's last legs" mean?

a. Very sick
b. Weak and about to die
c. Not in one's good health
d. All of the above

2. When did people come to Dr. Raman?

a. When the patient was very sick

b. When the patient had almost no hope
c. When the patient collapsed
d. When the patient had recovered a little

3. Why did Dr. Raman often burst out when he found the
patient in his last breath?

a. Why wasn't he brought to him earlier

b. Why was he taken to another doctor
c. Why had the family members treated him wrong
d. Why was his condition so serious

4. What was Dr. Raman's visiting fee?

a. Twenty Rupees
b. Twenty-five Rupees
c. Thirty rupees
d. Thirty-five Rupees

5. What fact did people like to avoid?

a. That the patient had less hope

b. That the visiting fees of Dr. Raman was high
c. That Dr. Raman means death sentence
d. That the patient couldn't be saved no matter what

6. The patient's relatives always tried to avoid calling in Dr.

Raman; for them there was something _____ in the very
association.

a. serious
b. unnecessary
c. threatening
d. shirking

7. So, when the big man came on the scene it was always
_______.

a. the last moment

b. critical for the patient
c. a quick decision to make
d. late

8. What has long years of practice bred in the doctor?

a. Exprience to save lives

b. A certain manners of rudeness
c. A certain degree of kindness
d. A certain curt of truthfulness

9. Why was the doctor's opinion valued?

a. For his experience

b. For his kindness
c. For his truthfulness
d. For his expertise

10. Dr. Raman was not a mere doctor expressing an opinion

but a/an _______.

a. judge pronouncing a verdict

b. kind man helping patients
c. expert saving lives
d. experienced consultant

11. What did the patient's life hang on?

a. Dr. Raman's experience

b. Dr. Raman's treatment
c. Dr. Raman's words
d. Dr. Raman's kindness
12. What did Dr. Raman never believe?

a. True words can save life

b. Mere words can save life
c. Agreeable words words can save life
d. God's will can save life

13. Why did Dr. Raman think that it was not any of his
business to provide unnecessary hope to the patients and
their family?

a. Because they would ultimately know the truth in few hours

b. Because it was none of his business
c. Because he was not that kind hearted
d. Because it was not his duty to give people hope

14. What would Dr. Raman do if he glimpsed the faintest sign

of hope?

a. Pause all other works and perform operation

b. Do whatever he could to save the patient
c. Give hope to the patient and his family
d. Prepare to fight with death

15. Why did Dr. Raman needed someone to tell him soothing
lies?

a. Because his dearest friend was ill

b. Because he had lost all hope
c. Because he was heartbroken
d. `Because he knew soothing lies can save lives
16. How long had Dr. Raman and Gopal been friends?

a. Twenty years
b. Thirty-five years
c. Forty years
d. Fifty years

17. How long have Dr. Raman and Gopal been associated?

a. From their kindergarten days

b. From their nursery days
c. From their high school days
d. From their college days

18. Why couldn't Dr. Raman and Gopal meet often?

a. They had a fight

b. They didn't like each other that much
c. Being busy in their lives
d. Gopal was sick

19. How was the friendship of Dr. Raman and Gopal?

a. Happy
b. Old
c. Untouched by changing circumstances
d. Unaltered by their responsibilities

20. What would the two friends do occasionally on Sundays?

a. Watch a picture
b. Dine together
c. Talk about their lives
d. All of the above

21. How long have Gopal not been called in Dr. Raman?

a. For over two months

b. For over three months
c. For over four months
d. For over five months

22. How was Gopal's son?

a. Nervous and shy b. Sad and dejected

c. Nervous and sad d. Shy and dejected

23. Who had sent for Dr. Raman ?

a. Gopal's son
b. Gopal's wife
c. Gopal
d. Gopal's mother

24. Where did Gopal live?

a. In Lawley extension
b. Near the hospital
c. Near Dr. Raman's apartment
d. In Lowest Colony

25. How long has Gopal been in bed?

a. Two months
b. One and half months
c. Two and half months
d. Three months

26. Who was attending Gopal?

a. A dotor in Dr. Raman's hospital

b. A doctor near Gopal's house
c. A doctor in the next street
d. A doctor in Lawley Extension

27. The doctor who was attending Gopal came once in ____
and gave him medicines.

a. a week
b. three days
c. two days
d. a day

28. Why was the doctor upset with Gopal's family?

a. As they hadn't informed him earlier

b. As they hid the truth from him
c. As they had called another doctor
d. As the doctor treating Gopal was not qualified

