Poem 4 Childhood Extract Based Questions

Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select the
correct option for each question by carefully reading the passage.

A. When did my childhood go?

Was it the day I ceased to be eleven.
Was it the time I realised that Hell and Heaven,
Could not be found in Geography,
And therefore could not be,
Was that the day!

Q1. When does a poet realise that his childhood has gone?
Ans. Poet becomes aware at the age of eleven.
Q2. Why is the age of eleven so important for the poet?
Ans. He can distinguish between fact and fiction around the age of eleven.
Q3. What is the quality acquired by the poet at this stage of his life?
Ans. At this point, the poet is starting to make sense.
Q4. When did the poet know that ‘hell’ and ‘heaven’ are imaginary concepts?
Ans. When he was unable to find these locations in his geography books.
Q5. Why is the poet worried?
Ans. The poet is concerned because he has lost his innocence.
Q6. Where has the poet’s childhood gone?
Ans. His formative years have vanished into obscurity.
Q7. What is a child’s perception of an adult?
Ans. The child can tell the difference between fact and fiction as they grow older.
B. When did my childhood go?
Was it the time I realised that adults were not
All they seemed to be,
They talked of love and preached of love,
But did not act so lovingly,
Was that the day!
Q1. Why does the poet not talk great of grown up people?
Ans. The poet believes that adults do not practise what they preach.
Q2.Why is the poet confused?
Ans. Poet is unable to distinguish between being a child and an adult.
Q3.What is the poet’s opinion about the people in the world?
Ans. Poet finds the people to be hypocrites.
Q4. Choose word from the passage which means ‘sermonized’.
Ans. Preached
C. When did my childhood go?
Was it when I found my mind was really mine,
To use whichever way I choose,
Producing thoughts that were not those of other people
But my own and mine alone
Was that the day!
Q1. Explain ‘My mind was really mine’?
Ans. That indicates that the poet had total self-control.
Q2. ‘Producing thoughts that were not these of other people’s means:
Ans. The poet now feels comfortable expressing his ideas on his own.
Q3. Which stage of life has been under consideration above?
Ans. The poet is transitioning into adulthood.
Q4. What thoughts of the poet are revealed in these lines?
Ans. His uniqueness is demonstrated here.
D. Where did my childhood go?
It went to some forgotten place,
That is hidden in an infant’s face,
That’s all I know.
Q1. Why is the poet eager to know the lost place of his childhood?
Ans. (i) The poet values childhood beyond everything else.
(ii) The poet wants to live a childlike, innocent life once more.
(iii) The poet is curious to discover the location of his early years.
Q2.Where is the poet able to find his lost childhood?
Ans. On the baby’s innocent face.
Q3. Choose a word from the passage which is synonymous to ‘concealed.
Ans. Hidden
Q4. What is the rhyming scheme of the above lines?
Ans. a b b a.

Multiple Choice Questions for Poem 4 Childhood

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) are a type of objective assessment in which a person is
asked to choose one or more correct answers from a list of available options. An MCQ
presents a question along with several possible answers.

Q1. What is the meaning of the word ‘ceased’?

