CBSE Class 10 English Madam Rides the Bus Worksheet Set A

MADAM RIDES THE BUS

GIST:
In this story, the author tries to present a world as seen from a child’s perspective. The main character of this story is an eight year old girl who lives near a bus stop in a village. For major part of the day, she enjoys standing in her doorway; watching frenetic activities at the bus stop. Valli develops a desire to enjoy a ride on the bus but she needs to plan meticulously to realize her dream. She has to curtail her expenses so that she can save enough money for two-way fair. She also has to make the journey during the time when her mother takes afternoon nap. While on her journey, Valli does not want anybody’s help and wants to feel independent. She enjoys every bit of her journey to the town.
But she is careful enough not to get off the bus in the unknown environs of the town. On her return journey, a sad accident spoils her mood and she just keeps to herself throughout the journey. She does not seem to be satisfied with one ride and wishes to make another attempt in future. She is also quite mischievous when she is sure that her mother did not know about her journey.

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :

1. Mark ! while relatives are looking on and lamenting deeply, one by one mortals are carried off, like an ox that is led to the slaughter. So the world is afflicted with death and decay, therefore the wise do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world. 

Question. Who have accepted the truth that death is common to all ?
(i) The wise
(ii) The foolish
(iii) The literates
(iv) The illiterates
Answer.(i) The wise

Question. The ___________ is afflicted with death and decay.
(i) universe
(ii) city
(iii) earth
(iv) world
Answer.(iv) world

Question. Who are carried off one by one ?
(i) Rocks
(ii) Mortals
(iii) Immortals
(iv) Stones
Answer.(ii) Mortals

Question. Find the word from the passage that means ‘expressing sorrow’.
(i) lamenting
(ii) slaughter
(iii) afflicted
(iv) decay
Answer.(i) lamenting

2. At about the age of twenty five, the Prince, thereof shielded from the sufferings of the world, while hunting out glanced upon a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms.These sights so moved him that he at once became a beggar and went out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnessed.

Question. The Prince was ___________ by the effect of sights.
(i) moved
(ii) carried away
(iii) not moved
(iv) not disturbed
Answer. (i) moved

Question. Find a word from the passage that means the same as ‘looked at’.
(i) shielded
(ii) glanced
(iii) procession
(iv) enlightenment
Answer.(ii) glanced

Question. What was the age of Gautama Buddha when he had thereof shielded himself from the sufferings of the world ?
(i) twenty two
(ii) twenty four
(iii) twenty eight
(iv) twenty five
Answer. (iv) twenty five

Question. The Prince left the palace in search of
(i) freedom
(ii) treasure
(iii) knowledge
(iv) enlightenment
Answer.(iv) enlightenment

3. The Buddha answered : ‘‘I want a handful of mustard seeds.’’ And when the girl in her joy promised to procure it, then Buddha added : The mustard-seed must be taken from a house where no one has lost a child,husband, parent or friend.’’

Question. Who is ‘I’ in the passage ?
(i) Kisa Gotami
(iii) Gotam’s son
(iv) Buddha
Answer.(iv) Buddha

Question. Find the word from the passage which means the same as ‘Obtain’.
(i) get it
(ii) procure
(iii) ordered
(iv) found
Answer.(ii) procure

Question. Buddha asked the girl for a handful of ___________ seeds.
(i) wheat
(ii) rice
(iii) mustard
(iv) maize
Answer. (iii) mustard

Question. Whom did Buddha asked for a handful of mustard seeds ?
(i) girl
(ii) man
(iii) boy
(iv) child
Answer.(i) girl

Short Answer Type Questions:

Question. Why does Valli stand up on the seat ? What does she see naw?
Answer. The canvas blind of the window has cut-off half of Vatli’s outside view from the window. So, she stands up on her sect to take a view from the upper half of the window. Naw, she can see green fields and canals.

Question. Give examples from the text to show that Valli was a meticulous planner.
Answer. Valli was a meticulous planner. She listened carefully to the conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus and also asked discreet questions. She picked up various small details about the bus journey and then planned.

Question. Why does the conductor refer to Valli as ’madam’?
Answer. The conductor is amused to see an eight-year old girl behaving like an adult and in jest, he calls her madam’.

Question. Do you think VallFs mother would have taken her for the bus ride if she had requested her to do so? Why/ Why not?
Answer. Yes, I think if Valli wou ld have asked her motherto take her for the bus ride, her mother would have surety token her for that It wasn’t o Longdistance journey or an expensive one If it was possible for VaUi to save the money and gather the details for the bus fare, it would be easier for her mother to da that and a mother would never say ‘no’ to any small desire of a child.

