THE LOST CHILD: SUMMARY AND QUESTION ANSWERS

 

The Lost Child Introduction

The Lost Child is the story of a small child who gets lost in a fair. He had gone with his parents to the fair but loses them when he gets engrossed in looking at a roundabout swing. The story highlights the bond of love and affection that the child shares with his parents. Before losing them he had been demanding different things like sweets, balloons, flowers, swings, etc. Once he loses them, he is picked up by a stranger. The stranger tries to quieten the child by offering him all these things that he had demanded from his parents but the child does not want them anymore. He wants his parents first.

 

The Lost Child Summary – It was the season of spring. The people of the village came out of their houses, in colorful attire and walked towards the fair. A child along with his parents was going to the fair and was very excited and happy. He was attracted to the stalls of toys and sweets. Though his father got angry but his mother pacified him and diverted his attention towards other things. The child moved forward but once again lagged behind because his eyes were caught by one thing or the other every now and then.

As they moved forward, the child wanted the various things on the stalls. His mouth watered seeing sweets decorated with gold and silver leaves. He wanted his favorite burfi but knowing that his parents would refuse on the ground that he was greedy, he walked ahead. Then he saw beautiful garlands of Gulmohar but didn’t ask for it, then he saw balloons but he knew very well that his parents would deny due to the fact that he was too old to play with balloons, so he walked away.

Then he saw a snake charmer and a roundabout swing. As he stopped to ask his parents for permission to enjoy the swing, to his astonishment, there was no reply. Neither his father nor his mother was there. Now the child realized that he was lost. He ran here and there but could not find them. The place was overcrowded. He got terrified but suddenly a kind-hearted man took him up in his arms and consoled the bitterly weeping child. He asked if he would like to have a joyride but the child sobbed “I want my father, I want my mother.” The man offered him sweets, balloons and garland but the child kept sobbing “I want my father, I want my mother.”

 

Conclusion of The Sound of Music

The chapter – The Sound of Music illustrates how music binds people and is not limited to one person only. Music is a universal language that is loved and adored by all people. Here we bring you the CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Prose Summary of The Sound of Music that will help students to get a thorough understanding of the chapter. 

The Lost Child Introduction

The Lost Child is the story of a small child who gets lost in a fair. He had gone with his parents to the fair but loses them when he gets engrossed in looking at a roundabout swing. The story highlights the bond of love and affection that the child shares with his parents. Before losing them he had been demanding different things like sweets, balloons, flowers, swings, etc. Once he loses them, he is picked up by a stranger. The stranger tries to quieten the child by offering him all these things that he had demanded from his parents but the child does not want them anymore. He wants his parents first.

 

The Lost Child Summary – It was the season of spring. The people of the village came out of their houses, in colorful attire and walked towards the fair. A child along with his parents was going to the fair and was very excited and happy. He was attracted to the stalls of toys and sweets. Though his father got angry but his mother pacified him and diverted his attention towards other things. The child moved forward but once again lagged behind because his eyes were caught by one thing or the other every now and then.

As they moved forward, the child wanted the various things on the stalls. His mouth watered seeing sweets decorated with gold and silver leaves. He wanted his favorite burfi but knowing that his parents would refuse on the ground that he was greedy, he walked ahead. Then he saw beautiful garlands of Gulmohar but didn’t ask for it, then he saw balloons but he knew very well that his parents would deny due to the fact that he was too old to play with balloons, so he walked away.

Then he saw a snake charmer and a roundabout swing. As he stopped to ask his parents for permission to enjoy the swing, to his astonishment, there was no reply. Neither his father nor his mother was there. Now the child realized that he was lost. He ran here and there but could not find them. The place was overcrowded. He got terrified but suddenly a kind-hearted man took him up in his arms and consoled the bitterly weeping child. He asked if he would like to have a joyride but the child sobbed “I want my father, I want my mother.” The man offered him sweets, balloons and garland but the child kept sobbing “I want my father, I want my mother.”

 

Q1- Name the things that the child saw on his way to the fair?

A) toys
B) sweets and garlands
C) balloons
D) all

Q2- Why did the child lag behind his parents?

A) because of the stops he took to look closely at his favourite things
B) because he was walking slow
C) because he was crying
D) all

Q3- Why did the child keep moving without getting any answers?

A) because of distractions
B) because of too many attractions
C) because of his experience and assumed notions about his parents
D) none

Q4- What did the child want to eat at the fair?

A) Burfi
B) pastry
C) ladoo
D) jalebi

Q5- When did the child realize that he had lost his way?

