MP Board 12th English Flemingo Lost Spring by Anees Jung

MP Board 12th English Flemingo Lost Spring by Anees Jung :

📖 Lost Spring: Stories of Stolen Childhood

Author: Anees Jung Genre: Narrative Non-fiction / Essay Theme: Child labor, poverty, loss of childhood dreams.

📚 Summary (In Two Parts)

Part I: “Sometimes I find a rupee in the garbage” This section focuses on Saheb, a ragpicker from Seemapuri (Delhi). Saheb’s family came from Dhaka, Bangladesh, after losing their home due to storms and poverty. He and many other children survive by collecting garbage, which to them is like “gold”. The author speaks to Saheb and finds out that he once wanted to go to school but couldn’t afford it.

Though he is later employed in a tea stall and earns ₹800/month, the author sadly notes that the steel can he carries is heavier than the plastic bag — symbolizing lost freedom and joy. Saheb like thousands of other poor children represents the harsh reality of stolen childhoods.

Part II: “I want to drive a car” This part focuses on young boys in Firozabad, especially a boy named Mukesh, who dreams of becoming a motor mechanic. His family has been making bangles for generations — a trade that traps them in poverty, tradition and child labor. The bangle industry is hazardous; children’s eyes are damaged by working in dark, smoky rooms.

Despite the burden of caste, poverty, and inherited profession, Mukesh dares to dream of a better life — symbolizing hope and resistance.

👤 Main Characters

• Saheb-e-Alam: A ragpicker boy with lost dreams
• Mukesh: A boy from Firozabad who aspires to break free
• Author (Narrator): Observes, empathizes and highlights harsh realities

🌟 Major Themes

• Child labor and exploitation
• Poverty and social injustice
• Loss of innocence and childhood
• Power of dreams and resilience

📝 Moral / Message

The story reminds us that millions of children are forced to sacrifice their childhoods due to poverty and tradition. It urges society to recognize this injustice and support education, freedom and opportunities for these young lives.

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Questions and Answers Lost Spring by Anees Jung

1. What is Saheb looking for in the garbage dumps? Where is he and where has he come from?
   • Saheb is looking for something valuable, like a rupee or a silver coin, in the garbage dumps. He is in the big city and has come from Dhaka, where his family left due to storms that destroyed their fields and homes.
   • साहब कूड़े के ढेर में कुछ कीमती चीजें जैसे एक रुपया या चांदी का सिक्का खोज रहे हैं। वह बड़े शहर में है और ढाका से आया है, जहां उसका परिवार तूफानों के कारण अपने खेत और घर खो बैठा।
2. What explanations does the author offer for the children not wearing footwear?
   • The author offers two explanations: one is the lack of money, and the other is that it is a tradition to stay barefoot.
   • लेखक दो स्पष्टीकरण देते हैं: एक है पैसे की कमी, और दूसरा है कि यह नंगे पैर रहने की परंपरा है।
3. Is Saheb happy working at the tea-stall? Explain.
   • No, Saheb is not happy working at the tea-stall. Although he is paid 800 rupees and gets all his meals, he has lost the carefree look and feels burdened by the steel canister, which belongs to the tea stall owner, making him feel like he is no longer his own master.
   • नहीं, साहब चाय की दुकान पर काम करके खुश नहीं है। हालांकि उसे 800 रुपये मिलते हैं और सभी भोजन मिलते हैं, लेकिन उसने अपनी निश्चिंतता खो दी है और उसे स्टील के कंटेनर का बोझ महसूस होता है, जो चाय की दुकान के मालिक का है, जिससे उसे लगता है कि वह अब अपने आप का मालिक नहीं है।
4. What makes the city of Firozabad famous?The city of Firozabad is famous for its bangle-making industry. It is the center of India’s glass-blowing industry, where families have been engaged in making bangles for generations.फीरोजाबाद शहर अपने चूड़ी बनाने के उद्योग के लिए प्रसिद्ध है। यह भारत के कांच-फूंकने वाले उद्योग का केंद्र है, जहां परिवार पीढ़ियों से चूड़ियां बना रहे हैं।
5. Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.Working in the glass bangles industry involves high temperatures, dingy cells without air and light, and exposure to glass dust. This often leads to workers losing their eyesight before adulthood.कांच की चूड़ियों के उद्योग में काम करना उच्च तापमान, बिना हवा और रोशनी के अंधेरे कमरों और कांच की धूल के संपर्क में आने को शामिल करता है। इससे अक्सर श्रमिक वयस्कता से पहले अपनी दृष्टि खो देते हैं।
6. How is Mukesh’s attitude to his situation different from that of his family?Mukesh’s attitude is different because he dreams of becoming a motor mechanic and wants to break away from the traditional bangle-making industry. Unlike his family, he is determined to learn a new skill and change his future.मुकेश का दृष्टिकोण अलग है क्योंकि वह एक मोटर मैकेनिक बनने का सपना देखता है और पारंपरिक चूड़ी बनाने के उद्योग से अलग होना चाहता है। अपने परिवार के विपरीत, वह एक नई कौशल सीखने और अपने भविष्य को बदलने के लिए दृढ़ संकल्पित है।

