Richard's mother acted as his companion by spending every evening with him at the dining room table. She bought him telescopes, microscopes, cameras, and other equipment. She also got him the book The Travels of Monarch X, which opened the world of science to him and became a turning point in his life.
Source: The Making of a Scientist, Mother's Encouragement and Butterfly Collecting
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The question links "companion" to the mother's role. Examiners expect: (1) her personal companionship (evenings together, being his only companion early on), and (2) the material/intellectual support — equipment + the key book. Mentioning the book specifically scores the second mark, as it is cited in both the "Read and Find Out" prompt and the passage as the turning point.