CBSE Class 10 English Bholi Assignment

EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS

Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow:

I. What’s the matter with you, you fool? Shouted Ramlal. “I am only taking you to school.” Then he told his wife, “Let her wear some decent clothes today or else what will the teachers and the other schoolgirls think of us when they see her?

New clothes had never been made for Bholi. The old dresses of her sisters were passed on to her. No one cared to mend or wash her clothes. But today she was lucky to receive a clean dress which had shrunk after many washings and no longer fitted Champa. She was even bathed and oil was rubbed into her dry and matted hair. Only then did she believe that she was being taken to a place better than her home! When they reached the school, the children were already in their classrooms.”

Question. Pick the option that best describes how Bholi felt at the end of her first day in school.
a) lost and scared
b) calm and peaceful
c) elated and peaceful
d) hopeful and elated
Answer. D

Question. Why did Ramlal shout at Bholi? This was because
a) Bholi had become hysterical and was screaming.
b) Bholi shouted in fear and pulled her hand away.
c) Bholi was behaving foolishly and was running away.
d) Bholi had been behaving very strangely with her father.
Answer. B

Question. Why did Bholi receive a clean dress?
a) Because it was her birthday
b) Because it was her first day in school
c) Because she was going to attend a marriage
d) Because she was going out to meet her friends
Answer. D

Question. What did Bholi fear when she was told about being taken to school?
a) She feared that she was going to be bullied by other students.
b) She thought her parents were getting rid of her.
c) She felt that she would be thrown out of the house and sold.
d) She thought her parents were thinking of ways to throw her out
Answer. C

Question. New clothes had never been made for Bholi. The old dresses of her sisters were passed on to her. This shows:
a) Bholi was loved and cared by all
b) Bholi was a neglected child
c) Bholi didn’t like to wear new clothes
d) New clothes didn’t look good on her
Answer. B

II. He said to Ramlal, “As a revenue official you are the representative of the government in the village and so you must set an example to the villagers. You must send your daughters to school.”

Question. Who is ‘he’?
Answer. ‘He’ is the Tehsildar.

Question. What example does ‘he’ want Ramlal to set?
Answer. The Tehsildar wanted Ramlal to send his daughters to the village school so that other villagers will follow his example by sending their daughters to the school too.

Question. What does the word ‘revenue’ mean?
Answer. It means ‘tax’.

Question. What part of speech is the word ‘an’ in the extract?
Answer. It is an article. 

III. And in her smiling eyes was the light of a deep satisfaction that an artist feels when contemplating the completing of her masterpiece.

Question. What satisfaction did the teacher have?
Answer. The teacher had the satisfaction of seeing her pupil (Bholi) turn into a bold girl willing to fight for her rights.

Question. Who was the ‘masterpiece’?
Answer. Bholi was the ‘masterpiece.’

Question. Find a word from the extract which means ‘thinking deeply’.
Answer. ‘Contemplating’ from the extract means ‘thinking deeply.

Question. What is the antonym of ‘deep’?
Answer. Its opposite is ‘superficial’. 

IV. It was a prosperous farmer’s household and there was plenty to eat and drink. All the children except Bholi were healthy and strong. The sons had been sent to the city to study in schools and later in colleges, of the daughters Radha, the eldest, had already been married.

Question. What did Bholi’s father do?
Answer. Bholi’s father was a revenue officer.

Question. How many of his children were healthy and strong?
Answer. His six out of seven children were healthy and strong.

Question. Find out a word from the passage which means the same as enough.
Answer. Plenty

Question. Where did Bholi’s father send his sons and why?
Answer. Bholi’s father sent his sons to the city to study in schools there and later in colleges.

V. She remembered how a few days ago their old cow, Lakshmi, had been turned out of the house and sold. N-n-n-n No, no-no-no, she shouted in terror and pulled her hand away from her father’s grip.

Question. Why did Bholi shout in terror?
Answer. Bholi shouted in terror as she thought that her father was turning her out of her house.

Question. Why did she remember Lakshmi?
Answer. She remembered her cow Lakshmi because Lakshmi had also been turned out of the house a few days ago.

