Lost Spring Class 12: Important Questions and Answers for Your Exam Preparation

Preparing for the CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 2 Lost Spring can be overwhelming, but with the right resources, you can succeed. Here are some important questions and answers to help you prepare for the exam and feel confident on test day.

Subject	English Language & Literature
Class	12
Board	CBSE
Chapter Name	Lost Spring
Type	Important Questions and Answers
Session	2024-25
Book Name	Flamingo
Literature	Prose

"Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle."

- Christian D. Larson

Class 12 Lost Spring Questions and Answers

Q. No. 1) Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow:

“I have nothing else to do,” he mutters, looking away. “Go to school,” I say glibly, realizing immediately how hollow the advice must sound.

“There is no school in my neighborhood. When they build one, I will go.”

“If I start a school, will you come?” I ask, half-joking. “Yes,” he says, smiling broadly.

A few days later I see him running up to me. “Is your school ready?”

“It takes longer to build a school,” I say, embarrassed at having made a promise that was not meant. But promises like mine abound in every corner of his bleak world.

i. Saheb’s muttering and ‘looking away’ suggests his

a. anger

b. shyness

c. embarrassment

d. anxiety

Ans. Option (c)

ii. Of the four meanings of ‘glibly’, select the option that matches in meaning with its usage in the extract.

a. showing a degree of informality

b. lacking depth and substance

c. being insincere and deceitful

d. speaking with fluency

Ans. Option (b)

iii. Who do you think Saheb is referring to as ‘they’, in the given sentence?

“When they build one, I will go”

a. The officials

b. The inhabitants

c. The teachers

d. The journalists

Ans. Option (a)

iv. Select the option that lists the feelings and attitudes corresponding to the following:

1. I ask half-joking
2. ...he says, smiling broadly

Ans. Option (D)

v. Select the option that lists reasons why Saheb’s world has been called ‘bleak’.

1. The absence of parental presence
2. The poor socioeconomic conditions
3. His inability to address problems
4. His lack of life-skills
5. They denied opportunities for schooling

a. (1) and (4)

b. (2) and (5)

c. (3) and (5)

d. (2) and (4)

Ans. Option (b)

vi. ‘But promises like mine abound in every corner of his bleak world’. This suggests that

a. there is no dearth of promises which remain unfulfilled.

b. there is a scarcity of people promising things for betterment.

c. people make a lot of promises which are often fulfilled.

d. promises made, live up to the expectations of people.

Ans. Option (a)

Q. No. 2) Unaware of what his name represents, he roams the streets with his friends, an army of barefoot boys who appear like the morning birds and disappear at noon. Over the months, I have come to recognize each of them.

“Why aren’t you wearing chappals?” I ask one.

“My mother did not bring them down from the shelf,” he answers simply.

“Even if she did, he will throw them off,” adds another who is wearing shoes that do not match.

When I comment on it, he shuffles his feet and says nothing. “I want shoes,” says a third boy who has never owned a pair all his life. Traveling across the country I have seen children walking barefoot, in cities, on village roads. It is not lack of money but a tradition to stay barefoot is one explanation.

(Lost Spring)

i. What is the writer’s purpose in allowing the boys to speak for themselves via dialogue, as opposed to only a writer’s commentary?

Ans.

• To give voice to their hopes, dreams, and struggles in a way that is immediate and relatable.
• To add a sense of authenticity and realism to the story.
• To make the experience more engaging and memorable for the reader.

ii. The line, "It is not lack of money but a tradition to stay barefoot" can be best classified as:

a. A fact

b. An opinion

c. A theme

d. A plot point

Ans. Option (b)

iii. Explain any one possible inference that can be drawn from the line, "an army of barefoot boys who appear like the morning birds and disappear at noon”.

Ans.

• The boys are barefoot, which suggests that they may come from poor or marginalized backgrounds and do not have access to proper footwear.
• The phrase "an army of barefoot boys" implies that the boys are a unified group and that they have a sense of solidarity or shared identity.
• The comparison to "morning birds" suggests that the boys are lively and energetic and that they move around quickly and unpredictably.
• The fact that the boys "disappear at noon" suggests that their time is limited or constrained in some way and that they may need to return to their homes or other responsibilities.
• The use of the word "disappear" may also imply that the boys are overlooked or ignored by the wider society and that they are not given the recognition or support that they need.
• The phrase "like the morning birds" could also imply that the boys are vulnerable and that their carefree lifestyle may be disrupted by external factors such as poverty, exploitation, or violence.

iv. Identify the line from the text that bears evidence of the fact that the writer's association with the boys is not a recent one.

