CBSE Class 10 English Madam Rides the Bus VBQs

Multiple Choice Questions

Question. “Valli would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus.” What is the meaning of wistfully?
(a) Longingly
(b) Fearfully
(c) Carefully
(d) Willingly
Answer. (a) 

Question. Which word was used by Valli and her friends as a slang expression for disapproval?
(a) Okay! Okay!
(b) Yeah! Yeah!
(c) Proud! Proud!
(d) Oh okay!
Answer. (c) 

Question. The conductor called Valli as …………… .
(a) Baby
(b) Madam
(c) Child
(d) Daughter
Answer. (b) 

Question. From the following options, identify the conductors intention behind calling Valli ‘Madam’.
(a) Hatred
(b) Envy
(c) Joke
(d) Sarcasm
Answer. (a)

Question. Select the correct option for (i) and (ii).
(i) Valli found the elderly woman repulsive.
(ii) The woman had large piercings in her ears, wore ugly earrings and chewing betel nut.
(a) (ii) is true (i) is false
(b) (i) is true (ii) is false
(c) Both (i) and (ii) are false
(d) (ii) is the cause for (i)
Answer. (d) 

Question. What was the timing of the afternoon nap taken by Valli’s mother?
(a) 1 to 3
(b) 1 to 4
(c) 2 to 4
(d) 2 to 3
Answer. (b) 

Question. What was the next challenge once she’d saved enough money?
(i) Know about the timings of the bus
(ii) Buy a ticket
(iii) To sneak out of the house
Codes
(a) Only (i)
(b) Only (iii)
(c) Only (ii)
(d) All of these
Answer. (c) 

Question. What does the phrase ‘a fixed stare from its lifeless eyes’ from ‘Madam Rides the Bus’ mean?
(a) The animal was asleep
(b) The animal was dead
(c) The animal was watching sky
(d) The animal was staring at Valli
Answer. (b) 

Question. What does it tell you about Valli when she refused to accept the conductor’s treat?
(a) Responsible
(b) Stubborn
(c) Rude
(d) Disrespectful
Answer. (a) 

Question. What thoughts do generally come in mind of an eight-year old child before travelling alone?
(i) I should go for an adventure alone.
(ii) What if I get lost and will never be able to come back to my parents and family!
(iii) I should not go without my parents’ permission.
(iv) I am grown up enough to take care of things myself.
Codes
(a) (i) and (iv)
(b) (ii) and (iii)
(c) (i), (ii) and (iii)
(d) (ii), (iii) and (iv)
Answer. (b)

Question. Given below is the list of some adjectives. Choose the ones which can be associated with Valli based on the chapter ‘Madam Rides the Bus’.
1. Intelligent    2. Cunning
3. Mature        4. Responsible
5. Cranky        6. Mannerless
7. Curious       8. Active listener
(a) 1, 3, 4, 7, 8
(b) 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
(c) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
(d) 2, 3, 4, 7, 8
Answer. (a)

Question. Rearrange Valli’s bus journey in order as given in the story.
(i) The bus passed the train station.
(ii) The bus started from village.
(iii) The bus moved along the canal.
(iv) The bus moved through a busy and crowded street.
(v) The bus reached the town.
Codes
(a) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v)
(b) (v), (iii), (ii), (iv) and (i)
(c) (ii), (iii), (i), (iv) and (v)
(d) (iii), (iv) (i), (ii) and (v)
Answer. (c) 

Question. What was Valli’s full name?
(a) Vallikkannan
(b) Valliammai
(c) Valliannai
(d) Vallikannam
Answer. B

Question. What was her favourite pastime?
(a) watching the street outside
(b) playing outside
(c) travelling the bus
(d) reading books
Answer. A

Question. What was her overwhelming desire?
(a) to have friends
(b) to travel by bus
(c) to top the class
(d) None of these
Answer. B

Question. How did she pick up small details about the bus journey?
(a) listening to conversations of neighbours
(b) asking a few discreet questions
(c) All of the above
(d) None of the above
Answer. C

Question. What did the old man say to Valli that annoyed her?
(a) He shouted at her
(b) he asked why she’s alone
(c) he merely asked her to sit
(d) None of the above
Answer. C

Extract Based MCQs

1. Read the extract to atempt the questions that follow.

“Day after day she watched the bus and gradually a tiny wish crept into her head and grew there: she wanted to ride on that bus, even if it was just once. This wish became stronger, until it was an overwhelming desire. Valli would stare wistfully at the people who got on and off the bus when it stood at the street corner. Their faces would kindle in her longings, dreams and hopes. If one of her friends happened to ride the bus and tried to describe the sights of the town to her. Valli would be jealous to listen and would shout, in English: “Proud! Proud!”

