The Ball Poem MCQ has been sourced from the CBSE question bank. CBSE has introduced certain changes in the pattern of questions asked in this series. More opinion-based questions will be asked in the class 10 literature part in the form of ‘Diary entry’ and ‘Dialogue Writing’. Students of class 10 are advised to start their preparation well in advance for their exams. This video has been made public at the students’ request.
The Ball Poem Question Bank Class 10 English
Q3 Multiple Choice Questions based on an extract
MCQ on The Ball Poem Class 10
(A) 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!
ii 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.
iii Choose the situation that corresponds to the emotion behind the exclamation mark in the poem.
a) option 1
b) option 2
c) option 3
d) option 4
iv 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.
v 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
MCQ (A) Answer Key
i) a
ii) c
iii) d
iv) d
v) b
The Ball Poem CBSE Question Bank Answers | MCQ Class 10 English
(B) An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down
All his young days in the harbour where
His ball went. I would not intrude on him;
i 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
ii 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
What is the literary device in – “An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy”? (Imp.)
iii 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
iv 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.
v 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 the 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
MCQ (B) Answer Key
d
d
d
b
a
The Ball Poem Question Bank Answer Key
Q10 Answer in 20-30 words
i If you were the poet, which toy would you use, instead of a ball? Give a reason for your response.
ANS: If I were the poet of this poem I would have used a remote-controlled car because children like battery-operated toys more nowadays, although a ball is the best option for all ages and generations of children.
ii Do you think the ‘I’ in the poem is the poet or an observer? Give a reason for your choice of response.
ANS: I think the ‘I’ in the poem is an observer who later on got inspired to write a poem on his observation about a child’s grief who lost his favourite toy.
iii Explain how, “Out of sight, out of mind” might apply to the boy, towards the end of the poem.
ANS: The ball flowed away with the water and was out of sight of the boy who was grief-stricken and could not think of anything else so he was out of mind.
iv A popular quote states: Responsibility is self-taught. How does the poem address this thought?
ANS: The poem addresses the fact that one must be careful about their possessions otherwise they can be lost. After losing the ball the boy will be more responsible and vigilant about his belongings to avoid losing something in future. It is our duty to take care of our possessions to keep enjoying them.
CBSE Question Bank The Ball Poem
Q11 Answer in 40-50 words (3 Marks)
i Suggest a suitable by-line for ‘The Ball Poem” with a reason for your choice.
ANS: I would suggest a byline for the ball poem- “Lessons of Life”
The poem begins with the first loss of a little boy that leaves a huge impact on his mind. The poem emphasizes that life will give you many toys, friends, and possessions that might get lost at some point in time. So, the boy has to accept this lesson that nothing is permanent in this world and everyone has to bear losses and failures besides achievements.
More ByLines-
“Life is a process of give and take”
“learning the eternal truth”
“Nothing is permanent in the world”
“Discovering Responsibility Through Loss: The Ball Poem
Lost Ball, Found Responsibility: The Ball Poem”
Unleashing Accountability: The Ball Poem”
Soulful Lessons of Responsibility: The Ball Poem”
What is a byline– A byline can be understood as a short phrase or sentence that describes the theme of the poem.
ii Recount your reaction to the loss of a favourite object as a very young child. Would you have behaved the same way now? Explain with reason.
ANS: As a young child I felt upset after losing my favourite doll/toy car as it was my first loss. I didn’t feel like playing with any other toy. Now, I am sensible enough to accept the losses in life. Although it is difficult to let go of something or someone that is close to our hearts.
iii What feelings do you think, might be experienced, at the loss of a mobile phone, a youngster today? Explain how these would be different from those felt by the boy in the poem.
ANS: Mobile phone has become a necessity today. Losing a mobile phone might attract fear and sadness among youngsters today. I think the loss of a mobile phone would be even greater than the boy’s loss of the ball because losing a phone means getting disconnected from the virtual world of the internet and social media. They would insist on buying a new phone as soon as possible.
iv When we think of losses, we generally think of people or possessions. Time is considered a very precious commodity. Explain why time can probably be one of the things people bitterly regret losing/wasting.
