CBSE Class 10 English Bholi Important Questions Set 02

Extract Based Questions

Extract 1

(a). Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s (F) and myths (M) in the options given below.
(What Ramlal and his wife were discussing) 1. Their daughter’s marriage. 2. Their daughter’s education. 3. Repayment of debt. 4. About disobeying the Tehsildar.
(a) F – 2, 3 and M – 1, 4
(b) F – 2, 4 and M – 1, 3
(c) F – 3, 4 and M – 1, 2
(d) F – 4, 1 and M – 2, 3
Answer: (b) F – 2, 4 and M – 1, 3

(b). What was the Tehsildar’s instruction which Ramlal couldn’t disobey?
(a) The Tehsildar wanted Ramlal to send his daughters to school.
(b) The Tehsildar wanted Ramlal to leave the village.
(c) The Tehsildar wanted Ramlal to marry his daughter with his son.
(d) The Tehsildar wanted Ramlal to send his son to city.
Answer: (a) The Tehsildar wanted Ramlal to send his daughters to school.

(c). For which occasion did the Tehsildar perform the opening ceremony in the village?
(a) Opening of the hospital.
(b) Opening of the primary school.
(c) Opening of the college.
(d) Opening of the community centre.
Answer: (b) Opening of the primary school.

(d). Identify a word from the above lines which means the same as ‘audacity’.
(a) Courage
(b) Disobey
(c) Last
(d) Said
Answer: (a) Courage

(e). With which intention did Ramlal’s wife said to him “I will tell you what to do?”
(a) She was in a commanding mood.
(b) She didn’t like her husband’s advice.
(c) She was anxious about her daughter’s future.
(d) She was furious over Ramlal’s decision.
Answer: (c) She was anxious about her daughter’s future.

Extract 2

(a). Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s (F) and myths (M) in the options given below.
1. Bholi was nervous. 2. It was an extremely hot day. 3. Bholi stammered while telling her name. 4. All her classmates refused to be friends with her.
(a) F – 1, 4 and M – 2, 3
(b) F – 1, 2 and M – 3, 4
(c) F – 1, 3 and M – 2, 4
(d) F – 2, 4 and M – 1, 3
Answer: (c) F – 1, 3 and M – 2, 4

(b). How did Bholi’s stammering tongue disgrace her earlier?
(a) She wasn’t able to sing properly.
(b) She wasn’t able to tell her name.
(c) She wasn’t able to spell her father’s name.
(d) She wasn’t able to converse with her.
Answer: (b) She wasn’t able to tell her name.

(c). Why was Bholi glad to go to school?
(a) She had the eagerness to learn many things.
(b) She found her teacher friendly.
(c) There she found many girls of her age.
(d) She wanted to escape from household work.
Answer: (c) There she found many girls of her age.

(d). Identify a word from the above lines which means the same as ‘Ignominy’.
(a) Disgrace
(b) Stammering
(c) Effort
(d) Soothing
Answer: (a) Disgrace

(e). ‘She would not laugh at her’, what does this tell about the nature of the teacher?
(a) She was a strict teacher.
(b) She never liked laughing or smiling.
(c) She wanted to encourage Bholi.
(d) She had a soothing voice which could be ruined by laughing.
Answer: (c) She wanted to encourage Bholi.

Extract 3

(a). What was Ramlal’s reaction to the wedding decor?
Answer: Ramlal had almost no hopes for his fourth daughter, Bholi. He never dreamt of her to have such a grand wedding. He was delighted with the pomp and splendour of the event.

(b). Why were Bholi’s elder sisters envious of her luck?
Answer: Seeing the pomp and show of Bholi’s ceremony, her elder sisters felt jealous as they were envious of her grand wedding as they never expected it for her.

Short Answer Questions

Question 1. Why is Bholi’s father worried about her?
Answer: Bholi’s father was worried about her because she was a backward child with pockmarks all over her face. He was worried that it would not be easy to marry her off, as she had neither good looks nor intelligence.

Question 2. For what unusual reasons is Bholi sent to school?
Answer: Bholi was sent to school to set an example for other villagers, as the Tehsildar wanted Ramlal, the revenue official, to send his daughters to the new school. Her mother agreed because, with her ugly face and lack of intelligence, there was little chance of Bholi getting married anyway.

Question 3. Does Bholi enjoy her first day at school?
Answer: Yes. Bholi was quite pleased to wear the new dress. She was excited to see other girls of her age in the school and hoped to find a good friend among them. The pictures and the kind teacher made her happy.