Question. Valli would stare wistfully at the people as she
(a) had been watching the bus for a long time
(b) was inspired by the people travelling on the bus
(c) had a strong desire to take a ride on the bus
(d) envied the people who could travel on the bus
Answer. (c) 

Question. Pick the option that shows the list of words that collocate with ‘overwhelming’ (e.g. overwhelming desire)
1. response   2. lies
3. support     4. majority
5. pets          6. places
(a) 1, 5 and 6
(b) 1, 3 and 4
(c) 2 and 5
(d) 3, 5 and 6
Answer. (b) 

Question. ‘Valli would be jealous to listen...’ This indicates Valli’s
(a) longing to ride the bus
(b) nature as an envious person
(c) denial to accept her situation
(d) inclination to trouble travellers
Answer. (a) 

Question. A part of the extract has been paraphrased. Choose the option that includes the most appropriate solution to the blanks.
The desire became so (i) ...................... that it transformed into an (ii) ................. one. Valli would look (iii) ................... at people who boarded the bus and got off.
(a) (i) active ii) overt iii) longingly
(b) (i) vigorous (ii) overpowering (iii) cheerfully
(c) (i) staunch (ii) overt (iii) joyfully
(d) (i) vigorous (ii) overpowering (iii) longingly
Answer. (d) 

Question. What does the line “gradually a tiny wish crept into her head and grew there”, mean?
(a) The wish developed in her head over a period of time
(b) The wish was a feeling of wanting to prove her strength
(c) The wish was planted in her head by someone’s suggestion
(d) The wish was small and was overpowered by a sense of doubt
Answer. (a) 

2. Read the extract to attempt the questions that follow.

Over many days and months, Valli listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus and she also asked a few discreet questions here and there. This way she picked up various small details about the bus journey.The town was six miles from her village.

Question. How did Valli picked up small details about the bus journey?
(a) Listening to conversations of neighbours.
(b) Asking a few discreet questions.
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of the above
Answer. (c)

Question. What was Valli’s overwhelming desire?
(a) To have friends
(b) To travel by bus
(c) To top the class
(d) None of these
Answer. (b) 

Question. Choose the option that can describe Valli with reference to above extract.
(i) Curious               (ii) Intelligent
(iii) Active listener  (iv) Irritating
(v) Cautious            (vi) Interrupting
Codes
(a) (ii), (iii) and (vi)
(b) (i), (ii), (iii) and (v)
(c) (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi)
(d) (i), (ii) and (iv)
Answer. (b) 

Question. Select the correct option for (i) and (ii).
1. Valli listened to the conversations between her neighbours and the regular passengers of the bus.
2. Valli wanted to travel in the bus.
(a) Both 1 and 2 cannot be inferred from the extract
(b) 2 is true 1 is false.
(c) 1 contradicts 2.
(d) 2 is the cause for 1.
Answer. (d) 

Question. The synonym of ‘discreet’ is
(a) Carefully
(b) Details
(c) Cautious
(d) Regularly
Answer. (c)

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Who was Valli? Why did she keep standing in front of the door?
Answer. Valli was an eight year old girl who was very curious.
Valli kept standing in front of the door as there were no playmates of her age. So, she used to keep on watching the street outside her house.

Question. What was the most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street? 
Answer. The most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour, once going to the town and once coming back.

Question. What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out these details? 
Answer. Valli found out that the town was six miles away from her village. The trip to town would take forty five minutes and the fare of one way was thirty paise.
Valli found out these details by listening carefully to the conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly ride the bus. She also asked a few questions from them.

Question. How did Valli save money to travel by bus?
Answer. Valli saved the money to travel by bus by controlling every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons and even a ride on the merry-go round at the village fair to save money for her bus journey.

Question. Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’? 
Answer. The conductor calls Valli ‘madam’ because she behaved like a mature woman. She declined his help and was very quick in her answers to the conductor’s questions. The conductor was amused at her behaviour and to tease her calls her ‘madam’.

Question. Describe the bus in which Valli sat.
Answer. The bus in which Valli sat was new. Its outside was painted a gleaming white with some green stripes along the sides. Inside, the overhead bars shone like silver.
There was a beautiful clock above the windshield and its seats were soft and luxurious.

