MCQ Questions for Class 10 English First Flight Poem 5 The Ball
I. Read the following extracts and answer the questions/complete the sentences that follow :
What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,
What, what is he to do? I saw it go
Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then
Merrily over — there it is in the water!
Question 1.
The extract suggests that the poet is:
(A) An onlooker observing ,
(B) A parent recounting the incident
(C) The boy talking about himself
(D) Imagining the incident
Answer:
(A) An onlooker observing
Question 2.
The poet seems to have indicated the merry bouncing of the ball to
(A) create a sense of rhythm in these lines.
(B) support the happiness of the experience of playing.
(C) contrast with the dejected feeling of the boy.
(D) indicate the cheerful mood of the boy.
Answer:
(C) contrast with the dejected feeling of the boy.
Explanation:
The happiness of the bouncing ball has been compared and contrasted with the disappointed feelings of the boy.
Question 3.
Choose the situation that corresponds to the emotion behind the exclamation mark in the poem.
| (1) Hey ! Hey! That’s no way to dispose off the garbage. Have you no community sense? Please but it in the bin. |
| (2) I knew it! I knew he’ll fare well in his auditions for ‘Young Chef. Now, we prepare for the semi-finals. |
| (3) I don’t know where I’ve placed my ID-card. Let me check the bag once more. Ah, finally! |
| (4) I’ve been trying to call mom for the past 20 minutes and can’t get through. I don’t know how…Aarrgh! Again! |
(A) Option 1
(B) Option 2
(C) Option 3
(D) Option 4
Answer:
(C) Option 3
Explanation:
The exclamation mark used in the poem denotes confusion which is represented in option 3.
Question 4.
The poem begins with a question. Based on your reading of the poem, the speaker:
(A) wants the boy to answer the question.
(B) expects the passers-by to respond.
(C) is looking for answers in a self-help book.
(D) is thinking to himself.
Answer:
(C) is looking for answers in a self-help book.
Explanation:
The speaker is not asking the questions from the reader in particular. He is trying to find the answers on his own.
Question 5.
Alliteration is a literary device that occurs with the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. Pick the option that showcases an example of alliteration from the extract.
(A) What is the boy now
(B) who has lost his ball
(C) I saw it go
(D) and then/ Merrily over
Answer:
(B) who has lost his ball
II. An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down
All his young days into the harbour where
His ball went. I would not intrude on him
Question 1.
The poet uses the word ‘ultimate’ to describe the boy’s reaction. Pick the meaning that DOES NOT display what, ‘ultimate’ means in the context given.
(A) Consequent
(B) Final
(C) Conclusive
(D) Fateful
Answer:
(C) Conclusive
Explanation:
The boy’s reaction is not decisive or reaching a final solution, In short, the boy’s reaction is not conclusive.
Question 2.
The boy is very young in this poem. As a mature, balanced grown-up, he might look back and think that his reaction of ‘ultimate shaking grief was:
(1) disproportionate to the loss.
(2) pretension to procure a new toy. ,
(3) according to his exposure and experience then.
(4) a reaction to the failure of retrieving the toy.
(5) justified and similar to what it would be currently.
(A) 5&2
(B) 1&3
(C) 2&4
(D) 3&5
Answer:
(B) 1&3
Explanation:
The boy was shrieking with grief over loss of a petty ball. So, his grief was disproportionate to his loss. He was crying because according to his little world and limited exposure to the outside world, it was a big loss.
Question 3.
Pick the option that lists the boy’s thoughts, matching with the line-As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down.
(A) Option 1
(B) Option 2
(C) Option 3
(D) Option 4
Answer:
(D) Option 4
Explanation:
The boy started crying over his loss. This means that he was not thinking of retrieving his ball or running and catching it at the end of the alley. He was not feeling happy to get rid of the ball. Option (4) represents the true thoughts of the boy.
Question 4.
Why does the speaker choose not to intrude? This is so because the poet:
(A) knows that it would embarrass the boy in his moment of grief.
(B) feels that it’s important that the boy learn an important life lesson, undisturbed.
(C) realises that he doesn’t have sufficient funds to purchase a new ball for the boy.
(D) experiences a sense of distress himself, by looking at the boy’s condition.
Answer:
(B) feels that it’s important that the boy learn an important life lesson, undisturbed.
Explanation:
The poet did not want to embarrass the boy or did not have money to buy a new ball for the boy. He himself is not reminded of his own personal known. It is just that the poet wants the boy to learn and understand that there are many occasions in life when a loved thing or person is lost but the life continues.
Question 5.
Choose the option that lists the meaning of ‘harbour’ as used in the extract.
Noun:
(1) a place on the coast where ships may moor in shelter.
(2) a place of refuge.
Verb:
(3) keep (a thought or feeling, typically a negative one) in one’s mind, especially secretly.
(4) shelter or hide (a criminal or wanted person).
(A) Option 1
(B) Option 2
(C) Option 3
(D) Option 4
Answer:
(A) Option 1
Explanation:
In the poem, harbour has been used as a noun to indicate the place where the ships are moored or held in waiting for the time being.
III. I saw it go
Merrily bouncing, down the street, and then
Merrily over — there it is in the water!
No use to say ‘O there are other balls’:
An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down
All his young days into the harbour where
His ball went
Question 1.
The poet uses the ball as a symbol of the boy’s:
(A) sense of adventure.
(B) carefree childhood days.
(C) ability to bounce back.
(D) extended family.
Answer:
(B) carefree childhood days.
Explanation:
The childhood days are full of fun and carelessness. These days, once lost, can never be regained.
Question 2.
The poet feels that there is no point consoling the boy as:
(A) it would give him false hope.
(B) he might demand for a new ball.
(C) it might distress him further.
(D) whatever he has lost, is irretrievable.
Answer:
(D) whatever he has lost, is irretrievable.
Explanation:
The ball has gone down the alley and it is impossible to find the ball back in the vast water body where it has fallen.
Question 3.
The word ‘harbour’ DOES NOT have a meaning similar to:
(A) port.
(B) pier.
(C) dock.
(D) cargo.
Answer:
(D) cargo.
Explanation:
Port, pier and dock are the places where ships are moored. Cargo is the luggage that is loaded on the ship for transportation.
Question 4.
‘Merrily over — there it is in the water!’ The dash here is meant to convey:
(A) some familiar experience.
(B) a feeling of excitement.
(C) a sense of unexpected interruption.
(D) some thoughtful moments.
Answer:
(C) a sense of unexpected interruption.
Explanation:
This dash brings an interruption in the flow of the poem. This interruption is what the poet wants to convey in the mind of the reader about the sudden interruption in life due to loss of something or someone.
Question 5.
The word that DOES NOT indicate a physical manifestation of sorrow in the boy, is:
(A) worthless.
(B) shaking.
(C) trembling.
(D) rigid.
Answer:
(A) worthless.
Explanation:
Shaking, trembling and rigid are not expressing only sorrow. The feeling of worthlessness develops sorrow.