Understanding the text

1. What could be some of the reasons for the migration of people from villages to cities?
   • People migrate from villages to cities for various reasons, including better employment opportunities, improved living conditions, access to education and healthcare, and escaping natural calamities such as storms and floods. In the text, Saheb’s family moved to the city due to storms that destroyed their fields and homes.
   • लोग बेहतर रोजगार के अवसरों, बेहतर जीवन स्थितियों, शिक्षा और स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं तक पहुंच और प्राकृतिक आपदाओं जैसे तूफानों और बाढ़ से बचने के लिए गांवों से शहरों में पलायन करते हैं। पाठ में, साहब का परिवार अपने खेतों और घरों को नष्ट करने वाले तूफानों के कारण शहर में चला गया।
2. Would you agree that promises made to poor children are rarely kept? Why do you think this happens in the incidents narrated in the text?
   • Yes, promises made to poor children are rarely kept. This happens due to a lack of resources, indifference, and the overwhelming challenges faced by the poor. In the text, the narrator’s promise to start a school for Saheb was not fulfilled, reflecting the common occurrence of unfulfilled promises in the lives of poor children.
   • हाँ, गरीब बच्चों से किए गए वादे शायद ही कभी निभाए जाते हैं। यह संसाधनों की कमी, उदासीनता और गरीबों द्वारा सामना की जाने वाली भारी चुनौतियों के कारण होता है। पाठ में, साहब के लिए स्कूल शुरू करने का कथाकार का वादा पूरा नहीं हुआ, जो गरीब बच्चों के जीवन में अपूर्ण वादों की सामान्य घटना को दर्शाता है।
3. What forces conspire to keep the workers in the bangle industry of Firozabad in poverty?
   • The forces that keep bangle workers in Firozabad in poverty include exploitative middlemen, corrupt officials, lack of education, and social stigmas. These forces trap the workers in a vicious cycle of poverty, preventing them from seeking better opportunities and improving their living conditions.
   • फीरोजाबाद में चूड़ी मजदूरों को गरीबी में रखने वाले बलों में शोषणकारी बिचौलिये, भ्रष्ट अधिकारी, शिक्षा की कमी और सामाजिक कलंक शामिल हैं। ये शक्तियाँ श्रमिकों को गरीबी के एक दुष्चक्र में फंसाती हैं, उन्हें बेहतर अवसरों की तलाश करने और उनकी जीवन स्थितियों में सुधार करने से रोकती हैं।