Question. Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now?
Answer. Valli stands up on the seat because she found her view blocked by the canvas that covered the lower part of the window. In order to have a better view, she stood up on the seat and looked over the canvas.
Valli can now see that the road was narrow. On one side of the road was a canal beyond which there were palm trees, grasslands, distant mountains and the blue sky. On the another side, she sees that there was a deep ditch and many acres of green fields.

Question. During her journey, Valli absorbed the natural beauty and clapped her hands in happiness on seeing a young cow running very fast. What does this reveal about Valli? 
Answer. During her journey, Valli absorbed the natural beauty and clapped her hands in happiness on seeing a young cow running very fast. This shows that although Valli was a mature and a responsible girl, she was still a child at heart.
Valli may have behaved like adults while boarding the bus but her childish nature and joy gets revealed when she reacts by clapping her hands on seeing a cow running in front of the bus.

Question. Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman? 
Answer. Valli did not want to make friends with the elderly woman because she looked quite repulsive. She had big earholes and was wearing ugly earrings. Apart from this, she was chewing betel and it seemed that the juice of the betel would spill out of her mouth.

Question. Valli didn’t like the way adults treated her during her bus journey. Describe how you would feel and react if you were to find yourself in a similar situation.
Answer. In a situation wherein adults are constantly ordering me during a journey, I would also react like Valli did because I would consider myself to be responsible enough to take the journey by myself. Just like Valli thought that she could take care of herself, I would also think the same and so, would dislike being interrupted by elders.

Question. What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh?
Answer. Valli saw a young cow, running very fast in the middle of the road in front of the bus. The horn of the bus frightened the animal. The more the driver horned, the more faster the cow ran in front of the car. This all seemed very funny to Valli and she laughed heartily.

Question. Why didn’t Valli get off the bus when the bus stopped at the town?
Answer. When the nearest town had reached, everyone got off the bus except Valli because she wanted to return home in the same bus. She only wanted to take a ride on a bus. So, she gave the conductor the fare to return home in the same bus.

Question. Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does this tell you about her?
Answer. Valli didn’t want to go to the stall and have a drink because she did not have the money to pay for it.
This tells us about her that she was a well-mannered and self-respecting girl.

Question. How did Valli feel on seeing the dead cow on the road? 
Answer. On seeing the dead cow on the road, Valli felt sad. She thought that a lovable, beautiful creature just a little while ago had now suddenly lost its charm and its life. It looked so horrible and frightening. After that, she did not even look outside the bus.

Question. What was Valli’s deepest desire? Find words and phrases in the story that tell you this.
Answer. The deepest desire of Valli was to enjoy a bus ride. The bus plied from her village to the nearest town. The following words and phrases tell us this:‘... fascinating things’, ‘sight of the bus’, ‘unending joy’, ‘tiny wish’, ‘overwhelming desire, etc’.

Question. What was the favourite pastime of Valli?
Answer. Valliammai or Valli was eight years old. Her favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house. From there, she watched what was happening in the street outside. For her, standing at the front door was as enjoyable as any of the games other children played.

Question. What was the tiny wish that crept into Valli’s head?
Answer. The sight of the bus was the most fascinating thing for Valli. Day after day she watched the bus. A tiny wish crept into her head. She wanted to ride on that bus. At least, just once. This wish became so strong that it grew into an overwhelming desire.

Question. Why was Valli overcome with shyness and avoided everyone’s eyes?
Answer. It was the slack time of the day. There were only six or seven passengers on the bus. They were all looking at Valli and laughing with the conductor. Valli was overcome with shyness. She tried to avoid everyone’s eyes. She walked quickly to an empty seat and sat down.

Question. What was the next problem after Valli had enough money?
Answer. After she had saved enough money, Valli had her next problem. It was how to slip out of the house without her mother’s knowledge. She solved this problem easily. Every day after lunch her mother would nap from about one to four or so. She could easily venture out on her mission.

Question. Why didn’t Valli accept a free drink from the bus conductor? What does this act show about her character?
Answer. The bus conductor asked Valli to let him bring her a cold drink. She replied that she didn’t have enough money for that. He should just give him her ticket. The conductor offered to give it totally free. She said firmly, ‘Please, no.’ This shows how proud and self-respecting Valli was.