Question. What is the antonym of forgotten in the extract?
Answer. remembered is the antonym of forgotten in the extract.

Question. The present tense of sold is
Answer. Its present tense is sell.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQ) One Mark each

Question. Who is the author of the story “Bholi”?
a) KA Abbas
b) Mark Twain
c) Guy De Maupassant
d) Sinclair Lewis
Answer. A

Question. What does the word “simpleton” mean ?
a) simple
b) foolish
c) basic
d) none of the above
Answer. B

Question. What was Bholi’s real name?
a) Sulekha
b) Sudekha
c) Campa
d) Chamla
Answer. A

Question. What was the purpose of the Tehsildar’s village visit?
a) to inaugurate a girl’s school
b) to address complaints of the village
c) to meet the people of the village
d) none of the above
Answer. A

Question. What did the Tehsildar ask Ramlal to do?
a) drop him back to the city
b) have dinner with him
c) send his daughters to school
d) all of the above
Answer. C

Question. Towards the end of the story the teacher felt
a) Independent and Confident
b) Burden less and free
c) Sense of contentment and accomplishment
d) Embarrassed and anxious
Answer. C

Question. What was Bholi’s first reaction on hearing that she was going to school?
(a) she cried with tears of joy
(b) she cried with fear
(c) she screamed
(d) she was excited
Answer. B

Question. How did she leave for school on the first day?
(a) sad
(b) with a ray of hope for new life
(c) depressed that she’ll stay where she is
d) worried and tensed
Answer. B

Question. Why did Bholi talk very little?
(a) she stammered
(b) other kids mimicked her and made fun of her
(c) she was an introvert
(d) none of the above
Answer. B

Question. Which post did Ramlal hold in the village?
(a) Sarpanch
(b) Numberdar
(c) Tehsildar
(d) Headmaster
Answer. B

Question. What did Bishamber demand as dowry?
a) two thousand rupees
b) five thousand rupees
c) ten thousand rupees
d) twenty thousand rupees
Answer. B

Question. How was Bholi treated in the family?
a) she was not given new clothes
b) no one cared to wash her clothes
c) no one cared to comb her hair
d) all of the above
Answer. D

Question. How did Bholi find the teacher on her very first day in the school?
a) kind and loving
b) hard
c) cruel
d) arrogant
Answer. A

Question. What transformation did education bring in Bholi?
a) She became fearless
b) She became courageous
c) She became confident
d) All of the above
Answer. D

Question. What was the turning point in Bholi’s life?
a) The opening of a primary school
b) Marriage proposal
c) An accident
d) Her mother’s words
Answer. A

Question. Bholi had refused to get married as
a) her father couldn’t afford the dowry that was demanded
b) the bridegroom had been greedy and was disrespectful
c) the bridegroom had insulted her father
d) her father was getting her married to a man older to her
Answer. B

Question. Bholi’s teacher has rightly said “Put the fear out of your heart and you will be able to speak like anyone else.” (Assertion)
These words of motivation helped Bholi to become bold and confident. – Reason.
a) Both A and R true and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R is true but R is not the correct explanation of A
c) A is false but R is not the correct explanation of A
d) Both A and R are false
Answer. A

Question. Bholi’s brothers had been sent to the city to study in schools and later in colleges. Of the daughters, the eldest had already been married. (Assertion)
Irrespective of gender both boys and girls were given education. (Reason)
a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R is true but R is not the correct explanation of A
c) A is correct but R is not the correct explanation of A
d) Both A and R are false
Answer. C

Question. Bholi’s teacher played a major role in Bholi’s life and made her
a) Introvert
b) Dumb cow
c) Shy
d) Confident and bold
Answer. A

Question. Bholi’s parents decided to marry her to a lame old widower because
a) He was rich
b) He had not demanded any dowry at the time of proposal
c) They always thought that no one will marry her
d) All of the above
Answer. D 

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question. How did you feel when you read about Bholi being ignored and ill-treated by her parents as a child?
Answer. It is really feels sad that a dumb cow like Bholi who was so good at heart was ill-treated by her parents. Bholi was a gem of a person who delivered much better treatment from her loved ones. All he needed was love and care.

