CHILDHOOD
EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS
1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
When did my childhood go?
Was it the day I ceased to be eleven,
Was it the time I realised that Hell and Heaven,
Could not be found in Geography,
And therefore could not be,
Was that the day!
Question 1.
At what age does the poet think he lost his childhood ?
(a) After he crossed the age of eleven
(b) After he crossed the age of twelve
(c) After he crossed the age of ten
(d) After he crossed the age of nine
Question 2.
What did the poet realise?
(a) That hell and heaven are geographical places
(b) That hell and heaven are one and the same thing
(c) That hell and heaven are not any geographical places
(d) That hell and heaven are located on the Earth itself
Question 3.
………. in the extract means the same as discontinued
(a) Realised (b) Therefore (c) Ceased (d) Stopped
II. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
When did my childhood go?
Was it the time I realised that adults were not all they seemed to be,
They talked of love and preached of love,
But did not act so lovingly,
Was that the day!
Question 1.
Who is ‘my’ in the above lines?
(a) ‘my’ refers to the poet, Markus Natten
(b) ‘my’ refers to the poet’s childhood
(c) ‘my’ refers to the poet’s friend
(d) ‘my’ refers to the poet’s father
Question 2.
Why is ‘I’ confused?
(a) Because ‘I’ do not seem to understand when he lost his childhood
(b) Because ‘I’ could not search heaven and hell in geography .
(c) Because T is getting a lot of negative thoughts
(d) Because T has lost his mind
Question 3.
Explain “But did not act so lovingly”.
(a) It means that children talk about love but their actions are not loving
(b) It means that adults talk about love but their actions are not loving
(c) It means that adults talk about love and their actions reflect the same
(d) It means that children talk about love and their actions reflect the same
III. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
When did my childhood go?
Was it when I found my mind was really mine, To use whichever way I choose,
Producing thoughts that were not those of .
other people, But my own, and mine alone Was that the day!”
Question 1.
Explain “my mind was really mine”.
(a) It means that his mind was influenced by others
(b) It means that his mind was not influenced by others
(c) It means that his mind was influenced by his parents
(d) It means that he was not confused
Question 2.
What did the poet realise?
(a) He realised that his mind belonged to his parents
(b) He realised that his mind was controlled by his friends
(c) He realised that his mind was controlled by his teachers
(d) He realised that his mind was his, and he had his own individuality
Question 3.
The poet ……….. find an answer to his question.
(a) did (b) did not (c) can (d) may
IV. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Where did my childhood go?
It went to some forgotten place,
That’s hidden in an infant’s face,
That’s all I know.
Question 1.
Where did the poet’s childhood go?
(a) It went to an unknown place
(b) It went to some forgotten or unknown place
(c) It went to a known place
(d) It went to the poet’s native place
Question 2.
Where does the poet think that his childhood is hidden?
(a) He thinks that it is hidden in a cat’s face
(b) He thinks that it is hidden in a boy’s face
(c) He thinks that it is hidden in an infant’s face
(d) He thinks that it is hidden beneath his face
Question 3.
The present tense of ‘forgotton’ is ………
(a) forgot (b) forgets (c) forget (d) forgets
MCQs
1. What does the poet say about the fact that adults talk and preach love but do not act lovingly?
a. The adults talk and preach love but do not act lovingly because they are hypocrites.
b. The adults talk and preach love but do not act lovingly because they are double-faced.
c. The adults talk and preach love but do not act lovingly because they do not want to.
d. The adults talk and preach love but do not act lovingly because they invest in only those whom they
find interesting.
2. ‘Antithesis’ means the usage of two opposite words which are used together in a single sentence in a
poem, so where did the poet use it in the poem?
a. The poet used it while describing the infant’s face.
b. The poet used it in a forgotten place.
c. The poet used it while talking about Hell and Heaven.
d. The poet used it while preaching love.
3. What sense did the poet have when he understood he can use his mind the way he likes?
a. He sensed that he could be as intelligent as his friends.
b. He sensed he has own individuality and a separate personality.
c. He sensed that he was very smart when he used his own mind.
d. He sensed that he could use his mind in creative work.
4. What is the opposite word of ‘hidden’?
a. The opposite word for hidden is open.
b. The opposite word for hidden is closed.
c. The opposite word for hidden is partial.
d. The opposite word for hidden is out.
5. Name the poet of the poem ‘Childhood’.
a. The poet’s name is Shirley Toulson.
b. The poet’s name is Walt Whitman.
c. The poet’s name is Marcus Natten.
d. The poet’s name is Naipul.
Long Answer Type Questions
1. ‘Childhood is an essential state in the process of growing up, but it can’t go on forever.” Discuss.
2. Write an article in about 150 words about childhood and the process of growing up.
3. Is independent thinking a step towards adulthood? If yes, then how? Explain with reference to the
poem ‘Childhood’.
or
Markus Natten, though showing disapproval regarding the behaviour of adults, also raises a very
important point, that of independent thinking and individuality. Do you agree that independent thinking
and individuality make us what we are? Elaborate in the context of the poem ‘Childhood’.
4. The poem childhood exposes man and presents him his true colours. All adjectives displaying negative
qualities are not enough for such a man. This poem innocently goads him to his real self. Explain.