CBSE Class 10 English Bholi Important Questions Set 05

Long Answer Questions

Question 1. “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 values Bholi was imbued with. Based on the reading of the lesson, what made Bholi aware of her rights and how did she use them? (Delhi 2016)
Answer: The story ‘Bholi’ throws light on some social evils being practised in our society. Bholi took a stand and succeeded in overcoming the social barriers. Bholi confidently asks her father not to worry about her as she would become a teacher and look after her parents when they get old. It is evident from such a statement that education is always a great asset for a woman. Education gave Bholi self-confidence, and she learned about self-respect. She became aware of her rights. Her teacher’s encouragement, inspiration and love made her study more and emerge as a bold girl rather than a ‘dumb cow’. She had said to an intimidated, stammering Bholi, “Put the fear out of your heart and you will be able to speak like anyone else.” Bholi refused to marry a greedy, contemptible coward, stopped her father from paying the huge amount of dowry, and, imbued with moral values, Bholi decided to take care of the same parents who had neglected and treated her indifferently all her life.

Question 2. Bholi was believed to be a ‘dumb cow’. What turned her into a fearless, bold and confident girl? (Foreign 2016)
Answer: The story ‘Bholi’ throws light on some social evils being practised in our society. Bholi took a stand and succeeded in overcoming the social barriers. Bholi confidently asks her father not to worry about her as she would become a teacher and look after her parents when they get old. It is evident from such a statement that education is always a great asset for a woman. Education gave Bholi self-confidence, and she learned about self-respect. She became aware of her rights. Her teacher’s encouragement, inspiration and love made her study more and emerge as a bold girl rather than a ‘dumb cow’. She had said to an intimidated, stammering Bholi, “Put the fear out of your heart and you will be able to speak like anyone else.” Bholi refused to marry a greedy, contemptible coward, stopped her father from paying the huge amount of dowry, and, imbued with moral values, Bholi decided to take care of the same parents who had neglected and treated her indifferently all her life.

Question 3. “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. Taking help from the lesson ‘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? (Delhi 2015)
Answer: “Put the fear out of your heart and you will be able to speak like anyone else.” The 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.
However, this was not always the case with Bholi. 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 the laughing stock of 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.
Children who are mentally or physically challenged should be treated with love, care and sympathy, as doing so can really work wonders. Kind words, a demonstration of love and affection and a sympathetic pat help them gain confidence, enable them to believe in themselves and compete with others, and ultimately help them become socially accepted. Such children need social and parental attention and encouragement so that they come out of their complex.

Question 4. The story ‘Bholi’ throws light on some social evils being practised in our society. Bholi took a stand and succeeded in overcoming social barriers. What can you contribute to change the social attitudes illustrated in the story? (Foreign 2014)
Answer: Social discrimination against women has been highlighted in the narrative of ‘Bholi’, where women are considered a liability, a burden to be borne till they are eventually disposed of in marriage.
The family in particular and society at large have no faith in their capabilities and hence do not consider it essential to educate girls. But Bholi’s example proves that daughters are capable and responsible in supporting the family just as the menfolk, and can be breadwinners if the family invests in their education.
A significant change in social attitudes can be brought about by creating awareness and counselling. Mass media such as television is very influential, and significant work is already being done to initiate a change in attitude towards girls. Women in our Indian culture are the ‘Ghar ki Lakshmi’ and deserve to be honoured.

Question 5. What social attitudes are presented in the story ‘Bholi’? How does Bholi’s teacher help her overcome these barriers? (Delhi 2013)
Answer: There are various social attitudes present in the story ‘Bholi’. Discrimination against the girl child, for instance, is evident from the fact that Ramlal sent his sons to school and college to get an education but not his daughters. All of his daughters were married off at an early age. Ramlal’s wife dismissed the idea of sending girls to school because, she felt, nobody would marry educated girls. But Bholi was an exception because both of her parents thought that there was little chance of her getting married. Since Bholi was a simpleton and didn’t have good looks, her family as well as others neglected her and treated her indifferently. The other social attitude present in the story is the demand for dowry and the willingness to fulfil that demand. Bishamber Nath threatened to leave without marrying Bholi if Ramlal did not pay the sum of five thousand rupees as dowry, and Ramlal agreed to pay because his family’s honour was at stake.
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.