Question. How would you have reacted if you were one of the guests witnessing Bholi’s wedding when she refused to marry Bishamber Nath?
Answer. I would have fully supported Bholi if I were present there. As a mature and aware person I feel what she did was absolutely right. She has every right to refuse to marry a person who demands dowry and is of double her age. If I would have a daughter like Bholi, I would be the first person to appreciate her bold more.

Question. Do you think Bholi could have confidently refused to marry Bishamber if she weren’t educated? Give reason/s.
Answer. No, I don’t think so, Bholi would have refused to marry Bishamber in that case. In the story, it was her going to school that brought the positive change in her and stood for her rights otherwise in the story she has been portrayed as a weak girl.

Question. Do you think Bholi’s father would have agreed to the match if her mother hadn’t insisted upon it? Why/ Why not?
Answer. No, he wouldn’t have agreed to it. In the story, Ramlal is shown to be a concerned and loving father who had immense love for her youngest daughter. Even though he confronted her wife and warned her to marrying off Bholi to Bishamber but it was his wife who insisted on her getting married to this old man.

Question. Ramlal was worried about Bholi as she didn’t have good looks. Counter the belief that it’s important for a girl to be good looking and give a reason for the same.
Answer. Bholi’s father was always worried about her because she not only looked ugly due to pock marks, but also stammered while talking. But in today’s time it is not that important. Bholi very aptly proved this wrong despite her ugly looks. She turned out to be a masterpiece who fought against the evils of the society by refusing to
marry Bishamber Nath.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS 

Question. Why did Sulekha remain a dull child and came to be known as Bholi, the simpleton?
Answer. When she was ten months old, she had fallen off the cot on her head and perhaps it had damaged some part of her brain. That was why she remained a backward child and came to be known as Bholi, the simpleton.

Question. Bholi’s parents accepted the match for her though Bishamber Nath was nearly the same age as her father. Bholi also accepted her parents’ decision without voicing her opinion.
(a) What does this tell you about the social conditions prevailing in our society?
(b) How do you think these problems can be addressed?
Answer. When Bishamber greedily demanded five thousand rupees as a condition to marry a girl with pock marks on her face, Bholi refused to allow him to garland her and told him that he was a contemptible person. These problems can be addressed if proper education is imparted to everyone in the society.

Question. The opening of a primary school for girls was a boon for Bholi. Do you agree?
Answer. Yes. The opening of a new primary school in her village was a boon for Bholi because the school and her teacher played an important role in transforming the life of Bholi. The low confident child who would remain quiet and sit with her head bent down into her knees in the class room became a confident, self -reliant girl who could rise to the occasion and take a bold decision her life.

Question. You’ve read the quote: ‘A teacher affects eternity. He can never tell where his influence stops.’
In the context of this statement, comment on the role of Bholi’s teacher in her life.
Answer. Bholi found her school teacher to be different from her family members because the teacher was a kind and considerate lady. She had a soft and soothing tone. She gave Bholi a lot of encouragement and inspiration which she was not getting from her family.

Question. Why was Bholi reluctant to go to school with her father?
Answer. Bholi did not know what a school was like. She had never heard about it. When her father held her hand and told her that they were going to school, she got frightened fearing to be dragged out of the house. So she was reluctant to go to school with her father.

Question.“Her heart was throbbing with a new hope and a new life”.
(i) What was the new hope and new life?
(ii) What did she relate the pictures in the school wall to?
Answer. (i) The new hope was that she would become learned like others. People would listen to her. She would be able to speak without stammering. Now she would not be treated as inferior to others. (ii) She related the pictures of the school wall with the real things around her. The goat was black like the goat of their neighbour. The cow was just like their Lakshmi. The horse was brown just like the Tehsildar’s horse.

Question. What kind of treatment is given to Bholi by her parents? Is it justified?
Answer. Bholi was the fourth child in her family. She was different from her other siblings. She had a disfigured face. She had black pock-marks. She was a slow learner. She used to stammer also. She was not given proper treatment at home. The treatment given to Bholi cannot be justified. There should not be any discrimination against children in the family. Parental love and support must be unconditional.