A) while running
B) while eating icecream
C) when he turned to take permission from his parents to take a ride on a roundabout
D) none

Q6- What did the child do when he realized that he had lost his way?

A) cried and ran here and there
B) felt happy
C) reported to the office
D) none

Q7- Why did the child lose his interest in all the things he was interested earlier?

A) because of separation from his parents and losing his way
B) because of no response from his parents
C) because his interest was changed
D) can’t say

Q8- What did the child realize?

A) The fair was charming
B) the toys were attractive
C) that parents are the most valuable asset
D) None

Q9- What did the child speak repeatedly after losing his parents?

A) I want my father I want my mother
B) I want ride
C) I want toys
D) I want swings

Q10- How did the generous man try to calm down the child?

A) showing him different toys
B) taking him to rides
C) talking to him and diverting his attention
D) All

Q11- Who is the author of the lesson “The Lost child”?

A) Sudha Murthy
B) Mulkh Raj Anand
C) Amrita Pritam
D) All

Q12- What does the story show?

A) working of a fair
B) working of a village
C) village people are good
D) working of a child’s mind

Q13- Where did the child go with his parents?

A) village fair
B) cinema hall
C) circus
D) All

Q14- What is the theme of the story?

A) Close bonding between parents and children
B) village people are good
C) we must go to village fairs
D) None

Q15- Who took the child to the fair?

A) parents
B) kind man
C) friends
D) none

Q16- Why were the parents holding the hand of their child?

A) to protect him from the crowd
B) because of their fears
C) to help him
D) None

Q17- List the things that the generous man did after picking up the child?

A) asked his name
B) consoled & offered many attractive things
C) asked his parents’ names
D) al

Q18- What does the child’s refusal to all the attractive things show towards the end?

A) child lost his interest
B) child’s obstinacy
C) bond of love between child and parents is above everything.
D) None

Q19- Why did the child say “No” to all the things he was earlier crying for?

A) lost interest
B) his interest was changed
C) because being with parents was more important
D) none

Q. No.	Answer	Q. No.	Answer
1	D	11	B
2	A	12	D
3	C	13	A
4	A	14	A
5	C	15	A
6	A	16	A
7	A	17	D
8	C	18	C
9	A	19	C
10	D

 

 

Question 1.

What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair? Why does he lag behind?

Answer: On his way to the fair the child sees toys, balloons of different colours, garlands of gulmohur, a swing and a snake-charmer playing a flute. He gets attracted towards all these things, so he lags behind.

Question 2.
In the fair he wants many things. What are they? Why does he move on without waiting for an answer?
Answer:
The child wants many things in the fair. He wants to have toys, different sweets, garland, balloons of different colours and has a keen desire to enjoy the roundabout. He moves on without waiting for an answer because whenever he stops to see things, his parents gave him a cautionary call, “come, child, come!”

Question 3.
When does he realise that he has lost his way? How have his anxiety and insecurity been described?
Answer:
The child sees a roundabout in the fair and gets attracted to it. He wants to have a ride on it. He asks his parents for permission to enjoy it. Having no response on the part of his parents he realises that he has lost his way. He starts crying bitterly at once and runs here and there in search of them.

Question 4.
Why does the lost child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier?
Answer:
The lost child loses interest in the things he had wanted earlier because he got lost in the fair. He is panic-stricken for being lost. Now he first wants his parents. He is afraid and feels unsafe.

Question 5.
What do you think happens in the end? Does the child find his parents?

Answer: Yes I feel that the child finds his parents at last. The kind-hearted person must have tried his best to find his parents. On the other hand the parents of the child must have left no stone unturned to find their child.

Talk about it
Question 1

How to ensure not to get lost?

Answer: It is very common that children get lost in fairs and crowds. Hardly a day passes when no child gets lost. It is the duty of both the parents and the children to ensure not to get lost. The parents need to be vigilant and more careful at crowded places. Before entering a crowded place the parents should fix a point where the child should wait in case of getting lost. They should make the child memorise the home address and telephone numbers. They should put or pin up a note on the pocket of the child with full details. They should attend to the need of the child and never leave him behind, in case he happens to stand at some shop.

On the other hand the child should hold the hands of his parents at a crowded place. He should keep an eye on his parents so as not to lose sight of them. In case of any emergency the help of police, help centres and media can be taken.

Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)
(About 30-40 words each)

Question 1:
How did the child react when there was no sign of his parents?

