CBSE Class 10 English Madam Rides the Bus Important Questions Set 02

Extract Based Questions

Extract 1

(a). Who is the ‘girl’ mentioned in the passage?
Answer: The girl mentioned in the passage is eight-year-old Valli.

(b). Why didn’t she get off the bus when she reached her destination?
Answer: Valli didn’t get off the bus when she reached her destination, the town, because she was too afraid to go out all by herself.

(c). Write the meaning of the word ‘amused’. (CBSE Delhi 2015)
Answer: finding something funny; entertained

Extract 2

(a). Standing at the front door and watching the street, makes Valli __________.
(a) curious
(b) courteous
(c) shy
(d) unique
Answer: (a) curious

(b). From the options given below, find a word from the extract that means the same as not very common.
(a) Elaborate
(b) Fascinating
(c) Unusual
(d) Habitual
Answer: (c) Unusual

(c). What did Valli get from watching the street?
Choose one from the following to answer:
(a) Boredom
(b) Fascination
(c) Unusual Experience
(d) apathetic
Answer: (c) Unusual Experience

(d). What fascinated Valli the most?
1. The bus conductor.
2. The colour of the bus.
3. The bus driver.
4. The sight of the bus.
5. The bus travelling between her village and the town.
Choose the correct option:
(a) (1), (2), and (3)
(b) (2), (3), and (4)
(c) (4) and (5)
(d) (3), (4), and (5)
Answer: (c) (4) and (5)

(e). Select the option which displays an example of ‘fascinating’.
(a) The terminal exams result was announced and the students were tensed.
(b) The children tiredly looked at their online classroom program on their computers.
(c) Anna visited the mall with her friends.
(d) The flying display of the air force planes on Independence Day.
Answer: (d) The flying display of the air force planes on Independence Day.

Extract 3

(a). Why did the bus slowed down to a crawl? The bus slowed down because:
(1) People had to get into the bus.
(2) Valli shouted and stopped the bus.
(3) Valli wanted to board the bus.
(4) Valli had to get off the bus.
(5) Conductor had asked Valli to get off the bus.
Choose the correct option from the following:
(a) (1) and (5)
(b) (1), (3) and (4)
(c) (2) and (3)
(d) (2), (4) and (5)
Answer: (c) (2) and (3)

(b). Select the most appropriate option for (1) and (2).
(1) The bus slowed down to a crawl.
(2) The bus came to an abrupt halt.
(a) (1) is true and (2) is false.
(b) (2) is the opposite of (1).
(c) (1) furthers the meaning of (2).
(d) Both (1) and (2) cannot be inferred from the extract.
Answer: (c) (1) furthers the meaning of (2).

(c). From the options given below, identify Valli’s tone in the extract.
(a) Cool
(b) Eager
(c) Shy
(d) timid
Answer: (b) Eager

(d). Select the option which displays an example of ‘stretched out a hand’ similar in meaning to the text used in the extract.
(a) He was dancing to the music stretching out his hands and shaking his feet.
(b) The teacher asked the students to stretch out their hands during the Physical training session.
(c) The old lady slipped while walking in the rain, Jane seeing her helped her up to her feet.
(d) The little beggar boy stretched out his hands asking for alms.
Answer: (c) The old lady slipped while walking in the rain, Jane seeing her helped her up to her feet.

(e). What do we get to know about Valli, when she says the following? “I can get on by myself. You don’t have to help me.”
Choose one from the following to answer:
(a) She is frightened of the conductor.
(b) She is trying to show that she is self-dependent.
(c) She is unsure of her own thoughts.
(d) She is afraid of the crowd.
Answer: (b) She is trying to show that she is self-dependent.

Extract 4

(a). What did not block Valli’s view from seeing outside the window of the bus?
1. The seats
2. The canvas blind
3. The conductor
4. The driver
5. Mountains
Choose the correct option from the following:
(a) (1) and (5)
(b) (1), (3), (4) and (5)
(c) (1) and (4)
(d) (2) and (5)
Answer: (b) (1), (3), (4) and (5)

(b). Select the most appropriate option for (1) and (2).
(1) Valli was very excited about the ride.
(2) Valli devoured everything with her eyes.
(a) (1) is true and (2) is false.
(b) (2) is the opposite of (1).
(c) (1) furthers the meaning of (2).
(d) Both (1) and (2) cannot be inferred from the extract.
Answer: (c) (1) furthers the meaning of (2).

(c). From the options given below, identify the word that is the synonym of ‘grasped the maximum’ in the extract.
(a) Wonderful
(b) Peered
(c) Blind
(d) Devoured
Answer: (d) Devoured

(d). Select the option which displays an example of ‘peered’ in the extract.
(a) The child curiously noticed the monkey eating bananas from behind a tree.
(b) The child stood and watched the cartoons on television.
(c) The teacher asked her to join her peers to complete the project.
(d) My sister went with her peers for a movie.
Answer: (a) The child curiously noticed the monkey eating bananas from behind a tree.

(e). What do you understand from the statement when Valli exclaimed Oh, it was all so wonderful!
Choose one from the following to answer:
(a) Valli was excited.
(b) Valli felt dejected.
(c) Valli was annoyed.
(d) Valli was disturbed.
Answer: (a) Valli was excited.

Extract 5

(a). Why did the conductor ask Valli “aren’t you ready to get off?
1. He thought she had forgotten the destination.
2. He wanted to guide her.
3. He jokingly asked her.
4. He casually asked her as the other passengers had left.
5. He thought she was too young and had lost her way.
Choose the correct option from the following:
(a) (1), (2) and (5)
(b) (2), (3) and (4)
(c) Only 2
(d) (2) and (5)
Answer: (a) (1), (2) and (5)

(b). Select the most appropriate option for (1) and (2).
(1) “I’m going back on this same bus.”
(2) She took another thirty paise from her pocket and handed the coins to the conductor.
(a) (1) is true and (2) is false.
(b) (2) is the opposite of (1).
(c) (2) further relates to (1).
(d) Both (1) and (2) cannot be inferred from the extract.
Answer: (c) (2) further relates to (1).

(c). From the options given below, identify why Valli didn’t get off the bus when she reached her destination?
(a) She was frightened.
(b) She had come for a bus ride.
(c) She had not enough money.
(d) She had not informed her mother.
Answer: (b) She had come for a bus ride.

(d). What can be inferred from the following line? “Why, is something the matter?”
(a) Concern of the passengers for Valli.
(b) Concern of the driver for Valli.
(c) Valli’s concern for the conductor.
(d) The conductor’s concern for Valli.
Answer: (d) The conductor’s concern for Valli.

(e). Select the option which displays an example of ‘amused’ in relation with the extract.
(a) The boy tried impressing his friends with his jokes.
(b) The little boy jumped over the hedge and was injured.
(c) The little girl went on a trek with her friends.
(d) The teacher was impressed with the young boy’s quick-witted answers.
Answer: (d) The teacher was impressed with the young boy’s quick-witted answers.

Extract 6

(a). One word that Valli and her friends often used as a slang expression of disapproval.
(a) Jealous
(b) Proud
(c) Never mind
(d) Okay
Answer: (b) Proud

(b). What is the word in the extract that is not similar to busy time of the day?
(a) Rush hour
(b) Interval
(c) Slack
(d) Busy
Answer: (c) Slack

(c). Valli was avoiding everyone’s eyes since_____.
(a) She was angry.
(b) She was overcome with shyness.
(c) She was afraid.
(d) She was alone.
Answer: (b) She was overcome with shyness.

(d). The conductor referred Valli with respect calling her:
(a) Baby
(b) Girly
(c) Madam
(d) Sir
Answer: (c) Madam

(e). Choose the correct option that describes the bus.
(a) Green with white stripes, with wooden seats, a golden clock and overhead bars shining like gold.
(b) White with green stripes, with luxurious hard seats, a golden clock and overhead gold bars.
(c) White with green stripes, with luxurious soft seats, a beautiful clock and overhead bars shining like silver.
(d) White with green stripes, with luxurious soft seats, a beautiful silver clock and overhead bars shining like silver.
Answer: (c) White with green stripes, with luxurious soft seats, a beautiful clock and overhead bars shining like silver.

Short Answer Questions

Question 1. What was Valli’s favourite pastime? (NCERT)
Answer: Valli’s favourite pastime was standing in the front door of her house and watching what was happening in the street outside.

Question 2. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire? (NCERT)
Answer: The sight of the village bus filled with a new set of passengers was a source of unending joy for Valli. Her strongest desire was to ride on the village bus at least once.

Question 3. What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out these details? (NCERT)
Answer: Valli found out that the bus went to the town which was six miles away from her village and took forty five minutes. She also found out that the fare was thirty paise one way.
She picked up these details by listening carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus and by asking a few discreet questions here and there.

Question 4. What do you think Valli was planning to do? (NCERT)
Answer: It seems Valli was planning to fulfil her strongest desire of riding the village bus.

Question 5. Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’? (NCERT)
Answer: The conductor called the young child as ‘Madam’ because Valli told him that she was not a child.

Question 6. Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now? (NCERT)
Answer: She wanted to enjoy the beauty outside the bus but because of a canvas blind, she was unable to see outside, so she stood on the seat.
Now she could see the canal, the palm trees, the grassland, the distant mountains and the blue sky outside.

Question 7. What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child? (NCERT)
Answer: When the elderly man called her a child, Valli told him that she was not a child as she was able to take care of herself.

Question 8. Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman? (NCERT)
Answer: Valli did not want to make friends with elderly woman because she was looking very ugly and abominable.

Question 9. How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for her? (NCERT)
Answer: Valli had managed to save a total of sixty paise by resisting every temptation such as buying peppermints, toys, balloons and the like. It had been difficult particularly on the day of the village fair as she had to stifle her strong desire to ride the merry-go-round.

Question 10. What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh? (NCERT)
Answer: Valli saw that a young cow, tail high in the air, was running very fast, right in the middle of the road. The horn of the bus frightened the animal and made it gallop still faster. This sight was very funny and Valli laughed heartily.

Question 11. Why didn’t she get off the bus at the bus station? (NCERT)
Answer: Valli did not get off the bus at the bus station as she had only thirty paise for her return journey and she was too afraid to go alone.

Question 12. Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does this tell you about her? (NCERT)
Answer: Valli was a wise little girl who did not want to mingle with strangers. Also she had no spare money. So she did not want to go to the stall and have a drink with the conductor.
It shows that Valli had a fair share of self-respect and took her decisions cautiously.

Question 13. What was Valli’s deepest desire? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this. (NCERT)
Answer: Valli’s deepest desire was to ride on the village bus even if only once.
Here are the words from the text that describe this—
‘overwhelming desire’, ‘wistfully’, ‘kindle in her longings’, ‘dreams’, ‘hopes’, ‘wish became stronger and stronger’.

Question 14. How did Valli plan her bus ride? What did she find out about the bus, and how did she save up the fare? (NCERT)
Answer: Valli picked up various small details about the bus journey by listening to the conversations between the bus users and asking a few questions here and there. She found out about the 30 paise bus fare from a well-dressed man. She also came to know that the journey took 45 minutes, one way. She chose afternoon time for her journey when her mother took a nap every day.
Thus, she very carefully planned her bus ride.

Question 15. Why does the conductor refer to Valli as ‘madam’? (NCERT)
Answer: The conductor was a jolly man. He was surprised to see a little girl travelling all by herself. Moreover, the girl was confident and behaving like grown-ups. Therefore, he naughtily calls Valli as ‘madam’.

Question 16. Find the lines in the text which tell you that Valli was enjoying her ride on the bus. (NCERT)
Answer: Here are a few lines from the text which tell us that Valli was enjoying her ride on a bus—
— “Valli devoured everything with her eyes.”
— “Oh, it was all so wonderful!”
— “---- gradually Valli too joined in the laughter.”
— “Suddenly Valli clapped her hands with glee.”
— “Somehow, this was very funny to Valli. She laughed and laughed until there were tears in her eyes.”
— “Struck dumb with wonder Valli gaped at everything.”
— “Valli wasn’t bored in the slightest and greeted everything with the same excitement she’d felt the first time.”

Question 17. Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back? (NCERT)
Answer: Valli was a sensitive girl. The image of the dead cow had dampened her enthusiasm. The memory of the lovable creature returned repeatedly to her mind so she refused to look out of the window on her way back.

Question 18. What does Valli mean when she says, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge?” (NCERT)
Answer: Valli returned back home with memory of the dead cow still fresh in her mind. So when she heard her mother and aunt talking, she too agreed that one cannot understand the mysteries of life. But when questioned about it, she didn’t want to reveal her trip to the town. In order to cover the facts, she said the above-mentioned statement.

Question 19. ‘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? (NCERT)
Answer: — Description of the bus—“It was a new bus ------- soft and luxurious.”
— Description of the sight outside—“The bus was going ------- so wonderful.”
— Description of the elderly woman—“Valli found the woman ------- at any moment.”
— “Sometimes the bus seemed on the point of gobbling another vehicle that was coming forward them or pedestrian crossing the road; But lo! Somehow it passed on smoothly, leaving all obstacles safely behind.”
— Description of the market—“Such big, bright ------- everything.”

Question 20. How did Valli react when she saw the dead cow by the roadside? (Delhi 2016)
Answer: When Valli saw the dead cow by the roadside, she was overwhelmed with sadness. The memory of the dead cow haunted her, depressing her enthusiasm. She no longer wanted to look out of the window.

Question 21. What was the most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street? (Delhi 2019)
Answer: Valli did not have any playmate of her age. She had a pastime of watching outside in the street. She used to watch the new passengers boarding the bus every day. The arrival of the bus was the most fascinating scene in the street for Valli. She watched the passengers boarding the bus and to listen to their conversation. The sight of the bus was a source of unending joy for Valli.

Question 22. What stopped Valli from going to the stall to have a drink? What do we learn about Valli from this? (CBSE 2023)
Answer: Valli was a wise little girl, who did not want to mingle with strangers. She had no spare money. So, she did not want to go to the stall and have a drink with the conductor. It shows that Valli had a fair share of self-respect and took her decisions cautiously.

Question 23. What information did Valli collect about the bus journey?
Answer: Valli collected some details of the journey. The city was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way. The trip takes forty five minutes one way. Now she could plan her journey by the bus in an easy way.

Question 24. How did Valli slip away from her house?
Answer: Valli had calculated that if she left her house at one o’clock she would be back by two forty-five. This was the time she could be away without the knowledge of her mother. She slipped from her house and boarded the bus.

Question 25. Why did Valli rebuke the elderly woman on the bus?
Answer: The elderly woman treated Valli as a child. She asked her many questions. She tried to make Valli feel that it was not proper for a child to travel alone. Valli did not like her appearance and unnecessary interference. She rebuked her saying that she was not a child and she could take care of herself.

Question 26. Why did Valli not get down from the bus in the town?
Answer: Valli did not get off the bus at the bus station because she had to come back to her village by the same bus. When the conductor asked her to get down, she refused to do so. She was afraid of moving alone. Moreover, she did not have money to buy things from there.

Question 27. What did Valli find her mother doing when she came back?
Answer: When Valli came back from the city, she found her mother standing and conversing with one of her aunts. They were discussing the things happening outside the world.