Ans. The line from the text: "Over the months, I have come to recognize each of them.“

[This suggests that the writer has been observing and interacting with the boys for a prolonged period of time and that she has developed a deeper understanding of their lives and circumstances. The phrase "over the months" indicates that the writer's relationship with the boys is ongoing and has developed gradually, rather than being a one-time encounter.]

v. Based on the context provided in the extract, select the most likely comment that the writer would have made, based on the boy's reaction to the mismatched shoes.

a. "Why are your shoes mismatched? That's not a good look."

b. "Don't worry about your shoes, you can wear a matching pair later."

c. "I like your shoes. What matters is that they protect your feet."

d. "Have you chosen to mismatch your shoes?

Ans. Option (c)

[The reason for this is that the writer's comment had been met with silence and the shuffling of feet by the boy, which suggests that he may feel embarrassed or uncomfortable about his footwear. Therefore, a comment that emphasizes the functional purpose of shoes and acknowledges their value in protecting one's feet would likely be more reassuring and positive.

Option (a) ("Why are your shoes mismatched? That's not a good look.") could be seen as critical and potentially judgmental, and may not be well-received by the boy.

Option (b) ("Don't worry about your shoes, you can wear a matching pair later.") may not be practical or realistic, depending on the boy's circumstances.

Option (d) ("Have you chosen to mismatch your shoes?") may come across as sarcastic or dismissive, and may not effectively address the boy's feelings or needs.]

vi. Complete the sentence with ONE word. The phrase "he answers simply", suggests that the boy's response to the writer's question about why he wasn't wearing chappals was _____.

Ans. straightforward/uncomplicated/direct/clear.

Q. No. 3) Saheb’s discarded and worn-out tennis shoes are _____.

a. an indication to procure different ones.

b. a dream come true.

c. a sign of his poverty.

d. an insult to the sport itself.

Ans. Option (b)

Q. No. 4) Select the option that shows the correct relationship between (1) and (2) in 'Lost Spring'.

1. Bangle-makers are not able to escape the web of poverty.
2. Bangle makers lose their vision in their youth due to bad working conditions.

a. (1) is false and (2) is true.

b. (2) explains a reason for (1).

c. (1) is an assumption made from (2).

d. (2) is a fact whereas (1) is an opinion.

Ans. Option (b)

Q. No. 5) Food is more important for survival than an identity. “If at the end of the day, we can feed our families and go to bed without an aching stomach, we would rather live here than in the fields that gave us no grain,” say a group of women in tattered saris when I ask them why they left their beautiful land of green fields and rivers. Wherever they find food, they pitch their tents that become transit homes. Children grow up in them, becoming partners in survival. And survival in Seemapuri means rag-picking. Through the years, it has acquired the proportions of a fine art. Garbage to them is gold. It is their daily bread, a roof over their heads, even if it is a leaking roof. But for a child, it is even more.

i. The phrase ‘transit homes’ refer to dwellings that are

a. unhygienic.

b. inadequate.

c. fragile.

d. temporary.

Ans. Option (d)

ii. Identify the figure of speech used in the sentence “Garbage to them is gold”.

a. hyperbole

b. simile

c. synecdoche

d. personification

Ans. Option (a)

iii. Choose the term which best matches the statement ‘Food is more important for survival than an identity.”?

a. immorality

b. necessity

c. obligation

d. ambition

Ans. Option (b)

iv. What does ‘acquired the proportions of a fine art’ mean?

a. Rag-picking has regained its lost status.

b. A segment of ragpickers are skilled in fine arts.

c. Rag-picking has attained the position of a skill.

d. Only a few people are experts in rag-picking.

Ans. Option (c)

Q. No. 6) ‘That’s why they left, looking for gold in the big city.’ Here ‘gold’ indicates

a. misfortune of circumstances.

b. ample wealth.

c. means of survival.

d. a sign of luxury.

Ans. Option (c)

Q. No. 7) Choose the statement that is NOT TRUE about ragpickers in Seemapuri.

a. Children are equally involved in rag picking as their parents.

b. The ragpickers settle down in a place permanently.

c. Rag picking has accomplished itself as a skill and form of art.

d. Ragpickers live in unsteady shanties on the outskirts of Delhi.