29. How were Gopal's family members?

a. Dejected and anxious

b. Nervous and sad
c. Apologetic and miserable
d. Heartbroken
30. Why hadn't they sent for Dr. Raman earlier?

a. They didn't want to trouble the doctor

b. They were not sure about calling him
c. They didn't want to pay the high visiting fee
d. They knew calling in Dr. Raman meant death

31. Whom did Dr. Raman ask to sent away?

a. The family members except Gopal's wife

b. The children except the eldest
c. The family members except Gopal's son
d. Everybody

32. For how long the doctor gazed at his friend's face?

a. Over an hour
b. An hour
c. Half an hour
d. Two hour

33. Why/How did the doctors face gleamed?

a. With sweat
b. Light fell on him
c. His friend responded to the medicine
d. With fatigue

34. Why did Gopal's wife ask to make some coffee for the
doctor?

a. He looked fatigue
b. He was hungry
c. He was sleepy
d. He felt restless

35. Why did Dr. Raman feel hungry?

a. He had not eaten in two days

b. He had skipped his lunch
c. He had skipped his breakfast and lunch
d. He was not hungry

36. What did Dr. Raman ask Gopal's wife when he was
leaving?

a. To make him some lunch

b. To feed Gopal simple lunch
c. Not to disturb Gopal
d. Not to let Gopal sleep on any account

37. With whom did the doctor return?

37" a. An assistant and a nurse

b. Another doctor and a nurse
c. His assistant
d. Two nurse

38. Whom did Dr. raman want to stay to help them in the
operation?

a. Gopal's son
b. Gopal's wife
c. The doctor in the next street
d. His attendant
39. Where did Dr. Raman perform Gopal's operation?

a. In his house
b. In Gopal's house
c. In his hospital
d. In the hospital near Gopal's house

40. When did the patient open his eyes?

a. At eight in the evening

b. At twelve in the afternoon
c. At two that night
d. At eight the next morning

41. Who was overjoyed when the patient opened his eyes
and his pulse had improved?

a. The doctor
b. The patient's wife
41" c. The assistant
d. The nurse

42. Who was not very hopeful about the recovery of Gopal?

a. Dr. Raman
b. The attendant
c. Gopal's son
d. The nurse

43. Why did the family members pour out their gratitude on
the doctor?

a. Gopal had taken food after long

b. Gopal had shown slight improvement
c. Gopal was healthy again
d. Gopal was recovering very fast

44. What did the doctor ask Gopal's wife to give him every
forty minutes?

a. Glucose and food

b. Glucose and medicine
c. Glucose and brandy
d. Glucose and injection

45. Why was Gopal's wife terrified even after Gopal had
shown slight improvement?

a. Dr. Raman was avoiding her questions

b. Dr. Raman was talking to Gopal
c. Gopal was not taking any food
d. Gopal couldn't recognise anyone

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46. Why was gopal's pulse agitated?

a. He was exerted
b. He was happy
c. He was dejected
d. He was curious

47. What did Gopal ask Dr. Raman?

a. Was his time near

b. Will he be alright
c. What had happened to him
d. Why was his wife crying

48. Why did Gopal want to know how much time he had?

a. He wanted to see his son

b. He wanted to divide his property
c. He wanted to sign his will
d. He wanted to prepare his will

49. What did Gopal want the doctor to do?

a. To sign his will for him

b. To sign his will as a witness
c. To give his will to his son
d. To ask his wife to bring the will

50. what would leaving his property unsettled mean for

Gopal's wife and children?

a. Dispute
b. Curse
c. Unhappy circumstances
d. Endless misery

51. Why did the doctor wish to run away?

a. He didn't want to answer his friend's question

b. He didn't want to see his friend die
c. He was unable to save his dearest friend
d. He wanted to escape the truth
52. Why couldn't the doctor ask his best friend to sign the
will?

a. It would not settle his family affairs b. The doctor knew his friend will live
c. It would mean death sentence to him d. He didn't want his friend to exert
himself

53. This was the first time Dr. Raman was going to ____ before
a patient.

a. do a piece of acting
b. say agreeable words
c. say truthful words
d. sign a will

54. Why did Gopal say, "If it comes fromyour lips it must be
true..."to the doctor?

a. Dr. Raman was known to be truthful

b. Dr. Raman was his friend
c. Dr. Raman had never lied to him
d. Dr. Raman knew his family affairs well

55. What did Dr. Raman ask his attendant to expect in the
Lawley extension case?

a. Recovery
b. Death
c. Critical assistance
d. Special care requirement
56. Whom did Dr. Raman ask to go to Gopal's house?