Question. Did Valli’s bus ride remain a secret for her mother and aunt?
Answer. When Valli entered her house, she found her mother awake and talking to one of her aunts. Her aunt was a real chatterbox. She asked where she had been so far. Valli’s mother spoke casually.She didn’t expect a reply. Both these ladies could know nothing about Valli’s pleasure ride on the bus.

Question. What kind of a person is Valli? To answer this question, pick out the following sentences from the text and fill in the blanks. The words you fill in are the clues to your answer.
(i) “Stop the bus! Stop the bus!” And a tiny hand was raised.......
(ii) “Yes, I ...... go to town,” said Valli, still standing outside the bus.
(iii) “There’s nobody here ......,” she said haughtily. “I have paid my thirty paise like everyone else.”
(iv) “Never mind,” she said, “I can ...... . You don’t have to help me. I’m not a child, I tell you,” she said ...... .
(v) “You needn’t bother about me. I .....,” Valli said, turning her face towards the window and staring out.
(vi) Then she turned to the conductor and said, “Well, sir, I hope ...... .”
Answer. (i) commandingly
(ii) simply have to
(iii) who’s a child
(iv) get on by myself; haughtily
(v) can take care of myself
(vi) to see you again

Question. Find the lines in the text which tell you that Valli was enjoying her ride on the bus.
Answer. The following lines clearly tell us that Valli was enjoying the bus journey:
(i) ‘She went on seeing as far as her eyes could see.’ She uttered, ‘Oh, it was all so wonderful!’
(ii) ‘... Valli suddenly clapped her hands with glee.’
(iii) ‘The scene made her laugh until there were tears in her eyes.’
(iv) ‘Struck with wonder, Valli gaped at everything.’

Question. What does Valli mean when she says, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge.”
Answer. Valli returned home after the bus ride. At that time her mother was talking with an aunt. They were talking about things happening without their knowledge in the world outside. Valli also agreed to their view because she had enjoyed a bus journey and they didn’t know about it. Sometimes we know the things but can’t understand.

Question. The author describes the things that Valli sees from an eight-year-old’s point of view. Can you find evidence from the text for this statement?
Answer. These are the evidences from the text for this statement:
(i) The most fascinating thing for her was the bus.
(ii) She travelled between her village and the nearest town.
(iii) Valli devoured everything with her eyes.
(iv) It was all so wonderful for her!
(v) She was very happy to see the canal, palm trees, grasslands, distant mountains and the blue sky.
(vi) Struck dumb with wonder.
(vii) Valli gaped at everything.

Question. How did Valli calculate and plan the bus journey?
Answer. Valli had gathered all the necessary details about the bus journey from those who regularly used the bus. The town was six miles from her village. The one-way fare was thirty paise. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. If she took the one o’clock bus, she could reach the town at one fortyfive. She calculated that she could be back home by about two forty-five.

Question. Why didn’t Valli like the remark of the elderly man? What did she say to him?
Answer. An elderly man saw Valli standing in the bus. He asked her to sit down. He had honestly felt concerned for her. Valli didn’t like to be called herself a ‘child’. She retorted that she was not a child. She had paid thirty paise like everyone else.

Question. Why did Valli find the elderly woman absolutely repulsive?
Answer. The elderly woman who was sitting beside Valli in the bus looked absolutely repulsive to Valli. She had big holes in her ears and had ugly earrings in them. She didn’t relish the smell of the betel nut that she was chewing. The betel juice was about to spill over her lips at any moment. She couldn’t be social with such a woman.

Question. Why didn’t Valli get off the bus when the bus stopped at the town?
Answer. Valli’s destination, the nearest town from her village, had come. Everyone got off except Valli. The conductor reminded that her destination had come and she should get off the bus. Valli told him that she was going back on the same bus. She handed thirty more coins to the conductor and asked for the ticket. She just felt like having a bus ride again.
 

Question. How did Valliammai gather the information a bout the bus ride?
Answer. Valli gathered the information by asking various questions to the people who travelled on the bus from the village to the town. She also talked to the neighbours.
 

Question. What did Valli see on her way that made her Laugh?
Answer. On her journey to the city, Valli saw a young cow that was running very fast right in the middle of the road, in front of the bus. The driver honked to remove the caw ta the side of the road but rt gat scared ond hence, ran even faster. The funny sight of the cow made Valli laugh. & Why didn't she get off the bus at the bus station?
 

