Flamingo (Prose): Lost Spring

Topics in this chapter

• Lost Childhood and Child Labour
• Seemapuri Poverty and Displacement
• Firozabad Bangle Industry Exploitation
• Aspiration, Education and Social Mobility
• Social Critique and Poverty Cycles
• Narrative Techniques and Title Significance

Cheat sheet

Practice questions

1. Question 1Q-B62698

   Why is Saheb-e-Alam's name ironic in Lost Spring?

   1. A.His name means 'lord of the universe', but he lives as a poor ragpicker without security or control over his life.
   2. B.His name means 'skilled worker', but he refuses to learn any occupation.
   3. C.His name means 'owner of a shop', but he dislikes going to the market.
   4. D.His name means 'brave soldier', but he is afraid of travelling outside Seemapuri.
   See the answer and solution
2. Question 2Q-6F3D2E

   What does Mukesh's desire to become a motor mechanic mainly reveal about his character?

   1. A.He wants to earn more money only to expand the family’s bangle business.
   2. B.He possesses the ambition and determination to imagine a life beyond the traditional occupation forced on his family.
   3. C.He dislikes all forms of manual work and wishes to avoid responsibility.
   4. D.He believes that driving a car is the easiest way to escape poverty.
   See the answer and solution
3. Question 3Q-9E6FD4

   Which comparison best explains the different responses of Saheb and Mukesh to poverty and inherited work?

   1. A.Saheb accepts his circumstances completely, while Mukesh actively imagines and pursues a different future.
   2. B.Both boys reject their traditional work immediately and receive support from society.
   3. C.Saheb benefits from education, while Mukesh is prevented from attending school by his own choice.
   4. D.Both boys become financially independent because their families encourage their ambitions.
   See the answer and solution
4. Question 4Q-3D1740

   How does the title Lost Spring express the central idea of the chapter?

   See the answer and solution
5. Question 5Q-C1FA73

   In Seemapuri, why do children search through garbage each morning?

   1. A.They are collecting material for a school project.
   2. B.Garbage provides their families with a means of livelihood and sometimes unexpected valuables.
   3. C.They are searching for evidence of illegal activities.
   4. D.They are preparing for employment in municipal cleaning services.
   See the answer and solution