Question 6. How was Bholi ‘like a dumb cow’? How did she become a confident person? (AI 2012)
Answer: The story ‘Bholi’ throws light on some social evils being practised in our society. Bholi took a stand and succeeded in overcoming the social barriers. Bholi confidently asks her father not to worry about her as she would become a teacher and look after her parents when they get old. It is evident from such a statement that education is always a great asset for a woman. Education gave Bholi self-confidence, and she learned about self-respect. She became aware of her rights. Her teacher’s encouragement, inspiration and love made her study more and emerge as a bold girl rather than a ‘dumb cow’. She had said to an intimidated, stammering Bholi, “Put the fear out of your heart and you will be able to speak like anyone else.” Bholi refused to marry a greedy, contemptible coward, stopped her father from paying the huge amount of dowry, and, imbued with moral values, Bholi decided to take care of the same parents who had neglected and treated her indifferently all her life.

Question 7. On the basis of your understanding of the story, sketch the character of Bholi. (AI 2011)
Answer: Bholi’s real name was Sulekha. She was called Bholi, which literally means ‘the simpleton’, because she was a backward child. When she was only ten months old, she fell on her head, which damaged some part of her brain. When she grew up a little, at the age of two, she had an attack of smallpox. Her entire body (except her eyes) was disfigured by deep black pock-marks. If that wasn’t enough, when Sulekha first spoke at the age of five, her speech wasn’t clear; she stammered. Since the other children mimicked and made fun of her, Bholi talked even less. Owing to her handicaps, Bholi was neglected and treated indifferently even by her family.
Things started to look up for the introvert Bholi on the day she started going to school. Bholi hadn’t uttered a word until her teacher asked her name. Bholi stammered and immediately became quiet as the children laughed at her. However, as time passed, with the encouragement, inspiration and love showered on her by her teacher, Bholi became a smart, confident and fearless girl. She refused to get married to an aged, mean, greedy, cowardly and heartless person such as Bishamber Nath. In the end Bholi decided that she would remain unmarried all her life if she had to. She decided that she would rather look after her aged parents and teach in the same school where she studied, and become a kind and compassionate teacher like the one she had.
Therefore, Bholi’s teacher played an important role in changing the course of Bholi’s life.

Question 8. Bholi is a child different from others. This difference makes her an object of neglect and laughter. Elaborate. (Delhi 2019)
Answer: Bholi’s real name was Sulekha. She was called Bholi, which literally means ‘the simpleton’, because she was a backward child. When she was only ten months old, she fell on her head, which damaged some part of her brain. When she grew up a little, at the age of two, she had an attack of smallpox. Her entire body (except her eyes) was disfigured by deep black pock-marks. If that wasn’t enough, when Sulekha first spoke at the age of five, her speech wasn’t clear; she stammered. Since the other children mimicked and made fun of her, Bholi talked even less. Owing to her handicaps, Bholi was neglected and treated indifferently even by her family.
Things started to look up for the introvert Bholi on the day she started going to school. Bholi hadn’t uttered a word until her teacher asked her name. Bholi stammered and immediately became quiet as the children laughed at her. However, as time passed, with the encouragement, inspiration and love showered on her by her teacher, Bholi became a smart, confident and fearless girl. She refused to get married to an aged, mean, greedy, cowardly and heartless person such as Bishamber Nath. In the end Bholi decided that she would remain unmarried all her life if she had to. She decided that she would rather look after her aged parents and teach in the same school where she studied, and become a kind and compassionate teacher like the one she had.
Therefore, Bholi’s teacher played an important role in changing the course of Bholi’s life.

Question 9. What do you know about Bishamber Nath? Why did Bholi refuse to marry him? (Board Question)
Answer: Bishamber was a middle-aged man. He was nearly as old as Bholi’s father. He limped while walking. He also had children from his first wife. He had a big house and a shop and also a lot of money in the bank. He agreed to marry Bholi without demanding dowry. But when he came to marry her on the day of wedding, he asked for Rs 5000 to marry Bholi after seeing the pock scars on her face. Bholi’s father Ramlal begged him to not demand for dowry but Bishamber stuck to his demand. Ramlal placed his turban at his feet but Bishamber was not moved. At last, Ramlal went in, opened his locker and came out with Rs 5000 and placed the money at Bishamber’s feet. But Bholi refused to marry such a mean and greedy person and decided to remain unmarried to take care of her parents.