A. starting of something
B. come to an end
C. in the midst
D. to chase something
Ans- B. come to an end
Q2. Who is the poet of the poem ‘Childhood’?
A. Shirley Toulson
B. Walt Whitman
C. Marcus Natten
D. Naipaul
Ans. C. Marcus Natten
Q3. What did the poet realise about adults?
A. That they are responsible
B. That they need to work for a living
C. They are not what they seem to be
D. They are clever
Ans. C. They are not what they seem to be
Q4. What refrain literary device is used in the poem ‘Childhood’?
A. When did my childhood go?
B. Hell and Heaven
C. Could not be found in Geography
D. That’s all I know
Ans. A. When did my childhood go?
Q5. What is the opposite of the word ‘hidden’?
A. open
B. closed
C. partially closed
D. out
Ans. D. out
Q6. What did the poet find out about Hell and Heaven?
A. They could not be found in Geography books
B. They were imaginary places
C. They were in America
D. They were in India
Ans. B. They were imaginary places
Q7. According to the poet, adults are _
A.Hypocrites
B. Smart
C. Likeable
D. Intelligent and Clever
Ans. A. Hypocrites
Q8. What did the poet sense about himself when he realised he could use his own mind the
way he wants?
A. He thought he was just as smart as his friends.
B. he sensed his own individuality and a separate personality
C. He thought he was incredibly intelligent
D. He thought he could use his thoughts for creative work
Ans. B. he sensed his own individuality and a separate personality
Q9. What the poet could not find in the Geography book?
A.Hell and Heaven
B. End to sky
C. Island
D. Nation
Ans. A. Hell and Heaven
Q10. What is the difference between an adult and a child?
A.they can tell the difference between reality and fantasy
B. There is a difference in the perception of intellect
C. there is no difference
D. None of the Above
Ans. A. they can tell the difference between reality and fantasy
Q11. Why do adults talk and preach of love but do not act lovingly?
A. because they are hypocrites
B. because they are double-faced
C. because they do not want to
D. because they are deceitful
Ans. A. because they are hypocrites
Q12. After what age did the poet realise that he had lost his childhood?
A. Thirteen
B. Eleven
C. Nine
D. Sixteen
Ans. B. Eleven
Q13. What is the most important thing about being an adult?
A. they have their own thoughts
B. they can earn money
C. they can talk to anyone they want
D. they preach hate
Ans. A. they have their own thoughts
Q14. Where could he see his childhood now?
A. in an infant’s face
B. only in his memories
C. Nowhere
D. in elders
Ans. A. in an infant’s face
Q15. Why are the adults not what they seem to be?
A. They talk and preach of love but do not act so
B. They are also incredibly cunning, greedy, and lazy.
C. They are selfish
D. They are not active
Ans. A. They talk and preach of love but do not act so
Q16. What is the Rhyme Scheme of the poem ‘Childhood’?
A. ABAB
B. ABBA
C. ABABCB
D. ABBCCD
Ans. D. ABBCCD
Q17. What did the poet realise about his mind when he lost his childhood?
A. that he can use it whatever way he wants
B. that he is very intellectual
C. that he is inorant
D. None of the Above
Ans. A. that he can use it whatever way he wants
Q18. What did the poet conclude about his lost childhood at the end of the poem?
A. It travelled to another dimension
B. It went to some forgotten place
C. faded away
D. It shifted to his younger sibling
Ans. B. It went to some forgotten place
Q19. Why are the adults not what they seem to be?
A. they talk and preach of love but do not act so
B. they are very cunning
C. they are manipulative
D. they are devious
Ans. A. they talk and preach of love but do not act so
Q20. What did the poet realise about adults?
A.that they are not very responsible
B. they have to earn money
C. they are not what they seem to be
D. they are sly
Ans. C. they are not what they seem to be
Class 11 Poem 4 Childhood Long Answer Questions

Q1. The poem ‘Childhood’ exposes man and presents him in his true colours. All adjectives
displaying negative qualities are not enough for such a man. This poem very innocently
goads him to his real self. Explain.
Ans. Childhood represents purity, tenderness, innocence, and love. These characteristics
start to wane as a youngster gets older. Man develops impurity, deceit, sleight of hand, and
hypocrisy. Adults start telling outright lies. They profess love while acting in hatred. They
advocate for humanity and fraternity while promoting violence and hatred. As soon as a guy
leaves his naive infancy, simplicity and honesty vanish into thin air.
Every effort should be made to rekindle that youthful naivety. Every effort should be made
to fill the void left by man’s selfishness and greed with the warmth of a child’s innocence
and laughter. If a man begins to practise what he teaches, there would be less hostility and
more peace worldwide. If a man brings his actual noble characteristics to the forefront, it
may happen. The innocence and purity of man are now veiled in layers of enmity. The world
would be a nicer place to live in if a man were to take off this mask.
Q2. ‘Childhood is an essential stage in the process of growing up, but it can’t go on forever.”
Discuss.
Ans. For every person, childhood is a crucial stage in the process of maturing. Human
infants are completely reliant on others, but as they get older, they develop greater physical,
emotional, and mental fortitude. As the tiny baby grows bigger in size, other faculties also
develop. Although this stage is an important milestone for man, it cannot last forever.
Childhood being a stage, must give way to another stage. Adolescence or early youth come
after it. The abilities have now reached their full potential.
The individual gains capacity for reason. His rationalism aids him in determining what is true
or incorrect, fact or fiction. He develops excellent analysis and discrimination skills. He is
now able to see through people and objects. He begins to understand the hypocrisy of
adults. He gains confidence and becomes an independent thinker.
Q3. Write an article in about 150 words about childhood and the process of growing up with
reference to the poem “Childhood”.
Ans.
Childhood
Childhood is the most fun & pleasant period of one’s life. It is the second phase of life. It is a
crucial time when we face the outside world in an effort to learn new things and travel the
globe. At this point, the kids are totally reliant on their parents. This time frame is a time for
learning. We begin attending school as children and progressively learn more about the
world of education. Children have no worries & lead a free independent life, learning new
things.
When did my childhood go?
Was it when I found my mind was really mine,
To use whichever way I choose,
 Producing thoughts that were not those of other
people, But my own, and mine alone
The poem describes the first step to maturity or loss of childhood when one is able to think
logically and rationally. Forming one’s own opinion and not getting influenced by others is
also a sign of maturity or loss of childhood.
Childhood memories always make a person nostalgic. During childhood, we develop a
stronger bond with our parents. In this stage, moral character and behaviour are developed.
The mind is creative and open to learning many new things. During this time, children
should be taught good habits and manners that last a lifetime. The youngsters are free of
any bad habits and guilt throughout this time, which is comparable to a person’s golden
years.
Q4. What is the central idea of the poem “Childhood”?
Ans. “Childhood” by Markus Natten is a poem wherein the poet considers his lost youth in
great detail in this poem. Childhood is a period of innocence during which a child has an
unconditional love for everyone. The poet has made an effort to pinpoint the times in his life
when his ideas and perspectives on the world altered. The poem talks about the loss of
childhood or the first step towards maturity when one can think reasonably and sensibly. A
further indication of maturity or the loss of youth is the ability to form one’s own opinions
without being swayed by others.
The poem also makes reference to the widespread hypocrisy in our culture, when
individuals seem to get along but actually don’t.