ANS: It is often said that “Time went never comes back”. Thus, it is a very precious commodity. Those who do not complete their tasks on time regret it later because incompletion may result in losing money, status, promotion or satisfaction. For instance- crops not irrigated on time will not produce a harvest, and children who waste their precious time throughout the year regret it during exams.
v Imagine you are the boy’s elder sibling. He tells you about the loss of the ball on reaching home. How would you assure him? You may begin your reply like this: I don’t think you should take this to heart. You see…
ANS: I don’t think you should take this to heart. You see toys come and break. Dad will buy you a new ball and you will find it prettier than the previous one. Moreover, it had torn off in many places. Stop thinking about that ball. Come, let’s play together with my ball.
Conversation Between the Boy and his elder brother
The Ball Poem Long Question Answers | CBSE Question Bank
Q12 Answer in 100-120 words (beyond text and across texts) (5 Marks)
i The poem deals with a child understanding loss for the first time. Matches and championships too, deal with a different sense of loss. Explain how games and sports are a good way to train children to take losses in their stride.
ANS: The ball poem shows the pain of a child after losing his favourite toy, a ball. It is important to teach children to accept losses and defeats in a positive way. Matches and championships are a better way to inculcate this habit during their childhood itself. The participants of a match know beforehand that there is an equal probability of losing the match. Still, they strive hard to win. A child must not feel depressed or demotivated rather he should think about working harder the next time. Besides the loss acceptance, matches bring about a feeling of team spirit, endurance, hard work and, of course, celebrating every win in life.
ii If the Buddha were to summarise the life lessons of ‘the Ball poem’ what would that sermon be? Think and create this address for people of your age.
ANS: If Buddha were to summarise the life lessons of ‘the ball poem’ it would be as follows:
Life is a never-ending process of sacrifices, whatever you get in life, maybe seized at any time without prior notice. So, don’t get emotionally attached to any living or nonliving things. Attachment gives pain on separation. Nothing is permanent in this world, one who has come here will definitely take leave. When you did not bring anything with you how can you claim ownership over anything? You might be the owner of this ball today but tomorrow it may tear off, stolen or broken. You will get new toys in life as you grow. Make a habit of enjoying things and relations as if they might not stay tomorrow.
Supplementary Reader: Footprints without Feet NCERT Class 10 English > Lesson 1 A Triumph of Surgery > Lesson 2 The Thief’s Story > Lesson 3 The Midnight Visitor > Lesson 4 A Question of Trust > Lesson 5 Footprints without Feet > Lesson 6 The Making of a Scientist > Lesson 7 The Necklace > Lesson 8 The Hack Driver > Lesson 9 Bholi CBSE > Lesson 10 The Book that Saved the Earth |
GREETINGS! DEAR AUTHOR. THIS QUESTION BANK IS REALLY HELPFUL. CREATIVE AS WELL AS PROBLEM SOLVING SKILL IS QUITE EVIDENT.
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Plz. Add questions on Extrapolation and analysis.
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all answers of fire and ice are not uploaded. please make it sure that all answers are uploaded
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Is the answer key available for all the chapters?
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Yes, the answers are being uploaded for all the lessons. https://essayshout.com/category/cbse-sample-paper-class-10-and-12/
Hello author. Thank you for helping us. Will you be able to provide answers to all chapters by 1st of April?
Please upload them fast as our exams are upon us.
We are trying our best to serve the students. But, it won’t be possible by 1st April. Keep visiting for the latest updates.
Thanks for helping but I have a doubt in section B becsuse que.no. 1,2,3’ans are not exact which is given in ans. I thought that que. No. 1 ans. Is option C 2=B,3=D
Please clarify my doubts
I could not understand your doubt. Either watch the attached video or ask your doubt again clearly. Thanks for commenting.
For MCQ NO.2 3 part could it be 1 and 3 .As when boy would grow up he would realise that his reaction was disproportionate to loss, he would realise that it was only a ball that was lost?
That is a subjective question, moreover, the answers are not given at CBSE’s site. Let me cross-check with other teachers. By the time you can confirm with your school teacher. Do let us know what she suggests.