Question 10. How did education change Bholi‘s personality? (Board Question)
Answer: Bholi used to be a meek girl. She had pockmarks on her entire body. Her brain got damaged when she was just ten months old. She was also a slow learner. She could not speak till she was five. Later on, she suffered from stammering while speaking. She was sent to school just for a formality. Her parents were not serious about her studies. But her teacher changed her life. She encouraged her to speak properly and to become independent. She taught Bholi what is good and what is bad. and also how to differentiate between right and wrong. Education totally changed her personality. Even then she behaved like an obedient girl and agreed to marry Bishamber who was fifty years old. She could not stand his demand of dowry hence, she refused to fulfill Bishamber’s demand of five thousand rupees and denied marrying him. Thus, education changed her attitude towards her life.

Question 11. Education is the passport to a better life. Discuss on the basis of the story ‘Bholi’.
Answer: Bholi is the neglected, ostracized child in a family in a village. She lacks looks and intelligence and hence, is often made fun of and called a ‘dumb cow’. Then she gets the opportunity to attend school and learns to read and write. She is educated and this increases her self confidence and makes her a stronger person. She is an example of how education changes the way one thinks and how then one has the confidence to fight against the social barriers in order to lead a happier life. Education helps one recognise his rights and duties. Understanding one’s duties makes, one responsible, while the knowledge of one’s rights equips a person with courage and confidence. Education, for Bholi, has been the passport to a better life.

Question 12. What social injustices does the story ‘Bholi’ highlight? Discuss them with Bholi as the one affected.
Answer: The story highlights some of our society’s injustices. One of them is gender bias. Bholi, being a girl, is treated differently. When her parents have to send a girl to school, they feel that educating a girl will be a barrier to her marriage. The other injustice is towards special–needs children. There is zero tolerance towards special-needs children in our society. Here, Bholi is often made fun of because she is less intelligent. Another major injustice is for ‘looks’ and stammering. When it comes to her marriage, she is being made to get married off at a very young age and that too with an old and limping man. Had she been beautiful and normal like others, her parents would have never thought of marrying her to such a person. The curse of dowry is an element in the story. Bholi has a pockmarked face due to small pox and also stammers as a child. All this leads to her being treated cruelly by her own family.

Question 13. 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? (Board Question)
Answer: Bholi, despite her pet name, slowly gained her confidence and a good education with the help of her teacher. She understood how society worked and was brave enough to stand up against the evils present in the society. She saved her father from huge expenses and became his support in his old age by refusing to marry Bishamber who was an old and lame man. She also refused to pay the dowry of five thousand rupees. She stood up with courage and acted boldly in spite of being aware that she might not get married. Bholi decided to serve her parents in their old age and work in the same school in which she studied.

Question 14. 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? (Board Question)
Answer: Education is always a great asset especially in the life of a woman. Education brings about a change in the quality of life of a woman. Education also helps change the outlook of a woman, the way she perceives things and how she responds to situations. Bholi was a simple girl. She had pockmarks on her face as a result of which, she was shunned for her looks. Her parents as well as the villagers neglected her. She was sent to school where she received great encouragement from her teacher. Despite her education, she did not get any marriage prospects mainly due to her looks. Bishamber, her prospective husband, was a lame, old man who was greedy for Bholi’s money. Bholi, however, took a bold step and rejected Bishamber’s marriage proposal. She promised to serve her parents in their old age and went back to teach in the school where she had studied.

Question 15. What social attitudes are presented in the story, ‘Bholi’? How does Bholi’s teacher help her overcome these barriers ? (Board Question)
Answer: Bholi stammered, so everyone used to laugh and make fun of her. In the beginning, when she first started attending school, she was afraid to even look up when questioned as she was just a bundle of nerves. Her teacher treated her kindly and affectionately. She encouraged her to have confidence in herself and to be bold, confirming that she would be able to break the barrier of stammering and be like the other girls. The teacher taught her to read and write and made her an independent girl who was aware of her rights. This changed her life.