The Ball Poem Extract Based MCQ questions | Subjective | Objective| True / False  Class 10 First Flight

This page offers Extract Based Questions  from the Chapter The Ball Poem for Class 10 from the book First Flight.  We’ve put together a bunch extracts which ask assumption based, creativity based and critical thinking-based questions. These types of questions are introduced after 2024 in CBSE Board. The types of questions are quick MCQs, true/false and Subjective questions. So, practice to understand The Ball Poem Extracts to score great.

The Ball Poem Extract Based MCQ questions Passage 1

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!

Question 1 : If the boy could talk to his lost ball, what do you think he would say? Explain his feelings in about 40 words.

Answer:  The boy might express his sadness and ask the ball to come back, revealing his deep attachment and how its loss symbolises his first experience with losing something truly valuable in his life.

Question 2 : State True or False.  

None of the terms (a)-(d) can be applied to the statement — “What is the boy now, who has lost his ball? What, what is he to do?”

(a) A metaphor – a figure of speech for explaining an idea  

(b) A rhetorical question – a question asked to make a point, not to get an answer  

(c) A literal statement – something that is exactly as stated, with no deeper meaning  

(d) A simile – a figure of speech comparing two things using “like” or “as”

Answer: False. 

Reason- The statement is a rhetorical question as it expresses the boy’s confusion and despair. It is not a metaphor, literal statement, or simile.

Question 3: The boy’s reaction to losing his ball might symbolise an early lesson in ______.

Answer:  Impermanence/ loss/ responsibility/ reality/ change or any other similar response. 

Question: 4 How might the boy view the world differently after losing the ball?

Answer:  He may see it as less stable and more challenging.

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Extract from The Ball Poem- 2

No use to say ‘O there are other balls’:
An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy
As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down
All his young days into the harbour where

Question 1 : Why might the phrase “O there are other balls” be insignificant to the boy? Answer in about 40 words.

Answer:  The lost ball has special memories for the boy. It is unique to him. Getting another ball does not help because this one cannot be replaced.

Question 2: State True or False.

None of the terms (a)-(d) can be applied to the statement — “An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy as he stands rigid, trembling, staring down.”

(a) Grief – deep sorrow from loss  

(b) Denial – refusal to accept the truth  

(c) Shock – a sudden emotional disturbance  

(d) Acceptance – coming to terms with a loss

Answer: False. 

Reason- The statement reflects grief and shock as the boy processes his loss. It does not show denial or acceptance.

Question 3: The line “An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy” shows that the boy is learning about the ______ of possessions.

Answer: Loss / impermanence/ fragility/ uncertainty/ value or any other similar response. 

Question 4: What might the boy learn about life from losing the ball?

Answer: He might learn that life changes and things don’t last forever.

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Class 10 The Ball Poem Extract Based Questions- 3

His ball went. I would not intrude on him;
A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now
He senses first responsibility
In a world of possessions. People will take
Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.

Question: 1 What might the boy learn about the value of possessions from this experience? Answer in about 40 words.

Answer: The boy may learn that material items, like his ball, are temporary and losing them is a part of life. These things teach the boy the value of experiences and relationships over physical possessions.

Question 2: State True or False.  

None of the terms (a)-(d) can be applied to the statement — “He senses first responsibility in a world of possessions.”

(a) Resignation – accepting something undesirable but inevitable  

(b) Distraction – diverting attention from something important  

(c) Acceptance – recognizing reality in a neutral or positive way  

(d) Denial – refusing to acknowledge the truth

Answer: False. 

Reason: The boy shows resignation as he begins to understand the loss. The poem also hints at acceptance of the reality of losing possessions. It does not suggest distraction or denial.

Question 3: The poet’s words suggest the boy is starting to understand the _____ of material things.

Answer: Shortness/ impermanence/ uncertainty/ fragility/ loss

Question 4: What does the boy’s reaction show about losing something important?

Answer: It shows that he is starting to understand how loss feels.

The Ball Poem Extract Based MCQ Questions- 4

And no one buys a ball back. Money is external.
He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,
The epistemology of loss, how to stand up
Knowing what every man must one day know
And most know many days, how to stand up.

Question 1: How might understanding “the epistemology of loss” change the boy’s perspective on future challenges? Answer in about 40 words.

Answer: Understanding “the epistemology of loss” could help the boy become stronger and more thoughtful. It may prepare him to handle future challenges and losses with a better understanding of how they affect his growth and learning in life.

Question 2: State True or False.  

None of the terms (a)-(d) can be applied to the statement — “He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes, the epistemology of loss.”

(a) Existentialism – focuses on individual freedom and choices  

(b) Nihilism – believes life is meaningless  

(c) Stoicism – teaches self-control and emotional strength  

(d) Pragmatism – values practical outcomes

Answer: False. 

Reason: The concept relates to existentialism and stoicism as it involves understanding loss and developing resilience. It does not relate to nihilism or pragmatism.

Question 3: The boy’s reaction to his loss might show he’s developing a deeper _____.

Answer: Understanding / awareness/ insight/ wisdom/ maturity/ perspective)

Question 4 : How might the boy’s view of material things change after this loss?