Long Answer Type Questions
 

Question. Age is not a barrier when it comes to doing something different and great. Which characteristics of Valli help her achieve the wonder of visiting the town at such a tender age?
Answer. In today’s era, age is no more a barrier. Children are doing wonders at a very young age. Same goes with Valli. At an age of 8 years, Valli was able to pursue her dream all alone by travelling in the bus to town. She was no different from others, except that she had certain characteristics that made her fulfil her dreams. Valli was a very confident and a bold girl. She had a knowledge of proper planning and execution. She controlled her wishes to save money for the bus ride. Also, she was a very good observer and learner. All these qualities made her realise the dream of visiting the town. Hence, one should always remember that there is no age to learn and experience new things.

Question. Once we decide to achieve something, so many difficulties come in our way. With focused attention we can make that achievement. How did Valli succeed in fulfilling her desire of riding a bus? 
or How did Valli fulfill her desire to ride a bus to the town and back?
Answer. It is true once we decide to achieve something, many difficulties came in our way to stop us from doing our best to achieve our goals. However, with focused attention we can make our achievement. The story ‘Madam Rides the Bus’ proves this fact to be true. In the story, Valliammai or Valli, an eight year old girl develops a strong desire to take a ride on the bus that travelled from her street everyday. As a confident and bold girl Valli not only gathered all knowledge about the journey but also meticulously planned her trip.
With extreme self-control, Valli saved the money she would require for a round trip in the bus. She controlled her desire to buy peppermints, toys, balloons and even did not take a ride on the merry-go-round in the village fair. Then she properly plans to take the journey quietly when her mother is taking her afternoon nap. Finally, she was able to fulfill her dream.
Her passion, self-dependence and self-respecting nature helped her to take the journey safely. Thus, it is true that with focussed attention, determination and planning one can achieve everything in life.

Question. What kind of person is Valli? Illustrate your answer from the text that you have read. 
                       ​​​​​​​                       ​​​​​​​                       or
“Valli was amature girl ahead of her age.” Justify the statement with instances from the text. 
Answer. Valliammai or Valli was an eight year old curious girl who developed a strong desire to take a bus ride. In the story, Valli emerged as a clever, sensitive, self-respecting and fun loving girl. With determination and passion she worked towards fulfilling her desire.Not only did she just gather all the information she would require for the bus journey but also sacrificed many things to achieve it. She controlled her simple desires of buying toys, balloons, etc to take a ride on the bus. During the bus journey, Valli proved to be mature, confident, bold and practical girl beyond her age. She was full of excitement and enthusiasm with which she enjoyed the scenes outside the bus.
Even the cow filled her with extreme joy. Valli was also a keen observant intelligent and sensitive girl, she was friendly, polite as well as careful. She not only refuses to take a cold drink from a strange man but also shows her good manners while talking to the conductor.
Her nature is evident when she is saddened by the dead cow lying by the roadside. All these characteristics shows that Valli is different from other children of her age.

Question. Do you think VallFs mother would have taken her for the bus ride if she had requested her to do so? Why/ Why not?
Answer. Yes, I think if Valli wou ld have asked her mother to take her for the bus ride, her mother would
have surety token her for that It wasn’t o Longdistance journey or an expensive one If it was possible for VaUi to save the money and gather the details for the bus fare, it would be easier for her mother to da that and a mother would never say 'no' to any small desire of a child.
Rides the Bus* and write an imaginary conversation between Valli and her mother on VallFs return to home, regarding her absence from home.
 

Question. How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for her?
IB, Give examples from the text to show that Valli was a meticulous planner?
Answer. Valli was a keen observer as well as a meticulous planner. She had collected all the usefuLinformation by observing the passengers everyday and by making discreet inquiries □bout the timings, duration and fare for the ride. She saved every penny to finance her trip and finally accomplished it by the efficient execution of her plans.
 

Question. Imagine you come across a little girl travelling alone on a bus. Write down any two questions you would ask her and your reasons for asking them.
Answer. I would ask the girt the following two questions:
(1) Are you travelling with o family member or are you alone?
Reason: I would wont to ensure if the girl is being accompanied by someone who is known to her or if she is travelling all alone.
(2) Do you know the details of the Location that you are visiting?
Reason: I would ask her rf she knows the details of the place she wants to visit to ensure she doesn’t get Lost in the city, especially when she is travelling all alone.

