English Language & Literature — CBSE Class 10 board question

(i) The poet refers to the fact that material losses in life, like the lost ball, cannot be undone or replaced. Money can buy a new ball but cannot restore what was lost — just as certain losses in life are permanent and irreversible.

(ii) (C) realisation

(iii) The word "desperate" highlights the boy's intense grief and helplessness after losing his ball. His eyes reflect deep emotional pain. This contributes to the poem's overall tone of sorrow and helplessness, creating a melancholic mood as the boy confronts loss for the first time.

(iv) The ball itself is a metaphor for all the precious things people lose in life. Just as the ball rolls away into the water, childhood, innocence, and loved ones also slip away, teaching humans the irreversible nature of loss.

Source: The Ball Poem, First Flight — Chapter 7

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• (i) Focus on the idea that money is "external" — it can replace objects but not the emotional value or the experience of loss.
• (ii) "Realisation" is correct because the boy is learning — an intellectual and emotional awakening — not mere terror or distress.
• (iii) For 2 marks, cover two aspects: what "desperate" shows about the boy, AND how it affects the poem's mood/tone.
• (iv) Always name the metaphor clearly (ball = life's losses) and briefly explain the comparison. One well-explained metaphor is enough for 1 mark.