CBSE Class 10 English Bholi Important Questions Set 04

Long Answer Questions

Question 1. On the basis of your understanding of the story, describe the role of the teacher in Bholi’s life. What does it tell us about her character?
Answer: Bholi was a slow child from the beginning. Due to smallpox, her face had pockmarks which made her look different from other children. Her speech was not clear and she used to stammer. Even her parents considered her dumb and witless. However, she was sent to school, where her teacher changed her life.
Bholi’s teacher played a significant role in her life. She gave her encouragement and the confidence to learn. Bholi became an educated and bold girl. Because of her teacher, she was able to take charge of her life. It was the love, compassion and sympathy of the teacher that transformed Bholi’s life. Every teacher should be like her to bring about change in society.

Question 2. How did education change Bholi’s personality? (CBSE 2020)
Answer: Bholi was a diffident, under-confident, quiet and shy girl who stammered and was mocked by everyone. Education and the empathetic attitude of her teacher transformed her. She became confident and assertive. When Bishamber demanded dowry at the wedding, she refused to marry him and saved her parents’ honour. She learnt to fight against what she thought was wrong, and she resolved to serve her parents in their old age and teach in the same school where she had studied.

Question 3. Draw a character-sketch of Bholi in your own words, highlighting her transformation from a harmless ‘dumb cow’ to a fearless and independent girl. OR Bholi was known to be a “dumb cow.” How did she turn out to be an out-spoken and fearless girl?
Answer: Bholi was the youngest of Ramlal's four daughters. All other daughters were good-looking and healthy. Bholi was considered just a simpleton. Her stammering made her a stock of laughter for children. Her pock-marks had disfigured her badly. She had neither good looks nor intelligence. She was like “a harmless dumb cow” who didn't know how to express herself properly. At birth, Bholi was very fair and pretty. When she was just ten months old, she fell of her cot. Perhaps a part of her brain was damaged. When she was two years old, she had an attack of small pox. Her eyes were saved but deep black pock-marks disfigured her. Bholi's teacher at the village primary school changed her life. In her teacher, she found a kind and helpful human being. She taught her how to pronounce her name properly. She gave Bholi all the confidence and encouragement that she needed so badly. The teacher assured that one day she would be more learned than anyone else in the village. Being an obedient child, Bholi didn't oppose the proposal of an old and lame person. She did so for the honour of the family. But when Bishamber insisted on demanding five thousand rupees for marrying a girl with pock-marks, she revolted. She threw the wedding garland into the fire. She refused to marry such a greedy and mean person. She also decided to serve her parents in their old age. She declared that she would teach in the same school where she had learnt so much.

Question 4. Give a character-sketch of Bholi's teacher who taught at the primary village school.
Answer: The lady teacher who taught Bholi's class was really an ideal teacher. She had all the mobility and maturity that are the hallmarks of her profession. She was kind-hearted and understanding. She knew how to deal with a child of special needs like Bholi. When she noticed her, she smiled and asked her name. Bholi stammered: “Bho –Bho –Bho.” The girls laughed but the teacher assured her. The teacher's voice was soft and soothing. She again asked to tell her name. It was not a command. All her life she had never been called like that. The teacher persisted in her efforts to make her pronounce her full name without stammeing. And she did succeed. Bholi pronounced: “Bh–Bh–Bho–Bholi.” Even Bholi was surprised how she was able to say it. With affection and tender love, the teacher dealt with the unfortunate child. She gave her a book of pictures and hoped she would finish it within a month. She assured Bholi that one day she would be more learned that anybody else in the village. The teacher had all along stood in a corner during the wedding day of Bholi. She was watching the whole drama. She heard Bholi say that she would teach in the same school where she had learnt so much. Bholi looked towards for her confirmation. The teacher replied promptly; “Yes, Bholi, of course.”

Question 5. What kind of a treatment does Bholi get from her parents? Does she deserve it? Comment.
Answer: Sulekha (Bholi) was the fourth and youngest daughter of Numberdar Ramlal. At birth, Bholi was quite fair and pretty. When she was just ten months old, she fell off the cot. Perhaps, she damaged a part of her brain. When she was two years old, an attack of small pox disfigured her. She had deep black pock-marks all over her body. All the other daughters of Ramlal were good looking and healthy. Bholi's parents were worried, as Bholi had neither good looks nor intelligence. The parents had no problem in marrying the other girls. They thought that no one would ever marry such a girl. Bholi's parents considered her a backward child. Her stammering made children laugh. Bholi was sent to school. It was not because her parents wanted to give her a good education. Actually, being a Numberdar, he couldn't disobey the Tehsildar who asked him to send his daughters to school. The way Bholi's parents treated Bholi in finalising her marriage with Bishamber shows their callousness and indifference towards their daughter. Marrying her to an old and limping man with grown up children showed their callous disregard for the happiness of their unfortunate child.

