The Ball Poem – Class 10 English Chapter 7 Complete Question Answers and Solutions | ASSEB / SEBA
Class 10 English Chapter 7 – The Ball Poem Complete Question Answers and Exam Solutions (ASSEB / SEBA Assam)
The seventh chapter of the Class 10 English ‘First Flight’ textbook, ‘The Ball Poem’ written by John Berryman, is a highly important chapter. For the upcoming HSLC 2027 examination, the complete question answers for this poem have been prepared based on the new ASSEB (Assam State School Education Board) syllabus and the latest National Education Policy (NEP) blueprint. This special collection includes Very Short Answers (VSA / MCQ), Short Questions, Long Answers, and literary device analysis, along with a detailed solution of Previous Years’ Board Exam Questions (PYQ). At Ospin Academy, these solutions are provided in a simple, accurate, and completely exam-oriented manner.
This profoundly philosophical poem deals with a young boy losing his ball and experiencing grief. Through this simple incident, the poet describes the ‘epistemology of loss’—how the boy is learning to understand the nature of loss and how to stand up in a world full of material possessions. It is essential for HSLC candidates to understand the core theme, poetic devices, and deep emotional significance of this poem. Our Question Bank covers not only the textbook exercises but also includes extra probable board questions and answers to ensure 100% preparation for the students.
What you will learn and get from this chapter:
- Detailed analysis of the poem’s theme, the concept of loss, and the boy’s psychological reaction.
- Word meanings, perfect answers for 1-mark objective (VSA), and 2-3 marks short questions.
- Easy and standard solutions for descriptive questions explaining the deeper meaning of the stanzas.
- Identification and explanation of poetic devices.
- Pattern analysis of frequently asked board questions and solutions to the latest MCQ models.
Special Features by Ospin Academy for HSLC 2027 Exam:
- Complete Question Bank prepared based on the latest ASSEB blueprint for HSLC 2027.
- Detailed solutions for the Previous 10 Years’ Questions (PYQ) and 27 Districts Pre-Board Exam Papers (2026).
- 100% accurate, high-quality notes written in simple English for easy memorization.
- Specially designed PDF format for last-minute quick revision before the exams.
- A curated list of 100% common board suggestions and expected questions from this poem.
Ospin Academy offers this specialized course keeping in mind the academic growth of the students. Start your HSLC 2027 preparation now and step towards securing the highest marks in the English subject.
Class 10 English Question Bank ASSEB HSLC 2027 | Complete Chapter-wise Solutions PDF
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Class 10th English
The Ball Poem
HSLC Board Previous Year MCQs with Answers
1. “The expression “stand up” in the context of “The Ball Poem” means {2026}
(A) the act of standing up
(B) being resilient
(C) standing to act
(D) being prompt”
Answer: B
2. “What do the underlined words mean in the following lines from the poem, “The Ball Poem” by John Berryman ? A dime, another ball, is worthless. Now He senses first responsibility. In a world of possessions. People will take Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy. {2026}
(A) The spiritual world
(B) The virtual world
(C) The emotional world
(D) The materialistic world”
Answer: D
3. With reference to “The Ball Poem,” choose th statement that correctly identifies the underline words. {2025}
(A) The poet would not intrude on the boy.
(B) The passerby would not intrude on the boy
(C) The boy would not intrude on the poet.
(D) The speaker would not intrude on the poet.
Answer: A
4. What does the boy feel when he loses the ball as mentioned in The Ball Poem? {2025}
(A) anxious
(B) sad
(C) stressed
(D) timid
Answer: B
5. The small boy in The Ball Poem is exeriencing- {2025}
(A) realisation
(B) joy
(c) elation
(D) gladness
Answer: A
6. In ‘The Ball Poem’, the boy senses his first responsibility in a world of {2024}
(A) Balls
(B) Playthings
(C) People
(D) Possessions
Answer: D
7. Why does the speaker in ‘The Ball Poem’ say that he would not intrude on the boy? {2024}
(A) Because he knows that another ball is worthless
(B) Because he knows that the boy would not listen to him
(C) Because he does not want to disturb the boy
(D) Because he does not know how to speak to the boy
Answer: A
8. “He is learning well behind his desperate eyes…..”(Hint: The Ball Poem) {2024}
What is the opposite of the underlined word?
