What does the author tell us about the financial condition of her parents?

The answer lies in the paragraph where the author draws a contrast between her family's material poverty and its inner richness of values.

Concept

• The author's parents were financially poor, struggling even to arrange the basic necessities of life.
• Despite this hardship, the family was rich in moral values, dignity and self-respect, a contrast the author emphasises.

Common mistakes

• Students often write only "they were poor" without linking it to the contrast with the family's moral/spiritual wealth, losing the nuance the examiner looks for.
• Copying a long sentence verbatim instead of giving a crisp one-line answer wastes time on a 1-mark question.

Real-world connect

• The idea that material poverty need not mean poverty of character is a value CBSE frequently tests through such comprehension passages, reinforcing contentment and dignity over wealth.