CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo Lost Spring Worksheet Set A

 

Understanding the Lesson: Spring is the Season of optimism and hope. Spring is the metaphor of childhood stage in a person’s life. From birth till late childhood, life for every child is almost the beginning of a bright and a shiny future. Childhood is featured by innocence, physical stamina and vitality, tremendous urge for the outdoors and a tremendous appetite for fun and play. Activities have no limits. It is also the stage for gaining skill and knowledge, learning and going to school. The Lost Spring by Anees Jung is an expression of national shame of children condemned to poverty and a life of exploitation. The two protagonists of the chapter, Saheb-e-Alam and Mukesh lose their childhood in carrying the burden of poverty and illiteracy. In their bleak stories of exploitation, the author finds glimpses of resilience and fortitude.

 

Saheb and his family have left their homes and green fields in Dhaka to settle in Seemapuri. They had left Dhaka because of storms and floods. They feel it is better to be without identity than going hungry. Seemapuri is geographically close to Delhi, but its traditions, standard of life and people are far away from Delhi. Seemapuri was a deserted area when the Bangladeshis arrived here three decades ago. They were forced to come here due to the natural disasters in Bangladesh. They loved Seemapuri because they could survive here. They had food and shelter here.

 

The author’s description of the life of the rag pickers in Seemapuri is touching. 10,000 people have come as squatters, staying in structures of mud, with roofs of tin and tarpaulin, devoid of sewage,drainage or running water. Squatters are persons who unlawfully occupy an uninhabited building or unused land. They have stayed there without any identity but food is more important than identity. Their fields in Dhaka could not give them food whereas being rag pickers, they don’t go hungry. In Seemapuri survival means rag picking. The elders have made it their profession for a fixed wages whereas for the children rag picking is a game of treasure-hunting. They work through the garbage with a hope that one day they would get a gold coin or a rupee note from the garbage heap. Through years rag picking has acquired the proportions of a fine art. Like any other art form, rag picking possesses certain talents and rules. One needs guidance and inborn talents to be a successful rag picker. He should know where to find garbage, what to take, what to ignore, what time is best for it and so on. In Seemapuri every child is skilled in this art form.

 

Saheb-e-Alam doesn’t know the meaning of his name – lord of the universe-which he is not. He was a rag picker. He and his fellow rag pickers are barefooted and the reason one of them gives is his mother does not bring his shoes down from the shelf. The author has met many barefooted children roaming around. The reason is that it is not lack of money but a tradition to stay barefoot. According to Anees Jung, it is just an excuse to explain their state of poverty.

 

Education has brought timely changes in many people’s lifestyle like the priest from Udipi and his son. A man from Udipi once told the author his own story when he was a boy and his father a priest in the temple. As a young boy he would go to school past this old temple and stop briefly to pray for a pair of shoes. Thirty years later when the author visited his town and the temple, she saw a lot of modern instances in the town and lifestyle of the people. The priest’s son now goes to school, wearing shoes and socks carrying a school bag. The author means to indicate the timely changes education brings to people and how the illiterate rag pickers remain unchanged, carrying the rotten traditions. The rag pickers have no way out of poverty since they have no chance to go to school and be educated. Saheb is now employed in a tea shop with a fixed wage of 800 rupees and all meals. He is not happy as he has lost his freedom as he is bound to the owner of the tea stall who is his master. He is no longer his own master.

 

The title ‘Lost Spring’ is justified in the first part as Saheb-e-Alam’s childhood – his spring time is lost first in picking rags and then in working for a master.

 

Question. “After months of knowing him, I ask him his name. “Saheb-e-Alam”, he announces. He does not know what it means. If he knew its meaning —lord of the universe — Saheb would have a hard time believing it” because ……. …………
(a) He was too poor to bear such a big name.
(b) He was not suitable to bear such a big name.
(c) His name was opposite to his life.
(d) His life was quite suitable to his name.

