Comprehension
“Why do you do this?” I ask Saheb, whom I encounter every morning scrounging for gold in the garbage dumps of my neighbourhood. 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 neighbourhood. When they build one, I will go.”
(Lost Spring)
(Lost Spring)
Question: 1
Choose the correct option:
The expression ‘scrounging for gold’ refers to .......
Choose the correct option:
The expression ‘scrounging for gold’ refers to .......
The expression ‘scrounging for gold’ refers to .......
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‘Scrounging for gold’ is a metaphor indicating Saheb’s search for valuable s in the garbage to earn money.
Updated On: Jan 31, 2025
- searching for gold s.
- looking for something that can fetch money.
- rummaging the garbage.
digging to find food to eat.
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
The phrase “scrounging for gold” metaphorically describes how Saheb and others rummage through garbage to find s of value to earn a living.
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Question: 2
The influence of nature in Saheb’s life was that it .......
The influence of nature in Saheb’s life was that it .......
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The storms destroyed Saheb’s fields and homes, forcing his family to move to the city in search of livelihood.
Updated On: Jan 31, 2025
- brought prosperity
- yielded food for them
- gave them home
brought disaster
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The Correct Option is D
Solution and Explanation
Saheb’s family fled from Dhaka because natural calamities, such as storms, destroyed their fields and homes, forcing them to seek survival elsewhere.
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Question: 3
Complete the sentence with an appropriate word.
Saheb’s conversation with the narrator draws ...... of readers towards Saheb.
Complete the sentence with an appropriate word.
Saheb’s conversation with the narrator draws ...... of readers towards Saheb.
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The narrative evokes a sense of empathy and compassion for Saheb’s plight and struggles.
Updated On: Jan 31, 2025
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Solution and Explanation
The dialogue highlights Saheb’s harsh living conditions and his inability to enjoy basic rights like education, evoking sympathy from the readers.
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Question: 4
Explain one inference that can be drawn from the line “ldots realizing how hollow the advice must sound.”
Explain one inference that can be drawn from the line “ldots realizing how hollow the advice must sound.”
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The line highlights the stark reality of Saheb’s life, where basic facilities like schools are inaccessible.
Updated On: Jan 31, 2025
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Solution and Explanation
The narrator feels the futility of advising Saheb to go to school, knowing that there are no schools available in his neighbourhood.
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Question: 5
The expression ‘when they build one, I will go’ indicates Saheb’s ...... to go to school.
The expression ‘when they build one, I will go’ indicates Saheb’s ...... to go to school.
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Saheb’s statement reflects his desire to study but also underscores the lack of infrastructure in his locality.
Updated On: Jan 31, 2025
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Solution and Explanation
Saheb expresses a longing to attend school but is constrained by the lack of opportunities and facilities in his locality.
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Question: 6
State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE.
{‘ldots his home is not even a distant dream’ states that Saheb sees his home often in his dream.}
State whether the following statement is TRUE or FALSE.
{‘ldots his home is not even a distant dream’ states that Saheb sees his home often in his dream.}
Show Hint
The line implies that Saheb’s home has become a forgotten memory, far removed from his current reality.
Updated On: Jan 31, 2025
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Solution and Explanation
The statement suggests that Saheb has lost all connection with his home in Dhaka. It is no longer part of his dreams, as survival in his current circumstances consumes all his energy and thoughts.
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Top Questions on Reading Comprehension
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