(A) Disciplined
(B) Distressed
(C) Dolorous
(D) Cheerful
Answer: D
9. The world, as mentioned in ‘The Ball Poem’, is one of {2023}
(A) balls
(B) friends
(C) fun
(D) possesions
Answer: D
10. The word ‘rigid’ means {2023}
(A) flux
(B) soft
(C) hard
(D) dry
Answer: C
Common Pre-Board MCQs (2025–26) with Answers
1. Name the literary device used in the sentence given below: “A dime, another ball, worthless” {Bajali}
(A) Consonance
(B) Asyndeton
(C) Assonance
(D) Hyperbole
Answer: B
2. What did the small boy learn after he had lost the ball? {Bajali}
(A) How to be desperate
(B) How to be mournful
(C) How to be responsible
(D) How to be disdainful
Answer: C
3. All his young days into the harbour where his ball went… What does the word ‘harbour’ stand for in ‘The Ball Poem’? {Baksa}
(A) A body of water
(B) Vastness of life
(C) Saga of emotions
(D) A place where ships are kept.
Answer: B
4. Merrily bouncing down the street, and then merrily over there is in the water—Identify the literary device used. {Baksa}
(A) Metaphor
(B) Simile
(C) Alliteration
(D) Anaphora
Answer: D
5. Why does the speaker choose not to intrude? This is so because the poet— {Baksa}
(A) knows that it would embarrass the boy in his moment of grief.
(B) feels that it is important that the boy learn an important life lesson undisturbed.
(C) realises that he does not have sufficient funds to purchase a new ball for the boy.
(D) experiences a sense of distress himself by looking at the boy’s condition.
Answer: B
6. The poet observes the boy’s reaction to the loss of the ball. What does this observation teach the poet? {Barpeta}
(A) That all boys are emotional.
(B) The value of a toy.
(C) People must learn to cope with loss.
(D) That children should not be given toys.
Answer: C
7. What is the central theme of the poem “The Ball Poem”? {Barpeta}
(A) The importance of Toy.
(B) The value of money.
(C) Epistemology of loss.
(D) Sense of responsibility.
Answer: C
8. In the following line from the poem “The Ball Poem” – “He senses first responsibility” – What responsibility is the poet referring to? {Bongaigaon}
(A) Buying new toys
(B) Helping his parents
(C) Doing homework
(D) Facing losses bravely
Answer: D
9. Read the extract carefully and interpret its meaning. Choose the option that best captures the lesson the boy is learning. {Bongaigaon}
Extract: “He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes, The epistemology of loss.”
In this context of the poem, what does the phrase “epistemology of loss” indicate about the boy’s experience?
(A) He is gaining knowledge in school subjects and studies.
(B) He is learning for the first time the understanding of losing something.
(C) He is gaining skills like swimming in the harbour waters.
(D) He is learning practical work such as repairing his ball.
Answer: B
10. The poet says, “Money is external,” meaning that while money can purchase material things, it can never restore what emotional value holds. The boy’s loss is not merely of an object, but of the memories and feelings attached to it. What message does the poet most likely want to convey through this line? {Bongaigaon}
(A) Money should not be used for buying ordinary toys in life.
(B) Emotional experiences hold more value than things money can buy.
(C) Losing objects is not a matter that needs serious concern.
(D) Children must avoid playing with things that may get lost easily.
Answer: B
11. In ‘The Ball Poem”, the ball is a symbol of {Cachar}
(A) materialistic gain
(B) the boy’s nature
(C) playing with toys
(D) boy’s childhood.