Answer: The child was very innocent. He gets confused and panic-stricken on not seeing his parents. He felt lonely without his parents amidst so much of crowd. The man who tries to console the child also does not achieve any success as the boy only needs his parents and no monetary benefit.

Question 2:
Where did the child go with his parents ? What did he want there?

Answer: The child went to a fair with his parents. He wanted garlands, balloons and sweets over there. He also wanted to see the snake and take a ride on the swing.

Question 3:
Why did the lost child refuse to take his favourite things in the fair after losing his parents?

Answer: The child refused to take his favourite things in the fair after he lost his parents as he missed them and wanted to meet them only. Now, he had lost interest in all his favourite things.

Question 4:
How did the mother distract the child’s mind from the toy seller? 

 Answer:: The mother distracted the child’s mind from the toy seller by pointing towards a flowering mustard field. He saw colourful dragon flies and started running after them.

Question 5:
How was the child separated from his parents?

Answer: The boy was attracted to toys, balloons and sweets in the fair. He got fascinated with the flute music being played by the snake charmer. While watching the roundabout swing he got separated from his parents.

Question 6:
What happened when the lost child reached the temple door? 

 Answer:
When the child reached the temple door men jostled each other. The poor child struggled to thrust his way out but was knocked. He might have been trampled if he had not shouted at his highest pitch.

Question 7:
Who rescued the lost child ? What did he offer to buy him? 

 Answer: The man in the shrine rescued the lost child. He lifted him up in his arms and tried to soothe him. He took him to the nearest roundabout swing and offered to buy him flowers, balloons and sheets.

Question 8:
Parents were in a hurry to reach the fair but the child was delaying them. How ?

Answer:  The boy got distracted by the toys which he wanted to buy, butterflies and dragon flies which he wanted to catch and the flowers that he wanted to gather. And, out of pure innocence he delayed his parents to reach the fair.

Question 9:
What was the first reaction of the child when he realized that he had lost his parents?

Answer: The child panicked when he realized (hat he had lost his parents. He was puzzled, angry and desperate. He cried and shouted for his parents. He ran here and there to look for his parents.

Question 10:
Why didn’t the boy wait for an answer after he had pleaded for sweets?

Answer: The boy didn’t wait for an answer after he had pleaded for sweets because he knew that his parents would say that he was greedy and would refuse to buy the sweets.

Question 11:
What happened when the “lost child” entered the grove ? How did he enjoy there?

Answer: When the “lost child” entered the grove, a shower of young flowers fell upon him. He began to gather the raining petals. He heard the cooing of doves and ran towards his parents. He had a fun- filled splendid time in the grove.

Long Answer Type Questions (4 marks each)
(About 80-100 words)

Question 1:
What changes do you notice in the behaviour of the child, once he is separated from his parents in the story “The Lost Child” ? 

 Answer::A child along with his parents had been to a fair. He was very excited and happy with the stalls of toys and sweets. He gets separated from his parents and starts crying. He runs hither and thither in search of his parents, but in vain. Since the place was overcrowded he got real scared. He started crying as he was all alone. A kind hearted man offers him many things but he refuses. The child who wanted everything from the fair was now not interested in any of these things as he only yearned to be with his parents.

Question 2:
Compare the attitude of the child before and after his separation from his parents.
Answer:: Before separation the child was very happy and excited at the fair. He was fascinated with all the things that were displayed at the stalls. He wanted to have all the things like his favourite toys, sweets, flowers, etc. He also wanted to go for a ride. But after separation the boy just wanted to be with his parents. He was not interested in any of those things which he kept longing to have from the stalls. In the absence of his parents these things did not give him any satisfaction.

Question 3:
How did the man who found the little boy in the fair, try to soothe him ?

 Answer: - The man who found the little boy in the fair tried every possible way to soothe him. He took him to a roundabout swing then offered a horse ride, tried to make him listen to the snake charmer’s song and offered him a balloon, as he thought that this would distract his mind, but in vain. He offered him flowers and sweets, but the child kept crying. The child could not be distracted by any of the things at the fair as he longed to be with his parents.

Question 4:
How do you know that the lost child was a nature – lover ?

Answer: The child was attracted to the nature’s little aspects because of his innocence. When his mother diverted his attention towards the mustard field he saw the flowers which were in the nascent stage and flowering. The flowers of the field were pale like melting gold. He then saw a group of dragon flies which were bustling about on their gaudy purple wings, intercepting the flight of a lone black bee or butterfly in search of sweetness from the flowers. The child wanted to catch those dragon this but they went away fluttering and flapping. He also got attracted to the little insects and worms along the foot path that were teeming out from their hiding places to enjoy the Sunshine. A shower of young flowers fell upon the child as he entered the fair. He forgot about his parents and began to gather the raining petals in his hands. Again when he heard the cooing of doves, he ran towards his parents shouting about them.

