CBSE Class 10 English Madam Rides the Bus Worksheet Set C

Reference to Context

Suddenly she was startled by a voice. “Listen, child,” said the voice, “you shouldn’t stand like that. Sit down.” Sitting down, she looked to see who had spoken. It was an elderly man who had honestly been concerned for her, but she was annoyed by his attention. “There’s nobody here who’s a child,” she said haughtily. “I’ve paid my thirty paise like everyone else.” The conductor chimed in. “Oh, sir, but this is a very grown-up madam. Do you think a mere girl could pay her own fare and travel to the city all alone?” Valli shot an angry glance at the conductor and said, “I am not a madam. Please remember that. And you’ve not yet given me my ticket.” “I’ll remember,” the conductor said, mimicking her tone. Everyone laughed, and gradually Valli too joined in the laughter.

Question. How did Valli feel when the elderly man expressed concern that she was standing?
(a) rather shocked
(b) somewhat happy
(c) fairly displeased
(d) quite embarrassed
Answer: (c)

Question. Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are NOT TRUE according to the given extract.
1. Valli was travelling without a guardian.
2. The conductor was bullying Valli.
3. Valli was nervous in her interactions.
4. Valli was a child passenger.
5. Valli followed the elderly man’s advice.
6. Valli’s response to the elderly man was respectful.
7. It took Valli some time to participate in the jocular conversations.
(a) 2, 3, 4
(b) 5, 6, 7
(c) 3, 5, 7
(d) 2, 3, 6
Answer: (iv) 2, 3, 6

Question. Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s(F) and opinion/s(O) of the students below.
1. I think the conductor shouldn't have allowed Valli to board.
2. I feel that Valli was being irresponsible.
3. Let's not forget that Valli was a paying passenger like others.
4. Oh, come on! She was just out for an adventure, wasn't she?
(a) F - 1, 2 and O - 3, 4
(b) F - 2, 3, 4 and O - 1
(c) F - 2, 4 and O - 1, 3
(d) F - 3 and O - 1, 2, 4
Answer: (iv) F - 3 and O - 1, 2, 4

Question. Which word does ‘chimed in’ NOT correspond to?
(a) intervened
(b) interrupted
(c) intersected
(d) interjected
Answer: (iii) intersected

Question. Choose the characteristic displayed by the conductor when he addressed Valli and declared that she couldn’t be ‘a mere girl’.
(a) encouragement
(b) indulgence
(c) embarrassment
(d) authority
Answer: (ii) indulgence

“May we start now, madam?” the conductor asked, smiling. Then he blew his whistle twice, and the bus moved forward with a roar. It was a new bus, its outside painted a gleaming white with some green stripes along the sides. Inside, the overhead bars shone like silver. Directly in front of Valli, above the windshield, there was a beautiful clock. The seats were soft and luxurious. Valli devoured everything with her eyes. But when she started to look outside, she found her view cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window. So she stood up on the seat and peered over the blind.

Question. Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?
(a) Because Valli paid for her own ticket
(b) because Valli was a lady
(c) because Valli was married
(d) none of these
Answer: (i) Because Valli paid for her own ticket

Question. Why does Valli stand up on the seat?
(a) because she was tired of sitting
(b) because she was not enjoying
(c) because she wanted to look outside the window
(d) none of these
Answer: (iii) because she wanted to look outside the window

Question. With whom was Valli riding the bus?
(a) her mother
(b) her father
(c) her friend
(d) alone
Answer: (iv) alone

Question. What is the meaning of ‘gleaming’?
(a) dark
(b) dull
(c) bright
(d) gloomy
Answer: (iii) bright

Question. An antonym of ‘peered’ is______________.
(a) invisible
(b) lurk
(c) emerge
(d) all of these
Answer: (i) invisible

The town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way — “which is almost nothing at all,” she heard one well-dressed man say, but to Valli, who scarcely saw that much money from one month to the next, it seemed a fortune. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes.

Question. Why did Valli know all these details of a journey?
Answer: These details were of a bus journey to the town from Valli’s village. Valli had discreetly enquired people about the time and bus fare because she wanted to travel by bus.

Question. What did Valli wish for with all her heart?
Answer: Valli wished to travel in the bus. She longed to sit in the bus and go to other towns to see the sights of different places. It was her favourite pastime to watch the bus coming at the bus stop.

Suddenly Valli clapped her hands with glee. A young cow, tail high in the air, was running very fast, right in the middle of the road, right in front of the bus. The bus slowed to a crawl, and the driver sounded his horn loudly again and again. But the more he honked, the more frightened the animal became and the faster it galloped — always right in front of the bus.