Ans. Option (b)

Q. No. 8) “I will learn to drive a car,” he answers, looking straight into my eyes. His dream looms like a mirage amidst the dust of streets that fill his town Firozabad, famous for its bangles. Every other family in Firozabad is engaged in making bangles. It is the center of India’s glass-blowing industry where families have spent generations working around furnaces, wielding glass, and making bangles for all the women in the land it seems. Mukesh’s family is among them. None of them know that it is illegal for children like him to work in the glass furnaces with high temperatures, in dingy cells without air and light; that the law, if enforced, could get him and all those 20,000 children out of the hot furnaces where they slog their daylight hours, often losing the brightness of their eyes. Mukesh’s eyes beam as he volunteers to take me home, which he proudly says is being rebuilt.

i. The simile ‘dream looms like a mirage amidst the dust of streets’ indicates that his dream was

a. a reality, yet seemed distant.

b. lost in the sea of dust.

c. illusory and indistinct.

d. hanging in the dusty air.

Ans. Option (c)

ii. ‘I will learn to drive a car,’ he answers, looking straight into my eyes. This sentence highlights Mukesh was

1. determined
2. fearless
3. hopeful
4. valiant
5. ambitious
6. stern

a. 1 & 5

b. 2 & 4

c. 2 & 5

d. 3 & 6

Ans. Option (a)

iii. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE with reference to the extract?

a. Children work in badly lit and poorly ventilated furnaces.

b. The children are unaware that it is forbidden by law to work in the furnaces.

c. Children toil in the furnaces for hours which affects their eyesight.

d. Firozabad has emerged as a nascent producer of bangles in the country.

Ans. Option (d)

iv. Every other family in Firozabad is engaged in making bangles indicating that

a. bangle making is the only industry that flourishes in Firozabad.

b. the entire population of Firozabad is involved in bangle-making.

c. majority of the population in Firozabad is involved in bangle making.

d. bangle making is the most loved occupation in Firozabad.

Ans. Option (c)

Q. No. 9) She still has bangles on her wrist, but no light in her eyes. “Ek waqt ser bhar khana bhi nahin khaya.” she says, in a voice drained of joy. She has not enjoyed even one full meal in her entire life time-that’s what she has reaped! Her husband, an old man with a flowing beard says, “I know nothing except bangles. All I have done is make a house for the family to live in.” Hearing him one wonders if he has achieved what many have failed in their lifetime. He has a roof over his head! The cry of not having money to do anything except carry on the business of making bangles, not even enough to eat, rings in every home. The young men echo the lament of the elders. Little has moved with time, it seems in Firozabad, years of mind-numbing toil have killed all initiative and the ability to dream.

i. ‘She still has bangles on her wrist, but no light in her eyes.’ This implies that

a. she is married but has lost the charm in her eyes.

b. she is a married woman who has lost her grace and beauty.

c. though she is married, her eyes are devoid of happiness.

d. she is a married woman who has lost her eyesight.

Ans. Option (c)

ii. ‘He has a roof over his head!’ The tone of the author is

a. pessimistic.

b. empathetic.

c. sympathetic.

d. optimistic.

Ans. Option (d)

iii. Choose the term which best matches the statement ‘The young men echo the lament of their elders.’

a. acceptance

b. reflection

c. reiteration

d. doubtfulness

Ans. Option (c)

iv. ‘Years of mind-numbing toil have killed all initiative and the ability to dream’. This shows that

a. the bangle makers are exhausted yet they are enterprising and have dreams.

b. the drudgery of work has destroyed their willingness to improve their lot.

c. the daily grind has stolen the dreams of the bangle makers and made them dull.

d. the bangle makers have been working so hard that there’s no time to dream.

Ans. Option (b)

Q. No. 10) Select the suitable option for the given statements, based on your reading of Lost Spring.

1. The writer notices that Saheb has lost his carefree look.
2. Saheb has had to surrender his freedom for ₹800 per month.

a. (1) is false but (2) is true.

b. Both (1) and (2) are true.

c. (2) is a fact but unrelated to (1).

d. (1) is the cause for (2).

Ans. Option (b)

Q. No. 11) From this chapter, it is evident that the author has an attitude of

a. sympathy.

b. apathy.

c. empathy.

d. bewilderment.

Ans. Option (a)

[Sympathy Vs Empathy:

Sympathy is a feeling of pity or sorrow for someone else's misfortune. It involves recognizing that someone is going through a difficult time and feeling sorry for them. Sympathy is often expressed through words of comfort or acts of kindness, but it doesn't necessarily involve sharing the other person's feelings or experiences.

Empathy, on the other hand, is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It involves putting oneself in another person's shoes, imagining what it would be like to be in their situation, and feeling the emotions they are feeling. Empathy involves not only recognizing someone else's pain or joy but also experiencing it vicariously.

In summary, sympathy is feeling sorry for someone, while empathy is feeling with someone. Sympathy is a more cognitive response, while empathy is a more emotional response. Empathy requires a greater degree of emotional involvement and personal identification with the other person's experience.]

