Lost Spring
By Anees Jung
Case Based Questions
This morning, Saheb is on his way to the milk booth. In his hand is a steel
canister. ―I now work in a tea stall down the road,‖ he says, pointing in the
distance. ―I am paid 800 rupees and all my meals.‖ Does he like the job? I ask.
His face, I see, has lost the carefree look. The steel canister seems heavier than
the plastic bag he would carry so lightly over his shoulder. The bag was his.
The canister belongs to the man who owns the tea shop. Saheb is no longer his own
master!‖
1. ―His face, I see, has lost the carefree look.‖ This means as per the
assumption of the author, in his looks, Saheb is ……..
a) not burdened with responsibility
b) burdened with responsibility
c) Burdened but without any responsibility
d) Not burdened but feels responsible
2. Choose the appropriate statements for ― Saheb is no longer his own
master!‖
(i) Saheb carries his bag for rag picking.
(ii) Saheb works in a tea stall.
(iii) Saheb is paid 800 rupees.
(iv)Saheb carries a canister.
a) (i)(ii)&(iii)
b) (i)(ii)&(iv)
c) (i)(iii)&(iv)
d) (ii)(iii)&(iv)
3. Read the statements given below.
Choose the correct statement to analyse the mental condition of Saheb-e-
Alam.
a) He seems to be dignified working at the tea-stall.
b) He seems to be proud of collecting milk from the milk booth.
c) He seems to be responsible for carrying the steel canister.
d) He seems to be enjoying his freewheel at the tea-stall.
4. Select the option/options that does NOT explain Saheb‘s nature of
thinking in his new job at the tea stall.
(i) He thinks collecting milk is a part of his new job.
(ii) Canister is heavy, but he thinks he should carry it for survival.
(iii) He is earning 800 rupees and all meals, so he should justify the job.
(iv) He is a servant now, he can have a carefree life.
a) Only option (iii)
b) Both options (ii)&(iv)
c) Both options (i)&(iv)
d) Only option (iv)
5. Choose the option that most appropriately fills in the blanks, for the
following description of the given extract.
People migrate from villages to cities in search of a better life. They want
to earn money so that they can lead a good life and (i)_______their
children in a better way. As cities have more (ii)________for work, this
makes them migrate from the villages to these big cities. (iii)________all
miseries and challenges of life at young age, Saheb even finds a job in a
tea stall, shifting from rag picking to (iv)_________his struggle for
survival.
a) (i)give; (ii) scope; (iii) controlling; (iv) continue
b) (i) rare; (ii) opportunities; (iii) Accepting; (iv) prove
c) (i) provide; (ii) jobs; (iii) Denying; (iv) stop
d) (i) leave; (ii) chances; (iii) Chasing; (iv) deal
STAND ALONE MCQs:
1. The narrator asks Saheb to go to school. What is the intention of the
narrator here?
a) The narrator wants Saheb to enjoy school.
b) The narrator wants Saheb to go for rag picking and school as well.
c) The narrator wants Saheb to go to school instead of rag picking.
d) The narrator seriously encourages him to go to school.
2. ―It takes longer to build a school‖ says the narrator to Saheb. What does
Does the narrator really mean here?
a) There is a possibility to build a school.
b) It takes a 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.
3. ―After months of knowing him, I asked 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.
4. ―I like the game‖, he hums, ―content to watch it standing behind the
fence‖. The above sentence refers to Saheb ……
a) Is he satisfied with watching the game standing by the fence of the 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.
5. ―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 societal pressures.
d) All the above.
6. ―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.
7. ―I want to be a motor mechanic,‖ Mukesh repeats. Which one of the
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 to become a motor mechanic.
d) He wants to become a motor mechanic to impress the author.
8. 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 (b)
[Link] AND REASONING/STATEMENT TYPE QUESTIONS:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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 eyesight 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.
8. Statement: 1 The young bangle makers could not organise themselves
into a cooperative.
Statement: 2 : They were caught in a web of vicious circles.
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.
9. 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.
10. 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 causes.