The Adventure Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer

Type
Question 1.
What was Gangadharpant’s experience in the Azad Maidan? Did it have any effect
on his life?
Answer:
Gangadharpant was keen to address the people at Azad Maidan. He spoke as if he
was presiding over a public meeting. People did not allow him to speak. This
happened in the freak ‘adventure’ that he lived through. As a result, he decided in his
real life never to preside over any public function or to address a gathering.

Question 2.
Why do you think Prof. Gaitonde decided never to preside over meetings again?
Answer:
Prof. Gaitonde decided never to preside over meetings again as he had a bitter
experience at one of the lectures going on in the Azad Maidan.

Question 3.
Who was Professor Gaitonde? Why was he surprised to see the name of East India
Company on an imposing building in Bombay?
Answer:
Prof. Gaitonde was a history professor living in Poona in the 20th century. He was
surprised to see the name of East India Company on a building in Bombay because
it belonged to the 18th and 19th centuries when the Company was ruling India. It did
not exist in the present time.

Question 4.
What was a vital piece of evidence that Prof. Gaitonde had with him to show that he
had really experienced a different reality?
Answer:
Prof. Gaitonde had a page from the history book Bhausahebanchi Bakhar that he
was reading in the library in Bombay.

Question 5.
Gangadharpant could not help comparing the country he knew with what he was
witnessing around him. Explain briefly.
Answer:
Mumbai was different. Gangadhar Pant saw the East India Building and mostly
Anglo-Indians, Parsee. and British officers-Railway by the name of Greater Bombay
Metropolitan, Railway Stations looked remarkably clean. He was living in the late
20th century. What he saw was India under the British.

Question 6.
What sights did Prof. Gaitonde encounter to feel that he was going to a different
Bombay?
Answer:
Prof. Gaitonde feels that he was going to a different Bombay because the trains had
marking of G.B.M.R with the Union Jack printed on them. The station looked neat
and tidy. He could see British offices on the platform. There was also the building of
East India company. He came across many shops and office buildings.

Question 7.
What important discovery did Prof. Gaitonde make on reading history books?
Answer:
Professor Gaitonde found that the Marathas had won the Third Battle of Panipat and
that was a turning point in India’s history.

Question 8.
Why was the consequence of the Battle of Panipat important for the Peshwas?
Answer:
The victory established the supremacy of the Marathas in northern India and later
over the rest of India East India Company was confined to some areas near
Bombay, Calcutta and Madras.

Question 9.
How did the Peshwas keep in step with the changing times in the 20th century?
Answer:
The Peshwas kept apace with the changing times in the 20th century by setting up
centres of science and technology. They were highly inspired by the West, India
moved towards a democracy. For technology development, they also accepted help
from the East India Company.

Question 10.
What information did Prof. Gaitonde get from ‘Bhausahebanchi Bakhar,‘?
Answer:
From ‘Bhausahebanchi Bakhar’, Prof. Gaitonde got the information about
Vishwasroa. He got to know that Vishwasrao was not killed in the battle. Moreover,
Vishaswasrao guided his horse to the battle.

Question 11.
How did Prof. Gaitonde behave in the Azad Maidan? Why did he behave so?
Answer:
Prof. Gaitonde went on the dais and sat on the unoccupied presidential chair. He
refused to vacate and started speaking into the mike. He behaved so because he
was drawn by the empty chair.

