Lost Spring Worksheet - Class 12 English PDF Download

Fill in the Blanks

Q1: Saheb's family moved to the narrator's town because their house in Dhaka was swept away by ________.
Ans: storms
Saheb's family moved to the narrator's town because their house in Dhaka was swept away by storms, forcing them to seek refuge elsewhere.
Q2: Saheb found a pair of ________ which was a dream come true for a child who had always walked barefoot.
Ans: tennis shoes
Saheb found a pair of tennis shoes, a cherished discovery for a child accustomed to walking barefoot, fulfilling a long-held dream.
Q3: The narrator suggested starting a ________ for Saheb and other children in the neighborhood.
Ans: School
The narrator suggested starting a school for Saheb and other children in the neighbourhood, aiming to provide them with educational opportunities.
Q4: The bangle-making work in Firozabad happens around furnaces with high ________.
Ans: temperatures
The bangle-making work in Firozabad happens around furnaces with high temperatures, creating challenging working conditions for the artisans.
Q5: Mukesh dreams of becoming a ________ someday.
Ans: motor mechanic
Mukesh dreams of becoming a motor mechanic, harbouring aspirations of working in the automotive trade.
Q6: The bangle makers fear forming a cooperative due to the involvement of ________ who suppress their progress.
Ans: sahukars
The bangle makers fear forming a cooperative due to the involvement of sahukars, who exploit and hinder their progress, trapping them in poverty.
Q7: Saheb started working at a ________ stall and was paid 800 rupees in addition to daily meals.
Ans: tea
Saheb started working at a tea stall, earning 800 rupees in addition to daily meals, representing a significant change in his circumstances.
Q8: The narrator saw a flash of ________ in Mukesh's eyes when she asked him about his dreams.
Ans: rebellion
The narrator saw a flash of rebellion in Mukesh's eyes when she asked him about his dreams, indicating his determination to defy societal limitations.
Q9: Children in extreme poverty often walk barefoot on the streets, justifying it as a ________.
Ans: tradition
Children in extreme poverty often walk barefoot on the streets, justifying it as a tradition, although it frequently reflects economic constraint rather than cultural choice.
Q10: The bangle-making art is passed down from ________ to their children for generations.
Ans: Parents
The bangle-making art is passed down from parents to their children for generations, highlighting the generational transmission of this traditional craft.

Assertion and Reason Based

Q1: Assertion: Saheb initially refused to go to school.
Reason: There was no school in Saheb's neighborhood.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true.
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
(i) Assertion: Saheb initially refused to go to school.
(ii) Reason: There was no school in Saheb's neighbourhood.
(iii) Justification: Saheb's refusal is directly explained by the absence of a school nearby; without a local school he could not attend, so the Reason correctly explains the Assertion.
Q2: Assertion: Mukesh dreams of being a motor mechanic.
Reason: Mukesh believes flying a plane is beyond his reach.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true.
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
(i) Assertion: Mukesh dreams of becoming a motor mechanic.
(ii) Reason: Mukesh believes flying a plane is beyond his reach.
(iii) Justification: Mukesh's aspiration to be a motor mechanic reflects a practical, attainable goal within his means; his belief that becoming a pilot is out of reach supports why he chooses a less distant, more realistic profession, so the Reason explains the Assertion.
Q3: Assertion: The bangle makers fear forming a cooperative to improve their living conditions.
Reason: They fear being beaten and hauled away by the police for doing something illegal.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true.
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
(i) Assertion: The bangle makers fear forming a cooperative to improve their living conditions.
(ii) Reason: They fear being beaten and hauled away by the police for doing something illegal.
(iii) Justification: The artisans avoid collective organisation because past experiences of repression and threats of violence make such initiatives risky; this fear explains why they do not form a cooperative.
Q4: Assertion: Saheb's face lights up when the narrator promises to start a school for him.
Reason: Saheb always wanted to study in a school.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true.
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
(i) Assertion: Saheb's face lights up when the narrator promises to start a school for him.
(ii) Reason: Saheb always wanted to study in a school.
(iii) Justification: Saheb's joyful reaction is a direct response to the prospect of getting an education he has long desired; thus the Reason explains the Assertion.
Q5: Assertion: The bangle-making art has been passed down from parents to their children for generations.
Reason: Bangle makers are unwilling to learn new skills.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are true, and Reason is the correct explanation of Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are true, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
(c) Assertion is true, but Reason is false.
(d) Assertion is false, but Reason is true.
Ans: (a)
Explanation:
(i) Assertion: The bangle-making art has been passed down from parents to their children for generations.
(ii) Reason: Bangle makers are unwilling to learn new skills.
(iii) Justification: The persistence of the craft across generations is reinforced by limited opportunities and a reluctance or inability to acquire alternative skills; this reluctance helps explain why the craft continues to be inherited.