Answer: C

Question. “I like the game”, he hums, ―”content to watch it standing behind the fence”. The above sentence refers that Saheb ……
(a) Is not satisfied with watching the game standing by the fence of club.
(b) Is satisfied with watching the game standing by the fence of the club.
(c) Wants to watch the game standing inside the fence of the club.
(d) Is not allowed to watch the game even from the fence of the club.

Answer: B

Question. “His dream looms like a mirage amidst the dust of streets that fill his town Firozabad, famous for its bangles”. For Anees Jung, the dream of Mukesh appears as it is far away from reality. As per the circumstances, she thinks Mukesh would …………..
(a) Gradually be adjusted with the demands of his family.
(b) Gradually be satisfied with his family profession.
(c) Gradually be influenced by the societal pressures.
(d) All the above.

Answer: D

Question. From the story , it can be inferred that street children:
(a) cannot afford appropriate footwear that they can wear.
(b) Wear footwear only when they are discarded by others.
(c) Wear appropriate footwear when going to work
(d) Wear appropriate footwear when going to play
a) 1&2
b) 1&3
c) 1&4
d) 2 & 4

Answer: A

Question. The author asks, “Do you know anything about car driving?” Mukesh answers, “ I will learn to drive a car.” Choose the best efforts from the following which can help Mukesh materialise his dream of becoming a car driver.
(a) His dedication and readiness to learn about car driving from the garage.
(b) His mental state of uncertainty and lack of conviction to dream of cars.
(c) His determination to walk to the garage which is a long way from his home.
(d) All the above except

Answer: D

Question. ‘But promises like mine abound in every corner of his bleak world’. This suggests that
(a) there is no dearth of promises which remain unfulfilled.
(b) there is a scarcity of people promising things for betterment.
(c) people make a lot of promises which are often fulfilled.
(d) promises made, live up to the expectations of people.

Answer: A

Question. The narrator asks Saheb to go to school. What is the intension of the narrator here?
(a) Narrator wants Saheb to enjoy in the school.
(b) Narrator wants Saheb to go for rag picking and school as well.
(c) Narrator wants Saheb to go to school instead of rag picking.
(d) Narrator seriously encourages him to go to school.

Answer: C

Question. Saheb’s full name ,Saheb-e-Alam ,means ‘lord of universe’ and it is the exact opposite of his situation in life.He is figuratively at the bottom of the world. This is an example of which literary device?
(a) Simile
(b) Metaphor
(c) Irony
(d) Imagery

Answer: C

Question. What effort can help Mukesh materialise his dream of becoming a car driver?
(a) Hard work
(b) Going to garage
(c) Guidance
(d) All of these

Answer: D

Question. What was the problem with the ‘beautiful land of green field and rivers’ that the women in Seemapuri spoke about
(a) The land became a dry desert
(b) The land did not have space for the
(c) The land could not feed the people
(d) The land was beautiful and peaceful

Answer: C

Question. “It is his karam, his destiny,” says Mukesh‘s grandmother, who has watched her own husband go blind with the dust from polishing the glass of bangles. Which one of the following statements appropriately suits to the mind-set or lookout of Mukesh‘s grandmother.
(a) She doesn‘t like her family members in the business of bangle making.
(b) She wants her grandson, Mukesh to find his own destiny.
(c) She thinks that her husband has gone blind due to his fate.
(d) She doesn‘t believe in karam and destiny which play a major role in the lives of bangle makers.

Answer: C

Question. It takes longer to build a school‖ says the narrator to Saheb.What does the narrator really mean here?
(a) There is a possibility to build a school.
(b) It takes very long time to build a school.
(c) There is a way to build a school.
(d) There is no intention to build a school.

Answer: D

Question. “I want to be a motor mechanic,” Mukesh repeats. Which one of the following best speaks about his repetition.
(a) He is thinking to become a motor mechanic if everything is comfortable for him.
(b) He wants to be a motor mechanic if his parents permit him.
(c) He is strong in his decision of becoming a motor mechanic.
(d) He wants to become a motor mechanic to impress the author.