Answer: D
12. The big truth of life that the boy learns is {Cachar}
(A) not to lose things
(B) to value things
(C) to lose and forget
(D) the need to understand the nature of loss.
Answer: D
13. “Merrily bouncing down the street and then Merrily over-there it is in the water!” Which of the following word aptly replace the word ‘merrily’? {Cachar}
(A) Happily
(B) Swiftly
(C) Sadly
(D) Coldly.
Answer: A
14. What does the boy learn by losing the ball, accordingly to the poet in ‘The Ball Poem’? {Charaideo}
A) Loss is an unavoidable truth of life
B) Material objects can be replaced
C) Money buys happiness
D) Losses in life can be prevented with care
E) Life continues despite losses
(A) A, B and E
(B) B and D
(C) Only A
(D) C and E
Answer: A
15. According to the poet of ‘The Ball poem’ from whom do we mostly learn about loss? {Charaideo}
(A) Books
(B) Elders
(C) Teachers
(D) Experiences
Answer: D
16. The main themes of ‘The Ball Poem’ is {Charaideo}
(A) We should cherish every moment
(B) We should take care of our things
(C) Life is short
(D) Both A and B
Answer: D
17. What does the poet mean by “Money is external” in the line – “And no one buys a ball back. Money is external.” {Darrang}
(A) Money can buy only materialistic things
(B) Money can buy all the happiness
(C) Money can buy all emotions
(D) Money can buy peace and prosperity
Answer: A
18. One dime is equal to {Darrang}
(A) five cents
(B) ten cents
(C) one cent
(D) twenty cents
Answer: B
19. What does the poet want the boy to learn from the loss of the ball?
(A) To be careful while playing
(B) To accept loss as a part of life.
(C) To ask for help from others
(D) both a and d
Answer: B
20. If a child loses something valuable and learns to control his emotions instead of crying, which idea from the poem ‘The Ball Poem’ is being applied?
(A) Joy of childhood
(B) Importance of play
(C) Being able to accept loss as a part of life
(D) Anger management
Answer: C
21. In “The Ball Poem”, the boy senses his first responsibility in a world of{Hojai}
(A) Balls
(B) playthings
(C) People
(D) Possessions
Answer: D
22. What does the boy learn among the following, by losing the ball, according to the poet in “The Ball Poem”?{Hojai}
I. Loss is the unavoidable truth of life.
II. Life continues despite losses.
III. Money buys happiness.
IV. Losses in life can be prevented with care.
(A) (I), (II)
(B) (III), (IV)
(C) Only (III)
(D) Only (IV)
Answer: A
23. “He is learning well behind his desperate eyes…..” What is the opposite of the underlined word?{Hojai}
(A) Disciplined
(B) Distressed
(C) Dishonest
(D) Cheerful
Answer: D
24. What does the boy learn through his experience of losing the ball? {Jorhat}
(A) To ask for help
(B) To earn money
(C) To play carefully
(D) To accept responsibility.
Answer: D
25. “He is learning well behind his desperate eyes.” What is the antonym of the underlined word? {Jorhat}
(A) Disciplined
(B) Distressed
(C) Daring
(D) Delighted
Answer: D
26. What does the poet mean by saying “Money is external” in the poem, “The Ball Poem.” It means that money can{Kamrup M}
(A) lead to peace and prosperity.
(B) only buy emotions.
(C) only buy materialistic things and not emotions.
(D) buy all the happiness in the world.