Talking about the text

1. How, in your opinion, can Mukesh realise his dream?
   • Mukesh can realise his dream of becoming a motor mechanic by seeking out opportunities to learn the trade, either by joining a garage as an apprentice or enrolling in a vocational training program. With determination and hard work, he can break free from the traditional bangle-making industry and achieve his goal.
   • मुकेश मोटर मैकेनिक बनने का अपना सपना पूरा कर सकता है यदि वह किसी गैराज में अप्रेंटिस के रूप में शामिल होकर या व्यावसायिक प्रशिक्षण कार्यक्रम में दाखिला लेकर इस व्यापार को सीखने के अवसर तलाशे। दृढ़ संकल्प और कड़ी मेहनत से, वह पारंपरिक चूड़ी बनाने के उद्योग से बाहर निकल सकता है और अपने लक्ष्य को प्राप्त कर सकता है।
2. Mention the hazards of working in the glass bangles industry.
   • Hazards of working in the glass bangles industry include exposure to high temperatures, working in poorly ventilated and dimly lit environments, and inhaling glass dust. These conditions can lead to serious health issues, including loss of eyesight, respiratory problems, and chronic fatigue.
   • कांच की चूड़ियों के उद्योग में काम करने के खतरों में उच्च तापमान के संपर्क में आना, खराब वेंटिलेशन और कम रोशनी वाले वातावरण में काम करना और कांच की धूल को साँस में लेना शामिल है। ये परिस्थितियाँ गंभीर स्वास्थ्य समस्याओं का कारण बन सकती हैं, जिनमें दृष्टि का नुकसान, श्वसन समस्याएँ और पुरानी थकान शामिल हैं।
3. Why should child labour be eliminated and how?
   • Child labour should be eliminated to ensure that children have the opportunity to receive education, enjoy a safe and healthy childhood, and develop their full potential. This can be achieved through strict enforcement of child labour laws, providing access to quality education, raising awareness about the negative impacts of child labour, and supporting families economically so they do not rely on their children’s income.
   • बाल श्रम को समाप्त करना चाहिए ताकि यह सुनिश्चित हो सके कि बच्चों को शिक्षा प्राप्त करने, सुरक्षित और स्वस्थ बचपन का आनंद लेने और अपनी पूरी क्षमता का विकास करने का अवसर मिल सके। यह बाल श्रम कानूनों को सख्ती से लागू करके, गुणवत्तापूर्ण शिक्षा तक पहुंच प्रदान करके, बाल श्रम के नकारात्मक प्रभावों के बारे में जागरूकता बढ़ाकर और परिवारों को आर्थिक रूप से समर्थन देकर प्राप्त किया जा सकता है ताकि वे अपने बच्चों की आय पर निर्भर न हों।

Thinking about Language: Explanation with Hindi

Although this text speaks of factual events and situations of misery, it transforms these situations with an almost poetical prose into a literary experience. Let’s understand how it does so using some literary devices:

1. Hyperbole (अतिशयोक्ति)

Hyperbole is a way of speaking or writing that makes something sound better or more exciting than it really is.

Example:

• English: Garbage to them is gold.
• Hindi: उनके लिए कूड़ा सोने के समान है।

Explanation: This sentence exaggerates the value of garbage to the ragpickers, making it sound much more valuable and exciting than it actually is.

2. Metaphor (रूपक)

A Metaphor compares two things or ideas that are not very similar. It describes a thing in terms of a single quality or feature of some other thing. We can say that a metaphor “transfers” a quality of one thing to another.

Example:

• English: The road was a ribbon of light.
• Hindi: सड़क प्रकाश की एक पट्टी थी।

Explanation: In this example, the road is compared to a ribbon of light, suggesting that the road appears to be smooth and shining, much like a ribbon made of light.

3. Simile (उपमा)

Simile is a word or phrase that compares one thing with another using the words “like” or “as”.

Example:

• English: As white as snow.
• Hindi: बर्फ की तरह सफेद।

Explanation: This sentence compares the whiteness of an object to the whiteness of snow, indicating that the object is very white.

These literary devices help transform the factual events and situations described in the text into a more engaging and vivid literary experience, making the reader connect with and understand the emotions and struggles of the characters more deeply.