Question. Which character traits of Bholi have had an everlasting impression on you? Why?
Answer. Bholi was definitely her teacher’s masterpiece because under her guidance, she overcame her handicap of stammering. The shy and reticent child bloomed into a bold and confident girl. She was a true masterpiece because she had the courage to revolt against a social evil of dowry and refused to marry the greedy Bishamber Nath.

Question. “Don’t you worry, Pitaji! In your old age I will serve you and mother”. Through this statement the narrator wants to highlight the moral qualities Bholi was imbued with. Based on the reading of the lesson, what made Bholi aware of her rights and how did she use them?
Answer. Bholi was an ignorant daughter of Ramlal. Her father fixed her marriage with Bishamber Nath, an aged fellow and father of grown-up children. Bishamber asked for heavy dowry. Bholi showed courage not to marry such a mean and greedy fellow. Bholi promised to serve her parents in their old age. With the impact of education and her teacher’s endeavour, she became mature and confident. She became aware of her rights. It was education that made Bholi aware of her rights to raise the voice against dowry.

Question. “Dowry is a negation of a girl’s dignity.” Prove this statement in the light of the story ‘Bholi’. How can this evil be eradicated from our society?
Answer. Dowry is a curse on our society. It has become a monster now. Dowry, no doubt, is a negation of a girl’s dignity. Bishamber refused to accept Bholi because of her looks. The moment he saw her face full of pock-marks, he refused to marry her. He did not care for her dignity. But he was ready to marry that ugly girl if her father would give him five thousand rupees as dowry. He was ready to compromise with her looks in exchange of money. It was a sheer negation of Bholi’s dignity. Education of girls is the most powerful weapon against this evil.

Question. Bholi’s teacher helped her to overcome social barriers by encouraging and motivating her. A teacher can transform a student by encouragement and motivation. Do you agree? What do you expect from your teacher?
Answer. Bholi’s teacher helped her in overcoming social barriers. Bholi was a differently abled girl. She lacked confidence. She had an inferiority complex. When she was sent to school, her teacher transformed her from a dumb cow to a bold girl. No doubt it was the encouragement and motivation by her teacher that helped her. A teacher can transform a slow learner, dumb student to a confident person. It is not only the knowledge that a teacher should impart, but he/she must boost confidence among his/her students. A word of appreciation by the teacher motivates a student and boosts up his/her morale and confidence. We expect that our teachers treat the children with compassion and sympathy. Their love for their students is a source of inspiration for them.

Question. Most of the women in our society suffer silently because they don’t know their rights. How does awareness help us? What would you suggest to bring awareness about the rights of women?
Answer. Yes, it is true that most of the women in our society suffer because they don’t know their rights. We all are born equal with equal rights and duties. There should not be any discrimination between boys and girls. Our constitution has given us equal rights. Unfortunately, there is a lack of awareness and women don’t know their rights. Those women who are aware of their rights have courage to oppose injustice. An educated woman is free from any such exploitation. Bholi in the story was ready to compromise with her fate because she did not know her rights. But when she was educated, she raised her voice against the evil of dowry and refused to marry Bishamber. In my opinion, awareness about the rights can be spread through education only. 

Question. How did Bholi react when the teacher asked her name?
Answer. Bholi stammered when she spoke and could not tell her name completely when the teacher asked her to do so. So, she broke into tears.

Question. Bholi was fascinated by the walls of the classroom. Why?
Answer. The walls of the classroom had bright and colourful pictures of a horse, a goat, a parrot and a cow. They all looked familiar to Bholi and were like the ones in the village. That is why she was fascinated to see those pictures.

Question. Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?
Answer. Bholi’s parents accepted Bishamber’s marriage proposal because they were happy that he was well off and had not asked for dowry.

Question. Why was Ramlal worried about Bholi and not about his other children?
Answer. All other children of Ramlal were healthy and good looking. Bholi was neither intelligent nor good looking. She was a simpleton, she stammered also. Ramlal was extremely worried about her future.

Question. Why did the Tehsildar come to Ramlal’s village? What did he ask Ramlal to do?
Answer. The Tehsildar came to Ramlal’s village to inaugurate the primary school. He asked Ramlal to set an example for others by sending his daughters to school.