Question 6. Narrate Bholi's first experience in the class. How was she treated by her teacher?
Answer: Bholi was afraid of going to school. She didn't know what school was like. When Ramlal caught her hand to take her to school, she shouted in terror; “N–n–n–No.” She pulled her hand away. Ramlal handed over Bholi to the headmistress. Bholi was sent to one of the classrooms. She sat in a corner. At last, she was happy to find so many girls there. They were of her age. She hoped to befriend one of them. Bholi was impressed by the colourful pictures of birds and animals on the wall. The woman who made Bholi's first experience at the school pleasant and enjoyable, was her teacher. She smiled at her and asked her name. Bholi could only stammer; “Bh–Bho–Bho–”. She couldn't pronounce her full name. She began to cry and tears flowed from her eyes. She felt helpless. The girls laughed at her. But the soothing voice of the teacher comforted her. In her soft voice, the teacher asked to make another try. It was not a command. It was a friendly request. The teacher encouraged her. “Come on, now – the full name”. At last, Bholi was able to say, “Bh – Bh – Bho – Bholi.” She felt relieved. She wondered at her success. Bholi was fortunate to have such a teacher. She gave a picture book to Bholi. She hoped that she would finish it within a month. She assured Bholi that one day she would be more learned than anyone else in the village. Then nobody would be able to laugh at her.

Question 7. How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing the course of her life?
Answer: Bholi’s teacher played an important role in changing her life. At home, Bholi was a neglected girl. Even her parents thought that she had neither good looks nor intelligence. However, the teacher left her impression on the delicate heart of Bholi on the very first day. For a girl who was considered a backward and simpleton by her family, the teacher’s kind and humane behaviour touched her heart. While all children made fun of her when she stammered, her teacher taught her how to pronounce her full name. The thing that the unfortunate girl with pock-marks needed was encouragement. The teacher went on encouraging her to pronounce her name and finally she did pronounce “Bh-Bh- Bho-Bholi.” The teacher patted her back on her first success. She gave her a book of pictures. She assured that Bholi would finish that book within a month. Then, she would finish a bigger book. In time, Bholi would become more learned than anyone in the village. In the end, after discarding her bridegroom, she assured her father that she would teach in the same school where she would learn so much. The teacher encouraged her by saying “Yes, Bholi, of course.” The teacher was happy as if her mission was fulfilled.

Question 8. Bholi’s real name is Sulekha. We are told this right at the beginning. But only in the last but one paragraph of the story is Bholi called Sulekha again. Why do you think she is called Sulekha at that point in the story?
Answer: Bholi’s real name is Sulekha. In Hindi, ‘Su’ means good and ‘lekha’ means a writer. So Sulekha means a woman who writes with a good hand. But unfortunately Sulekha became Bholi, the simpleton. Once a fair and beautiful girl became disfigured with pock-marks with all over the body due to an attack of small-pox. She also damaged a part of the brain when she fell off the cot. So the girl was called ‘Bholi’ or ‘witless’. Apart from at the very beginning of the story, the word ‘Sulekha’ comes only at the end of the story. But here, the word is used in the proper context. The writer, K.A. Abbas, wants to highlight that Bholi is no more Bholi the simpleton, but she has transformed herself into ‘Sulekha’, an educated girl with a beautiful handwriting. She is no more a ‘backward’ girl but looks forward to become a teacher in the same school where she had learnt so much. His teacher confirms that one day she would be a teacher without any doubt.