Question. Valli was thoroughly enjoying herself on the bus. Who all has she met so far?
Answer: Valli has met the bus conductor who was a friendly guy, the driver, an old woman and a man in the beginning of her journey on the bus.

Question. How have the people on the bus treated her?
Answer: People have been extremely cooperative, friendly and loving towards the little girl who got on the bus all by herself. They were also concerned for her well-being and asked her to sit lest she fell.

“Oh, yes!” breathed Valli.
“What?” asked her mother. “What’s that you say?”
“Oh,” said Valli, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge.”
“Just a chit of a girl, she is,” said her aunt, “and yet look how she pokes her nose into our conversation, just as though she were a grown lady.” Valli smiled to herself.

Question. What kind of a person do you think Valli’s mother is?
Answer: Valli had been gone for 45 minutes from her home, in which time she had hopped on a bus, been out of town and back. When she returned home, her mother neither knew where she had been nor bothered to enquire. Thus, her mother could be called careless.

Question. Valli smiled to herself. Why do you think Valli smiled at the admonishment?
Answer: Valli smiled softly to herself because she knew more about the world now than 45 minutes ago. She had met strangers, talked to them, saw the realities of life closely in the death of the poor cow. She was a bit wiser now.

Short Answers Type Questions  

Question. What made Valli sad?
Answer: On the ride to the city, Valli was amused by a cow who was running right in the middle of the road in front of the bus. On the way back, she saw the same cow dead by the roadside hit by a speeding vehicle. This saddened her.

Question. Why did Valli shout in English ‘proud, proud’?
Answer: If one of her friends happened to ride the bus and tried to describe the sights of the town to her, ‘Valli would be too jealous to listen and would shout, in English : “Proud ! proud !” Neither she nor her friends really understood the meaning of the word but they used it often as a slang expression of disapproval.

Question. How did Valli slip out of the house without her mother’s knowledge?
Answer: Every day after lunch her mother would take a nap for about one to four or so. Valli always used these hours for her ‘excursions’ and this is when she slipped out of the house without her mother’s knowledge.

Question. Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does it tell you about her?
Answer: Valli had accumulated only sixty paise, which was the cost of her bus ride between her village and the nearest town, and did not have enough money to spend at the stall. This shows that Valli was a firm and decisive little girl.

Question. How did Valli react when she saw the dead cow by the roadside?
Answer: Valli was extremely excited about her bus journey. She had carefully planned and saved money for this journey. On her return, when she saw the dead cow on the roadside, she turned somber. She lost her enthusiasm on seeing the dead cow. She became pensive and built negative views towards life.

Question. Why does Valli stand upon the seat? What does she see now?
Answer: Valli’s view was obstructed by a canvas blind which covered the lower part of the window and so she was forced to stand up on the seat. She noticed the canal on one side, palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, the blue sky, a deep ditch and acres of green fields on the other side.

Question. What happened when Valli stood near the bus when it stopped? OR How did Valli conduct herself before and after entering the bus for a ride?
Answer: Valli stood near the bus when it stopped at the fixed spot. She told the conductor that she had to go to the town. She showed some coins for the fare. The conductor told her to get inside the bus. When he tried to help her enter, she told him that she could get on by herself. This shows her self-reliance.

Question. How did the conductor and other passengers react to Valli?
Answer: The conductor was a jolly kind of a man. He was fond of joking and was quite humorous. He requested Valli not to be angry with him. He addressed her as, ‘madam.’ He also taunted her in good sense, saying ‘make way for madam.’ Some six or seven passengers looked at Valli. They laughed along with the conductor.

Question. What happened when an elderly woman entered the bus and sat beside Valli?
Answer: An elderly woman entered the bus on a bus stop. She sat down on the vacant seat by Valli’s side. Valli found the woman very contemptible. She had big holes in her ear lobes and the earrings she had worn were ugly. Valli could smell the betel nut which the woman was chewing. The juice was coming over her lips.

Question. How had Valli saved for her first bus journey?
Answer: Valli had saved every coin that she could for her first bus journey. She resisted the temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, etc. Finally, she had saved a total of sixty paise. In the fair, one day, she had killed her strong desire to ride the merry-go-round. This was how she saved the money for the bus fare.