Question. Why did Valli find the elderly woman absolutely repulsive?
Answer. The elderly woman who was sitting beside Valli in the bus looked absolutely repulsive to Valli.
She had big holes in her ears and had ugly earrings in them. She didn’t relish the smell of the betel nut that she was chewing. The betel juice was about to spill over her lips at any moment. She couldn’t be social with such a woman.

Question. Imagine you come across a little girl travelling alone on a bus. Write down any two questions you would ask her and your reasons for asking them.
Answer. I would ask the girl the following two questions:
(1) Are you travelling with o family member or are you alone?
Reason: I would wont to ensure if the girl is being accompanied by someone who is known to her or if she is travelling all alone.
(2) Do you know the details of the Location that you are visiting? Madam Rides the Bus
Reason: I would ask her rf she knows the details of the place she wants to visit to ensure she doesn’t get Lost in the city, especially when she is travelling all alone.

Question. What did Valli see on her way that made her Laugh?
Answer. On her journey to the city, Valli saw a young cow that was running very fast right in the middle of the road, in front of the bus. The driver honked to remove the caw ta the side of the road but rt gat scared ond hence, ran even faster. The funny sight of the cow made Valli laugh.

Question. What was the most fascinating thing that Valid saw on the street?
Answer. The most fascinating thing that Valli saw an the street was the bus that travelled between the village and the nearest town The sight of the bus loaded with passengers was a source of unending joy for Valli.

Question. Imagine Valli had to plan a day-long budget trip to a domestic destination for her family all by herself. What things do you think she would keep in mind while planning?
Answer. If Valli had to plan a day-long budget trip to a domestic destination for her family all by herself she would keep many things in her mind Like the details of the journey, bus fare. Location of the destination, timings of the bus, etc.

Question. Why does Valli refuse to Look out of the window on her way back?
Answer. Valli sees that the young cow that was running on her onward journey was lying dead by the roadside The sight of the dead cow haunts her, dampening her enthusiasm So, she refuses to look out of the window on her way back.

Long Answer Type Questions:

Question. Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back?
Answer. On her way to the town, Valli laughed heartily to see a young cow running at high speed in the middle of the road just in front of their bus. But on her way back, she saw a young cow lying dead near the road. She asked the bus conductor if it was the same cow that was running in front of the bus. The bus conductor nodded. She was shocked and sad. So she refuses to look out of the window on her way back because what was so beautiful a little while ago now looked so horrible. The memory of the dead cow haunts her. It dampens her enthusiasm.

Question. Justify the statement with instances that Valla was a mature girl and ahead of her age?
Answer. Valli was an eight-year-old village girl. She had no playmates. Her favourite pastime was to stand at the doorstep and watch things and people. She not only satisfied her curiosity but also gained new experiences. Her strongest desire was to make a bus-ride. She meticulously planned for it — gathered information about the distance, time and ticket money. Showing self-restraint, she resisted the temptation to buy peppermint, toys or a ride on the merry-go-round in order to save 60 paise for the bus journey. She boarded the bus without anyone’s help, refused a free treat by the conductor and didn’t talk to strangers. This shows her commanding, confident and self-dependent nature. This also shows her determination and maturity at such a little age.

Question. An eight-y ear old girl travelling alone on a bus. Is it fight 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 is quite an unusual scenario. It was not right on Va Ill’s part to take this journey alone. Anything could have gone wrong with her during her journey. The bus might not hove returned in time or would have returned the next day. She had not informed her mother about it so, if the bus hod been delayed due to unknown reasons, her family wouLdn’t have known anything about their child. It was really fortunate that she got caring co-passengers and a helpful conductor. If Valli had informed her mother before Leaving, either her mother would have refused to let her go aLone or she would have accompanied her on the ride.

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :

1. Her first journey-what careful, painstaking, elaborate plans she had to make for it; she had thriftily saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons and the like, and finally she had saved a total of sixty paise. How difficult it had been, particularly that day at the village fair, but she had resolutely stifled a strong desire to ride the merry-go-round, even though she had the money. 

Question. Where was her first journey made to ?
(i) to the park
(ii) to the circus
(iii) to the mall
(iv) till the next town
Answer.(iv) till the next town

Question. Who does ‘her’ refer to in the passage ?
(i) The old lady
(ii) The young lady
(iii) Valli
(iv) Valli’s mother
Answer.(iii) Valli

Question. Which word in the passage means the same as a ‘Swing’ ?
(i) painstaking
(ii) elaborate
(iii) thriftly
(iv) merry-go-round
Answer.(iv) merry-go-round

Question. She had resisted all temptations to save __________ for a bus ride.
(i) things
(ii) toys
(iii) money
(iv) time
Answer.(iii) money

2. But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable as any of the elaborate games other children played. Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences.The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour, once going to the town and once coming back. The sight of the bus filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending joy for Valli.