Question 5:
What all things did the child get attracted to, once be entered the fair ? Was he able to get all the things he desired? What happened when he made a bold request to his parents?

Answer: With a wide mouth, he stared at the sight of burfi. Later he was attracted to a garland of gulmohur and was carried away by the rainbow glory of the coloured balloons. He wanted them all but; on the other hand, he also knew the answers of his parents, so he convinced himself and did not ask them for anything. Finally, he made a bold request for going on the roundabout. As he turned to get their reply, he could not find them behind him.

EXTRA QS & ANS

Question 1.
What are the things the child sees on his way to the fair?
Answer:
He sees people gaily dressed, some on horses, some in bamboo or bullock carts. He also sees toys, dragon ‘flies, insects, worms, flowers, and doves on his way to the fair.

Question 2.
Why does the child lag behind?
Answer:
He lags behind because he is attracted by several of the things he sees on the way like toys, sweetmeats, dragonflies, flower garlands, the snake charmer and the roundabout.

Question 3.
What are the things that he wants at the fair?
Answer:
At first he wanted a burfi, then a garland of gulmohur flowers, next some colourful balloons, after that he was attracted by the snake charmer and finally he wanted a ride on the roundabout.

Question 4.
Why does the child move on without waiting for his parents’ answer whenever he asked for things that attracted him?
Answer:
He moves on without waiting for an answer because he knew they would not pay attention to his demands or give him what he asked for.

Question 5.
When does the child realize that he had lost his way?
Answer:
At the roundabout, when he turned to request his parents to allow him to sit on the ride, he did not get any reply. When he looked around for them he realized he had strayed away from his parents and lost his way.

Question 6.
How has the lost child’s anxiety and insecurity been described?
Answer:
His anxiety and insecurity have been described through his reaction to his realisation that he was lost. Tears rolled down his cheeks, his throat became dry, his face flushed and convulsed with fear and he ran in all directions in panic without knowing where to go.

Question 7.
Why does the lost child lose interest in the things that he had wanted earlier?
Answer:
He lost all interest in the things that he had wanted earlier because he felt fearful and insecure at being separated from his parents and all he wanted was to be reunited with them.

Question 8.
What do you think happens in the end? Does the child find his parents?
Answer:
This question can be answered in either way. In my opinion the child is reunited with his parents who are also searching for him and find him crying in a stranger’s lap.
OR
No, the child is not reunited with his parents but is taken by the man who finds him and is brought up by him.

Question 9.
Why was the fair being held in the village?
Answer:
It was being held to celebrate the spring season.

Question 10.
What tells us that the little boy was excited about going to the fair?
Answer:
The fact that the little boy has been described as “brimming over with life and laughter” tells us that he was happy and excited to be going to the fair.

Question 11.
Compare the reactions of the father and mother at the child’s request for a toy.
Answer:
The father glared at him angrily ‘in his familiar tyrant’s way’ while the mother looked at him tenderly and diverted his attention from the toys.

Question 12.
What made the mother caution the child?
Answer:
The fact that the child had wandered off into the mustard field trying to catch a butterfly made the mother call out to him to come back on to the footpath.

Question 13.
What was the boy engrossed in when his parents sat in the shade of a grove, near a well?
Answer:
The boy was engrossed in watching little insects and worms that were teeming out along the footpath.

Question 14.
What diverted the child’s attention from the shower of flower petals in the grove?
Answer:
The cooing of doves diverted the child’s attention from the raining flower petals.

Question 15.
How did the boy react on nearing the village where the fair was being held? Why?
Answer:
He felt both attracted and repelled at the sight of the large number of people who had converged at the village to enjoy the fair.

Question 16.
Why did the child not ask his parents to buy him the burfi?
Answer:
The child knew that his parents would not listen to his request and would call him greedy for wanting

Question 17.
Why did the child move away from the flower seller without asking his parents for a garland?
Answer:
He was aware that his parents would refuse to buy him a garland and say that they were cheap.

Question 18.
Why did the child not ask his parents to buy him balloons even though he was fascinated by them?
Answer:
He knew his parents would say that he was too old to play with the balloons so he did not ask his parents to buy them for him.

Question 19.
What made the child move on from the snake charmer?
Answer:
The child had been forbidden by his parents from listening to the music being played by the-snake charmer,which they had termed as coarse, so he moved away from the snake-charmer.