Question. Why was Bholi reluctant to go to school with her father?
Answer. Bholi did not know what a school was like. She had never heard about it. When her father held her hand and told her that they were going to school, she got frightened fearing to be dragged out of the house. So she was reluctant to go to school with her father.

Question. Why did Bholi look at Bishamber with cold contempt?
Answer. Bholi looked at Bishamber with cold contempt because he had demanded 5000 to get married to her. Bholi saw how her father was being humiliated; she realised that Bishamber was greedy and exploiting her father due to her ugly looks.

Question. Why do you think she finds her teacher different from the people at home? Do you think Bholi’s teacher played an important role in changing her life?
Answer. The soft, sweet, soothing voice, sympathetic and encouraging behaviour of her teacher made him much different from the people at home. Bholi’s teacher made her confident, daring and self-respecting person who had the courage to refuse to marry a lame and greedy old man.

Question. Draw a conclusion as to why Bholi’s teacher felt like an artist admiring her masterpiece.
Answer. Bholi’s teacher felt like an artist admiring her masterpiece, when she realized how her soothing words, education, and motivation gave confidence to Bholi to face the world and transformed her from a girl who was unsure about herself and a backward child, to a bold and confident girl.

Question. Everyone’s first day at school is generally filled with fun, joy and happiness. How was Bholi’s first day at school?
Answer. The teacher gave her a book having colourful pictures of animals. With every picture was a word in big black letters. The teacher told her that she would be able to read that book in a month. Then she would give her a bigger book. She liked the book very much. Thus she enjoyed her first day in school.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS 

Question. “Put the fear out of your heart and you will be able to speak like anyone else.” These words of encouragement from the teacher highlight that change of social attitude and encouragement can help a child like Bholi to become confident and face the world bravely. With reference to the story ‘Bholi’ write how the social attitude towards Bholi made her an introvert. What should be done to help such children to face the world bravely?
Answer. Bholi was neglected by her parents on account of her looks and lack of intelligence. She used to stammer so the other children made fun of her and mimicked her. As a result she talked very little. It was a daunting task for the teacher to encourage Bholi. The teacher talked to her affectionately and friendly. She assured her if she put the fear out of her heart and she would be able to speak like anyone else. Through the efforts of years Bholi became a transformed personality. She refused to marry a greedy man who was trying to exploit her father due to her looks. Such children should be constantly encouraged by the parents, teachers and even by the other relations. They must be taught to fight back their handicaps rather to accept it as facts.

Question. What social attitudes are presented in the story, ‘Bholi’? How does Bholi’s teacher help her to overcome these barriers? OR God created this world but teachers create human beings. How does Bholi’s teacher succeed in changing the course of her life?
Answer. Bholi was neglected by her parents on account of her looks and lack of intelligence. She was sent to school as her mother thought her to be a burden and let the teachers at school worry about her. Ironically, the teachers transformed her life completely. God created this world but teachers create human beings. Bholi did not know what exactly a school was and what happened there, in the class when her teacher asked her name, she stammered and began to cry. She kept her head down throughout the class. The teacher was very encouraging and friendly to her and this made her gain confidence to speak.
She started seeing a ray of hope for a new life. After years of gaining education and with the help of her teacher, Bholi turned into a confident girl. She no longer stammered and could speak properly. She even had the courage to refuse marrying the lame old man because he was greedy and asked money from her father to marry her.

Question. Education is definitely a great asset in the life of a woman. How did Bholi, an educated girl face the challenge posed by Bishamber’s greed?
Answer. Ironically, Bholi was sent to school as her mother believed she was a burden and let the teachers at the school worry for her. The teacher showed affection and encouraged her to shed her fears. She was assured by her teacher that she would speak like others one day. Years of hard work transformed Bholi into a bold and confident young woman. Bishamber refused to marry Bholi due to her appearance and demanded five thousand rupees. Bholi saw how her father was humiliated for no reason. She refused to marry a greedy, mean and contemptible coward. She assured her father that she would serve him and her mother in their old age. She had a mission in her life; she would spread the light of education in her village.