Question. What of the town did Valli see after the train station? How did she react to it?
Answer: When the bus reached the outside of the town, it had shops on both sides of the road. The bus came through a busy and well-laid-out shopping street after the train station. It turned and entered a wider thoroughfare. There were bigger and better looking shops. There was a shining display of clothes and other articles. A huge crowd was accumulated.

Question. Why did Valli not accept the conductor’s offer of a cold drink to her? What does it tell you about her?
Answer: The bus at last, reached the town which was its final destination. All the passengers were dropped there. But Valli did not get off as she was going back by this same bus. The conductor finally offered Valli a cold drink. But she declined the offer by saying that she did not have enough money. The conductor said that it would be his treat but Valli firmly declined the offer. This show that Valli was a very self-reliant and mature girl.

Question. Who was Valliammai? What was her favourite pastime?
Answer: Valliammai fondly known as Valli was an eight-year-old girl. She was a mature girl but did not have any playmate of her age on her street. So, her favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house, observing what was happening in the street outside.

Question. What did the conductor advise Valli while on the bus?
Answer: The conductor advised Valli to sit on her seat comfortably because she had taken a full ticket and there was no need for her to stand on the seat and travel uncomfortably. Moreover, if she remained standing she could have hurt herself while observing outside.

Question. Why would Valli stand at the front door?  
Answer: Valli was very curious about various things and that is why she would stand outside the front door of her house to watch what was happening in the street. She did not have any playmates of her own age but she found observing the elaborate games the children played in front of her house entertaining.

Question. How did Valli save money for her first journey?
Answer: Valli saved the money for her bus journey by resisting all her temptations to buy toys like peppermint, balloons, etc. The money that was given to her to buy toys and other things was saved by her for her journey. She also resisted the strong desire to use them to ride the merry-go-round at the village fair.

Question. What was the most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street? (2019 Delhi)
Answer: The most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town filled with new set of passengers each time.

Long Answers Type Questions  

Question. An eight-year-old girl travelling alone in a bus. Is it right on the girl’s part to take this journey? What would have happened if she had informed her mother before leaving?
Answer: An eight-year-old girl travelling alone in a bus does not happen too often these days. It was not right on Valli’s part to have undertaken this journey alone. Anything could have gone wrong. The bus may not have returned by the same route or the same day. She had not informed her mother about it so, if the bus had been delayed due to unknown reasons, her family wouldn’t have known where to look for her. She was lucky to get good people as passengers, the conductor and the driver.
If Valli had informed her mother before leaving, either her mother would have refused to let her do so or she would have herself taken Valli on a bus ride.

Question. Valli got jealous every time one of her friends told her about the bus ride and the sights of the town. Do you think jealousy is a positive trait? What should be done to keep jealous thoughts away?
Answer: Valli has a deep desire to visit the town and experience a bus journey. The world outside holds a charm for her. Whenever one of her friends tells Valli about her bus ride and the sights of the town, she gets jealous and tells them to shut up. Jealousy is not a positive trait. It’s a negative feeling that arises out of hatred and contempt for others. We must never be jealous of others instead, we must share the achievements and happiness of our friends. We should feel inspired by their accounts and try to achieve our goal with all our heart.

Question. Once we decide to achieve something, so many difficulties come in our way but with focused attention we can make that achievement. How did Valli succeed in fulfilling her desire of riding a bus? (2017 F)
Answer: Eight-year-old Valli’s desire was to ride the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. Her desire was so strong that it overcame her fears prompting her to plan the trip meticulously. She collected all the details of the journey and saved every coin that came her way. She maintained her will power so much that she did not even get tempted to go shopping. After taking all the precautions to ensure that she had a safe journey, she fulfilled her dream of riding a bus. Despite her young age, she returned back home safely. Valli teaches us that once we decide to achieve something, many difficulties may come our way but with courage and confidence, we can accomplish the task.

Question. Describe what happened when Valli signalled for the bus to stop to let her in? OR Describe the beginning of Valli’s ride on the bus.
Answer: Valli had to sacrifice a lot to save money for her bus fare. One fine spring day, she rode on the afternoon bus. The conductor was surprised to see someone as young as Valli in it travelling alone. Valli told him that she was going to the town and had the money to pay the fare. There were only six or seven passengers on the bus. They looked at Valli in astonishment. Valli sat on an empty seat after paying the fare. Inside of the bus looked new and beautiful. The seats were comfortable. Above the windshield, there was a beautiful clock. Valli observed everything with all the seriousness.