Literary Devices in Each Example:

1. Saheb-e-Alam which means the lord of the universe is directly in contrast to what Saheb is in reality.
   • Literary Device: Irony
   • Explanation: The name Saheb-e-Alam, meaning “lord of the universe,” is ironic because it contrasts sharply with Saheb’s impoverished and powerless reality.
   • साहब-ए-आलम का मतलब “ब्रह्मांड के भगवान” है, और यह साहब की गरीबी और असहाय वास्तविकता के साथ तीव्र विरोधाभास है।
2. Drowned in an air of desolation.
   • Literary Device: Metaphor
   • Explanation: This phrase uses a metaphor to describe the overwhelming feeling of desolation as if it were a physical substance in which one could drown.
   • यह वाक्यांश एक रूपक का उपयोग करके निराशा की भारी भावना का वर्णन करता है जैसे कि यह एक भौतिक पदार्थ हो जिसमें कोई डूब सकता है।
3. Seemapuri, a place on the periphery of Delhi yet miles away from it, metaphorically.
   • Literary Device: Metaphor
   • Explanation: This metaphorically compares the physical proximity of Seemapuri to Delhi with its metaphorical distance in terms of living conditions and socio-economic status.
   • यह सिमापुरी की भौतिक निकटता को दिल्ली से जीवन स्थितियों और सामाजिक-आर्थिक स्थिति के संदर्भ में रूपक रूप में तुलना करता है।
4. For the children it is wrapped in wonder; for the elders it is a means of survival.
   • Literary Device: Contrast
   • Explanation: This sentence contrasts the different perspectives of children and elders towards garbage; for children, it is fascinating, while for elders, it is a means of survival.
   • यह वाक्य बच्चों और बड़ों के कूड़े के प्रति विभिन्न दृष्टिकोणों को दर्शाता है; बच्चों के लिए यह आकर्षक है, जबकि बड़ों के लिए यह जीविका का साधन है।
5. As her hands move mechanically like the tongs of a machine, I wonder if she knows the sanctity of the bangles she helps make.
   • Literary Device: Simile
   • Explanation: This simile compares the mechanical movement of the girl’s hands to the tongs of a machine, emphasizing the repetitive nature of her work.
   • यह उपमा लड़की के हाथों की यांत्रिक चाल को मशीन के चिमटे से तुलना करती है, उसके काम की पुनरावृत्तिमूलक प्रकृति को उजागर करती है।
6. She still has bangles on her wrist, but not light in her eyes.
   • Literary Device: Metaphor
   • Explanation: This metaphorically contrasts the physical presence of bangles on her wrist with the absence of light in her eyes, symbolizing lost hope and joy.
   • यह रूपक रूप में उसकी कलाई पर चूड़ियों की भौतिक उपस्थिति को उसकी आँखों में प्रकाश की अनुपस्थिति के साथ तुलना करता है, जो खोई हुई आशा और खुशी का प्रतीक है।
7. Few airplanes fly over Firozabad.
   • Literary Device: Literal Statement
   • Explanation: This is a simple, factual statement about the lack of airplane traffic over Firozabad.
   • यह फीरोजाबाद के ऊपर विमान यातायात की कमी के बारे में एक सरल, तथ्यात्मक बयान है।
8. Web of poverty.
   • Literary Device: Metaphor
   • Explanation: This metaphor compares poverty to a web, suggesting that it is complex and difficult to escape.
   • यह रूपक गरीबी की तुलना एक जाले से करता है, जो यह संकेत देता है कि यह जटिल और मुश्किल से बाहर निकलने वाला है।
9. Scrounging for gold.
   • Literary Device: Metaphor
   • Explanation: This metaphor compares searching through garbage for valuable items to searching for gold, emphasizing the value placed on found items.
   • यह रूपक कूड़े में कीमती वस्तुओं की खोज की तुलना सोने की खोज से करता है, जो मिली हुई वस्तुओं पर रखे गए मूल्य को दर्शाता है।
10. And survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking. Through the years, it has acquired the proportions of a fine art.
    • Literary Device: Metaphor
    • Explanation: This metaphor suggests that rag-picking has become a refined skill, similar to a fine art, due to the years of practice and necessity.
    • यह रूपक सुझाव देता है कि वर्षों के अभ्यास और आवश्यकता के कारण कबाड़ बीनना एक परिष्कृत कौशल बन गया है, जैसे कि एक उत्तम कला।
11. The steel canister seems heavier than the plastic bag he would carry so lightly over his shoulders.
    • Literary Device: Contrast
    • Explanation: This sentence contrasts the heaviness of the steel canister with the lightness of the plastic bag, symbolizing the burdensome nature of Saheb’s new job compared to his previous freedom.
    • यह वाक्य स्टील के कंटेनर की भारीपन की तुलना प्लास्टिक की थैली की हल्केपन से करता है, जो साहब के नए काम की बोझिल प्रकृति की तुलना उसकी पिछली स्वतंत्रता से करता है।