Question 9. Who was Bishamber Nath? Did Bholi do the right thing to reject such a person? OR Give a character sketch of Bishamber Nath.
Answer: Bishamber Nath — well-to-do grocer — had a big shop — a house of his own and thousands of rupees — the bank — a widower — children from his first wife — quite grown up now — Bishamber — an unequal match for Bholi — almost of the age of her father — limped too — Bholi's parents thought him a good match for Bholi — ignored his age — limping and accepted Bishamber's proposal of marriage — Bholi — not even consulted. Bishamber Nath — dazzle Bholi's parents — his wealth — a large party of friends and relatives — the wedding — brass band moved — popular filmy tune — Ramlal — overjoyed to see this pomp and grandeur — Bishamber Nath — true colour — the bride had pock–marks on her face — shamelessly demanded five thousand rupees — dowry — marry such a girl — Ramlal — his turban at his feet — Bishamber didn't budge and Ramlal put a bundle of notes at his feet. Bishamber — punished — humiliated — ‘dumb cow’ got her tongue now — threw away the wedding garland into the fire — refused to marry such a mean, greedy and worthless man — did the right thing by rejecting such a person.

Question 10. Draw a pen–portrait of Ramlal in about 120 words.
Answer: Ramlal — a well-to-do farmer — prosperous household — enough to eat and drink — tradition of the times — maintained a big family — seven children – three boys and four girls — Boys — sent to the city — proper education — children, except Bholi — goodlooking and healthy — Ramlal and his wife — more interested in marrying off — daughters — in giving them good education — Bholi — sent to school — Ramlal couldn't disobey the Tehsildar — had asked him to send his daughters to school. Ramlal — a pragmatic and practical man — not burdened with the weight of morality — Money and wealth — more important for him — anything else — happy to marry off Bholi — old and limping man. Numberdar of the village — Ramlal had a high sense of himself — his family's honour — put his turban at Bishamber's feet — save the honour or ‘ijjat’ of his family — even ready to give 5000 rupees — demanded by Bishamber — always worried about Bholi — neither good looking nor had any intelligence. He was worried that no man would ever marry her.

Question 11. Why did Bholi at first agree to the unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage? What does this tell about her?
Answer: Bholi agreed — unequal match — proposal of marriage — a well-to-do grocer-called Bishamber — an aged man — was almost the same age — her father — another defect — limped — children from his first wife — quite grown up — No girl could like such a match — Bholi didn’t oppose the proposal — didn’t agree — he was rich — several thousands in the bank — agreed just to keep the honour of her family and her parents. She rejected — marriage on the grounds of principles — greedy bridegroom — a dowry of 5000 rupees — ready to marry a girl with pock-marks — receiving — sum — Ramlal — his turban at Bishamber’s feet — heart didn’t melt — Bholi decided — enough was enough — threw away the garland — the fire — refused — mean, greedy and coward — her husband — shows that she — a hesitant, weak and stammering girl — was a determined girl who — sacrifice anything — her principles and for the honour of her family. 

Question 12. 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 a speech in about 100 - 120 words.
Answer: Hello everybody!
I'm Bholi, and I feel thrilled to be here with all of you. Being independent means believing in yourself. When I was young, people called me "Bholi" because they thought I was simple-minded. But I didn't let that define me. Education gave me the confidence to embrace my real name, Sulekha. When I grew up, my father fixed my marriage to a rich, fifty-year-old man who was very greedy. On the day of marriage, he asked for five thousand rupees as dowry to ‘compensate’ for my pock-marked face. I decided to call off the marriage and spend all my life serving my parents and becoming a teacher myself. I broke the stereotype of marrying an old, greedy man just because I don’t look pretty. So, independence and fearlessness are important for breaking stereotypes.

Question 13. You’ve read the quote: ‘A teacher affects eternity. One 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's teacher serves as a source of hope and inspiration for her. She shows kindness and compassion towards her, treating her with respect despite her physical appearance and speech difficulties. When Bholi stammers and struggles to communicate in her class, the teacher remains patient and supportive. She tells her to leave her fear behind and then she will be able to speak like everyone else. This encouragement helps Bholi gain confidence and overcome her limitations. She gave her a book full of pictures of dog, cat, goat, etc., with alphabets written in big size to develop her speaking skills. Her guidance and dedication help Bholi progress and discover her own voice.

Question 14. You and your friend have a conversation about the prevalent discrimination between boys and girls, even today. Create dialogues for the same.
You may begin like this:
Friend: I don’t think discrimination in terms of gender is a thing of the past.
You: ______
Friend: 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: Friend: I don’t think discrimination in terms of gender is a thing of the past.
You: Exactly. Even today, one can see visible differences in both genders when it comes to late-night outs or choice of profession.
Friend: You hit the nail on the head! Though we are in the 21st century, it still continues in a blatant manner in many parts of the country.
You: I believe things do not change on their own over time; one has to do something to change them. Education is the biggest weapon for girls. An educated girl will never compromise for anything less.
Friend: Yes, it has become crucial for girls to receive education so they can fight injustice and encourage others to do the same.