Question 4. Does she find her teacher different from the people at home?
Answer: She finds her teacher different from the people at home, as the teacher talked to her in a soft and soothing voice whereas at home she was always ill-treated. The teacher showered her with affection and encouraged her to talk comfortably.

Question 5. Why do Bholi’s parents accept Bishamber’s marriage proposal?
Answer: Bholi’s parents accepted Bishamber’s proposal because he was a well-to-do bridegroom and he was not demanding any dowry.

Question 6. Why does the marriage not take place?
Answer: The marriage did not take place because, on seeing Bholi’s pockmarked face, Bishamber demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees. Ramlal put the money at his feet, but Bholi refused to marry such a mean, greedy and contemptible person who had insulted her father for money.

Question 7. Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home?
Answer: Bholi was the youngest daughter of Ramlal. Her mental growth was slow because of a fall from the cot. She had pockmarks on her face because of smallpox. She was not treated nicely at home. She was always given old clothes of her elder sisters to wear. Nobody cared to mend or wash her clothes.
When her parents decided to send her to school, she was very scared because she had never seen or heard of a school. She remembered how their old cow Lakshmi had been turned out of the house and sold, and feared the same for herself.
But when she was being taken to school, she got a clean dress to wear. She was bathed and oil was rubbed into her dry and matted hair. Only then did she begin to believe that she was being taken to a place better than her home.

Question 8. How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?
Answer: Bholi was the totally ignored youngest daughter of Ramlal. She was a slow child, had pockmarks on her face and stammered while speaking, and everybody made fun of her. When she was taken to school for the first time, she was very scared. But at school all her fears went away because her teacher was a gem. She made Bholi comfortable with her kind and affectionate behaviour. She sympathised with Bholi, encouraged her to speak and promised that she would one day speak without stammering. She turned her into a bold and confident girl.
Her father fixed her marriage with Bishamber Nath, a grocer from a neighbouring village who was a widower with grown-up children. When he saw Bholi’s pockmarks at the wedding, he demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees. Bholi showed the courage and spirit imparted to her by her teacher and refused straightaway to marry such a mean, greedy and contemptible fellow. Everybody was stunned, as they had taken her to be a dumb cow.
Bholi promised to serve her parents in their old age and teach in the same school. It all happened because of her teacher’s love and support.

Question 9. Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage? What does this tell us about her?
Answer: Bholi was the youngest daughter of Ramlal. Her elder sisters were married. But Bholi was slow, had pockmarks and stammered. Her parents were worried about her marriage because of these shortcomings. Bholi silently accepted an unequal match with Bishamber Nath from a neighbouring village, an elderly, lame widower with a good bank balance, because her parents wanted it and she did not want to burden them.
But later she rejected the marriage when she saw the real, greedy face of Bishamber Nath. At the wedding, when he saw her pockmarked face, he tried to cash in on the situation and asked for five thousand rupees. Bholi got annoyed and refused to marry such a greedy and contemptible fellow.
This tells us that Sulekha had become a confident girl who could not tolerate injustice to herself and her parents, and she made her teacher proud by her brave act.

Question 10. Bholi’s real name is Sulekha. We are told this right at the beginning. But in the last paragraph of the story Bholi is called Sulekha again. Why do you think she is called Sulekha at that point in the story?
Answer: Bholi’s real name is Sulekha. We learn this at the beginning, but since her childhood everyone had called her Bholi—a simpleton. A pockmarked, stammering simple girl tolerated everything and never reacted. At the end she is again called Sulekha, which shows that she is no longer a dumb cow who will never react to wrongs. With the impact of education and her teacher’s efforts, she has turned into a confident and mature girl. That is why she is called Sulekha, the new face of Bholi, a girl of substance, at that point in the story.

Question 11. Why did Bholi later reject the marriage? What does this tell us about her?
Answer: She rejected the groom because he proved to be greedy, mean and contemptible. He had demanded dowry because she had pockmarks on her face. She was no longer a dumb cow but had become an independent girl of great confidence, due to the efforts of her teacher.

Question 12. How did Bholi turn out to be an outspoken and fearless girl?
Answer: Bholi was sent to the village school, which transformed her into a bold girl. Her teacher’s encouragement and affection gave her new hope and a new life. She became an outspoken and fearless girl.