Answer: C
27. Identify the poetic device used “Merrily bouncing down the street.”{Kamrup M}
(A) Metaphor
(B) Alliteration
(C) Repetition
(D) Imagery
Answer: D
28. The poet of ‘The Ball Poem’ is – {Kokrajhar}
(A) W. B. Yeats
(B) W. Wordsworth
(C) Walt Whitman
(D) John Berryman
Answer: D
29. ‘Epistemology’ is the study of- {Kokrajhar}
(A) Nature
(B) Human nature
(C) Nature of knowledge
(D) Nature of loss
Answer: C
30. When the boy loses his ball, the poet in the poem ‘The ball poem’ says ‘Money is external’. What deeper meaning does this highlight? {Lakhimpur}
(A) Money can buy anything the boy wants
(B) Some losses cannot be repaired with money
(C) Money is the only meaningful thing in life
(D) The boy wants another ball immediately
Answer: B
31. What does the lost ball symbolize in the poem ‘The ball poem’? {Lakhimpur}
(A) Childhood games
(B) Small problems in life
(C) Losses we all experience in life
(D) A new beginning
Answer: C
32. “I shall went. I would not intrude on him”. Give meaning of the underlined word (intrude). {Udalguri}
(A) Ignore
(B) interfere
(C) Leave alone
(D) Withdraw
Answer: B
33. “A dime, another ball in worthless. Now”. Give meaning of the underlined word (dime). {Udalguri}
(A) Valuable
(B) Precious
(C) Useful
(D) Valueless
Answer: D
34. Who is the poet of the poem ‘The Ball Poem’? {Udalguri}
(A) Robin Klein
(B) Walt Whitman
(C) Ogden Nash
(D) John Berryman
Answer: D
35. The boy’s silent staring at water in “The Ball poem” Shows– {Tamulpur}
(A) Fear of water
(B) Internal processing of life’s first major loss.
(C) Daydreaming
(D) Enjoying the ripple effect on water.
Answer: B
36. Choose the option in context to “The Ball Poem”. “As he stands riged, Trembling, Standing down.” The synonyms of rigid is ______. {Tamulpur}
(A) Strought
(B) Flexible
(C) Bend
(D) Stiff
Answer: D
37. The ball in “The Ball poem” symbolises– {Tamulpur}
(A) Sports equipment
(B) Money responsibility
(C) Childhood happiness to get a ball.
(D) Childhood innocence that can’t return.
Answer: D
38. Why are the boy’s eyes desperate, as mentioned in “The Ball Poem”? {SSM}
(A) In search of thing
(B) Because he is waiting for someone,
(C) Because he has lost his Ball.
(D) Because he has lost his gloves.
Answer: C
39. What do you mean by, “In the world of possession”? {SSM}
(A) Materialistic things
(B) real things
(C) Love
(D) Affection.
Answer: A
40. What do you mean by “epistemology of loss”? {SSM}
(A) It means to understand a little about loss.
(B) It means to understand the nature of loss.
(C) It means to understand the loss in general.
(D) It means to understand something about gain.
Answer: B
41. Name the literary device used in ‘And no one buys a ball back.’ {Sribhumi}
(A) Metaphor
(B) Simile
(C) Alliteration
(D) Anaphora
Answer: C
42. The phrase “epistemology of loss” in The Ball Poem means– {Sribhumi}
(A) Contrasting ideas.
(B) Understanding the problem.
(C) Nature of loss.
(D) None of the above.
Answer: C
43. What is the central idea of The Ball Poem? {Sribhumi}
(A) Importance of sports.
(B) Understanding and accepting loss as part of growing up.
(C) Keeping our belongings safe.
(D) Playing with friends.
Answer: B
44. “He is learning well behind his desperate eyes” give the meaning of the underlined word. {Sonitpur}
(A) Anger
(B) Fear
(C) Hopeless
(D) Joy
Answer: C
45. What according to the poet, is the boy learning? {Sonitpur}
(A) To bear loss
(B) To take care of things
(C) To be responsible
(D) To be careful
Answer: A
46. What is the cost of the ball? {Sonitpur}
(A) 1 dime
(B) 2 dimes
(C) 3 dimes
(D) 4 dimes
Answer: A
47. What does the ball in the poem “The Ball Poem” symbolize? {Sibsagar}
(A) Childhood games.
(B) Loss of possessions.
(C) Wealth and happiness.
(D) Friendship.