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: What did Saheb's family lose in Dhaka?
Ans: Their house was swept away by storms.
Q2: How much was Saheb paid for working at the tea stall?
Ans: 800 rupees, in addition to daily meals.
Q3: Why did Saheb's face light up?
Ans: The narrator promised to start a school for him.
Q4: What did Saheb find, making him ecstatic?
Ans: A pair of tennis shoes.
Q5: What did the narrator suggest starting for Saheb and other children?
Ans: A school.
Q6: What did the narrator observe in Mukesh's eyes when talking about his dreams?
Ans: A flash of rebellion.
Q7: Why do children in extreme poverty often walk barefoot?
Ans: It is justified as a tradition, but this often serves as an excuse that masks economic hardship.
Q8: What did the narrator notice about Saheb's new shoes?
Ans: One of them had a hole in it.
Q9: Why are bangle makers afraid of forming a cooperative?
Ans: They fear being beaten and hauled away by the police for doing something illegal.
Q10: What job did Saheb start recently?
Ans: He started working at a tea stall.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Describe Saheb's background and the reason his family moved to the narrator's town.
Ans: Saheb, a young ragpicker, came from Dhaka with his family after storms swept away their house and fields. His family migrated to the narrator's town in search of work and shelter. When offered the prospect of a school, Saheb reacted with hope, showing how education mattered to him despite his hardships.
Q2: Explain the conditions under which bangle makers work in Firozabad.
Ans: Bangle makers in Firozabad work in harsh conditions near high-temperature furnaces with little ventilation or light. The heat and fumes make the workplace unhealthy, while low wages and indebtedness keep the artisans trapped in poverty and poor health.
Q3: Why do the bangle makers hesitate to form a cooperative, according to the text?
Ans: The bangle makers hesitate to form a cooperative because they fear violent reprisals and legal trouble. Past exploitation by sahukars, middlemen and the threat of police action have made collective organisation dangerous, so they avoid steps that might provoke punishment.
Q4: Describe the impact of poverty on Saheb's life and aspirations.
Ans: Poverty limits Saheb's access to education, forces him to work from a young age and damages his childhood. Even when offered hope, such as the promise of a school, broken or delayed promises deepen his disillusionment. Poverty narrows his choices and weakens his ability to pursue long-term aspirations.
Q5: Explain the significance of Saheb finding a pair of tennis shoes.
Ans: Saheb finding a pair of tennis shoes is significant because it fulfils a simple but meaningful desire for protection and dignity. For a child who had walked barefoot, even discarded shoes with a hole represent comfort, status and a rare pleasure, symbolising how small things can be powerful markers of hope.
Q6: What does the narrator observe in Mukesh's eyes when discussing his dreams?
Ans: The narrator observes a flash of rebellion in Mukesh's eyes, showing his inner desire to escape the limitations of his inherited craft and to seek a different future, such as becoming a motor mechanic.
Q7: Explain the impact of poverty on the aspirations of the bangle makers in Firozabad.
Ans: Poverty restricts the bangle makers' aspirations by forcing them to continue in a generational craft, keeping wages low and opportunities rare. Exploitation by middlemen and fear of repression prevent them from organising or seeking new livelihoods, so their hopes remain constrained and unfulfilled.
Q8: Discuss the narrator's response to Saheb's changed circumstances after he starts working at the tea stall.
Ans: The narrator feels concern and sadness when Saheb starts work at the tea stall. Although he gains income and food, his work signals a loss of freedom and the curtailment of childhood; the narrator recognises that this new job alters his dreams and adds responsibilities that weigh on him emotionally.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1: Examine the impact of broken promises on children living in poverty, using Saheb's story as an example.
Ans: Broken promises deeply affect children living in poverty by eroding trust and hope. In Saheb's case, the narrator's casual promise to start a school briefly brightens his outlook, but when the promise is not kept his optimism fades. Repeated unfulfilled assurances teach children that change is unlikely, undermining motivation to aspire or to wait for help. For vulnerable children, consistent, reliable support is essential; otherwise disappointment becomes an additional barrier to progress.
Q2: Discuss the role of tradition and societal excuses in perpetuating poverty, as illustrated in the text.
Ans: Tradition and societal excuses can justify and perpetuate poverty by normalising hardship. For example, walking barefoot is framed as a tradition, which can disguise economic deprivation. Similarly, the inheritance of bangle-making across generations becomes an accepted norm rather than a limit to opportunity. These explanations discourage efforts to create alternatives and allow those in power to avoid responsibility for structural change.
Q3: Examine the impact of social stigma and exploitation on the aspirations of the bangle makers in Firozabad.
Ans: Social stigma and exploitation severely curtail the bangle makers' aspirations. The craft is passed down through families, but caste-based stigma and poor pay limit social mobility. Exploitative middlemen and sahukars keep workers indebted and dependent, while fear of police action prevents collective bargaining. These factors together crush ambition, so younger generations inherit both the craft and the obstacles that prevent escape from poverty.