Question 15. On her first day at school, Bholi’s teacher promised her, “People will listen to you with respect, and you will be able to speak without the slightest stammer.” Did Bholi become what her teacher promised her to be? Elaborate with the help of examples from the text. (Delhi Gov. 2021)
Answer: Bholi’s teacher was right when she said that people would listen to her respectfully and she would stop stammering. Earlier, Bholi was considered an ugly and dumb child. However, after her teacher’s efforts and love, Bholi turned from a shy, insecure girl to a strong and confident woman. She stopped stammering. When she grew up, her father fixed her marriage to a rich, fifty-year-old man who was very greedy.
On the day of marriage, he asked for five thousand rupees as a dowry to ‘compensate’ for Bholi’s pock-marked face. Due to this, Bholi decided to call off the marriage and spend all her life serving her parents and becoming a teacher herself. Her parents listened to her, and the marriage was cancelled only because she was educated to take a stand for herself.

Question 16. Education is always a great asset in the life of a woman. How did Bholi, an educated girl, face the challenge posed by Bishamber’s greed? (CBSE 2023)
Answer: It is true that education is always a great asset in the life of a woman. Bholi was an educated girl and this helped her swim through the challenge posed by her fiance Bishamber Nath. He was a wealthy landlord who had grown-up children from his first marriage. Bholi’s parents agreed to marry her to him only because they thought Bholi could never get married due to her appearance and dull mind.
On the day of wedding, Bishamber asked a huge amount of dowry from Bholi’s father as a compensation for marrying their pock - marked face daughter. Bholi instantly rejected marrying Bishamber, knowing his greed. She decided not marry ever and serve her village by teaching the children. All of this was possible due to Bholi’s education, which made her aware of her rights and made her independent enough to make her own life’s decision.

Question 17. Imagine that Bholi writes a diary entry, exploring the themes of ‘Girl Child’ and ‘Impact of Education’, in the context of her own experiences. Write this diary entry, as Bholi. (CBSE 2024)
Answer: 12 March 20XX, Wednesday 3 p.m.
Dear Diary,
Today, I am feeling utmost proud of myself for rejecting the marriage with the old man. From the moment I was born, I was ridiculed by my family members and friends because of my pock - marked face. People used to call me Bholi because they considered me a simpleton whom nobody would marry. My teacher showed me a world where my stammering voice and pockmarked face didn't define me with her patience and kind words. Where others saw limitations, she saw potential in me. I've discovered my voice in education. I defied injustice today by declining to wed a man who treated me like a commodity. My education has given me the confidence to dream bigger and to challenge social norms.

Question 18. Imagine yourself as Bholi's father. A few years after Bholi became a teacher, you realized that you were wrong in thinking that your daughter was a disgrace in the family because of her pock-marked face. Write a diary entry in about 120 words exploring the theme of shallow judgments of society in shaping our perception.
Answer: 12 June 20XX, Sunday 9 p.m.
Dear Diary,
Today, I watched my daughter Sulekha teaching the children of our village. Everyone listened to her with respect. I felt proud and ashamed at the same time.
For years, I thought of her as a burden because of her pock-marked face and her stammer. I was ready to marry her to an old, greedy man just to get rid of her. I judged her by her looks, just as society does.
But she proved me wrong. She saved our honour when she refused to marry Bishamber, and now she lights up so many lives. I have learnt that we must never judge anyone by appearance.
Ramlal

Question 19. A character arc is the transformation or development of a character throughout a story and refers to the changes a character undergoes as a result of their experiences, challenges, and interactions with other characters. In the light of the above information, trace the character arc of Bholi, in about 120 words.
Answer: At the beginning of the story, Bholi is a neglected girl. A fall in childhood has affected her mind, smallpox has left her face pock-marked, and she stammers. Her family calls her Bholi, the simpleton, and treats her as a burden.
Her life changes when she is sent to school. Her kind teacher encourages her, gives her a picture book and promises that she will speak without stammering. With education, Bholi gains confidence and self-respect.
At her wedding, when the old, greedy Bishamber demands dowry, she boldly refuses to marry him and decides to serve her parents and teach in the village. Her arc moves from a timid, neglected child to a confident, independent woman — Sulekha.