Additional Important Questions and Answers from “Lost Spring”

1. What is the significance of the title “Lost Spring”?
   • The title “Lost Spring” signifies the loss of childhood and youth experienced by the children described in the chapter. It refers to the period of life that should be filled with joy, learning, and growth but is instead marred by poverty, exploitation, and the struggle for survival.
   • शीर्षक “लॉस्ट स्प्रिंग” उन बच्चों के बचपन और युवावस्था के नुकसान को दर्शाता है जो अध्याय में वर्णित हैं। यह जीवन के उस काल को संदर्भित करता है जिसे खुशी, सीखने और विकास से भरा होना चाहिए, लेकिन इसके बजाय गरीबी, शोषण और जीविका के संघर्ष से प्रभावित होता है।
2. Describe the living conditions in Seemapuri as mentioned in the text.
   • The living conditions in Seemapuri are dire. It is a place with structures made of mud, roofs of tin and tarpaulin, and lacking sewage, drainage, and running water. Around 10,000 ragpickers live there without an identity, relying on ration cards for food and survival.
   • सिमापुरी में रहने की स्थिति भयावह है। यह एक ऐसा स्थान है जहाँ मिट्टी के बने ढांचे, टिन और तारपॉलिन की छतें हैं, और जहां सीवेज, जल निकासी और पानी की कमी है। वहां लगभग 10,000 कचरा बीनने वाले बिना पहचान के रहते हैं और भोजन और जीविका के लिए राशन कार्ड पर निर्भर रहते हैं।
3. Explain the contrast between Saheb’s real name and his life situation.
   • Saheb’s real name, Saheb-e-Alam, means “lord of the universe,” which is in stark contrast to his life situation. Despite his grand name, Saheb lives a life of poverty and hardship, scrounging for valuable items in the garbage.
   • साहब का असली नाम, साहब-ए-आलम, जिसका अर्थ “ब्रह्मांड का भगवान” है, उसकी जीवन स्थिति के विपरीत है। अपने भव्य नाम के बावजूद, साहब गरीबी और कठिनाइयों का जीवन जीता है, कूड़े में कीमती वस्तुओं की तलाश करता है।
4. What does the author mean by saying, “Garbage to them is gold”?
   • By saying “Garbage to them is gold,” the author means that for the ragpickers, garbage is a source of livelihood. It provides them with items that can be sold or used, making it as valuable as gold to them.
   • “उनके लिए कूड़ा सोने के समान है” कहने से लेखक का मतलब है कि कचरा बीनने वालों के लिए कचरा आजीविका का स्रोत है। यह उन्हें ऐसी वस्तुएं प्रदान करता है जिन्हें बेचा या उपयोग किया जा सकता है, जिससे यह उनके लिए सोने के समान मूल्यवान हो जाता है।
5. What is the role of the middlemen in the bangle-making industry in Firozabad?
   • The middlemen in the bangle-making industry in Firozabad exploit the workers by controlling the distribution and sale of bangles. They keep the workers in a cycle of poverty and prevent them from organizing into cooperatives to improve their conditions.
   • फीरोजाबाद में चूड़ी बनाने के उद्योग में बिचौलियों की भूमिका श्रमिकों का शोषण करना है, क्योंकि वे चूड़ियों के वितरण और बिक्री को नियंत्रित करते हैं। वे श्रमिकों को गरीबी के चक्र में रखते हैं और उन्हें अपनी स्थिति में सुधार करने के लिए सहकारी संगठनों में संगठित होने से रोकते हैं।
6. How do traditions play a role in keeping the children and families in poverty?
   • Traditions play a role in keeping the children and families in poverty by perpetuating certain practices and beliefs, such as child labor and the acceptance of their socio-economic status as their fate. These traditions discourage change and limit opportunities for improvement.
   • परंपराएँ बच्चों और परिवारों को गरीबी में बनाए रखने में भूमिका निभाती हैं क्योंकि वे कुछ प्रथाओं और विश्वासों को बनाए रखती हैं, जैसे कि बाल श्रम और अपने सामाजिक-आर्थिक स्थिति को अपनी किस्मत के रूप में स्वीकार करना। ये परंपराएँ परिवर्तन को हतोत्साहित करती हैं और सुधार के अवसरों को सीमित करती हैं।