Answer: C

Question. From this chapter, it is evident that the author has an attitude of
(a) sympathy.
(b) apathy.
(c) empathy.
(d) bewilderment.

Answer: A

Question. ‘That’s why they left, looking for gold in the big city.’ Here ‘gold’ indicates
(a) misfortune of circumstances.
(b) ample wealth.
(c) means of survival.
(d) a sign of luxury.

Answer: C

Question. Choose the statement that is NOT TRUE about ragpickers in Seemapuri.
(a) Children are equally involved in rag picking as their parents.
(b) The ragpickers settle down in a place permanently.
(c) Rag picking has accomplished itself as a skill and form of art.
(d) Ragpickers live in unsteady shanties on the outskirts of Delhi.

Answer: B

Question. Those who live here are squatters who came from Bangladesh back in 1971,In 1971 Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan. Which of the following can be inferred from this line.
(a) Some people fled to India from Bangladesh in 1971
(b) War and conflict displace people from their homes/nations.
(c) People from Bangladesh have had to leave their homes.
(d) When people move ,they leave their homes and lives behind

Answer: B

Question. Why was the author’advice to Saheb to go to school ‘hollow’?
(a) Because Saheb has a full time job which he needs to go to.
(b) b. Because it is not Saheb’s problem but the problem with a system.
(c) c. Because she realises Saheb is not playing truant.
(d) Because she knows that there are no school around.

Answer: B

Question. Which of the following quotes captures the essence of Saheb’s and Mukesh’ stories
(a) As long as poverty ,injustice and class inequality exist in our world, none of us can truly rest.- Nelson Mandela
(b) God does not create poverty, we do,because we do not share. –Mother Teresa
(c) Love conquers all things except poverty and a toothache –Mae West
(d) Poverty is not just lack of money ,it is not having the capability to realise one’s full potential as a human being.- Amartya Sen

Answer: B

Question. The author says that in Firozabad ,families make ‘bangles for all the women in the land it seems.’Which literacy device is employed here?
(a) Hyperbole
(b) Analogy
(c) Metaphor
(d) Simile

Answer: A

Assertion And Reasoning/Statement Type Questions:

Question. Assertion: Garbage is wrapped in wonder for the elders in Seemapuri.
Reason : For the elders, it is a means of survival.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
(e) Both A and R are false.

Answer: D

Question. Assertion: Saheb was not allowed to play tennis in the neighbourhood club.
Reason : He had proper shoes but no racquet to play tennis.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
(e) Both A and R are false.

Answer: E

Question. Statement 1 : Saheb‘s family left Bangladesh and came to India.
Statement 2 : Saheb is no longer his own master.
(a) If Statement 1 is the cause, Statement 2 is the effect.
(b) If Statement 1 is the effect, Statement 2 is the cause.
(c) Both the statements are the effects of a common cause.
(d) Both the statements are the effects of independent cause

Answer: D

Question. Assertion: Saheb is no longer his own master.
Reason : The tea canister which he carries is his own property.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
(e) Both A and R are false.

Answer: C

Question. Statement 1 : Mukesh insists on being his own master.
Statement 2 : He has no fascination for continuing his family profession.
(a) If Statement 1 is the cause, Statement 2 is the effect.
(b) If Statement 1 is the effect, Statement 2 is the cause.
(c) Both the statements are the effects of a common cause.
(d) Both the statements are the effects of independent causes.

Answer: B

Question. Assertion: The children of Seemapuri are living a life of exploitation.
Reason : Extreme poverty forces them to lead such a life.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
(e) Both A and R are false.

Answer: A

Question. Statement 1: The children‘s eyes are more adjusted to the dark than to the light outside.
Statement 2 : The boys and girls end up losing their eye sight before they become adults.
(a) If Statement 1 is the cause, Statement 2 is the effect.
(b) If Statement 1 is the effect, Statement 2 is the cause.
(c) Both the statements are the effects of a common cause.
(d) Both the statements are the effects of independent causes.