Answer: B
48. What lesson does the boy learn from losing his ball? {Sibsagar}
(A) That loss is a part of life and we must accept it.
(B) That life is full of happiness and we must accept it.
(C) That a new ball is bought easily and we must accept it.
(D) That others help us always and we must accept it.
Answer: A
49. Name the literary device used in – ‘And no one buys a ball back.’ {Morigaon}
(A) Metaphor
(B) Simile
(C) Alliteration
(D) Anaphora
Answer: C
50. What does the poet mean when he says. “He is learning, well behind his desperate eyes….” {Majuli}
(A) The boy is hiding joy behind his eyes.
(B) The boy is secretly planning to buy a new ball.
(C) The boy’s inner sadness is teaching him about life’s losses.
(D) The poet doesn’t understand the boy’s feelings.
Answer: C
51. What does the poet imply through the expression – “Balls will be lost always.” {Majuli}
(A) The importance of holding toys tightly.
(B) The nature of unavoidable losses in life.
(C) How to buy a new ball.
(D) The value of money.
Answer: B
50 Most Important Model MCQs for HSLC 2027
1. How does the poem begin?
(A) By asking a question about what the boy will do now.
(B) By describing the water in the harbor.
(C) By telling the boy to stop crying.
(D) By offering the boy a new ball.
Answer: A
2. Where exactly did the ball go before it finally went into the water?
(A) Down the street
(B) Over the fence
(C) Across the playground
(D) Into a drainage pipe
Answer: A
3. What does the word “O” in “O there are other balls” imply?
(A) A sudden realization by the boy
(B) An expression of the poet’s anger
(C) A typical, meaningless phrase of consolation that the poet decides *not* to use
(D) A sound the bouncing ball makes
Answer: C
4. How is the boy’s physical reaction to the loss described immediately after the ball goes into the water?
(A) He runs frantically to catch it.
(B) An ultimate shaking grief fixes him.
(C) He sits down and starts weeping loudly.
(D) He turns around and walks away indifferently.
Answer: B
5. “As he stands rigid, trembling, staring down…” What is he staring down at?
(A) His empty hands
(B) The dark water of the harbor
(C) The coins in his pocket
(D) The poet standing nearby
Answer: B
6. Why does the poet say that offering a dime to buy another ball is “worthless”?
(A) Because a dime is not enough money to buy a good ball.
(B) Because the new ball cannot bring back the memories and emotional attachment associated with the old ball.
(C) Because the boy does not know how to buy things himself.
(D) Because the poet does not actually have a dime to give.
Answer: B
7. “All his young days into the harbour where / His ball went.” This line suggests that the lost ball is closely linked to:
(A) His ability to play sports well
(B) His memories of early childhood and lost innocence
(C) The physical money spent on buying it
(D) The friends he used to play with
Answer: B
8. What does “a world of possessions” refer to?
(A) A world where everyone plays with balls
(B) A world driven by materialistic wealth, ownership, and attachment
(C) A magical world created by the boy’s imagination
(D) A world where nothing is ever lost
Answer: B
9. “People will take / Balls, balls will be lost always, little boy.” What does the plural use of “Balls” here signify?
(A) The boy has lost a whole bag of balls.
(B) The universal and recurring nature of loss in human life.
(C) The thriving toy industry.
(D) The fact that other children will steal his toys.
Answer: B
10. What profound realization is the boy experiencing “well behind his desperate eyes”?
(A) He is realizing that his parents will be very angry with him.
(B) He is learning how to swim to get the ball back.
(C) He is learning the epistemology of loss and how to stand up after it.
(D) He is figuring out how to save up a dime for a new ball.
Answer: C
11. What does “how to stand up” mean in the context of the poem’s conclusion?
(A) Literally standing up from a sitting position
(B) Learning how to survive, cope, and move forward after suffering a significant emotional or material loss
(C) Standing up to fight the people who took his ball
(D) Standing straight in discipline
Answer: B
12. “Knowing what every man must one day know…” What is this universal knowledge that every man must acquire?
