Passage

Medium

A Day That Changed My Perspective

It was a sweltering summer afternoon when I found myself stuck in the crowded lanes of Old Delhi. My purpose was simple: to buy a unique gift for a friend. As I meandered through the labyrinth of shops, the chaos of the market, the cacophony of honking rickshaws, vendors shouting their best prices, and the aroma of street food mingling with the scent of spices overwhelmed me. Frustrated and tired, I considered giving up.

Just then, I noticed a young boy, no older than ten, sitting beside a small wooden cart. He was meticulously polishing a pair of dusty shoes with a focus that seemed far beyond his years. His shirt was torn, and his face glistened with sweat, yet his determination was unwavering. Intrigued, I approached him. "How long have you been working here?" I asked.

"Since I was six," he replied without looking up. "I want to save enough money to go to school one day."

His words struck me like a thunderbolt. Here was a child who, despite his hardships, nurtured a dream and was working tirelessly to achieve it. It was a stark reminder of the privileges I often took for granted.

I left the market that day, not just with a gift, but with a renewed sense of gratitude and purpose. The boy's resilience reminded me that every challenge is an opportunity to grow, and every small step brings us closer to our dreams.

That day, Old Delhi wasn't just a market—it was a lesson in life.

The tone of the passage shifts from frustration to ________.

indifference

anger

despair

hopefulness

✅ Correct Option: 4

Option 1 -> The narrator becomes deeply moved and inspired, not indifferent or uncaring about the situation.

Option 2 -> There is no indication of anger in the second half; instead, the narrator feels grateful and purposeful.

Option 3 -> The narrator's mood elevates rather than sinks into despair after meeting the boy.

Option 4 -> The narrator gains "renewed gratitude and purpose" and learns that "every challenge is an opportunity to grow," reflecting a hopeful and optimistic tone.

Hence, Option 4: hopefulness -> The passage clearly shows a tonal shift from initial frustration in the chaotic market to hopefulness and inspiration after encountering the determined young boy. The narrator leaves with gratitude, purpose, and a positive perspective on life's challenges, making hopefulness the appropriate description of the concluding tone -> correct

Question 5

Fill in the blanks in List-I with the expressions from the text given in List-II on the basis of your understanding of the passage:

List-1	List-II
(Sentences)	(expressions)
(A) The news of my friend's tragic accident and left me at a loss of words.	(I) lesson in life
(B) During our reunion after 11 years, it was natural that our conversation range of diverse subjects.	(II) took for granted
(C) My visit to an orphanage in the neighborhood turned out to be a	(III) meandered through
(D) Mohan always all the efforts his mother made to give him a decent upbringing.	(IV) struck me like a thunderbolt.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Question 7

What lesson did the narrator learn from the young boy?

Question 8

The young boy in the story worked tirelessly to save money because he

The tone of the passage shifts from frustration to ________.

Solution

More from this set:

Keyboard Shortcuts

CUET English Past Year Questions (Topic-Wise)