Question 13. What was Bholi’s experience at school on the first day? Did she enjoy it? Give a suitable answer.
Answer: On her first day at school, Bholi felt alone and fearful in the new surroundings. But she was happy to see many girls of her age. The coloured pictures made her happy. The soft and soothing voice of her teacher calling her ‘Bholi’ touched her heart. Yes, she enjoyed it.

Question 14. When did Bholi realise that she was going to a better place than her home?
Answer: Bholi was given a new dress to wear. Earlier she used to wear the used clothes of her sisters. She was given a bath. Her hair was oiled. These unusual things made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home.

Question 15. Why was Sulekha nicknamed Bholi?
Answer: Sulekha was a slow child from the very beginning. Her brain was perhaps damaged by a fall from the cot in her childhood, resulting in her being slow. That is why she was called ‘Bholi’, a simpleton.

Question 16. Why did Bholi look at Bishamber with cold contempt?
Answer: Bholi’s parents arranged her marriage with Bishamber, a lame widower of about fifty. At the time of the marriage, Bishamber demanded five thousand rupees as dowry in compensation for Bholi’s pockmarked looks. Bholi refused to marry him and looked at him with cold contempt.

Question 17. Why was Bholi reluctant to go to school with her father?
Answer: Bholi did not know what a school was like. She remembered how their old cow Lakshmi had been turned out of the house and sold. Therefore, she was frightened and reluctant to go to school with her father.

Question 18. Why did the other children make fun of Bholi?
Answer: The children of her age made fun of Bholi as she was a simpleton and different from others. Her speech was not clear. She used to stammer. Her shy nature and stammering were a source of fun for the children. They always made fun of her.

Question 19. Why did Ramlal not send all his daughters to school?
Answer: Ramlal had four daughters. Like most villagers, he did not think it necessary to educate girls and feared that educated girls would be hard to marry. The elder daughters were already married or engaged. Bholi was the only one left, and since no one was likely to marry her, she was sent to school when the Tehsildar urged Ramlal to set an example.

Question 20. Why was Bholi frightened to go to school?
Answer: No girl in the family had ever gone to school. The next day, when Ramlal held her hand to take her to school, Bholi was frightened. She did not know what a school was. She thought that perhaps her parents were punishing her by sending her to school. So, she cried in terror and pulled her hand away from her father’s grip.

Question 21. Bholi was a neglected child. Explain.
Answer: No new clothes for Bholi, old dresses passed on to her, nobody cared for or mended her clothes. Her parents sent her to school as they thought there was a little chance of her getting married.

Question 22. What happened when Bishamber took a quick glance at his bride's face?
Answer: The auspicious moment had come. The bridegroom lifted the garland of yellow marigolds. A woman slipped back the silken veil from the bride's face. Bishamber took a quick glance. The garland remained poised in his hand. He shouted that the bride had pock-marks on her face. If he was to marry her, her father must give him five thousand rupees.

Question 23. How did Ramlal react after the ceremony ended with the departure of the bridegroom alone?
Answer: Ramlal stood silently rooted to the ground. His head bowed with the weight of grief and sorrow. He turned to Bholi and asked what would happen to her now. No one would ever marry her. He asked, “What shall we do with you?”

Question 24. How did the teacher react to Bholi's wish expressed in the end?
Answer: The teacher had all along stood there in a corner. She had been watching the whole drama. She also heard Bholi saying that she would teach in the same school where she had learnt so much. Bholi turned to the teacher for affirmation. The teacher replied, “Yes, Bholi, of course’. She felt as if her mission had been completed.

Question 25. Why was Sulekha called Bholi, the simpleton?
Answer: ‘Sulekha’ means a woman who writes with a beautiful hand. Ironically, Bholi of the story was considered to be a backward child. She was called a ‘simpleton’ or a witless girl. She fell off her cot in early childhood, and a part of her brain was damaged. All the girls of Ramlal except Bholi were good looking and healthy. Bholi couldn’t speak properly and stammered. Her pock-marks made her far from being pretty. Everyone mocked and made fun of such a stammering simpleton.

Question 26. Describe the family of Ramlal, the Numberdar.
Answer: Ramlal was a Numberdar and collected revenue for the government from the village. He had seven children – three sons and four daughters. Radha, the eldest girl was married. Mangla was the second daughter. Her marriage had been fixed. All his daughters were good looking and healthy. The boys were sent to the city for studies. Ramlal was worried about Bholi. She had neither good looks nor intelligence. It was rather difficult to get her married off.