(A) Knowing how to earn money
(B) Knowing how to play games without losing
(C) Knowing that loss is inevitable and learning how to endure it
(D) Knowing how to swim in deep harbors
Answer: C
13. What is the tone of the poem “The Ball Poem”?
(A) Humorous and light-hearted
(B) Aggressive and bitter
(C) Philosophically reflective and deeply empathetic
(D) Sarcastic and mocking
Answer: C
14. Why is the phrase “Money is external” written as an independent, standalone thought in the poem?
(A) To emphasize that money cannot heal internal emotional wounds or replace sentimental value.
(B) To teach the boy basic economics.
(C) To show that the poet is very poor.
(D) To explain why the boy shouldn’t buy toys.
Answer: A
15. What does the word “ultimate” mean in the phrase “An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy”?
(A) Final and maximum; profound and overwhelming
(B) Temporary and minor
(C) Fake and exaggerated
(D) Physical and painful
Answer: A
16. The poet watches the ball bouncing “merrily.” This creates a sharp contrast with what?
(A) The dark water of the harbor
(B) The sudden, intense grief and rigidity of the boy
(C) The passing cars on the street
(D) The silence of the poet
Answer: B
17. “I would not intrude on him.” The word “intrude” means to:
(A) Help someone unconditionally
(B) Enter a situation uninvited or disrupt someone’s personal experience
(C) Buy something for someone else
(D) Speak very loudly
Answer: B
18. By refusing to offer consolation or money, what is the poet allowing the boy to do?
(A) Suffer unnecessarily out of cruelty
(B) Experience the natural process of grief and learn a vital life lesson independently
(C) Learn how to beg for help
(D) Feel abandoned by adults
Answer: B
19. What does the word “desperate” suggest about the boy’s eyes?
(A) They are full of anger and revenge.
(B) They show a sense of hopelessness, helplessness, and deep longing for what is lost.
(C) They are tired and sleepy.
(D) They are sparkling with joy.
Answer: B
20. According to the poem, learning to “stand up” after a loss is a process that:
(A) Happens instantly the moment a loss occurs.
(B) Takes a few minutes of crying.
(C) Most men know, and many take many days to learn.
(D) Can only be taught in a school.
Answer: C
21. In the broader metaphor of the poem, “people will take balls” implies:
(A) Thieves will steal your property.
(B) Circumstances, time, or fate will inevitably snatch away things and people we love.
(C) Older children bully younger children.
(D) The government takes away wealth.
Answer: B
22. “And no one buys a ball back.” Why does the poet make this specific assertion?
(A) Because balls are no longer manufactured.
(B) Because the specific ball that holds the exact memories and emotions is irreplaceable.
(C) Because it is illegal to buy a lost ball.
(D) Because the boy has no money.
Answer: B
23. The poem does not use a rhyming scheme. It is written in:
(A) A strict sonnet form
(B) Free verse
(C) Blank verse with a strict iambic pentameter
(D) Haiku structure
Answer: B
24. What visual image indicates that the boy is completely paralyzed by his sudden loss?
(A) He runs down the street.
(B) He jumps into the water.
(C) He stands rigid, trembling, staring down.
(D) He starts fighting with the poet.
Answer: C
25. What is the boy’s “first responsibility” that he senses?
(A) To take care of his physical belongings in a materialistic world and accept the consequences when they are lost.
(B) To go to school on time.
(C) To earn a dime.
(D) To learn how to swim.
Answer: A
26. Why are the boy’s young days described as going “into the harbour”?
(A) Because he lived on a boat.
(B) Because the ball, which represented his childhood innocence and memories, sank into the dark water.
(C) Because he decided to become a sailor.
(D) Because the harbor was his favorite place to play.
