Class 9 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - Moments

Q1: Write a note on the theme of the story ‘The Lost Child’.
Ans: 

• The story 'The Lost Child' is based on child psychology.
• A child is curious by nature and is attracted to beautiful things, often wishing to possess everything that looks attractive.
• However, this interest is sparked only when the child is in the company of their parents.
• When separated from their parents, these attractions lose their charm.
• In this story, a child goes to a fair with their parents.
• They are drawn to various things, including:
  (a) Balloons
  (b) Sweets
  (c) Garlands of gulmohur
  (d) Ride on the roundabout
• Suddenly, they realize that their parents are missing, and this realization leads to tears.
• A kind man attempts to console the child and offers to buy them several things.
• Despite the offers, the child continues to cry, expressing the sole desire for their parents.

Q2: Give a description of the festival of spring.
Ans:   

• The festival of spring was a joyous occasion, held in a village.
• Many people were headed to the fair, dressed in new clothes. Some were on foot, while others traveled in bullock carts and on horses.
• The fair was brimming with happiness.
• A little boy was also excitedly going to the fair with his parents.
• Numerous shops lined the fairground, selling toys, sweets, balloons, and more. One shop even had garlands of gulmohur flowers on sale.
• The child was eager to buy balloons, sweets, and other items, but his parents dismissed his requests.
• Jugglers could also be seen around.
• The area near the temple was densely crowded.
• People were enjoying rides on a roundabout. The child also wished to experience this ride, but his interest waned when he discovered his parents were missing

Fair for Spring Festival

Q3: What were the things that the boy wanted to possess when he was with his parents?
Ans:  

• The child went to a village fair with his parents.
• He saw several stalls of sweets and toys.
• At first, he liked a beautiful toy.
• He asked his parents to buy him that toy. But his father called him away from that shop.
• Then he tried to catch a butterfly. But he did not succeed.
• After that, he saw a sweets-seller. He wanted to have some burfi. But his father rejected his demand.
• Then he saw someone selling garlands of gulmohur flowers. The child wanted to buy a garland. But this demand was also rejected.
• After that, he wanted to buy a balloon. His father did not buy it for him.
• Then the child saw a juggler. He wanted to stop and hear the music of his flute. But he feared his father. So he went on.
• In the end, he wanted to have a ride in a roundabout. But his parents were nowhere to be seen.

Q4: How did the festival of spring bring out the latent joy in human nature?
Ans:   

• The festival of spring marks the onset of sunshine after a long spell of cold winter.
• Everything in nature comes back to life. The bustling insects, worms, trees and fields fill the human heart with joy.
• The festival of spring, as described in the lesson “The Lost Child”, brings together people from different parts and they express their happiness by thronging the fair in large numbers.
• They dress up brightly and the colour yellow dominates their attire.
• Sweets, flowers, swings, games etc. mark this day.
• People take a break from their daily routine and enjoy the festival with their loved ones.
• They also remember to express gratitude to God by visiting the shrine.
• Thus, the latent joy in human nature gets expressed in spring.

• The man who had rescued the child had a heart full of goodness.
• He did not ignore the painful shrieks of the boy calling for his parents.
• Risking his own safety, he bent down in the crowd to rescue the child from getting trampled.
• He forgot his own purpose of visiting the shrine did his best to comfort and soothe the scared boy.
• He talked to him very kindly and inquired about his parents.
• When he did not get any response from the child, he did not lose patience.
• Instead, he tried to make him feel at ease b offering him the little things that children love.
• The man sincerely tried to pacify the child so that he could help him to find his parents.
• His character thus reflects the human values of kindness, compassion, care and love.

Q6: When does the child realise that he has lost his way? How have his anxiety and insecurity been described?
Ans: 

• The child was attracted by many things on his way to the fair.
• Being drawn towards them, he often lagged behind but he would try to catch up with his parents whenever they would call out to him.
• However, things took a sad turn when he got so engrossed by the sweetmeat-seller, balloon-seller, garlands, and the snake charmer’s flute that he kept moving without waiting for his parent’s reply.
• Finally, he could not resist the roundabout and turned back for his parents’ response to his plea for a ride.
• At this point, he realised that he had lost his way since his parents were nowhere to be found.
• A deep cry of anxiety and insecurity choked his throat.
• Tears rolled down from his eyes. His flushed face convulsed with fear.
• Panic-stricken, he ran in all directions.
• Not knowing where to go and what to do, he cried for his mother and father.

• When the child realised that he had been separated from his parents, he started crying.
• Tears rolled down his cheeks,his face was full of fear.
• He was panicked and ran here and there and his yellow turban got untied.
• His clothes became muddy.
• He ran towards the shrine in search of his parents.
• There was a thick crowd.
• Before he could be trampled under their feet, a kind-hearted person picked him up in his arms.
• He asked him how he got there and where his parents were.
• The child wept more bitterly and cried for his parents.

• Children are the beauty of our house. Without them the picture of our house is incomplete.
• They are the future of our house.
• While rearing them, parents have to take every care. There is no limit to the demands of children.
• Good parents always try to fulfil them as far as possible.
• Children like to visit fairs very much. They want to enjoy things and go on a roundabout.
• When parents take their children to the fair, they have to take every care of them, otherwise, their children may get lost in the fair.
• If children are attracted by any snake charmer or some beautiful scenes in the fair, they should not allow their children to drift away. Instead, they should always hold the hands of children tightly in the fair.
• Moreover, children should be allowed to eat only those things in the fair which may not create problems for their health.
• While in the fair, children should be given every opportunity to enjoy it.

• In such a situation, I would react with understanding and acceptance. While it's natural to feel a bit disappointed initially, I would remind myself of the bigger picture.
• My parents' decisions are based on their care and consideration for me.
• I trust my parents' judgment wholeheartedly. They have a better perspective on what is truly beneficial for me.
• Their choices are influenced by a variety of factors, including our family's financial responsibilities and my well-being.
• They have the responsibility of managing household expenses and ensuring that I'm safe and happy.
• Rather than dwelling on what I couldn't get, I would focus on the gratitude I have for my parents' love and efforts.
• I know they always have my best interests at heart.
• This experience would also teach me important lessons about patience, understanding, and appreciating the value of things beyond their material aspect.

Q10: You are taken to a fair by your parents. How will you behave with your parents? Explain with reference to the lesson ‘The Lost Child’.
Ans:  

• When our parents take us to a fair, we should always try to follow their instructions.
• We should walk along with them so that we may not get lost in the fair.
• Besides, we must keep the mobile number and address of our house in the pocket.
• If we are lost in the fair, we should not eat things or sweets offered by other people because they might be kidnappers and criminals.
• If we are lost in the fair, we should take help from the police.
• Our parents have immense love for us.
• In the fair, we should not pressurise our parents to buy unnecessary things.
• It is our duty to keep them happy.
• We should not become a burden on our parents.
• We should always keep in mind the hard work they do for us.