Question 27. Was Ramlal happy to send Bholi to school? If not, why did he send her there?
Answer: No girl in the family had ever gone to school. Bholi’s mother believed if they sent their daughters to school, then no one would marry them. But an unexpected thing happened. The Tehsildar who inaugurated the first girl school in the village asked Ramlal to set an example before the villagers. He must send his daughters to school. Ramlal couldn’t afford to disobey the Tehsildar. So, Bholi was sent to school.

Question 28. How was Bholi’s first day at the school? Did she enjoy it?
Answer: Ramlal handed over Bholi to the headmistress. She asked Bholi to sit down in a corner in one of the classes. Bholi was glad to find so many girls of her age in the class. She hoped to make one of them her friend. She couldn’t understand what the teacher was saying. She liked the pictures of birds, and animals on the wall. The teacher asked her name but Bholi couldn’t pronounce it in spite of many efforts. The kind and friendly teacher encouraged her and Bholi could say, “Bh-Bh-Bho-Bholi”. The teacher patted her on her success. Bholi felt comforted and relieved.

Question 29. How did the teacher help Bholi to pronounce her name full and clearly?
Answer: The teacher asked Bholi to tell her name. She could stammer “Bh-Bh-Bho” only. She began to cry, and tears rolled down her eyes. Girls still laughed at her. But the teacher comforted her. Her voice was very soothing. She made another effort but failed. The teacher encouraged her. And Bholi made the last effort and spoke, “Bh – Bh – Bho – Bholi.” She was relieved as if it was a great achievement. The teacher patted her on her success.

Question 30. When and why did Bholi feel that her heart was throbbing with a new hope and a new life?
Answer: Bholi had achieved what she could have never even dreamed. With the encouragement and help of her teacher she could pronounce her name : “Bh – Bho – Bholi” and say : “Ye – Ye – Yes.” Then the teacher gave her a picture book. She was sure that Bholi would finish it within a week. In time she would be more learned than anyone in the village. Then, nobody would ever dare to laugh at her. Bholi felt her heart throbbing with a new hope and new life.

Question 31. Was Bishamber a suitable bridegroom for Bholi? Give your opinion.
Answer: No, Bishamber was not at all a suitable match for Bholi. No doubt, he was rich, had a big shop, a house of his own and thousands of rupees in the bank. But he was mean, greedy and a worthless man. When he came to know of the pock-marks on Bholi's face, he demanded a dowry of 5000 rupees to marry her. Even the turban of Ramlal at his feet couldn't melt his heart. Bholi did the right thing to reject him.

Question 32. Why didn't Bholi at first oppose the proposal of the unequal match? Why did she agree to it?
Answer: Bholi knew that she was just a burden for her parents. They thought her worthless and couldn't even dream of a good marriage proposal for her. When she realised that her parents were happy to find such a rich and prosperous bridegroom for her, she bowed to their wish. She didn't oppose it to keep the honour of the family intact. She agreed to marry a man who was of the age of her father and had grown up children from his first wife.

Question 33. How did Ramlal react to Bishamber's demand of 5000 rupees to marry Bholi?
Answer: Bishamber clearly declared that if he married Bholi, her father would give him 5000 rupees. Ramlal went and placed his turban at Bishamber's feet. He begged him not to humiliate him in that manner. He was ready to give 2000 rupees. Bishamber didn't budge. Ramlal went inside and came back with the money and placed the bundle of notes at Bishamber's feet.

Question 34. How did Bholi react to the remarks of an old woman who called her “a shameless girl” and “a harmless dumb cow?”
Answer: When Bholi refused to accept a mean, greedy and cowardly man as her husband, everybody was stunned. An old woman called her “a shameless girl.” She had thought her “a harmless dumb cow.” Bholi turned violently on the old woman. She told that everybody had thought her a dumb cow and so they wanted to hand her over to such a heartless creature. She reminded that the ‘dumb cow’ had got a tongue now and she could speak out to defend herself.

Question 35. Describe two accidents that had disfigured Bholi and made her a backward child.
Answer: Birth, Bholi — very fair and pretty — two years old — had an attack of small pox — entire body — permanently disfigured — deep pock-marks — ten months old — fell off her cot — a part of her brain — damaged — a backward child — learnt speaking at the age of five — stammered — speaking.

Question 36. What social attitudes are presented in the story, ‘Bholi’? How does Bholi’s teacher help her overcome these barriers?
Answer: Villagers — do not like to send — daughters to school — no value of education — Bholi’s teachers were sympathetic towards Bholi — they made her courage one and confident.