Dear students, recently CBSE announced that they will be gradually revising the question pattern in the upcoming examinations for almost all subjects, including English. They declared that from now on, at least 50% of the total questions will be multiple-choice based questions (MCQs). Based on this decision of the board, we have decided to come up with sessions discussing model MCQs as per the guidelines.
This session is going to be focused on MCQs exclusively based on Class 10 English First Flight Book Poem 5, ‘The Ball Poem’.
The Ball Poem Short Summary
‘The Ball Poem’ talks about the grief of a boy who has just lost his ball. The ball is not very expensive, costing only a dime. He can go and buy another one, but it will not have all the precious memories of his childhood attached to it. They are gone with his old ball. The poet saw the boy playing with the ball and how the ball bounced down the street and fell into the water.
The boy is so shocked and grief-stricken that he can’t even move. The poet says that buying him another ball won’t help. This is a lesson for the boy that he needs to take care of his things because people lose their things in this world all the time. One has to be okay with letting things go no matter how precious they are. And to stand up again and keep going.
The Ball Poem MCQs With Answers
- Who wrote ‘The Ball Poem’?
A. Jeffrey Archer
B. John Berryman
C. Maya Angelou
D. Robert Frost
Answer: B. John Berryman
2. What happened to the boy’s ball?
A. The ball went bouncing down the street, into the water
B. The ball fell into a drain
C. The ball went into a hole
D. The ball fell into a ditch
Answer: A. The ball went bouncing down the street, into the water
3. Where did the ball end up?
A. In a drain
B. In the water
C. In a ditch
D. In a hole
Answer: B. In the water
4. How did the boy react?
A. The boy was shocked and in great grief
B. The boy was angry
C. The boy was happy
D. The boy started crying
Answer: A. The boy was shocked and in great grief
5. Why does the post say that there is no use in saying ‘O there are other balls’?
A. Because there were no other balls
B. Because the lost ball had precious memories attached to it
C. Because the ball was expensive
D. Because the boy didn’t like balls
Answer: B. Because the lost ball had precious memories attached to it
6. Why was the ball so special for the boy?
A. It was expensive
B. It was unique
C. It had the precious memories of the boy’s childhood attached with it
D. It was limited edition
Answer: C. It had the precious memories of the boy’s childhood attached to it
7. Why is buying another ball worthless?
A. Because a new ball will not have the same significance as the ball he played within his childhood
B. Because it was a limited edition ball
C. Because the boy doesn’t want it anymore
D. Because the boy is angry
Answer: A. Because a new ball will not have the same significance as the ball he played within his childhood
8. How does the boy sense his first responsibility?
A. Falling down makes him want to get up
B. Losing his precious ball makes him understand that he should take care of his things
C. He wants to swim in the river
D. He needs to study to get a good job
Answer: B. Losing his precious ball makes him understand that he should take care of his things
9. What is the responsibility?
A. To take care of his things and to learn that nothing in this material world is permanent
B. To take care of his parents
C. To focus on his studies
D. To spend money wisely
Answer: A. To take care of his things and to learn that nothing in this material world is permanent
10. Why does the poet not offer money to the boy?
A. The poet doesn’t have any money
B. He thinks that a new ball wouldn’t bring back the precious memories that were lost with the old ball and the boy needs to learn the truth of losing things in this world.
C. The ball is expensive
D. The poet is a miser
Answer: B. He thinks that a new ball wouldn’t bring back the precious memories that were lost with the old ball and the boy needs to learn the truth of losing things in this world.
11. What does ‘in the world of possessions’ mean?
A. In a possessive world
B. In a world that is possessed by ghosts
C. In a material world
D. In a spiritual world
Answer: C. In a material world
12. What is the boy learning from the loss of the ball?
A. No material possession is permanent (irrespective of how precious it is) and you have to be okay with letting go.
B. He needs to buy another ball.
C. He should not play all the time.
D. He should focus on his studies.
Answer: A. No material possession is permanent (irrespective of how precious it is) and you have to be okay with letting go.
13. What does the ball symbolise?
A. A round toy
B. Memories and the innocence of childhood
C. A cricket ball
D. A football
Answer: B. Memories and the innocence of childhood
14. How much does the ball cost?
A. A dime
B. A penny
C. 18 cents
D. 19 cents
Answer: A. A dime
15. What does the poet say happens in this world all the time?
A. People play with balls
B. Things are lost, people take other people’s things
C. People go to work
D. Balls are important
Answer: B. Things are lost, people take other people’s things
16. What do people need to learn in this world (in reference to the poem)?
A. That they will lose things and have to be okay with it and carry on.
B. To learn to be happier
C. To learn to love each other
D. To be playful
Answer: A. That they will lose things and have to be okay with it and carry on.
- Choose the correct meaning of the following words/phrases:
17. Merrily
A. In a cheerful way
B. In a sorrowful way
C. In an angry way
D. In a depressed way
Answer: A. In a cheerful way
18. Bouncing
A. Moving/jumping quickly after being hit
B. Moving slowly
C. Moving sideways
D. Jumping into water
Answer: A. Moving/jumping quickly after being hit
19. Shaking grief
A. Sad
B. Not affected by grief
C. Overwhelmed with grief
D. Shaking
Answer: C. Overwhelmed with grief
20. Fixed (in his spot)
A. In the sun
B. Basking
C. Immobile
D. Spotted
Answer: C. Immobile
21. Rigid
A. unable to bend or be forced out of shape
B. Very flexible
C. Loose
D. Soft
Answer: A. unable to bend or be forced out of shape
22. Trembling
A. Shaking or quivering
B. Playing an instrument
C. A type of instrument
D. Running fast
Answer: A. Shaking or quivering
23. Staring down
A. Look at with fixed eyes
B. Look at the stars
C. Stars looking down
D. Stars falling down
Answer: A. Look at with fixed eyes
24. Harbour
A. Water
B. Biscuit
C. River
D. Port
Answer: D. Port
25. Intrude
A. put oneself deliberately into a place or situation where one is unwelcome or uninvited
B. Stay away from a situation
C. Go to a place with invitation
D. Not accept an invitation
Answer: A. put oneself deliberately into a place or situation where one is unwelcome or uninvited
26. A dime
A. A 10-cent coin
B. Two pennies
C. A 15-cent coin
D. A 50-cent coin
Answer: A. A 10-cent coin
27. Worthless
A. Good quality
B. Have no real value or use
C. Very useful
D. Worth the time
Answer: B. Have no real value or use
28. Responsibility
A. The state of having a duty to deal with something
B. Being free from all duties
C. Responding to people
D. Not responding to people
Answer: A. The state of having a duty to deal with something
29. Possessions
A. something that is owned or possessed
B. Not owned by anyone
C. Not owning anything
D. Being free
Answer: A. something that is owned or possessed
30. Desperate
A. having a great need or desire for something
B. not having any need or desires
C. being sorrowful
D. being happy
Answer: A. having a great need or desire for something
31. Epistemology
A. unable to bend or be forced out of shape
B. something that is owned or possessed
C. the theory of knowledge
D. having a great need or desire for something
Answer: C. the theory of knowledge
32. Epistemology of loss
A. the study to learn the nature of loss
B. the theory of knowledge
C. having a great need or desire for something.
D. something that is owned or possessed
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These were our model MCQs based on ‘The Ball Poem’. I hope that going through this session helped you gain an understanding of the question mentality and demand of CBSE. For your further help, you can download this entire session and store it as a PDF. If you have liked this initiative and found the session useful, kindly leave a quick comment to let us know. Besides, if you want me to cover such MCQ sessions on any specific topic of English literature/language, please let us know that as well.
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