Question 20. Education is always a great asset in the life of a woman. How did Bholi, an educated girl, face the challenge posed by Bishamber’s greed? (Delhi 2017)
Answer: Education is always a great asset in the life of a woman. In the end, it helped Bholi face the challenge posed by Bishamber’s greed.
Throughout her childhood, Bholi had to face many difficulties. She was considered a ‘dumb cow’ by everybody including her family members. Bholi had remained a backward child ever since she was just ten months old. She had fallen on her head and a part of her brain got damaged. An attack of smallpox had left deep black pock-marks on Bholi’s entire body except her eyes, when she was only two years old. The pock-marks remained with her all her life. To add to the little girl’s misery, Bholi learned to speak only at the age of five. But her speech was not clear as she stammered. She became a laughing stock for other children. As a result she kept quiet most of the time. When the utterly neglected Bholi was sent to school, her teacher changed the course of Bholi’s life; she changed the quality of Bholi’s life by encouraging, inspiring and showering Bholi with much-deserved love and compassion.
Education gave Bholi the courage and confidence to stand against a mean, greedy, cowardly and heartless man such as Bishamber Nath, who was twice her age. She took a bold step and refused to marry him on the grounds of his dowry demand. Bholi decided to be economically independent by becoming a teacher, and to look after her aged parents.

Question 21. School education turned Bholi from a dumb cow into a bold girl. How did she save her father from a huge expense and become his support in his old age? (AI 2017)
Answer: Owing to Bholi’s handicaps and pock-marked body, nobody was willing to marry Bholi. Finally when Bishamber Nath, a well-to-do grocer from another village, agreed to marry Bholi without dowry, her parents’ happiness knew no bounds. Bishamber Nath was about forty-five to fifty years of age, limped and had grown-up children from his first marriage. Being from another village, he was unaware of Bholi’s condition. Therefore, when he saw Bholi’s face for the first time near the sacred fire, Bishamber Nath was taken aback. He demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees from Bholi’s father and threatened to leave without marrying her.
Ramlal wept and requested Bishamber Nath to take two thousand rupees instead of five and marry Bholi as their family honour was at stake. In spite of many pleadings, Bishamber Nath did not agree. Hence, a helpless Ramlal had to pay him the hefty sum of money as dowry. However, Bholi, whom education had made a smart, courageous and confident girl, asked her father to take back the money from Bishamber Nath as she no longer wished to have such a ‘greedy and contemptible coward’ as her husband. Hearing Bholi speak her mind sent Bishamber Nath and his wedding party packing. School education turned Bholi from a ‘dumb cow’ into a bold girl. This transformation is evident from the way she saved her father from a huge expense.

Question 22. The teacher plays an important role in changing the course of a person’s life, especially that of a young woman. What role did Bholi’s teacher play in bringing about a change in her life? (Foreign 2017)
Answer: Bholi’s teacher treated her with love and compassion, and encouraged her to read and study. She inspired Bholi to become a teacher herself. Education helped Bholi gain her self-confidence. She became aware of her self-respect and, bravely enough, refused to marry the aged, mean, greedy and cowardly Bishamber Nath.
Owing to Bholi’s handicaps and pock-marked body, nobody was willing to marry Bholi. Finally when Bishamber Nath, a well-to-do grocer from another village, agreed to marry Bholi without dowry, her parents’ happiness knew no bounds. Bishamber Nath was about forty-five to fifty years of age, limped and had grown-up children from his first marriage. Being from another village, he was unaware of Bholi’s condition. Therefore, when he saw Bholi’s face for the first time near the sacred fire, Bishamber Nath was taken aback. He demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees from Bholi’s father and threatened to leave without marrying her.
Ramlal wept and requested Bishamber Nath to take two thousand rupees instead of five and marry Bholi as their family honour was at stake. In spite of many pleadings, Bishamber Nath did not agree. Hence, a helpless Ramlal had to pay him the hefty sum of money as dowry. However, Bholi, whom education had made a smart, courageous and confident girl, asked her father to take back the money from Bishamber Nath as she no longer wished to have such a ‘greedy and contemptible coward’ as her husband. Hearing Bholi speak her mind sent Bishamber Nath and his wedding party packing. School education turned Bholi from a ‘dumb cow’ into a bold girl. This transformation is evident from the way she saved her father from a huge expense.