Worksheet -5

Lost Spring

Extracts Based Questions

1.Food is more important for survival than an identity. “If at the end of the day we can feed
our families and go to bed without an aching stomach, we would rather live here than in
the fields that gave us no grain,” say a group of women in tattered saris when I ask them
why they left their beautiful land of green fields and rivers. Wherever they find food, they
pitch their tents that become transit homes. Children grow up in them, becoming partners
in survival. And survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking. Through the years, it has
acquired the proportions of a fine art. Garbage to them is gold. It is their daily bread, a roof
over their heads, even if it is a leaking roof. But for a child it is even more.

Q1. The phrase ‘transit homes’ refer to the dwellings that are
A. unhygienic.
B. inadequate.
C. fragile.
D. temporary.
.
Q2. Identify the figure of speech used in the sentence “Garbage to them is gold”.
A. hyperbole
B. simile
C. synecdoche
D. personification

Q3. Choose the term which best matches the statement ‘Food is more important for survival than an
identity.”?
A. immorality
B. necessity
C. obligation
D. ambition

Q4. What does ‘acquired the proportions of a fine art’ mean?

A. Rag-picking has regained its lost status.
B. A segment of ragpickers are skilled in fine arts.
C. Rag-picking has attained the position of a skill.
D. Only a few people are experts in rag-picking.

Q5. The word ‘ tattered’ means :

A.destroyed or ruined
B.in rags
C.clothing with decorative slashes
D.neglected

Q6.’ Partners in survival’ match with

A. to survive with a partner
B. survival for a partner
C. support the family for survival
D. not able to survive without partner

2.I have nothing else to do,” he mutters, looking away. “Go to school,” I say glibly, realising immediately how
hollow the advice must sound. “There is no school in my neighbourhood. When they build one, I will go.” “If I
start a school, will you come?” I ask, half-joking. “Yes,” he says, smiling broadly. A few days later I see him
running up to me. “Is your school ready?” “It takes longer to build a school,” I say, embarrassed at having made
a promise that was not meant. But promises like mine abound in every corner of his bleak world.
Q1. Saheb’s muttering and ‘looking away’ suggests his
A. anger
B. shyness
C. embarrassment
D. Anxiety

Q2. Of the four meanings of ‘glibly’, select the option that matches in meaning with its usage in the
extract.
A. showing a degree of informality
B. lacking depth and substance
C. being insincere and deceitful
D. speaking with fluency

Q3. Who do you think Saheb is referring to as ‘they’, in the given sentence? “When they build one, I will
go”
A. The officials
B. The inhabitants
C. The teachers
D. The journalists

Q4. Select the option that lists the feelings and attitudes corresponding to the following:

(1) I ask half-joking

(2) …he says, smiling broadly

1. Part arrogance, part seriousness 1. Part amusement, part irritation

A. B.
2. hesitation 2. submissiveness

1. Part concern, part hurt 1. Part humour, part earnestness

C. D.
2. pride 2. Self belief

Q5. Select the option that lists reasons why Saheb’s world has been called ‘bleak’.
(1) The absence of parental presence
(2) The poor socio-economic conditions
(3) His inability to address problems
(4) His lack of life-skills
(5) The denied opportunities of schooling
A. (1) and (4)
B. (2) and (5)
C. (3) and (5)
D. (2) and (4)

Q6. ‘But promises like mine abound in every corner of his bleak world. ‘. The word abound stands close in
meaning
A. to exist in large numbers
B. flourish
C.Full of broken promises
D. Promise in every corner

3. . She still has bangles on her wrist, but no light in her eyes. “Ek waqt ser bhar khana bhi nahin khaya.”
she says, in a voice drained of joy. She has not enjoyed even one full meal in her entire lifetime-that’s
what she has reaped! Her husband, an old man with a flowing beard says, “I know nothing except
bangles. All I have done is make a house for the family to live in.” Hearing him one wonders if he has
achieved what many have failed in their lifetime. He has a roof over his head! The cry of not having
money to do anything except carry on the business of making bangles, not even enough to eat, rings in
every home. The young men echo the lament of the elders. Little has moved with time, it seems in
Firozabad, years of mind-numbing toil have killed all initiative and the ability to dream.

1. Choose the term which best matches the statement ‘The young men echo the lament of their elders.’
A. acceptance
B. reflection
C. reiteration
D. doubtfulness

2. ‘Years of mind-numbing toil have killed all initiative and the ability to dream’. This shows that
A. Although the bangle manufacturers are tired and exhausted, they are ambitious and have dreams.
B. The drudgery of work has destroyed their willingness to improve their lot.
C. The grind of daily life has darkened and stolen the dreams of the bangle manufacturers.
D. There is no time for dreaming because the bangle manufacturers are working so hard.

3. ‘She still has bangles on her wrist, but no light in her eyes.’ This implies that
A. She is married, but the charm in her eyes has faded.
B. She is a married woman who has aged poorly and lost her grace.
C. Though she is married, her eyes are devoid of happiness.
D. She is a married woman with visual impairment.

4. ‘He has a roof over his head!’ The tone of the author is
A. pessimistic.
B. empathetic.
C. sympathetic.
D. optimistic.

4.Direction (1-4): Read the passage given below and answer the following q "Why aren't you wearing chappals?
I ask one. "My mother did not bring them down from the shelf," he answers simply. "Even if she did he will
throw them off, adds another who is wearing shoe: nothing. "I want shoes, says a third boy who has never
owned a pair all his cities, on village roads. It is not lack of money but a tradition to stay barefo perpetual state
of poverty.

1.What is an excuse to explain away a perpetual state of poverty?

A)Walking barefoot
B)To term 'walking barefoot' a tradition
C)To rease the 'worn out shoes'
D)Not to bring chappals out of shelf

2)Choose the correct option with reference to the two statements given below

Statements 1 The boys had been subjected to humiliation when the narrator questions them
Statements 2 The boys did not care for the condition of the shoes but only shoes.

A)Statement 1 is true but statement 2 is false.

B)Statement 2 is false but statement 2 is true.
C)Both statement 1 and statement 2 cannot be inferred from the passage.
D)Both statement 1 and statement 2 can be inferred from the passage.

3)The given lines do not indicate

A) the loss of innocence

B.the state of poverty
C.the non-fulfillment of promises
D.the desire of basic necessities

4)In which of the following options is the word 'perpetual' not used correctly?
A)No society can make a perpetual constitution or even law.
B)They lived in perpetual fear of being discovered and arrested.
C)The country is in a perpetual state of anarchy.
D)War, in its fairest form, implies a perpetual violation of humanity and justice.

II. Answer the following questions

1. How does the story, ‘Lost Spring’ highlight the apathy of society and those in power to end the vicious cycle
of poverty? Support your answer with textual evidence.
2.Do you believe that ' god - given lineage can be broken '? support your position with a rationale?
3. How is the bangle industry of firozabad is a curse for bangle makers?
4. Mukesh is not like others, his dream looks like a Mirage. Explain.
5.Why do you think Mukesh is content to dream of cars and does not dream of flying a plane?