NCERT MCQ Solutions for Class 8 English It So Happened Chapter 2 Children at Work

Velu’s young age of eleven highlights the vulnerability of children who are forced into labor, often having to navigate the world with the maturity of an adult.

Chennai, a major metropolitan city, serves as a common destination for rural migrants seeking work. It represents both the hope for a new life and urban challenges.

Hunger and exhaustion are immediate, overwhelming challenges faced by runaway children. These basic needs often dictate their first decisions and make them extremely vulnerable in a new city.

The few items in his bundle symbolize the poverty he fled and his complete lack of resources. They represent everything he owns as he begins his new, uncertain life.

Domestic abuse is a common reason for children to run away. The home, which should be a safe place, becomes a source of fear, pushing them into homelessness.

Ragpicking is a common form of child labor in urban India. Children collect recyclable waste to earn a meager living, highlighting the harsh realities of urban poverty and survival.

Foraging for discarded food from garbage bins is a stark reality for many street children. It illustrates their daily struggle for survival and extreme poverty in urban environments.

In a disorienting new city, a lost child often latches onto the first person who offers help or guidance, even if it leads to more precarious situations.

This colloquial phrase is a grimly humorous warning about the dangers of city traffic. It reflects the street-smart language children use to navigate their perilous urban environment.

Street children live in constant fear of law enforcement. The jail represents a tangible threat and a place where their freedom, their only real asset, can be lost.

Slums are often built from scrap materials like plastic and metal sheets. This highlights the resourcefulness of the urban poor in creating shelter amidst extreme poverty.

Ragpicking is part of the informal economy. Children like Jaya play a crucial, yet unrecognized, role in waste management and recycling systems in large cities.

The informal recycling industry has a complex supply chain. Scrap dealers act as middlemen, buying materials from ragpickers and selling them to larger factories for processing.

Children forced into degrading labor often feel shame and hope for a better future. Velu’s reluctance shows he hasn’t yet accepted this as his permanent fate.

Acts of kindness among street children are often practical. The shoes, though old, provide essential protection, demonstrating a shared understanding of the hazards of their work.

Velu’s background in farm work contrasts sharply with the urban survival skills he must now learn, highlighting the difficult transition from a rural to an urban lifestyle.

The idea that waste has value is a key concept in urban recycling. For someone from a rural background, this can be a surprising revelation about city economics.

“Tiffin” is a widely used term in India for a light meal or snack, often packed for school or work. Its usage adds a layer of cultural authenticity.

Humor can be a coping mechanism for those living in harsh conditions. Jaya’s cynical jokes reflect her resilience and the tough exterior she has developed to survive.

The story reveals the hidden world of the informal recycling economy. It shows that “waste” can be a valuable resource, providing a livelihood for society’s most vulnerable members.