• Exploitation by middlemen reduces incomes and entrenches debt, making it difficult to invest in education or alternative skills.
• Stigma and isolation deny access to wider social networks and resources that could support change.
• Fear of violence or legal reprisals silences any attempt to organise, keeping the status quo in place.

Q4: Explain the impact of poverty on Saheb's life and aspirations.
Ans: Poverty narrows Saheb's life to immediate survival tasks and limits his ability to dream big. It forces him into work, denies him reliable schooling, and exposes him to neglect and broken promises. Even when he finds small comforts, like a pair of shoes, the gains are fragile. Poverty thus curtails education, damages self-esteem and reduces the chance of long-term improvement in his circumstances.

Passage Based Questions

1. Read the given extract and answer the following questions
"Why do you do this?" I ask Saheb whom I encounter every morning scrounging for gold in the garbage dumps of my neighborhood. Saheb left his home long ago. Set amidst the green fields of Dhaka, his home is not even a distant memory. There were many storms that swept away their fields and homes, his mother tells him. That's why they left, looking for gold in the big city where he now lives. "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."

Q1: What reason does Saheb give for not going to school?
A. There is no school in his neighborhood
B. He doesn't like studying
C. His parents won't let him
D. He prefers working
Ans: (A)
Explanation: Saheb says he does not go to school because there is no school in his neighbourhood; the absence of a nearby school prevents him from attending.
Q2: How does the narrator feel after advising Saheb to go to school?
Ans: The narrator realises that saying "go to school" is hollow in Saheb's circumstances; without basic facilities like a local school, the advice is impractical and fails to address his reality.
Q3: Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket.
Saheb says he has nothing else to do but _______________(work / scrounge) in the garbage dumps.
Ans: scrounge
Q4: What does Saheb's situation reveal about the challenges faced by children in his circumstances?
Ans: Saheb's situation reveals how lack of infrastructure and familial hardship force children into hazardous work, deny them schooling, and limit their chances for a better future.

2. Read the given extract and answer the following questions
"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. After months of knowing him, I ask him his name. "Saheb-e-Alam," he announces. He does not know what it means. If he knew its meaning - lord of the universe - he would have a hard time believing it. 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."

Q1: What does the name "Saheb-e-Alam" mean, and how does it contrast with Saheb's reality?
A. King of the world; it reflects his wealth
B. Prince of Dhaka; it suits his royal heritage
C. Rich and powerful; it matches his lifestyle
D. Lord of the universe; it contrasts with his poverty
Ans: (D)
Explanation: The name means "lord of the universe," which sharply contrasts with Saheb's poor life roaming the streets; the grandeur of the name does not match his impoverished reality.
Q2: How does the narrator describe the world Saheb lives in?
Ans: The narrator describes Saheb's world as bleak and full of empty promises, where a child's hopes are easily raised but seldom fulfilled.
Q3: Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket.
Saheb roams the streets with an____________ (army / group) of barefoot boys.
Ans: army
Q4: What does Saheb's reaction to the narrator's question about starting a school reveal about his hopes and expectations?
Ans: Saheb's broad smile and eagerness show that he hopes for education and improvement; despite many disappointments he still believes that a real opportunity, once offered, could change his life.

3. Read the given extract and answer the following questions

"One winter morning I see Saheb standing by the fenced gate of the neighborhood club, watching two young men dressed in white, playing tennis. "I like the game," he hums, content to watch it standing behind the fence. "I go inside when no one is around," he admits. "The gatekeeper lets me use the swing." Saheb too is wearing tennis shoes that look strange over his discolored shirt and shorts. "Someone gave them to me," he says in the manner of an explanation. The fact that they are discarded shoes of some rich boy, who perhaps refused to wear them because of a hole in one of them, does not bother him. For one who has walked barefoot, even shoes with a hole is a dream come true."

Q1: Why does Saheb value the worn-out tennis shoes he is wearing?
A. They are new and expensive
B. They make him popular among his friends
C. They were given to him by a rich boy
D. They fulfill his dream of having shoes, even if they are old and torn
Ans: (D)
Explanation: For Saheb, who has walked barefoot, even second-hand shoes with a hole fulfil his dream of protection and dignity; their worn condition does not lessen their value to him.
Q2: How does Saheb's experience with the tennis shoes reflect his situation?
Ans: Saheb's joy at owning discarded shoes shows how little is needed to make a marked improvement in his daily life; it underlines the scarcity he faces and how small, second-hand things become treasures.
Q3: Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket.
For Saheb, even shoes with a ________(hole / design) are a dream come true.
Ans: hole
Q4: What does Saheb's interest in watching the game of tennis reveal about his aspirations?
Ans: Saheb's interest in tennis reveals that he admires sights of leisure and play that are not part of his life; it shows a longing for experiences beyond survival and suggests that he dreams of belonging to a different world.