A boy sharpens a pencil at both ends and connects them to the poles of the battery. Will the current flow through the circuit? Give reasons.

Yes, current will flow through the circuit. Pencils are made up of wood, and the core in it contains graphite. Graphite is a good conductor of electricity. The battery will provide the emf, and the graphite is a good conductor will start the flow of electron and hence start electricity.

The figure is shown below: