CBSE Class 10 English Madam Rides the Bus Important Questions Set 01

Extract Based Questions

Extract 1

(a). 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) had a strong desire to take a ride on the bus.

(b). 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) 1, 3 and 4

(c). ‘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) longing to ride the bus.

(d). A part of the extract has been paraphrased. Choose the option that includes the most appropriate solution to the blanks. The desire became so (1) ______ that it transformed into an (2) ______ one. Valli would look (3) ______ at people who boarded the bus and got off.
(a) (1) active (2) overt (3) longingly
(b) (1) vigorous (2) overpowering (3) cheerfully
(c) (1) staunch (2) overt (3) joyfully
(d) (1) vigorous (2) overpowering (3) longingly
Answer: (d) (1) vigorous (2) overpowering (3) longingly

(e). 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) The wish developed in her head over a period of time.

Extract 2

(a). Valli picked up small details about the bus journey because ______.
(a) she was a curious girl by nature.
(b) she was planning a secret mission.
(c) she was planning a secret ride to the town.
(d) she was planning to run away from her home.
Answer: (c) she was planning a secret ride to the town.

(b). Which of the following statements are true according to the passage?
1. Valli found the bus fare to be very less.
2. Valli tried to gather information about the bus ride.
3. Valli listened to the conversations of people regarding the bus drive.
4. The town was ten miles away from Valli’s village.
5. The Valli wanted to ride on two-different buses to have a good experience.
6. The journey to the town and back costs Valli sixty paise.
7. The adults found the bus ride inexpensive
(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 3, 4 and 7
(c) 2, 3, 6 and 7
(d) 4,5 and 6
Answer: (c) 2, 3, 6 and 7

(c). What traits of her personality does Valli show when she plans to take a ride by bus to the town? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer: Valli displays her cleverness, thorough planning, painstaking attention to the details and most of all courage for a young girl who had never ventured out on her own. This is proof that the girl is independent-minded and can take her own decisions.

(d). What is the meaning of the word ‘fortune’ as used in the passage? write its meaning and use it in a sentence of your own.
Answer: ‘a tidy sum or amount of money’. In the 60’s, even a salary of 200 Rs was considered a fortune.

Extract 3

(a). Which of the following statements are true (T) or false (F)? Valli’s conversation with the bus conductor does not show that she was ______.
1. afraid of talking to strangers.
2. lacking in confidence.
3. travelling without a ticket.
4. travelling unescorted.
(a) TTFT
(b) FTTT
(c) TFTT
(d) TTTF
Answer: (d) TTTF

(b). Why is the voice of Valli referred to as ‘small’?
Answer: Valli was a young girl of eight and so her voice was small too.

(c). Valli showed the coins to the bus conductor to ______.
(a) convince him that she wasn’t asking for a free ride.
(b) prove that she could travel alone.
(c) show off her money.
(d) imitate the behaviour of an adult passenger.
Answer: (a) convince him that she wasn’t asking for a free ride.

(d). What would be the antonym of the word ‘commandingly’ as used in the passage? mention it and use it in a sentence of your own.
Answer: ‘imperceptibly’ The footsteps of the children were imperceptibly low when they entered the store to steal some goodies.

Extract 4

(a). Where was ‘madam’ going?
(a) Madam was going to the town.
(b) She was going to the next village.
(c) She was travelling out of town.
(d) Madam didn’t know where she was going.
Answer: (a) Madam was going to the town.

(b). With what intention did the conductor ask this question?
Answer: He asked this question in jest.

(c). What did the conductor ask Valli? What does this show about the man? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer: The conductor asked Valli if they could start the journey. He teased Valli in jest to make her feel comfortable and confident. His pretense of treating her as ‘Madam’ has a desired effect on the young girl who successfully completes the grand mission of her maiden bus ride.

(d). The description of an object, place, or person can be primarily done in three different ways. How does the author describe the new bus? Choose from the given options.
(a) Objective description: there is no emotional response provoked by what is being described.
(b) Subjective description: the approach is personal and emotional.
(c) Figurative description: relies on creating likenesses between objects, often through similes.
Answer: (a) Objective description: there is no emotional response provoked by what is being described.

Extract 5

(a). The word ‘devoured’ as used in the passage shows that Valli ______ everything she saw.
(a) ate greedily
(b) consumed
(c) obsessed
(d) absorbed
Answer: (d) absorbed

(b). Valli stood up on her seat because ______.
(a) she didn’t get enough space on the seat.
(b) she could not see outside the window while seated.
(c) her legs were aching.
(d) she felt uncomfortable.
Answer: (b) she could not see outside the window while seated.

(c). What was obstructing Valli’s view? Why else was she facing the problem? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer: The canvas blind of the window that covered the lower part of the window was obstructing Valli’s view. She was just an eight-year-old girl and her small height didn’t allow her to enjoy the sights while sitting so, she stood up on the seat.

(d). Which traits of Valli’s personality get reflected in this extract?
Answer: Valli was observant and noticed everything keenly. She was a naturally curious girl and quite smart for her age. She was aware of her surroundings, the neighbours, and the conversations taking place and absorbed everything like a sponge.

Extract 6

(a). Valli saved the money for bus fare by resisting the temptations. So she did not ______.
(a) give up the temptations.
(b) give in to the temptations.
(c) give away the temptations.
(d) give off the temptations.
Answer: (b) give in to the temptations.

(b). How was Valli able to save enough for the bus fare? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer: By not buying peppermints, toys, or balloons, and resisting a joyride on the merry-go-round Valli was able to save enough for to and fro bus fare. Valli’s ability to resist temptation tells us that she was a resolute girl who could resist temptation.

(c). What did Valli have to do for her first bus ride to be successful?
(a) She had to oppress her desire to enjoy at the fair.
(b) She had to restrain herself from eating sweetmeats.
(c) She had to suppress her wish to spend the money on little frills.
(d) She had to oppress herself from going on the merry-go-round.
Answer: (c) She had to suppress her wish to spend the money on little frills.

(d). What is the contextual antonym of the word ‘painstaking’ in the passage above? Use it in a sentence of your own.
Answer: ‘careless’. A careless driver is a danger to everyone on the road.

Extract 7

(a). Valli no longer wanted to look out of the window because ______.
(a) she was tired after a long journey
(b) her mood had got spoiled
(c) she felt satisfied with her adventures for a day
(d) she was now bored
Answer: (b) her mood had got spoiled

(b). Valli looked sad and upset at the end of the journey because ______.
(a) the ride had finally come to an end.
(b) she will have to save money for another bus ride.
(c) she saw a dead cow lying on the road.
(d) the ride was not as exciting as she had anticipated.
Answer: (c) she saw a dead cow lying on the road.

(c). What do you think happened to the cow? What was the cause of its death? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer: On her way back, Valli saw the cow lying in a pool of blood, legs spread-eagled, with a fixed stare in its lifeless eyes. In death, it looked horrible and sad lying abandoned by the roadside. It must have been hit by a speeding bus.

(d). Study the statement: ‘The memory of the dead cow haunted her, dampening her enthusiasm.’ State which of the options from (i) to (iv) can be applied to the given situation in the extract.
(a) Climax- the highest point of tension or drama in a narrative’s plot
(b) Anti-climax- sudden transition in discourse from a significant idea to a trivial one
(c) Open-ended story - the reader is left to draw his conclusions from what is presented to him
(d) Expanded ending- a jump forward in time, and occasionally a change in perspective of the reader
Answer: (b) Anti-climax- sudden transition in discourse from a significant idea to a trivial one

Extract 8

(a). Valli spends all day looking at the hustle and bustle of the street. It tells us that:
(a) Valli avoids doing household work and homework.
(b) Valli is completely idle.
(c) Valli is eager to know about new and unknown things.
(d) Valli’s parents don’t bother about Valli’s needs.
Answer: (c) Valli is eager to know about new and unknown things.

(b). Choose the option that lists the statement that are NOT TRUE according to the given extract.
1. Valli has no friends to play with, so she spends her time on watching outside.
2. Valli yearns for travelling by bus.
3. Valli reluctantly stands in the front door as she has no friends.
4. Valli is a quarrelsome girl. That is why she has no friend.
5. Valli learns about many new things while standing in the front doorway watching things.
6. Valli is a matured girl. So whatever she is doing is absolutely right.
(a) 1, 2 and 5
(b) 2, 4 and 5
(c) 3, 4 and 6
(d) 2, 3 and 6
Answer: (c) 3, 4 and 6

(c). Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s (F) and opinion/s (O) of the students below.
(1) I think, Valli should not waste so much time on watching things.
(2) Oh, No! She is compelled to do so as she has no friends.
(3) I feel, her mother should prevent her from doing so as time is very precious.
(4) Let’s not forget that Valli does so when her mother sleeps.
(a) F – 1, 3 and O – 2, 4
(b) F – 2, 4 and O – 1, 3
(c) F – 2, 3 and O – 1, 4
(d) F – 1, 2 and O – 3, 4
Answer: (b) F – 2, 4 and O – 1, 3

(d). Why does Valli spend so much time on watching the activities going on outside?
(a) She has no friends to play with.
(b) Her parents do not prevent her from doing so.
(c) She is eager to know about new things.
(d) All of these.
Answer: (d) All of these.

(e). The extract uses the phrase, ‘favourite pastime’. Which of the following expressions is INCORRECT with respect to the word ‘pastime’?
PASTIME
(1) Game
(2) Recreation
(3) Relax
(4) Entertainment
(a) Option (1)
(b) Option (2)
(c) Option (3)
(d) Option (4)
Answer: (c) Option (3)

(f). How old was Valli?
Answer: Valli was eight years old.

(g). What was her favourite pastime?
Answer: Her favourite pastime was standing at the front door of her house.

(h). Why did she stand alone at the door?
Answer: She stood alone watching what was happening in the street.

(i). Why was watching the street pleasant for her?
Answer: Watching the street gave her many new and unusual experiences.

(j). How was she different from other children?
Answer: Unlike other children, she had no playmates. She did not play games, but watched the street before her house.

Extract 9

(a). “Oh, please don’t be angry with me, my fine madam.” The conductor said it to Valli:
(a) respectfully
(b) sarcastically
(c) angrily
(d) lovingly
Answer: (b) sarcastically

(b). Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are NOT TRUE according to the given extract.
1. The conductor was a self-centred person and did not help Valli.
2. In fact, Valli did not want to take the conductor’s help.
3. The bus was full of passengers.
4. The conductor told other passengers to make way for Valli.
5. Valli was very nervous while travelling in the bus.
(a) 2, 3 and 5
(b) 1, 2 and 4
(c) 2, 4 and 5
(d) 1, 3 and 5
Answer: (d) 1, 3 and 5

(c). Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s (F) and opinion/s (O) of the students below.
(1) I think, Valli was a bold and self-reliant girl.
(2) I feel, she was an over-confident girl which was not good for her.
(3) In my opinion, she was absolutely right. How can one trust a stranger? In such case one must be confident.
(4) Let’s not forget that her act of boldness in the bus was adored by all passengers and the conductor.
(a) F – 1, 3 and O – 2, 4
(b) F – 2, 3 and O – 1, 4
(c) F – 1, 2 and O – 3, 4
(d) F – 4 and O – 1, 2, 3
Answer: (d) F – 4 and O – 1, 2, 3

(d). Valli was angry with the conductor as the conductor:
(a) said ‘madam’ to Valli.
(b) stretched his hand to help her.
(c) demanded bus fare from her.
(d) didn’t offer her any seat.
Answer: (b) stretched his hand to help her.

(e). The extract uses the phrase, “slack time”. Which of the following expressions is INCORRECT with respect to the word ‘slack’?
SLACK
(1) Slow
(2) Loose
(3) Lax
(4) Stagnant
(a) Option (1)
(b) Option (2)
(c) Option (3)
(d) Option (4)
Answer: (b) Option (2)

(f). What was the nature of the conductor?
Answer: The conductor was a jolly person who was fond of joking.

(g). What did he ask others to do?
Answer: He asked others to make way for ‘madam’ Valli.

(h). Why were there only six or seven passengers in the bus?
Answer: It was the slack time of the day, therefore, there were not many passengers in the bus.

(i). How did Valli feel at that time?
Answer: Valli was overcome with shyness and avoided everyone’s eyes.

(j). Why did she choose the afternoon bus?
Answer: Her mother used to take a nap in the afternoon. So, to make two-ways journey, the afternoon bus was the good choice of her.

Extract 10

(a). Valli listened carefully to conversations:
(a) between her neighbours.
(b) between her friends.
(c) between her relatives.
(d) between her neighbours and the people who used the bus.
Answer: (d) between her neighbours and the people who used the bus.

(b). The town was:
(a) six miles from her village.
(b) six miles from the next village.
(c) five miles from the next village.
(d) seven miles from her village.
Answer: (a) six miles from her village.

(c). Valli was picking up various details:
(a) for the train journey.
(b) for her friend.
(c) for the bus journey.
(d) None of these.
Answer: (c) for the bus journey.

(d). What was the bus fare?
(a) Thirty paise one way
(b) Twenty paise one way
(c) Thirty five paise one way
(d) None of these
Answer: (a) Thirty paise one way

(e). Which word is ODD one out with reference to the meaning of ‘discreet’?
DISCREET
(1) Careful
(2) Inconsistent
(3) Delicate
(4) Judicious
(a) Option (1)
(b) Option (2)
(c) Option (3)
(d) Option (4)
Answer: (b) Option (2)

(f). How was Valli related to the passengers?
Answer: Most of them were her neighbours.