Question 12.
What is ‘the catastrophe theory’?
Answer:
Catastrophe Theory means ‘a critical event’ which happens in a different way. This
changes the entire course of history.

Question 13.
How did ‘the catastrophe theory’ work in the battle of Panipat?
Answer:
Catastrophe Theory in Panipat is that Vishwasrao did not die. Marathas won the
battle. As a result, Marathas became the dominant power, the British were
contained.

Question 14.
What have we been told about the quantum theory in the story ‘The Adventure’?
Answer:
Because of the lack of determinism in quantum theory, the bullet missed Vishwasrao
and the Marathas were victorious.

Question 15.
Why was Prof. Gaitonde going to Bombay?
Answer:
Professor Gaitonde was going to Bombay to read history books and to find out how
the present state of affairs was reached.

Question 16.
Who was Professor Gaitonde? Why was he surprised to see the name of East India
Company on an imposing building in Bombay?
Answer:
Prof. Gaitonde was a professor of history in Puna. He lived in independent India. He
was surprised to see the name of East India Company, as it had been wound up
after 1857.

The Adventure Extra Questions and Answers Long Answer

Type
Question 1.
‘Gangadharpant had not been to this Bombay before.’ Show how this Bombay is
different from the one he knew.
Answer:
Bombay had completely changed for Gangadharpant. The Bombay he now visited
had the trains that now paned through the suburban rail traffic. The blue carriages
had the marking of G.B.M.R with the Union Jack printed on them. The station looked
remarkably neat and clean. The staff included mainly Anglo-Indians and Parsees
along with a few British officers. There was an imposing building of the East India
Company. Walking about Hornby Road, Gangadharpant could find a different set of
shops and office buildings. The British rule was prevalent only in Bombay. All the
other parts of the nation were not under the rule of The British.

Question 2.
Gangadharpant was able to find the precise moment ‘where history had taken a
different turn for India’. What was this moment? How did it affect India and the Indian
people?
Answer:
The precise moment where history had taken a different turn for India was the
moment when Gangadharpant learnt that Marathas had won the Third Battle of
Panipat. Their victory in the battle was not only a great morale booster to the
Marathas but it also established their supremacy in northern India.

It was also clear that Vishwasrao was not killed in the battle. To its dismay, the East
India Company met its match in the new Maratha ruler, Vishwasrao. He and his
brother, Madhavrao, combined political acumen and expanded their influence all
over India. The East India Company was reduced to pockets of influence near
Bombay, Calcutta and Madras, just like its European rivals, the Portugese and the
French.

Question 3.
How did Rajendra Deshpande explain Gangadhar Pant’s experience? Write in detail.
Answer:
Prof. Rajendra explained Prof. Gaitonde’s theory on the basis of catastrophe theory
and the lack of determinism in the quantum theory. He applied catastrophe theory to
the Battle of Panipat. Both the armies were’well-equipped, so, a lot depended on the
leadership and the morale of the troops. He said that the point at which Vishwasrao
was killed proved to be the turning point. Whether he was killed in the battle or
survived was not known that time.

But, the troops were in constant stress of losing their crucial leaders. They lost their
morale and fighting spirit. Now, when the bullet missed Vishwarao, the battle took
the other way, and the troops felt encouraged. It boosted their morale and they
applied a lot of efforts to lion the battle.

This happened due to the lack of determinism in quantum theory which means that
you cannot predict the behavior of anything, even the outcome may be vasthy
different. Prof. Gaitonde was able to experience a different reality because he made
a transition to the other India where the Marathas had won the Battle of Panipat. The
transition occurred because at the moment of the collision, Prof. Gaitonde was
thinking of the catastrophe Theory and the Battle of Panipat.

Question 4.
Gangadharpant could not help comparing the country he knew with what he was
witnessing around him. Explain briefly.
Answer:
Mumbai, that Gangadharpant was familiar of was completely different when the train
stopped beyond the long tunnel, at a small station called Sarhad, Gangadharpant
was stunned to see an Anglo-Indian in uniform checking permits. He got to know that
this was the place from where the British rule began.

For Gandadharpant, this was the new Mumbai. When the train paned through the
Suburban rail traffic, he noticed blue carriages with the marking, GBMR and the tiny
Union Jack painted on each carriage. The station looked so spick and span. The
staff included Anglo-Indians and Parsees along with some British officers. He also
noticed the building to be East India Company along with some different shops and
office buildings. Bombay was now completely under the influence of British rule.