Q. No. 12) Why does Anees Jung say that the bangle makers are caught in a vicious web?

Ans. The bangle makers are caught in a vicious web because they

• are compelled by family and traditions to follow the same lineage as their forefathers that too at an early age.
• are exploited at the hands of the Sahukars, middlemen, policemen, lawmakers, bureaucrats, and politicians
• toil day and night, but are not paid appropriate wages · cannot form cooperatives for their betterment.
• cannot dare to dream.

Q. No. 13) What does the description of Mukesh's family in Lost Spring reveal about gender roles?

Ans.

• reveals patriarchy and inequality in the treatment of men and women.
• that women are still assigned stereotypical gender roles such as being in charge of household chores and care-giving, as seen with Mukesh's sister-in-law.
• that women need to respect the older men in the family by covering their faces.

Q. No. 14) What do we come to know about the author of Lost Spring, Anees Jung, through her interactions with Saheb and Mukesh?

Ans.

• Observed in detail – observant.
• Is moved by their plight - sensitive/empathetic.
• Feels helpless about her inability to do anything for them.

Q. No. 15) How is the bangle industry of Firozabad a curse for the bangle makers?

Ans. Because of the following reasons:

• high temperatures, lack of proper ventilation, and light
• long working hours in front of the hot furnace
• eyes are more adjusted to dark than light
• dust from polishing bangles affects their eyes
• exploited by moneylenders, police, bureaucrats, politicians
• fear of being ill-treated by police
• lack of a leader who can organize them
• live in a state of intense poverty
• sleep on an empty stomach, and live in stinky lanes overcrowded with humans and animals.

Q. No. 16) Why do you think Mukesh is content to dream of cars and doesn’t dream of flying a plane?

Ans. Mukesh dreams of owning a car one day but doesn't dream of flying a plane because his aspirations are limited by the environment in which he lives. Mukesh and his family belong to a community of "bangle-makers" who are excluded from mainstream society and denied access to education, healthcare, and other basic amenities.

Mukesh has never been to school and his desire to own a car reflects his yearning for a sense of dignity, mobility, and social status that he lacks in his current circumstances.

Flying a plane is an ambition that requires a level of education, skills, and resources that are beyond Mukesh's reach. He has never seen an airplane, let alone flown in one, and doesn't have the knowledge or means to pursue such a goal. Mukesh's dreams are thus bounded by the realities of his social and economic situation, and he finds solace in imagining a more modest but still meaningful future for himself.

Q. No. 17) "Mukesh is not like the others. His dreams loom like a mirage amidst the dust of streets that fill his town Firozabad." Justify the statement in the light of contrast in the mindsets of Mukesh and the people of Firozabad.

Ans. Firozabad- is dominated by the bangle industry, most families are engaged in making bangles work around furnaces, physically and mentally hazardous but no one dares to do anything else.

Mukesh - aspires to be a mechanic, unlike his peers, dares to dream, determined to walk to a garage and learn to drive, his passion would help him break away from tradition and achieve his goal.

Q. No. 18) Do the poor have the right to dream? Why then does the author call Mukesh's dream 'a mirage'?

Ans. Everyone has the right to dream-even Mukesh in spite of the challenges of his life. But his dream is like a mirage. Mukesh belonged to a marginalized family. He disliked the profession of bangle-making and wanted to become a motor mechanic. He lives in such poor conditions that it is impossible for him to learn to drive a car. He is bound by the traditional family of working in the bangle industry. Working for years in those bangle-making mills will make him blind. The bangle-making communities are not equipped to break out of the vicious circle of politicians middlemen etc. So the dream is compared to a mirage/hallucination.

Q. No. 19) Do you believe that ‘God-given lineage can be broken’? Support your position with a rationale.

Ans. The idea of "God-given lineage" implies that a person's social status, opportunities, and destiny are predetermined by their birth in a particular family or community. This notion is often associated with the caste system in India and other hierarchical systems that divide people based on their birth.

From a rational perspective, the notion of breaking God-given lineage is consistent with the principles of social mobility and meritocracy, which are based on the idea that individuals should be judged on their abilities and achievements rather than their social background.

However, the notion of breaking God-given lineage can also be controversial and challenging, particularly in societies where social hierarchies are deeply entrenched and difficult to change. It may be seen as a threat to established power structures and social norms and may face resistance from those who benefit from the status quo.

Q. No. 20) How do you think the author’s life might have been impacted after her interactions with the children and their families mentioned in ‘Lost Spring’?