Answer: B
27. The use of the word “O” (as in “O there are other balls”) is an example of which figure of speech?
(A) Simile
(B) Metaphor
(C) Exclamation/Interjection
(D) Personification
Answer: C
28. Which of the following themes is NOT explored in “The Ball Poem”?
(A) The transition from innocence to experience
(B) The emotional weight of loss
(C) The futility of revenge
(D) The limitations of materialistic wealth
Answer: C
29. What does the physical “trembling” of the boy indicate?
(A) He is feeling cold near the water.
(B) He is physically exhausted from playing.
(C) He is undergoing a severe emotional shock.
(D) He is afraid of the poet.
Answer: C
30. The poet’s decision to remain a silent observer rather than an active comforter demonstrates:
(A) His lack of empathy for the child.
(B) His understanding that some griefs must be navigated individually for true psychological growth.
(C) His anger towards the careless boy.
(D) His desire to steal the boy’s remaining toys.
Answer: B
31. The phrase “epistemology of loss” specifically deals with:
(A) The mathematical calculation of financial loss.
(B) The philosophical study of the nature, origin, and limits of human knowledge regarding grief and bereavement.
(C) The scientific study of bouncing objects.
(D) The historical study of harbors.
Answer: B
32. “And most know many days how to stand up.” This line implies that overcoming grief:
(A) Is impossible for most people.
(B) Is a quick and easy task.
(C) Is a gradual process that takes time and experience.
(D) Can be achieved by simply buying a new item.
Answer: C
33. Who is the “I” referred to in the line “I would not intrude on him”?
(A) The young boy
(B) The boy’s father
(C) The poet/speaker of the poem
(D) A passerby who stole the ball
Answer: C
34. The use of the word “merrily” twice in the beginning of the poem highlights:
(A) The carefree, joyful nature of the ball (and childhood) before the sudden tragedy of loss.
(B) The poet’s happiness at seeing the boy lose the ball.
(C) The boy’s lack of concern for his toys.
(D) The fast current of the water.
Answer: A
35. How does the poem view the concept of “possessions”?
(A) They bring eternal happiness.
(B) They are entirely useless and should be thrown away.
(C) They are transient; they will inevitably be lost, and one must learn to live without them.
(D) They define a person’s worth in society.
Answer: C
36. Assertion (A): The poet decides not to console the boy by saying, “O there are other balls.”
Reason (R): The poet knows that a new ball cannot replace the emotional memories tied to the lost one.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: A
37. Assertion (A): The boy immediately jumps into the dark water of the harbor to retrieve his ball.
Reason (R): He stands rigid and trembling, completely overwhelmed by the suddenness of his loss.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: D
38. Assertion (A): The poem states that “Money is external.”
Reason (R): Money can easily buy back the exact memories and the lost innocence associated with a cherished childhood object.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: C
39. Assertion (A): The poet considers offering the boy a dime to buy another ball to be a worthwhile gesture.
Reason (R): A dime is a very large amount of money that would make the boy extremely happy.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: D
39. Assertion (A): The poet considers offering the boy a dime to be completely worthless.
Reason (R): The boy is experiencing a profound emotional lesson about loss that cannot be cured by a cheap financial replacement.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: A
40. Assertion (A): The boy is learning the “epistemology of loss” well behind his desperate eyes.
Reason (R): He is realizing the harsh truth that in a world of possessions, things will inevitably be lost and he must learn to cope.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: A
41. Assertion (A): The ball bounced merrily down the street before falling into the water.
Reason (R): The boy threw the ball into the harbor on purpose because he was bored with it.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: C
42. Assertion (A): An ultimate shaking grief fixes the boy.
Reason (R): He realizes that along with the ball, his young days and childhood innocence have symbolically sunk into the dark harbor.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: A
43. Assertion (A): The boy senses his first responsibility in the world of possessions.
Reason (R): He is tasked with taking care of his younger siblings near the harbor.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: C
44. Assertion (A): The poet explicitly states that no one buys a ball back.
Reason (R): Once an object with deep sentimental attachment is lost, its emotional essence is gone forever and cannot be repurchased.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: A
45. Assertion (A): Learning “how to stand up” is a lesson the boy will master in just a few minutes.
Reason (R): The poet notes that most men know this, and it takes many days to learn how to stand up after a loss.
