Which one of the following is false?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:
The question asks us to identify the statement that is false regarding the context, which is typically drawn from the story of Velu in the chapter "Lost Spring" or "Children at Work." Option 4 states, "Jam Bazaar Jaggi never bought any thing from the ragpickers." This statement is factually incorrect according to the narrative. Jam Bazaar Jaggi is presented as a central figure in the economy of the ragpickers. He is the person who buys the collected scrap—paper, plastic, glass, etc.—from the ragpickers like Jaya and Velu. He is the dealer or scrap merchant who provides them with money in exchange for their scavenged materials. If he "never bought anything from the ragpickers," their entire system of earning a livelihood would collapse, as they would have no one to sell their collections to. Therefore, the statement that he *never* bought anything is demonstrably false; he is precisely the person who *did* buy things from them. This statement contradicts a core detail about the ragpickers' trade and their source of income.

The incorrect option is 1:
The statement "Velu ran away from home to escape his father's beating" is true. In the story, Velu is introduced as a runaway who left his village because his father would often beat him and snatch away the money he earned. This detail provides the necessary background for why Velu finds himself alone at the railway station and subsequently meets Jaya.

The incorrect option is 2:
The statement "The girl Velu met was a ragpicker" is true. When Velu first encounters the girl (Jaya), she is described carrying a sack and collecting used materials, identifying her occupation as a ragpicker. She is the one who introduces Velu to the world of scrap collection and guides him on how to survive in the city by scavenging.

The incorrect option is 3:
The statement "Her name was Jaya" is true. The girl Velu meets, who helps him find food and introduces him to ragpicking, is explicitly named Jaya in the narrative. This is a primary piece of factual information provided in the story to identify the character.