Question. Valli’s dream was to enjoy a ride on the bus to the nearest town. What preparations did she make to realise her dream?
Answer. Valli planned her bus ride by listening carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus. She also asked a few questions from them.
She found out that the town was six miles from her village, the bus fare was thirty paise for one way and the bus trip took forty-five minutes. She also thought that if she stayed in the bus and came back by the same bus, it would cost her sixty paise.
She saved up the fare by controlling herself from buying toys, peppermints etc. She did not even take a ride on the merry-go round at the village annual fare to save money. Finally, she was able to save sixty paise for her journey.

Question. What was Valli’s obsession? How did she prepare and save money for her first bus journey?
Or
How did Valli plan for her first bus journey?
Answer. The most fascinating sight for Valli was seeing the bus that travelled from her village to the nearest town. A tiny wish crept into her head. She wanted to ride on that bus, at least for once. This wish became stronger until it was an overwhelming desire. She listened to the conversations of her neighbours and people. They regularly used the bus. She found out after questioning them that the both ways fare was sixty paise. It took forty-five minutes to reach the town. It was six miles from her village.
After gathering all necessary details, Valli started saving money thriftily. She saved every coin that came her way. It was not an easy job for a girl of eight years. She had to resist her temptation of buying peppermints, toys, balloons and having a ride on the merry-go-round. When the money problem was solved, another problem was solved quite easily. She planned her journey during one to four o’clock when her mother took a nap in the afternoon. All such elaborate planning led Valli to have an enjoyable first bus journey.

Question. What did standing at the front door mean to Valli?
Answer. Valliammai or Valli was just ‘a chit of a girl’. She was eight years old. She was very curious about things. She was always anxious to gather all details, why and how about things. She was not very social either. She had no playmates of her own age in her neighbourhood. Naturally, she could not play games with friends. But, she more than compensated this drawback. Her favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house. Standing there, she could watch what was happening in the street outside. But for Valli, standing at the front door was very enjoyable. Actually, it was as enjoyable as any of the games other children played. Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences. The most fascinating of all these scenes was the scene of the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. Seeing a new set of passengers every time, she also wished to have the bus ride, at least for once.

Question. Describe Valli’s interaction with (i) the conductor (ii) with the old gentleman (iii) with the elderly repulsive woman.
Answer. The conductor was a jolly sort of person. He was fond of joking. He enjoyed teasing Valli with his gentle comic remarks. He called her ‘madam’. Valli reacted sharply replying that she was not a ‘madam’. The conductor showed his concern when he tried to help her up, she told him that she could help herself. Valli showed that she was a self-respecting girl. She politely refused to accept a free drink from the conductor.
The old gentleman was honestly concerned when he found Valli standing in the bus. ‘Listen child... you shouldn’t stand like that’, he said. Valli was annoyed by his attention and replied promptly that she was not a child. She had paid her thirty paise like everyone else.
The elderly woman who sat beside her, was quite repulsive to Valli. Valli didn’t like the big holes in her ears and the ugly earrings in them. Nor did Valli relish the unpleasant smell that came from the betel nut she was chewing. She couldn’t be social with such a person.

Extract Based Questions

1. Read the extract to attempt the questions that follow.

But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable as any of the elaborate games other children played. Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences.

Question. Why did Valli kept on standing at the doorway?
Answer.Valli kept on standing at the doorway to watch the happenings of the street outside.

Question. How did Valli feel while standing at the doorway?
Answer.Watching the street gave Valli many new experiences. She felt joyous standing at the doorway.

Question. Find a word from the extract which means ‘not very common’.
Answer.‘Unusual’ from the extract means ‘not very common’.

Question. How was Valli different from children of her age?
Answer. Valli was different from children of her age as she was not interested in playing any elaborate games.

Question. What did other children do on street?
Answer.Other children used to play elaborated games on the street.

2. Read the extract to attempt the questions that follow.

The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour, once going to the town and once coming back. The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending joy for Valli.

Question. How many times did the bus pass?
Answer. The bus passed through Valli’s street once in an hour.

Question. What was the source of unending joy for Valli?
Answer. The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of joy for Valli.

Question. Find a word from the extract which means ‘ever casting’.
Answer. ‘Unending’ from the extract means ‘ever lasting’.

Question. What was the most fascinating thing for Valli?
Answer. The most fascinating thing for Valli was watching the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town.

Question. What happened when Valli see the bus everyday?
Answer.Valli slowly developed a desire to ride the bus on seeing the bus passing through her village everyday.