(g). Why did she need small details of the bus ride?
Answer: Because she had never rode a bus.

(h). What quality of her character is shown here?
Answer: She was a sincere girl.

(i). What do you understand by ‘a few discreet questions’.
Answer: Various details needed by Valli for her first bus ride.

(j). How did Valli save the bus fare?
Answer: She had to suppress her wants to save the bus fare which was difficult for a child of her age.

Extract 11

(a). Suddenly Valli clapped her hands:
(a) with great excitement.
(b) with great anxiety.
(c) with great surprise.
(d) with great happiness.
Answer: (d) with great happiness.

(b). A young cow was running very fast:
(a) along the road.
(b) behind the bus.
(c) on the side of the road.
(d) in the middle of the road.
Answer: (d) in the middle of the road.

(c). What made the cow frightened?
(a) The speed of the bus
(b) The driver of the bus
(c) The constant honk of the bus
(d) The behaviour of passengers
Answer: (c) The constant honk of the bus

(d). This extract has been picked from the story:
(a) Madam Rides the Bus
(b) Tea from Assam
(c) Glimpses of India
(d) None of these
Answer: (a) Madam Rides the Bus

(e). Which word is ODD one out with reference to the meaning of ‘galloped’?
GALLOPED
(1) Rushed
(2) Sounded
(3) Ran
(4) Raced
(a) Option (1)
(b) Option (2)
(c) Option (3)
(d) Option (4)
Answer: (b) Option (2)

(f). Why did Valli clap her hands?
Answer: She clapped her hands with glee on seeing a young cow running fast right in front of the bus.

(g). What did the driver do?
Answer: The driver slowed the bus to a crawl and sounded his horn loudly again and again.

(h). What effect did honking have on the animal?
Answer: The more he honked, the more frightened the animal became and the faster it galloped.

(i). Why did the young cow gallop on the road?
Answer: It was frightened by the loud, repeated honking of the bus.

(j). How would Valli have enjoyed her first bus ride?
Answer: She enjoyed it thoroughly, gaping at every new sight and laughing at the funny scene of the cow.

Extract 12

(a). Valli had a strong desire to:
(a) visit another town.
(b) ride a bus.
(c) have a conversation with some strangers.
(d) enjoy the beauty of nature.
Answer: (b) ride a bus.

(b). Why would Valli stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus?
(a) She wanted to learn how to get on and off the bus.
(b) She wanted to see what sort of dresses people wear when they go outside.
(c) She had a desire to ride a bus.
(d) She wanted to see how much crowd was there in a bus.
Answer: (c) She had a desire to ride a bus.

(c). Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are NOT TRUE according to the extract.
1. Valli was fond of looking at the crowd.
2. Actually she had a deep desire to travel by bus.
3. Valli did not ride the bus as she had no friends.
4. She used to listen to conversations between her neighbours to get information about bus.
5. She was alone in her home in the afternoon and to pass her time, she stared at buses.
6. She had no friends to play with, and hence she looked at the bus.
(a) 2, 3 and 4
(b) 1, 4 and 5
(c) 1, 3 and 5
(d) 3, 4 and 6
Answer: (c) 1, 3 and 5

(d). Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s (F) and opinion/s (O) of the students below:
(1) I think, Valli should not have wasted so much time on watching buses.
(2) I feel, Valli was not wrong to watch buses as she had no friends to play with.
(3) But she could have devoted that time to study.
(4) Actually, she could not help but watch the buses as she developed a strong desire to ride the bus.
(a) F – 1, 3 and O – 2, 4
(b) F – 4 and O – 1, 2, 3
(c) F – 2, 3 and O – 1, 4
(d) F – 3, 4 and O – 1, 2
Answer: (b) F – 4 and O – 1, 2, 3

(e). Which word does ‘longings’ NOT correspond to?
(a) Yearnings
(b) Pinings
(c) Dreamings
(d) Cravings
Answer: (c) Dreamings

(f). How did Valli’s wish turned into an overwhelming desire?
Answer: Watching the bus day after day, her tiny wish to ride it grew stronger and stronger until it became an overwhelming desire.

(g). Why did she like to watch the bus?
Answer: She liked to watch the bus because she longed to ride on it, even if just once.

(h). How did she feel if some of her friends happened to ride the bus?
Answer: She felt too jealous to listen and would shout “Proud! Proud!”

(i). What did she mean by discreet questions?
Answer: Discreet questions were careful, cautious questions asked so that no one would guess her secret plan.

(j). What nature of Valli as a child is reflected in the extract?
Answer: It reflects her curious, determined and secretive nature.

(k). What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
Answer: Valli enjoyed watching the bus and its new set of passengers every time it crossed the village. It gave her a never ending joy. Her strongest desire was to travel in the bus and take a ride to the nearby town and back.

(l). What do you think Valli was planning to do?
Answer: Valli was planning secretively to fulfill her desire of travelling by bus without her mother noticing.

Extract 13

(a). Why is it fair to say that Valli’s tone, when she says, “You needn’t bother about me. I can take care of myself,” is one of annoyance and frustration?
Answer: The use of phrases like “You needn’t bother” suggests that Valli feels bothered and annoyed by the persistent inquiries of the old woman.

(b). Read the following descriptions and identify which one correctly corresponds to the extract.
(a) Valli was nervous about travelling alone and avoided eye contact.
(b) Valli confidently asserted her independence and laughed off the comments.
(c) Valli was annoyed by the old woman’s questions and remained silent.
Answer: (b) Valli confidently asserted her independence and laughed off the comments.

(c). Complete the sentence appropriately:
Valli displayed a desire for ______ when responding to the old woman’s intrusive questions.
Answer: privacy

(d). Comment on the way Valli responds to the other people on the bus. What qualities about her shine through? Write your answer in around 40 words.
Answer: Valli’s self-assured manner is evident in her curt answers and her dismissive attitude towards bothersome inquiries. In the face of other people’s questions on the bus, she displays a strong sense of self-confidence and self-reliance by asserting her independence.

(e). State any one inference about Valli from the given context:
‘Oh, why don’t you mind your own business,’ said Valli. But she laughed all the same.
Answer: Valli was bold and independent but also good-humoured; she could snub interference and still enjoy the joke.

(f). Which phrase would correctly substitute ‘drivel’ in the given sentence from the extract?
But the old woman went on with her drivel.
Answer: silly, pointless talk

(g). State TRUE or FALSE:
None of the terms (1)-(4) below can be applied to the old woman’s persistent questioning in the given context.
(1) Intrusive
(2) Respectful
(3) Curious
(4) Supportive
Answer: False

(h). Comment on the author’s use of language in these lines in about 40 words.
Answer: The author uses lively, natural dialogue that brings the scene to life. Words like ‘curtly’ and ‘drivel’ and the string of questions from the old woman contrast with Valli’s crisp replies, revealing her confidence and the humour of the situation.

Extract 14

(a). Complete the sentence appropriately:
Valli would stare wistfully at the people as she ______.
Answer: had a strong desire to take a ride on the bus

(b). Why is it fair to say that Valli’s tone, when she says “Proud! Proud!”, is of jealousy and longing? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer: Valli’s tone is of jealousy and longing because she envied the people who rode the bus, as she had an overwhelming desire to ride it herself. Unable to bear her friends’ descriptions of the town, she shouted at them, which shows her longing to ride the bus.

(c). 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) The wish developed in her head over a period of time.

(d). Why does Valli’s wish to ride the bus become an “overwhelming desire”? What does this reveal about her character?
Answer: Valli’s life in the village appears mundane. Watching the bus and hearing about the town sparks a desire for something exciting in her life. The bus represents possibilities and dreams beyond her day-to-day life. Her desire reveals her yearning for freedom and adventure.

Extract 15

(a). Why is it appropriate to say that Valli’s tone, when she smiles to herself, is sly or mischievous? Answer in about 40 words.
Answer: Valli knew that she had just made a secret trip to the town without anyone’s knowledge. When her mother spoke of things happening without our knowledge, Valli agreed and smiled to herself, enjoying her secret. This hidden amusement makes her smile sly and mischievous.

(b). The phrase “there wasn’t much chance of that” implies that:
(a) Valli’s smile was difficult to understand.
(b) Valli’s mother and aunt were unlikely to comprehend Valli’s thoughts.
(c) Valli’s aunt considered her too young to be part of their conversation.
(d) Valli’s observations and experiences were beyond the comprehension of adults.
Answer: (b) Valli’s mother and aunt were unlikely to comprehend Valli’s thoughts.

(c). What does Valli’s aunt mean when she refers to Valli as “just a chit of a girl”?
(a) Valli is a curious and intelligent young girl.
(b) Valli is a small and insignificant girl.
(c) Valli is a mischievous and playful girl.
(d) Valli is a talkative and opinionated girl.
Answer: (b) Valli is a small and insignificant girl.

(d). If an actor were to enact this extract, what would she be required to focus on, while modulating her voice?
Answer: The actor playing Valli would need a dreamy, soft tone for “Oh, yes!” and then an innocent, slightly playful tone while explaining herself, hiding her secret.