Question. There is a lot of humour caused by the conductor due to Valli’s behaving like a mature woman. Describe this humour.
Answer: The story has a lot of humour. The conductor is the source of all this humour. He is fond of joking. However, Valli in all her childish innocence also causes this humour. The elder man in the bus calls her a ‘child.’ Valli retorts that she has paid the full fare, making the conductor add that she is ‘a grown-up madam.’ The conductor copies her and all laugh. The conductor offers to help Valli get into the bus in the beginning but Valli offers the money first. The conductor tells her to first get in. This makes the conductor offer her a seat. He calls her ‘madam’ as Valli tries to act like an adult. The conductor imitates her actions and creates a plenty of humour.

Question. Valli posed herself to be very confident when the conductor offered her help to ride the bus. Later on she felt shy when all laughed at her. What does this tell you about Valli’s character? What values do we learn from her character?
Answer: Valli posed to be very confident in front of the conductor when he offered her help to ride the bus. This shows her confidence, intelligence and maturity. However, when everybody laughs at her, she felt shy. This shows that she was innocent as well. Being aware of that fact that she was travelling for the first time, she was taking every precaution not to be fooled by anybody. Although she should not have travelled alone yet it was wise on her part to behave confidently. Sometimes, situations arise when a child has to travel or live alone. In such a situation, it is necessary for children to get training in order to be self-reliant and independent. Valli teaches us the values of confidence, compassion and sympathy to us.

Question. Valli sternly refused the conductor’s offer of a cold drink though she might be willing to have one. What lesson do you learn from her gesture?
Answer: By the end of the journey, the conductor had developed fondness of Valli. When the bus reached its destination, the conductor went to the nearby stall to have something to drink. He offered to bring one for Valli as a treat from him but Valli refused sternly. She didn’t have much money and out of the feeling of self-respect, she was not ready to take any favour either. Such a conduct from an eight-year-old girl shows her good upbringing. We must not get lured by temptations or any attractions, however strong they may be. It is always wise to spend money judiciously. Children must not waste their pocket money on unwanted items.

Archive Questions

Question. How did Valli react when she saw the dead cow by the roadside?
Answer: Valli had been very excited to see the cow running in front of the bus on her way to town. On her return journey, she saw the same cow lying dead by the roadside. This sight dampened her spirits and filled her with sadness. She no longer wanted to look out the window, as the memory of the dead cow haunted her.

Question. Why didn’t Valli want go go to the stall and have a drink? What does it tell you about her?
Answer: Valli refused the conductor’s offer of a cold drink because she did not have enough money to pay for it and she did not want to take a favor from a stranger. This shows her strong sense of self-respect, maturity, and self-reliance.

Question. Once we decide to achieve something, so many difficulties come in our way. With focused attention we can make that achievement. How did Valli succeed in fulfilling her desire of riding a bus?
Answer: Valli meticulously planned her bus ride by listening to neighbors' conversations and asking discreet questions to gather details about the fare and timings. She saved every coin by resisting temptations like buying toys and candy. Finally, she used the time when her mother took her afternoon nap to take the bus trip, successfully fulfilling her dream through determination and careful planning.

Question. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
“Don’t you want to have a look at the sights, now that you’re here?”
“All by myself? Oh, I’d be much too afraid.”
Greatly amused by the girl’s way of speaking, the conductor said, “But you weren’t afraid to come in the bus.”
“Nothing to be afraid of about that, she answered.”

Question. Who is the ‘girl’ mentioned in the passage?
Answer: The ‘girl’ is Valliammai (Valli).

Question. Why didn’t she get off the bus when she reached her destination?
Answer: She didn't get off because she was afraid to go out into the town alone and she intended to return to her village on the same bus.

Question. Write the meaning of the word, ‘amused.’
Answer: To be entertained or find something funny.

Question. Whenever we want to achieve something difficulties always come in our way. What did Valli have to do to go and ride in a bus?
Answer: Valli had to save money painstakingly, gathering details about the journey, and finding a suitable time to sneak away from home without her mother knowing.

Question. “Never mind”, she said, “I can get on by myself.” “You don’t have to help me”, said Valli to the conductor. She shows extraordinary courage in making the bus journey all alone. Taking inspiration from Valli’s character, write how ability and courage to take risk are essential to fulfill one’s dream.
Answer: Valli's character demonstrates that having the courage to take risks is vital for achieving one's dreams. Despite her age, she showed independence and self-reliance. Her ability to plan and her bravery in facing a new environment show that with determination and the willingness to step out of one's comfort zone, any dream can be realized.