By conviction, the father was ____________.
Read the poem given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate options.
My mother twisted through and through
groaning on a mat
My father, sceptic, rationalist,
trying every curse and blessing,
powder, mixture, herb and hybrid.
He even poured a little paraffin
upon the bitten toe and put a match to it.
I watched the flame feeding on my mother
I watched the holy man perform the rites
to tame the poison with an incantation.
After twenty hours
it lost its sting.
. . . .
. . . .
. . . .
My mother only said
Thank God the scorpion picked on me
and spared my children.
By conviction, the father was ____________.
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Correct answer: (C) an upholder of reason and rationality
Explanation
The father is described as 'sceptic, rationalist', i.e. by conviction he upheld reason and rationality, even though in panic he tried every remedy.