Untouchable Practice Questions
18 free Untouchable practice questions for the English Literature. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.
Who is the author of the novel Untouchable?
- A R. K. Narayan
- B Mulk Raj Anand
- C Raja Rao
- D Khushwant Singh
Correct answer: Mulk Raj Anand
Untouchable was written by Mulk Raj Anand. It is one of the major early Indian English novels dealing with caste oppression and social reform.
In which year was Untouchable first published?
- A 1930
- B 1935
- C 1942
- D 1947
Correct answer: 1935
Untouchable was first published in 1935. The novel belongs to the early phase of Indian English fiction before Indian independence.
Who is the central character of Untouchable?
- A Munoo
- B Bakha
- C Raju
- D Sankara
Correct answer: Bakha
Bakha is the central character of Untouchable. The novel follows a single day in his life as a young sweeper facing caste discrimination.
What is Bakha's occupation in Untouchable?
- A Farmer
- B Priest
- C Sweeper
- D Soldier
Correct answer: Sweeper
Bakha works as a sweeper and cleaner of latrines. His occupation places him at the lowest level of the caste hierarchy shown in the novel.
The action of Untouchable mainly takes place over what period of time?
- A An hour
- B One day
- C One month
- D One year
Correct answer: One day
The novel mainly covers one day in Bakha's life. This limited time frame intensifies the reader's understanding of his suffering and humiliation.
Which social issue is most central to Untouchable?
- A Industrial capitalism
- B Caste-based untouchability
- C Partition-related communal violence
- D Feudal land inheritance disputes
Correct answer: Caste-based untouchability
The novel directly attacks the practice of caste-based untouchability. Through Bakha's experiences, Anand exposes the cruelty of social exclusion.
Which famous political leader appears near the end of Untouchable through a public speech?
- A Jawaharlal Nehru
- B Subhas Chandra Bose
- C Mahatma Gandhi
- D B. R. Ambedkar
Correct answer: Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi appears through a public speech near the end of the novel. His views on untouchability become one possible response to Bakha's suffering.
What incident causes Bakha to be publicly abused in the marketplace?
- A He steals food from a shop in the marketplace
- B He brushes against a caste Hindu by accident
- C He refuses to clean the temple grounds
- D He argues with a British army officer
Correct answer: He brushes against a caste Hindu by accident
Bakha is abused after accidentally touching a caste Hindu in the marketplace. The incident reveals the extreme social stigma attached to his identity.
What does Bakha admire about British soldiers?
- A Their religious rituals
- B Their caste system
- C Their knowledge of Sanskrit
- D Their clothes and manners
Correct answer: Their clothes and manners
Bakha admires the clothes, discipline, and manners of British soldiers. His fascination shows his desire for dignity and a life beyond caste restrictions.
Which character in Untouchable is Bakha's sister?
- A Sohini
- B Kamala
- C Leela
- D Parvati
Correct answer: Sohini
Sohini is Bakha's sister. Her experience at the well and with the priest further exposes caste and gender-based exploitation.
What happens to Sohini at the temple?
- A She is warmly welcomed by the temple priest
- B She is harassed and then accused by the priest
- C She is appointed as a caretaker of the temple
- D She permanently refuses to enter the temple again
Correct answer: She is harassed and then accused by the priest
Sohini is harassed by a priest, who later accuses her of polluting him. The episode reveals hypocrisy and moral corruption within the caste system.
Which narrative technique is strongly associated with Untouchable?
- A Stream of consciousness
- B Epistolary narration
- C Mock-heroic verse
- D Allegorical dream vision
Correct answer: Stream of consciousness
Untouchable uses elements of stream of consciousness to present Bakha's inner thoughts. This technique helps readers experience his shame, anger, and confusion closely.
Which of the following best describes the tone of Untouchable?
- A Purely comic and satirical
- B Socially critical and sympathetic
- C Deeply mythological and devotional
- D Romantic, nostalgic, and idealistic
Correct answer: Socially critical and sympathetic
The tone of the novel is socially critical and deeply sympathetic. Anand presents Bakha's suffering to condemn the injustice of untouchability.
Which character represents Bakha's strict and traditional father?
- A Lakha
- B Ram Charan
- C Chota
- D Havildar Charat Singh
Correct answer: Lakha
Lakha is Bakha's father. He often scolds Bakha and represents an older generation accustomed to caste-based submission.
What does Bakha receive from Havildar Charat Singh?
- A A pair of boots
- B A hockey stick
- C A religious book
- D A bag of coins
Correct answer: A hockey stick
Havildar Charat Singh gives Bakha a hockey stick. This moment briefly gives Bakha joy and a sense of recognition.
Which of the following is a major symbol in Untouchable?
- A The well
- B The crown
- C The sea
- D The mirror palace
Correct answer: The well
The well is an important symbol of caste exclusion. Untouchables cannot freely draw water from it and must depend on caste Hindus for access.
How does Untouchable mainly challenge caste society?
- A By glorifying the inherited power of ruling royal families
- B By presenting the daily humiliation of an oppressed individual
- C By deliberately ignoring the harsh existing social conditions
- D By openly praising the privileges inherited through caste birth
Correct answer: By presenting the daily humiliation of an oppressed individual
The novel challenges caste society by showing Bakha's daily humiliation. Anand turns one individual's experience into a powerful criticism of social injustice.
Which statement best describes the ending of Untouchable?
- A Bakha imagines becoming a king and living in great luxury
- B Bakha immediately abandons everything and escapes to England
- C Bakha hears possible solutions but remains uncertain
- D Bakha decides to join the army and become an officer
Correct answer: Bakha hears possible solutions but remains uncertain
At the end, Bakha hears possible solutions such as Gandhi's reformist message and the flush system. However, the novel closes without giving him a fully resolved future.