Answer: He might value experiences over possessions more deeply.

Note- Following are the old stylish questions. These were asked before 2023-24. Actually these questions focus more on memory rather than creative thinking, imagination and extrapolation but still they are useful extracts. 

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!

Word-Meaning:  Bouncing— jumping over, Street— narrow path, Merrily— happily,

Paraphrase

 The poet sees a boy playing with a ball. Then, the boy loses his ball. The poet asks what should the boy be feeling now? Does he ask what the boy will do now? He saw the ball bouncing merrily and going down the street. And now, in the same way, it has fallen into the water and lost forever.

Questions:

 (a) What has gone wrong with the boy?

 (b) What did the poet see?

 (c) Where did the ball fall into?

(d) What is the condition of the boy after losing his ball?

 Answers:

 (a) The boy has lost his ball.

 (b) The poet saw the ball bouncing down the street and finally falling into the water.

(c) The ball fell into the water.

 (d) The boy seemed to be upset after losing his ball.

 No use to say ‘O there are other balls’;

An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy’

As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down

All his young days into the harbour where

 His ball went.

Word-Meaning: Ultimate— final, Shaking— trembling, Grief— sorrow, Fixes— overpowers, Rigid— (here) unmoved, Trembling— shivering, Staring— looking keenly, Young days— childhood days, Harbour— a place where ships load and unload goods,

Paraphrase

There is no use of consoling the boy. He can’t be consoled if he is offered other balls in place of the lost ball. Finally, deep grief overpowers the boy. He stands shaking there without leaving the place. Standing there, he stares down the place where the ball has disappeared in the water of the harbour. The loss of the ball in the harbour reminds him of his childhood and childhood days which have been lost in the harbour of life.

Questions:

(a) What is the significance of the lost ball for the boy?

 (b) What is the condition of the boy?

(c) Where is he staring down?

(d) What does he think of his young days?

Answers:

(a) There will be of no use of consoling the boy that he can have other balls in place of the lost one.

(b) The boy is overpowered with grief and stands like a statue staring down the harbour where the ball was lost.

(c) He is staring down the harbour where his ball disappeared into the water.

(d) The boy feels that as the ball has been lost into the harbour. Similarly, his childhood has been lost in the harbour of life.

Stanza-8: (Page 46)

 I would not intrude on him;

A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now

He senses first responsibility

In a world of possessions.

Word-Meaning: Intrude— encroach,  A dime– (here) very cheap, Worthless— useless, Senses- considers,  Responsibility— a sense of duty, World of possessions— a world where people are busy in possessing things,

Paraphrase

The poet doesn’t want to intervene or console the boy. He will not tell the boy that the ball he has lost costs almost nothing. He will not console him by saying that he can buy another ball quite easily. Now good sense prevails over the boy. He knows that in this world people are always running after acquiring and owning things. He realises what is his first responsibility in such a world.

Questions:

(a) Does the poet want to intrude in the matter?

(b) What is the cost of the ball?

(c) How does the boy prepare himself?

(d) What kind of world is it?

Answers:

(a) No, the poet doesn’t want to intrude in the matter.

(b) The cost of the ball is just a dime, it is very cheap.

(c) The boy senses his responsibility and composes himself calmly.

(d) This is the world where people run after possessing and grabbing material things.

People will take

 Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.

And no one buys a ball back. Money is external.

Word meaning: External—outwardly, not internal,

Paraphrase

Buying and losing continues throughout our life. People will always buy such balls and the balls they buy will continue to be lost. Once a ball has been lost, it is lost a ball again. Money is totally external to our inner feelings. Money can’t compensate for our emotional losses. Similarly, the childhood that we have lost forever, can’t be bought back with money.

Questions:

(a) What will people take?

(b) What will be the fate of the balls?

(c) Can money buy a lost ball?

(d) Why is money external?

Answers:

(a) People will go on buying new balls.

(b) The balls will always be bought and lost forever.

(c) No, money can’t buy back a lost ball.

(d) Money can’t compensate for internal or emotional losses suffered by us.

He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes,

This epistemology of loss, how to stand up

Knowing what every man must one day know

And most know many days, how to stand up.

Word-Meaning: Behind— backward, Desperate— hopeless, Epistemology — knowledge, Epistemology of loss —understanding the nature of loss,

Paraphrase

The boy with his hopeless eyes is beginning to learn the nature of the loss. He is learning what it means to lose something. He has to learn how to come over the loss and stand up again in life. He has to learn this basic principle of life which every man of the world has to learn. He must learn how to bear the pangs of the loss of his childhood. He has to move ahead in life forgetting the loss of his childhood.

Questions:

(a) Are his eyes shining with hope?

(b) What is the epistemology of loss?

 (c) What should every man learn?

(d) What lesson is the boy taught here?

Answers:

(a) No, there is no hope in his ‘desperate’ eyes.

 (b) It means the nature of loss and means what it means to lose something.

(c) Every man has to learn that gains and losses are to be accepted with a balanced mind.

(d) The boy should learn how to stand up again and move ahead in life forgetting his loss of childhood.