Answer: C

Question. Statement: 1 The young bangle makers could not organise themselves into a cooperative.
Statement: 2 : They were caught in a web of vicious circle.
(a) If Statement 1 is the cause, Statement 2 is the effect.
(b) If Statement 1 is the effect, Statement 2 is the cause.
(c) Both the statements are the effects of a common cause.
(d) Both the statements are the effects of independent causes.

Answer: B

Question. Assertion: Most of the ragpickers appear walking bare foot in cities and on village roads.
Reason : They were caught in the web of a vicious circle of middlemen.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true and R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.
(e) Both A and R are false.

Answer: C

Question. Statement: 1: Exemplary punishment should be given by law to those who employ the children to work in hazardous industries.
Statement: 2 : Child Labour is banned by the law.
(a) If Statement 1 is the cause, Statement 2 is the effect.
(b) If Statement 1 is the effect, Statement 2 is the cause.
(c) Both the statements are the effects of a common cause.
(d) Both the statements are the effects of independent causes.

Answer: B

 

 

Answer: Bangle makers born in poverty, live in poverty, die in poverty - For generations people

have been engaged in this trade - Work in inhuman conditions - Although they work hard but the profit is meagre - Their hovels have crumbling walls, wobbly doors and no windows - They are overcrowded with humans and animals - Social customs, traditions, stigma of caste and people in authority combine so that they remain poor and uneducated - Money lenders, middlemen, politicians and policemen are all against them - Unable to organize themselves into a cooperative due to lack of a leader - They have lost the ability to dream - They can only talk but not act to improve their lot.

 

Answer: — utter poverty generation after generation, —–believe they are destined to work in bangle factories,—-make beautiful bangles but live in dark, —–bright furnaces to do welding, —-they lose their eyesight, —-victims of vicious circle of middlemen, —law enforcing authorities prey upon them, — bleak future.

 

Answer: – poor rag pickers / unschooled / barefoot / sometimes taking up odd jobs like working at tea stalls - – garbage to them is gold, it is their daily bread, – migrants (squatters) from Bangladesh, came to Delhi in 1973 - – their fields and homes swept away in storms - – live in structures of mud with roofs of tin and tarpaulin, devoid of sewage, - drainage or running water - – have lived for more than 30 years without identity, without permits but with ration cards - – no intention of going back to their own country – wherever they find food, they pitch their tents.

 

Answer: Yes – duly supported by examples from text, – both caught in the vicious cycle of poverty, apathy, affected by the greed of others, injustice, – lost childhood – spring of life Mukesh’s story – bangle making industry, – caught in the web of middlemen, politicians, policemen, the keepers of law, bureaucrats, – lose all spirit and ability to dream Saheb-a-Alam’s story, – rag picker, scrounging for gold, walking bare foot, got job, not happy because no freedom, lost childhood, – any other relevant point.

 

Answer: In this lesson, the author Anees Jung examines and analyses the grinding poverty and tradition that condemn children to a life of exploitation. Saheb is a ragpicker whose parents have left behind a life of abject poverty in Bangladesh. His family,like the many other families of rag pickers lives in Seemapuri. They live in miserable condition. The writer is pained to see Saheb, whose name means the ruler of the Earth, lose the spark of childhood. She then proceeds to tell about Mukesh who does want to be his own master. Hailing from Firozabad, the centre of India’s bangle making and glass blowing industry, he has always worked in the glass making factory. His family does not know that it is illegal for children to work in such close to furnaces with such high temperatures. They are exposed to various health hazards like losing their eyesight as they work in dark and dingy cells.

 

The family of bangle maker of Firozabad are so burdened that they have lost their ability to dream. The writer’s observation is that these poor hopeless people are but pawn in the games that are played by Sahukars, middlemen, the policemen, the bureaucrats and the politicians. The title is meaningful as they lost their spring (childhood). The writer has beautifully essayed the story of stolen childhood with a view to sensitizing us to the plight of these poor unfortunate children.