Ans. Based on the book, it is clear that Anees Jung was deeply moved by the plight of the children and families she encountered in the slums of Delhi. She was struck by the contrast between the wealth and luxury of the city and the poverty and squalor of the slums, and she was particularly affected by the resilience and dignity of the children who had to work in order to survive.

It is possible that Anees Jung's experiences in the slums of Delhi may have influenced her worldview and her approach to writing. She may have become more aware of the social and economic inequalities that exist in Indian society and may have developed a greater empathy for those who are marginalized and excluded.

Q. No. 21) How does the story, ‘Lost Spring’ highlight the apathy of society and those in power to end the vicious cycle of poverty? Support your answer with textual evidence.

Ans.

1. Lack of access to education: The story depicts the fact that many children in the slums do not have access to education. Even when they do attend school, they often drop out early due to poverty or discrimination. The lack of education perpetuates the cycle of poverty and prevents children from improving their circumstances.
2. The exploitation of children: The story highlights the exploitation of children who are forced to work in order to help support their families. Many of these children work long hours in hazardous conditions for little pay.
3. Discrimination based on caste: The story portrays the discrimination faced by people from lower castes in India. These people are often excluded from mainstream society and denied access to education, healthcare, and other basic amenities.
4. Lack of political will: The story suggests that there is a lack of political will to address the issue of poverty in India. The government has failed to implement policies that would provide greater opportunities for the poor and marginalized, such as free education and healthcare.

Q. No. 22) Certain traditions and lineage, condemn thousands of children to a life of abject poverty and choke their aspirations.

i. Do you agree? Explain.

ii. How can we change this? Suggest some ways to tackle this issue.

Ans. i. Yes, I agree that certain traditions and lineage condemn thousands of children to a life of abject poverty and choke their aspirations. The story "Lost Spring" by Anees Jung illustrates this point by depicting the lives of children living in the slums of Delhi. Many of these children are forced to work from a young age due to poverty and lack of opportunities. They are denied access to education and other basic amenities, and their social status often determines their future prospects. This is a clear example of how tradition and lineage can perpetuate poverty and limit the aspirations of children.

ii. To tackle this issue, there are several steps that can be taken:

1. Education: Education is a key factor in breaking the cycle of poverty. By providing free and accessible education to all children, regardless of their social status, we can help to ensure that all children have an opportunity to improve their lives.
2. Empowerment: Empowering children and families to take control of their own lives can also help to break the cycle of poverty. This can be done by providing training and support in areas such as entrepreneurship and financial management.
3. Addressing discrimination: Discrimination based on caste, gender, or other factors must be addressed in order to ensure that all children have equal opportunities to succeed.
4. Government policies: The government can play an important role in tackling poverty by implementing policies that provide support and opportunities for those who are most in need. This can include initiatives such as free education and healthcare and support for small businesses and entrepreneurship.
5. Awareness and advocacy: Raising awareness of the issue of poverty and advocating for change can also help to bring about positive change. This can involve community outreach programs, social media campaigns, and other forms of advocacy.

Q. No. 23) 'The cry of not having money to do anything except carry on the business of making bangles, not even enough to eat, rings in every home.'

(The Lost Spring)

 '...far from the city, we make our roadside stand and ask for some city money to feel in hand'.

(A Roadside Stand)

Create a conversation between a bangle maker and the owner of a roadside stand with reference to the above extracts.

You may begin the conversation like this:

Owner of a roadside stand: Your bangles are pretty. Tell me about your experience in this business.

Ans. Owner of a roadside stand: Your bangles are pretty. Tell me about your experience in this business.

Bangle Maker: Thank you. I have been making bangles for as long as I can remember. It's a family business and we have been doing it for generations.

Owner of a roadside stand: I can understand. My situation is not very different. I also have a small business, and I struggle to make ends meet.

Bangle Maker: Yes, it's not easy. We barely make enough to survive. The cry of not having money to do anything except carry on the business of making bangles, not even enough to eat, rings in every home.

Owner of a roadside stand: I know how it feels. That's why I came to the city to set up this roadside stand. But even here, it's a struggle to make enough money to survive.

Bangle Maker: It's the same for us. We live far from the city, and when we come here to sell our bangles, we ask for some city money to feel in our hand. It's a difficult life.

Owner of a roadside stand: Yes, it is. But we have to keep going. We can't give up. We have to find ways to improve our situation.

Bangle Maker: I agree. We need more opportunities to improve our business and our lives. We need support from the government and society to break the cycle of poverty.

Owner of a roadside stand: That's true. We need to work together and support each other. Only then can we hope to overcome the challenges we face.

Also Read: Class 12 Important Questions and Answers

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