Question. Imagine you are Bholi and you have been invited by a girl’s secondary school in another village to address a group of students about being independent, fearless and breaking stereotypes. Write that speech.
Answer. Hello Students!
It is an honour for me to be amongst you people
and speak of my life experiences. Today, I teach in my village school. I am a senior teacher teaching senior classes. But it was not so with me in my initial years. While growing up I was a very hesitant and nervous child who even could not face people. I was so shy to meet anyone. I stammered and due to my ugly looks felt so low in confidence that I thought I would not be able to do anything in life. Even my parents thought so about me. But one fine day, I landed in a school and my life changed after this. I started studying and education brought lot of changes in me. It made me what I am today, a woman of substance whom everyone loves. So believe in your abilities and let life take it’s own course.
Love you all!
Take care
Have a good day.

Question. “Dowry is a negation of the girl’s dignity”. Explain this statement in the light of the story of ‘Bholi’.
Answer. Initially Bishamber did not demand dowry to get married to Bholi. He was a widower, having children of the age of Ramlal. But during the marriage ceremony he happened to see the face of Bholi. He bargains if he was given five thousand rupees he will marry the girl. Bholi’s father Ramlal placed his turban at his feet but he refused. A girl is considered a liability in her own natal home due to prevalence of the custom of dowry practice. Some parents are unwilling to give higher education to their daughter as they have to search for highly educated boy for marriages and a better educated boy will demand more dowry which creates unnecessary problems, for parents. Besides, the boy who receives huge amount of dowry may think of himself as more dignified as having a higher status, greater prestige and more respectful than the girl. Subsequently the girl develops inferiority complex. Fortunately, Bholi refuses to marry greedy Bishamber and decides to serve her parents instead in their old age.

Question. You and your friend have a conversation about prevalent discrmination between boys and girls , even today. Write the dialogue.
You may begin like this:
Friend: I don’t think discrimination in terms of gender is a thing of the past.
You: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Friend: Hmmm. Yes, I agree, though we are in the 21st century it still continues in a blatant manner in many parts of the country.
You: ………………………………….
Answer. You: Very true it is prevalent even today. After so much of heated debates still the condition is same in every corner of the country. We as Indians have still not got rid of this age old system.
Friend: Have you ever faced it in your life?
You: Many times, being a girl child in my family and that too belonging to a Rajput community, I have faced it many times.
Friend: Can you give one instance, when you felt it?
You: Well! During my grown years I always felt that my brother was given special treatment. I wanted to study Genetic Engineering but my father refused saying that he needs to give my brother a chance to study engineering. He could not afford our academic expenses.
Friend: Did you fight it?
You : Yes, in a very hard way. I studied Chemistry honours in college and topped became a lecturer in college.
Friend: Wow! That’s great
You : Thanks

Question. What values did the teacher display in transforming Bholi into a confident girl?
Answer. Bholi was neglected by her parents on account of her looks and lack of intelligence. She was sent to school as her mother thought her to be a burden and let the teacher at school worry about her. The teacher in the school asked her to tell her name. She stammered -and began to cry.
The teacher showed her affection and encouraged her in a friendly manner to put aside her fear. Bholi somehow told her name. The teacher assured her that she would be able to speak like everyone else one day. Bholi was surprised. The teacher asked her to come to school regularly. Love and encouragement shown by the teacher brought out drastic changes in Bholi’s personality. Within a few years she became so confident that she refused to marry a greedy man.

Question. After reading Bholi’s story you decide to write a blog on the importance of educating the girl child and how it empowers her.
Write that blog expressing your views.
Answer. www. blogspot.com
Hi friends!
I am a proud
female, too proud of my lineage. I find it extremely honourable that God has made woman. She is the most beautiful creation of nature. This world would not have been what it is today if women were not there. They make the world a beautiful place to live in. I, being a woman love to explore all the challenges that life throws at me. In today’s time woman are equivalent to man in all respects. They are part of all mainstream activities involving both the sexes be it male or female. Being a modern, confident women gives me immense strength and pleasure. It feels highly respected when females like Indira Nooyi, Melinda Gates and Nita Ambani are respected and accepted by one and all in society. So, friends never feel you are inferior, you are the noblest creation of God, Just love your womanhood.
Good luck!
Have a great day!