Important Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers from “Lost Spring”

1. Who is the author of “Lost Spring, Stories of Stolen Childhood”?
   a) Jhumpa Lahiri
   b) Arundhati Roy
   c) Anees Jung
   d) R.K. Narayan
   Answer: c) Anees Jung
2. Where did Saheb come from before moving to the big city?
   a) Mumbai
   b) Dhaka
   c) Kolkata
   d) Chennai
   Answer: b) Dhaka
3. What does Saheb scavenge for in the garbage dumps?
   a) Food
   b) Clothes
   c) Gold and valuable items
   d) Toys
   Answer: c) Gold and valuable items
4. What is the reason given for the children walking barefoot?
   a) They cannot afford shoes
   b) It is a tradition to stay barefoot
   c) They do not like wearing shoes
   d) They have shoes but do not want to wear them
   Answer: b) It is a tradition to stay barefoot
5. Where is Seemapuri located?
   a) On the periphery of Mumbai
   b) On the periphery of Kolkata
   c) On the periphery of Delhi
   d) On the periphery of Bangalore
   Answer: c) On the periphery of Delhi
6. What is Saheb’s real name?
   a) Saheb-e-Alam
   b) Saheb-Raza
   c) Saheb-Ul-Haq
   d) Saheb-Karim
   Answer: a) Saheb-e-Alam
7. What does Saheb do after he starts working at the tea stall?
   a) He continues to scavenge in garbage dumps
   b) He stops going to school
   c) He works for 800 rupees and all meals
   d) He opens his own shop
   Answer: c) He works for 800 rupees and all meals
8. What is Mukesh’s dream?
   a) To become a teacher
   b) To become a doctor
   c) To become a motor mechanic
   d) To become a businessman
   Answer: c) To become a motor mechanic
9. What industry is Firozabad famous for?
   a) Textile industry
   b) Bangle-making industry
   c) Leather industry
   d) Pottery industry
   Answer: b) Bangle-making industry
10. What are the working conditions in the glass bangle industry?
    a) Well-ventilated and well-lit
    b) High temperatures and dingy cells without air and light
    c) Clean and comfortable
    d) Air-conditioned and modern
    Answer: b) High temperatures and dingy cells without air and light
11. What is the significance of the title “Lost Spring”?
    a) It refers to the lost season of spring
    b) It signifies the lost childhood and youth of the children
    c) It is the name of the author’s book
    d) It refers to a lost water spring in Seemapuri
    Answer: b) It signifies the lost childhood and youth of the children
12. What metaphor is used to describe the workers’ situation in the bangle industry?
    a) A web of poverty
    b) A sea of troubles
    c) A mountain of hope
    d) A forest of dreams
    Answer: a) A web of poverty
13. How do the middlemen exploit the bangle workers?
    a) By providing them with high wages
    b) By controlling the distribution and sale of bangles
    c) By giving them good working conditions
    d) By offering educational opportunities
    Answer: b) By controlling the distribution and sale of bangles
14. Why does Mukesh’s grandmother believe they cannot break away from bangle-making?
    a) Because it is their destiny (karam)
    b) Because they enjoy making bangles
    c) Because they are not skilled in any other work
    d) Because they have no other resources
    Answer: a) Because it is their destiny (karam)
15. What is the emotional state of the children working in the bangle industry as described in the text?
    a) Happy and content
    b) Indifferent and numb
    c) Excited and hopeful
    d) Fearful and anxious
    Answer: b) Indifferent and numb
    Additional Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers from “Lost Spring”
16. Why did Saheb’s family leave Dhaka and come to the big city?
    a) To find better education
    b) To escape from the storms that swept away their fields and homes
    c) To join their relatives
    d) To start a new business
    Answer: b) To escape from the storms that swept away their fields and homes
17. What does Saheb’s smile reveal when he is asked about going to school?
    a) Happiness
    b) Hopefulness
    c) Sadness
    d) Sarcasm
    Answer: b) Hopefulness
18. Why does Saheb wear tennis shoes with a hole in one of them?
    a) He bought them from a store
    b) Someone gave them to him
    c) He found them in the garbage
    d) He made them himself
    Answer: b) Someone gave them to him
19. What job does Saheb take up after leaving rag-picking?
    a) Working in a factory
    b) Selling newspapers
    c) Working at a tea stall
    d) Washing dishes
    Answer: c) Working at a tea stall
20. How does Saheb feel about working at the tea stall?
    a) Happy and content
    b) Regretful and burdened
    c) Indifferent
    d) Excited
    e) Answer: b) Regretful and burdened
21. What does Mukesh want to become instead of continuing the family tradition of bangle-making?
    a) Teacher
    b) Doctor
    c) Motor mechanic
    d) Farmer
    Answer: c) Motor mechanic
22. Why are the bangle makers of Firozabad unable to organize themselves into cooperatives?
    a) Lack of interest
    b) Fear of being arrested by the police for doing something illegal
    c) They prefer working individually
    d) Lack of resources
    Answer: b) Fear of being arrested by the police for doing something illegal
23. What does Mukesh’s grandmother believe about their family’s involvement in bangle-making?
    a) They should learn a new trade
    b) It is their destiny and cannot be changed
    c) They should move to another city
    d) They should sell their bangles abroad
    Answer: b) It is their destiny and cannot be changed
24. What is the living condition of the bangle makers in Firozabad?
    a) They live in spacious houses
    b) They live in hovels with crumbling walls and overcrowded conditions
    c) They live in modern apartments
    d) They live in well-maintained houses
    Answer: b) They live in hovels with crumbling walls and overcrowded conditions
25. Why do the bangle makers’ children often lose their eyesight before they become adults?
    a) Due to poor nutrition
    b) Due to lack of education
    c) Due to working in dark, dingy cells with glass dust
    d) Due to genetic conditions
    Answer: c) Due to working in dark, dingy cells with glass dust
26. How does the author describe the lanes of Seemapuri?
    a) Clean and wide
    b) Stinking and choked with garbage
    c) Paved and well-maintained
    d) Quiet and empty
    Answer: b) Stinking and choked with garbage
27. What is the primary reason for the Seemapuri residents to choose their location?
    a) Close to their relatives
    b) Availability of food
    c) Good job opportunities
    d) Access to education
    Answer: b) Availability of food
28. What does the author mean by “an army of barefoot boys”?
    a) A group of soldiers
    b) A large group of boys wandering the streets barefoot
    c) Boys participating in a parade
    d) Boys playing sports
    Answer: b) A large group of boys wandering the streets barefoot
29. What is the underlying theme of “Lost Spring”?
    a) Economic prosperity
    b) The plight of child laborers and the loss of childhood
    c) Adventure and exploration
    d) Technological advancements
    Answer: b) The plight of child laborers and the loss of childhood
30. What metaphor does the author use to describe the children’s dreams and aspirations?
    a) A flight of fancy
    b) A bright star
    c) A web of poverty
    d) A mirage amidst the dust of streets
    Answer: d) A mirage amidst the dust of streets