Question 20.
Where did the child finally decide to ask his parents to let him enjoy the delights at the fair? Why?
Answer:
At the roundabout the sight of the machine in full swing with men and women shrieking, crying and laughing out aloud in excitement, encouraged the child to ask his parents to be permitted to ride the roundabout.

Question 21.
Where and how did the child meet his saviour?
Answer:
The child met his saviour near the entrance of a temple where he was almost at the point of being trampled under the feet of the jostling crowd.

Question 22.
How did the man try to quieten the crying lost child?
Answer:
He first took him to the roundabout, then to the snake-charmer, next the balloon seller, after that to the flower-seller and finally to the sweetmeat seller, hoping to quieten the crying lost child.

Question 23.
How was the boy’s reaction to the attractions of the fair different after getting separated from his parents?
Answer:
He lost all interest in the attractions of the fair and kept crying for his parents.

Question 24.
Do you think the title of the story is appropriate?
Answer:
Yes, the title appropriately captures the essence of the story. It highlights the plight of a little child who is lost in a fair and it captures the emotions that the child goes through on being separated from his parents. It shows how the child who a moment ago is excited at the sights and sounds of the fair suddenly loses interest in all these sights once he realises that he is lost.

The Lost Child Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer Type

Question 1.
Describe in detail all the attractions that the child is drawn to till he gets lost in the fair.
Answer:
Right till the time he loses his parents, the child is attracted to it. several things that he sees on his way. At first it is the toys being sold at the wayside shops. Then he is attracted to the dragonflies in the mustard field. Next he is drawn to the worms and insects on the footpath and the shower of flower petals and the cooing of the pigeons. On reaching the fair he is first tempted by the goodies being sold by the sweetmeat seller and then by the colourful balloons of the balloon-seller. Next he is drawn by the sound of the snake charmer and finally he is mesmerized by the roundabout with children and adults enjoying the rides.

Question 2.
Do you consider the child’s behaviour as depicted in the story normal? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
Yes, the child’s behaviour was normal. The story very clearly depicts the behaviour of a young child who is attracted by everything he sees around him. The child is not only attracted to toys and sweets but also fascinated by the natural wonders of the world like dragonflies, pigeons, flowers and snakes.

This is a reflection of the universal phenomenon of a child’s attraction and fascination with the natural world. As mentioned in the story the child is both ‘repelled and fascinated’ by the colourful world around him which is normal for any young child. The crowds and noise repel a child while the colourful world and the sights of the fair fascinate him.

Question 3.
The story describes certain attractions which may not be so attractive to a modern child. Can you pick up some of them from the story – ‘The Lost Child’.
Answer:
A modem city child has very little interaction with nature on a daily basis, unlike the lost child. They have very little possibility of being allowed to run wild in a yellow mustard field or being interested in doing so. Technology has taken away a lot of their time and hence he or she does not have the time to run after dragonflies or butterflies or simply rejoice under the rain of flower petals from a gulmohur tree.

With their exposure to amusement parks and water parks with mechanised rides and an artificially created ambience, they would probably not even feel comfortable in natural surroundings. However if the child is allowed free rein to interact with nature he/she would probably find the natural affinity that a human being has for nature and behave in the same manner as the lost child in the story.

Question 4.
Describe the character of the child as depicted in the story.
Answer:
The child is very young, innocent and full of joy and energy. He finds everything around him exciting and fascinating, whether a dragonfly or toy displayed in a toy shop. Like any child he is easily distracted and his desires and interests keep on changing from sweetmeats to balloons to rides. He is not used to large crowds and is ‘repelled and fascinated’ by them.

His whole world revolves around his parents and he is deeply affected at his separation from them. He is obedient and disciplined and does not throw a tantrum to get his object of desire. He fears his father and approaches his mother whenever he is tempted by any of the objects he sees during his journey to the fair and at the fair itself.

Question 5.
How does the child in the story lose himself? How far is he responsible for his predicament?
Answer:
The child is wholly responsible for his predicament because at every stage we find him wandering off after one attraction or the other in spite of repeated instructions from his mother not to do so. Initially we find him staring down in front of the wayside toy shops. Next he wanders off into the mustard fields, chasing dragonflies. Then he slows down to admire the insects and worms that line the footpath.

After that he gets distracted by the rain of flower petals and the cooing of the doves and has to be pulled back to the main road by his mother. On entering the fair he again slows down in front of the sweetmeat seller, the flower seller, the snake charmer and the roundabout before realising that he is completely on his own.