Class 10 English Chapter 1 Practice Question Answers - First Flight

Q1. What according to the poet, the boy has to realise?
(a) The boy has to realise what it means to lose a thing that is most dear to him.
(b) The boy has to realise the value for money.
(c) The boy has to realise not to be upset.
(d) The boy should realise the importance of time.
Ans.  (a)
According to the poet, the boy has to realize "a) The boy has to realize what it means to lose a thing that is most dear to him." The poet emphasizes that the boy needs to understand the true significance of losing something precious to him, as it is a valuable life lesson in coping with loss and its emotional impact. 

Q2. The extract suggests that the poet is
(a) an onlooker observing
(b) a parent recounting the incident
(c) the boy talking about himself
(d) imagining the incident
Ans. (a)
The extract suggests that the poet is "a) an onlooker observing." The poet appears to be an observer recounting the incident involving the boy's loss of the ball. The poem is written from a third-person perspective, depicting the boy's emotions and experiences.

Q3. What does “in a world of possessions” mean?
(a) It means possessing various items.
(b) It means a world full of artificial things.
(c) ‘‘In the world of possessions’ means a world full of material things valued, owned and priced because of their worth.
(d) The world where everyone is materialistic.
Ans.  (c)
"In a world of possessions" means "c) a world full of material things valued, owned, and priced because of their worth." The phrase highlights the materialistic nature of the world, where people value and possess various material items due to their perceived worth. It reflects a society focused on material possessions and their significance.

Q4. “He senses first responsibility”—what responsibility is referred to here?
(a) The responsibility to cope with or bear the loss through self understanding on losing the ball.
(b) The responsibility to take charge of his feelings.
(c) The responsibility to not lose your things.
(d) The responsibility to be happy in every situation.
Ans.  (a)
The responsibility referred to in the line "He senses first responsibility" is "a) The responsibility to cope with or bear the loss through self-understanding on losing the ball." The boy is experiencing the first taste of responsibility, learning to cope with the emotional impact of losing something he cherished and finding ways to deal with his feelings.

Q5. Where had the boy’s ball gone?
(a) In the dark waters of the harbour.
(b) In the deep forest.
(c) In the flowing river.
(d) In the basement of the building.
Ans.  (a)
The boy's ball had gone "a) In the dark waters of the harbor." The poet mentions that the ball was lost in the dark waters, suggesting that it might have fallen into the harbor or a water body nearby. The location of the loss adds to the imagery of the poem, creating a sense of mystery and sadness surrounding the ball's disappearance.

Q6. What does the poet mean by epistemology of loss?
(a) It means that loss is transient.
(b) It means that loss is painful.
(c) It means to understand the nature of loss.
(d) It means to cope with life.
Ans.  (c)
The poet means "c) to understand the nature of loss" by using the term "epistemology of loss." Epistemology refers to the study of knowledge and understanding. In the context of the poem, it implies that the boy needs to comprehend the nature of loss and the emotional lessons it imparts.

Q7. What does the poet mean by saying ‘money is external’?
It means that money can __________ .
(a) Lead to peace and prosperity.
(b) Only buy emotions.
(c) Only buy materialistic things and not emotions and attachments.
(d) Buy all the happiness in the world.
Ans.  (c)
"Money is external" means "c) Money can only buy materialistic things and not emotions and attachments." The phrase implies that money has external or superficial value, as it can purchase material possessions, but it cannot buy emotional connections or the sentimental value of lost items.

Q8. “An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy” 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
Ans.  (c)
The word "ultimate" does not display the meaning of "c) conclusive" in the context given. In the context of the poem, "ultimate" refers to the profound and intense grief that the boy experiences due to the loss of the ball, rather than being a conclusive or final aspect.

Q9. While recovering from the loss, what does the boy in the ‘The Ball Poem’ realize?
(a) We must learn to move on.
(b) Loss is a part and parcel of life.
(c) It was just a ball.
(d) Both (a) and (b)
Ans.  (d)
While recovering from the loss, the boy in the poem realizes "d) Both (a) and (b)." The boy understands that he must learn to move on from the loss and that experiencing loss is a natural part of life. This realization helps him grow emotionally and prepares him to face similar challenges in the future.

Q10. What is the Boy’s reaction at the loss of the ball?
(a) The boy is least affected.
(b) The boy is trembling and devastated at the loss of the ball which was valuable to him.
(c) The boy is searching for the ball.
(d) The boy asks his parents to get him another ball.
Ans.  (b)
The boy's reaction at the loss of the ball is "b) The boy is trembling and devastated at the loss of the ball, which was valuable to him." The poet describes the boy's emotional state as he experiences the pain of losing something dear to him. The use of the words "trembling" and "devastated" emphasizes the depth of his feelings. This reaction showcases the boy's attachment to the ball and the impact of loss on his young heart.

Q11. The poet does not offer to buy the boy another ball because:
(a) it would be worthless
(b) he should understand the meaning of loss
(c) he does not have the money
(d) he will lose the other ball also
Ans.  (a)
The poet does not offer to buy the boy another ball because "a) it would be worthless." The poet believes that replacing the lost ball with a new one would diminish the significance of the boy's experience and the valuable life lesson learned through coping with loss.

Q12. The poet does not offer a new ball to the boy because he wants him to learn the value of _________ .
(a) responsibility
(b) loss
(c) money
(d) ability
Ans. (b)
The poet does not offer a new ball to the boy because he wants him to learn the value of "b) loss." By not providing a replacement, the poet intends for the boy to grasp the importance of coping with loss and understanding that some experiences in life cannot be replaced or compensated.

Q13. 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.
Ans.  (c)
The poet seems to have indicated the merry bouncing of the ball to "contrast with the dejected feeling of the boy." The description of the ball merrily bouncing down the street creates a contrast with the boy's dejected and sad state after losing the ball. This contrast heightens the emotional impact of the loss.

Q14. 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.
Ans.  (b)
The speaker chooses not to intrude because the poet "feels that it's important that the boy learns an important life lesson, undisturbed." The poet respects the boy's process of dealing with loss and believes that he should learn the valuable lesson without interference or interruption.

Q15. Identify the poetic device. “Merrily bouncing down the street”
(a) Metaphor
(b) Alliteration
(c) Repetition
(d) Imagery
Ans.  (d)
The poetic device used in the line "Merrily bouncing down the street" is "Imagery." Imagery is a literary device that appeals to the reader's senses, creating vivid mental images through descriptive language. In this line, the word "merrily" evokes the image of the ball joyfully bouncing down the street, contributing to the visual and emotional impact of the poem.