Question. What was the most fascinating thing of all for Valli ?
(i) Bus
(ii) Car
(iii) Truck
(iv) Scooter
Answer.(i) Bus

Question. How often did the bus pass her street?
(i) each day
(ii) each week
(iii) each morning
(iv) each hour
Answer.(iv) each hour

Question. Valli’s favourite pastime was to stand at the __________.
(i) back door
(ii) terrace
(iii) front door
(iv) bus stop
Answer.(iii) front door

Question. Find a word from the passage which means the same as ‘very interesting’.
(i) unusual
(ii) fascinating
(iii) source
(iv) elaborate
Answer. (ii) fascinating

3. “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 had come only for a bus ride ?
(i) The old man
(ii) The old woman
(iii) Valliammai (Valli)
(iv) The little boy
Answer.(iii) Valliammai (Valli)

Question. Who is the ‘girl’ mentioned in the passage ?
(i) Valli
(ii) Pooja
(iii) Veena
(iv) Mallini
Answer.(i) Valli

Question. Was Valli really afraid ?
(i) Yes
(ii) a little
(iii) No
(iv) very much

Question. Which word in the passage means the same as ‘To cause to laugh’ ?
(i) sights
(ii) amused
(iii) fun
(iv) great time
Answer.(ii) amused

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

1.Day after day she watched the bus, and gradually a tiny wish crept into her head and grew there:
she wanted to ride on that bus, even if just once. This wish became stronger and stronger until it was an “overwhelming desire. Valli would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus when it stopped at the street corners. Their faces would kindle in her longings, dreams and hopes. If one of her friends ride the bus and tried to describe the sights of the town to her, Valli would be too jealous to listen to tug 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.What would Valli wistfully stare at?
Answer. She would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus.

Question.What was Valli’s ‘tiny wish’?
Answer.Valli’s tiny wish was to travel by bus.

Question.When would Valli be jealous?
Answer.‘Kindle.’

Question.When were Valli’s longings, hopes and dreams kindled?
Answer.The sight of the bus passengers would kindle in her longings, dreams and hopes. (d) She felt jealous when one of her friends described the sights of the town to her.

2.The bus rolled on now cutting across a bare landscape, now rushing through a tiny hamlet or past an odd wayside shop. Sometimes the bus seemed on the point of gobbling up another vehicle that was coming towards them or a pedestrian crossing the road. But lo! somehow it passed on smoothly leaving all obstacles safely behind. Trees came running towards them but then stopped as the bus reached them and simply stood there helpless for a moment by the side of the road before rushing away in the other direction.

Question. Find a word from the passage which means ‘village’.
Answer.Hamlet

Question. How did the trees appear from the moving bus?
Answer.The trees appeared to be coming towards the moving bus

Question. What did the bus pass by?
Answer.The bus passed by a bare landscape, a tiny hamlet or an odd wayside shop.

Question. How does the author describe the landscape?
Answer.The author says that the landscape was bare.

Question.From which story have these lines been taken?
Answer.These lines have been taken from the story, ‘Madam Rides the Bus.’

3.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. Somehow this was very funny to Valli. She laughed and laughed until there were tears in her eyes.

Question. What did the bus driver do when there was a cow on the road ahead of him?
Answer.He sounded the horn loudly again and again.

Question. What was the effect of honking of the horn on the cow?
Answer.The cow was more frightened and it ran faster.

Question.Why did Valli clap her hands with joy?
Answer.Valli clapped her hands with joy to see a young cow, tail high in the air, running very fast, right in front of the bus.

Question. Find a word from the passage which means ‘ran very fast’.
Answer.Galloped.

Question.What seemed very funny to Valli?
Answer.The running of the cow just in front of the bus was very funny to Valli. 

4.Her first journey—what careful, painstaking, elaborate plans she had to make for it; she had thriftily saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys,balloons, and the like, and finally she had saved a total of sixty paise. How difficult it had been, particularly that day at the village fair, but she had resolutely stifled a strong desire to ride the merrygo-round, even though she had the money.

Question.How did she save the money for the bus fare?
Answer.She thriftily saved every penny, relisted temptation to buy things for her liking or taking a ride on the merry-go-round.

Question.Where was her first journey made to?
Answer.Town.

Question.Who does ‘her’ refer to in the passage?
Answer.Valli.

Question. What did she do to make it a reality?
Answer.She made careful, painstaking and detailed plans to make it a reality.