a. His assistant
b. Gopal's son
c. A nurse
d. The doctor in the next street

57. When was the doctor back at his friend's house the next
morning?

a. At eight
b. At ten
c. At eleven
d. At twelve

58. How wss the patient when Dr. Raman arrived?

a. Awake and well

b. Asleep and recovering
c. Awake and cheerful
d. Dead

59. What did the assistant report?

a. Quick recovery
b. Good health
c. Satisfactory pulse
d. Mild fever

60. What did Dr. Raman say to Gopal's wife?

a. Gopal will be fine soon

b. Gopal was fine
c. Gopal will live to be ninety
d. Gopal will sign his will

61. What will the doctor bet on?

a. His friend will live

b. His friend will recover soon
c. His friend will be healthy
d. His friend will not have another attack

1
1. Why did the patients visit Dr. Raman only when they were
hopeless?
Answer – People valued Dr. Raman’s medical expertise honed after
decades of practice. They also knew, he spoke about the condition of a
patient in a straight-forward, truthful way, and seldom sweet-talked a
patient into believing that he would survive, while there was little
possibility of him doing so.
2. What impression of Dr. Raman do you get from the passage?
Answer – Dr. Raman was a competent and dedicated doctor who did
his best if he felt he could cure a patient. He was curt, but quite
realistic.
Think it out – 2
1. How does the writer describe the friendship between Dr.
Raman and Gopal?
Answer – Gopal and Dr. Raman were friends from their kindergarten
days. For nearly four decades, the friendship endured, keeping them in
close touch with each other through their twists and turns of life.
2. How did Dr. Raman come to know about Gopal’s illness?
Answer – The ailing Gopal’s son had come to meet Dr. Raman on
instructions of his mother for medical help.
Think it out – 3
1. Why didn’t Gopal’s wife call for Dr. Raman earlier?
Answer – She felt Dr. Raman would be very busy, and didn’t like to
make further demands on his time.
2. What steps did the doctor take to save his friend from
death?
Answer – Dr. Raman examined his patient thoroughly, and gave him an
injection, apparently to revive him.
Think it out – 4
1. What was Dr. Raman’s reaction when his assistant said “Sir,
he will pull through?”
Answer – The doctor was not unduly excited. His reaction was
measured. He felt it was prudent to wait till 8 in the morning to
conclude that a steady recovery had set in.
2. What was Dr. Raman’s response when Gopal’s wife asked
about his condition?
Answer – The doctor was quite professional in his reply to the wife’s
questions. He asked her to rein in her excitement as it was too
premature to conclude anything.
Think it out – 5
1. Why did Gopal ask Dr. Raman “ Am I going ?” What was he
anxious about?
Answer – Gopal had assumed that his death was not far off. He had
made a will, but had not signed it. He wanted to sign it before he
breathed his last.
2. Was Dr. Raman upset at this question? Give your reasons.
Answer – Dr. Raman didn’t quite like his friend’s question. As a doctor,
he was doing his best, but couldn’t predict the outcome. So, he felt
irked at his friend’s question.
3. Why did Dr. Raman decide to tell a lie?
Answer – Dr. Raman knew his friend’s life was hanging by a thread, but
asking him to sign the Will would have signaled to the patient that he
was surely on the throes of death. Dr. Raman didn’t want to eliminate
the very ray of hope of survival for his friend, by being truthful, as was
his nature. So, he wanted to tell a lie so as to infuse optimism in his
faltering friend’s mind. This was the only way of resurrecting him. The
doctor did something, he never did –lying to a patient about his
condition.
4. How did he answer Gopal’s question?
Answer – With a feeling of trepidation, Dr. Raman told his friend that
the latter was surely going to get over the crisis, and there was no
need to panic for signing the Will.
5. How did Gopal accept Dr. Raman’s words?
The doctor’s words had a miraculous effect on Gopal. He felt confident
that he was going to survive.
Think it out – 6
1. Did Dr. Raman believe that his patient would recover that
night? Why do you think so?.
Answer – Dr. Raman somehow felt that his reassuring words would
infuse enough vitality in Gopal to stave off the crisis. It was a faint
hope, though.
2. “Don’t look so unhappy, lady” – why does Dr. Raman say so?
Answer – Dr. Raman was convinced that his friend Gopal had got over
the deadly cardiac crisis, and was unmistakably recovering. So, he
comforted the distraught wife with such words.
3. Does human life hang on a doctor’s word? Give a reasoned
answer.
Answer – Yes, a doctor’s reassuring words restores the will power of a
patient, where a dismal picture from the doctor robs him of his
inherent capacity to fight back. Generally speaking, a doctor can
hasten or mar a patent’s chance of recovery by his words.