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Answer: D
46. What is the fundamental difference between the “external” nature of money and the “internal” nature of the boy’s loss?
(A) Money is kept in a pocket, while the loss is kept in a bank.
(B) Money acts only as a medium of commercial exchange for replaceable material goods, whereas the boy’s loss involves irreplaceable psychological attachment and innocence.
(C) Money is made of paper, whereas the ball is made of rubber.
(D) Money causes grief, whereas the loss of the ball brings joy.
Answer: B
47. Why is the phrase “epistemology of loss” particularly powerful in the context of a young boy losing a toy?
(A) It highlights how overly dramatic children can be over cheap toys.
(B) It elevates a seemingly trivial childhood incident into a profound, universal philosophical milestone regarding human suffering and resilience.
(C) It proves that the boy was a highly educated university student.
(D) It shows that the poet is showing off his complex vocabulary.
Answer: B
48. In the structural flow of the poem, what purpose does the shift from the specific (the boy losing *his* ball) to the general (people will take balls, balls will be lost always) serve?
(A) It confuses the reader about who actually lost the ball.
(B) It transitions the poem from a simple personal narrative into a universal allegory about the human condition and the inevitability of loss for everyone.
(C) It shows that the poet is tired of talking about the boy.
(D) It implies that the boy has caused a worldwide shortage of balls.
Answer: B
49. The poet’s choice to *not* comfort the boy (“I would not intrude on him”) reflects an understanding that:
(A) Pity and artificial comfort can actually hinder the necessary, albeit painful, process of emotional maturation.
(B) Children do not understand the language of adults.
(C) The boy would violently attack anyone who came near him.
(D) Buying a new ball would make the poet bankrupt.
Answer: A
50. How does the poem ultimately define “responsibility” in a materialistic world?
(A) As the ability to lock away all valuable items so they are never lost.
(B) As the duty to buy new things instantly when old things break.
(C) As the emotional fortitude to accept the transient nature of possessions, bear the grief of losing them, and find the strength to continue living.
(D) As the legal obligation to report lost items to the police.
Answer: C
SEBA HSLC Previous Year Questions (1/2/3 Marks)
1. “Fill in the blanks. Provide the name of the poet and the poem. No use to say ‘O there are other balls’: An ___ shaking grief ___ the boy.” {2026}
2. A dime or another ball is worthless”- Explain with the help of the poem ‘The Ball Poem. {2025}
3.” there it is in water”. What does it refer to here? (The Ball Poem){2023}
Common Pre-Board 2 Mark Questions (2025–26)
1. What effect did the boy have after he had lost his ball? What did he learn from it? {Bajali}
2. How does the boy feel at the loss of his ball? {Bajali}
3. What lesson did the boy learn after losing the ball? {Barpeta}
4. What does the boy learn from losing his ball? {Bongaigaon}
5. What does the poet say the boy is learning from the loss of the ball in ‘The Ball Poem’? {Darrang}
6. John Berryman did not want to intrude on the boy who had lost his ball. Why? {Dhubri}
7. What does the poet learn about the ‘epistomology of loss’ from losing his ball?{Jorhat}
8. How does losing the ball help the boy to understand the idea of responsibility and growing up? Explain with reference to your reading ‘The ball poem’. {Lakhimpur}
9. Give antonym of the words: enthusiastic, furious. {Udalguri}
10. “His ball went. I would not intrude on him.” Why does the speaker choose not to intrude on him? Explain with reference to ‘The Ball Poem’. {Sribhumi}
11. How does the loss of ball in “The Ball Poem” teach the boy about life? {Sibsagar}
12. What lesson does the boy learn after losing the ball? {Nalbari}
