GSEB Class 9 English Moments Chapter 1 The Lost Child Solutions

Think About It

Question 1. What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind?
Answer: The child observes many things which attract him on his journey to the fair. Firstly, he noticed playthings at a store. Next, he viewed a blooming mustard farm. Within the fields, the boy watched dragonflies moving swiftly on their wings and a single black bee looking for nectar from the blossoms. Afterward, as he walked on the path, he was drawn to the small insects and worms. When he came close to the village with his guardians, he noticed large gatherings of individuals heading to the fair. The child further encountered a confectioner offering treats such as burfi and gulab jamun. A bit ahead, he found a florist who was selling a wreath of Gulmohar. Moving onward, he observed a man offering colourful balloons. He also noticed a snake-charmer standing and playing a pipe to a serpent. Eventually, he viewed a merry-go-round operating completely. The child continues falling behind his guardians because the boy is captivated by everything he notices during his journey. Sometimes, he pauses to purchase playthings, and at other moments, he halts to appreciate nature's loveliness – gathering blooms and catching insects.
In simple words: The child sees many interesting things like toys, flowers, insects, sweets, balloons, and a snake-charmer on his way to the fair. He falls behind because he gets fascinated and stops to look at all these things.

Exam Tip: When asked to list multiple items, ensure you mention all of them clearly, and provide the reason for the child's actions as requested by the question.

Question 2. In the fair, he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an answer?
Answer: The boy desires several items at the carnival. These include a specific plaything, all the air-filled balloons, burfi from the confectioner, a wreath of Gulmohar, and a turn on the merry-go-round. The young boy proceeded without waiting for a reply as he understood his pleas would be refused at every stage.
In simple words: At the fair, the child wants a toy, balloons, burfi, a Gulmohar garland, and a ride on the roundabout. He moves on without asking because he already knows his parents will say no to his requests.

Exam Tip: Focus on listing all the desired objects and provide a clear, concise explanation for why he doesn't wait for a response from his parents.

Question 3. When does he realize that he has lost his way? How have his anxiety and insecurity been described?
Answer: He understands he is separated when he gets to the merry-go-round. He paused to watch it turning swiftly, with adults and kids having fun on it. Observing them closely, he looked at his guardians to request permission to join the ride, but received no response from them. He spun around to search for them, but they were absent. He gazed everywhere, yet saw no indication of their presence. A loud, profound wail began in his parched throat, and with an abrupt movement of his frame, he sprinted from his spot, shouting in genuine terror “Mother, Father.” Tears flowed down from his vision. Terrified, he rushed from one area to another, in every direction, unaware of his destination. His golden headwrap loosened, and his garments turned soiled. After racing back and forth in anger, he remained beaten, his shouts muffled into cries.
In simple words: He realizes he's lost when he reaches the roundabout and his parents don't answer him. His fear is shown by his deep cries, running around frantically, his clothes getting muddy, and his shouts turning into sobs.

Exam Tip: Clearly state the exact moment the child realizes he is lost and use descriptive language to convey his emotions, as indicated by the question.

Question 4. Why does the lost child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier?
Answer: The little boy stops caring about the items he desired before because he was terrified after getting separated from his guardians. His only wish was to rejoin them. Everything that drew his attention at the festival no longer appealed to him, and now the sole important thing was locating his guardians.
In simple words: The lost child stops wanting the things he liked before because he is too scared after getting separated from his parents. All he wants now is to find his mother and father.

Exam Tip: Emphasize the overwhelming emotion of fear and the child's priority shift from material desires to the urgent need for parental reunion.

Question 5. What do you think happens in the end? Does the child find his parents?
Answer: Finally, the guardians, who always checked to ensure he was with them right from the start of their trip, might have suddenly understood he was absent and had come searching for the missing boy. The gentle and empathetic man who attempted to comfort the young boy by giving him different items at the carnival may have also requested a brief description of his guardians and assisted him to be reunited with them.
In simple words: In the end, the parents likely realize the child is missing and come looking for him. The kind man who helps the child probably asks for descriptions of his parents and helps them find each other again.

Exam Tip: Provide a plausible and positive conclusion that aligns with the story's themes, showing how the child could be reunited with his parents.

The Lost Child Summary in English

The Lost Child Summary:

It was the season of spring. The people of the village came out of their houses, in colourful attire and walked towards the fair. A child along with parents was going to the fair and was very excited and happy. He was attracted to the stalls of toys and sweets. Though his father got angry but his mother pacified him and diverted his attention towards other things. The child moved forward but once again lagged behind because his eyes were caught by one thing or the other every now and then.

As they moved forward, the child wanted the various things on the stalls. His mouth watered seeing sweets decorated with gold and silver leaves. He wanted his favourite burfi but knowing that his parents would refuse on the ground that he was greedy, he walked ahead. Then he saw beautiful garlands of Gulmohar but didn't ask for it, then he saw balloons but he knew very well that his parents would deny due to the fact that he was too old to play with balloons, so he walked away.

Then he saw a snake-charmer and a roundabout swing. As he stopped to ask his parents for permission to enjoy the swing, to his astonishment, there was no reply. Neither his father nor his mother was there. Now the child realized that he was lost. He ran here and there but could not find them. The place was overcrowded. He got terrified but suddenly a kind-hearted man took him up in his arms and consoled the bitterly weeping child. He asked if he would like to have a joyride but the child sobbed “I want my father, I want my mother." The man offered him sweets, balloons and garland but the child kept sobbing “I want my father, I want my mother.”