) paadahie aksna\y CHAPTER SCH — sadchie.aksna\v"Madam Rides the Bus" is about an eight year old girl Valli's ride in the bus from her village to the town and back. She is an inquisitive girl and wants to see the outside world. Valli's pastime is to stand at the front doorway of her house and see what is happening in the street outside. She also watches the passengers coming and going to the town and hears their conversation. She develops a desire to ride one day in the bus which becomes great. For her ride she plans intelligently. She stops spending money on toys and sther things. She saves every penny for the ride. She gathers all the details of the bus going to the town at what time and the fare. The fare is sixty paise for the bus ride. One day she takes the 1 o'clock bus to the town. She enjoys her ride to the maximum. On the way Valli sees a cow running right in front of the bus. She claps as the cow keeps running despite the ntinuous honking of the horn. J The bus reaches the town. The conductor tells Valli to have a drink but she refuses. She keeps sitting in the bus. On the return journey Valli sees the same cow now lying dead by the roadside. She feels it very bad and is sad at this sight. It spoils her happiness in the ride. The bus reaches the village. Valli runs straight to her house. She sees a woman talking to her mother who doesn't know Valli's ride in the bus. There is a sort of comic relief in the story created by the fun-loving bus conductor.) padhie aksna\y LATEST COMPETENCY EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS — oF ela} (= »kehavRead the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: "Yes, I'm travelling alone," she answered curtly. And I've got a ticket too.’ 'Yes she's on her way to town,’ said the conductor. ‘With a thirty paise ticket.’ ‘Oh, why don't you mind your own business,’ said Valli. But she laughed all the same, and the conductor Laughed too. But the old woman went on with her drivel. ‘Is it proper for such a young person to travel alone? Do you know exactly where you're going in town?What's the street? What's the house number? 'You needn't bother about me. | can take care of myself; Valli said, turning her face towards the window and staring out." (A) Pick the option that matches the expressions with 'mind' correctly. Bo ae ( bring to () be receptive to | mind someone's ideas @ be in two (i) think about only minds | onesubject @ have an (il) recall something open mind | (4) put your | (IV) undecided mind at | + | () reassure you a | (Wp reach a decision (a) (1)-(V1), (2)-CIN), (3)-(1), (4)-(IV) (b) (1)-(I1), (2)-(1V), (3)-(1), (4)-(V) (c) (1)-(11), (2)-(VI), (3)-(V), (4)-(1) (d) (1)-(VI), (2)-(IV), (3)-(1), (4)-(I1) (B) Valli told the conductor to mind his own business and laughed as well. This shows that Valli... (a) was not bothered about what the conductor said. (b) didn't like the conductor speaking about her. (c) disliked what the conductor said but was amused. (d) was impressed with conductor said. (C) The old woman went on with her drivel. Why is the word ‘drivel’ used here? It is used to show that the old woman (a) was talking incessantly. (b) kept muttering a lot of nonsense. (c) was volunteering aduice on request. (d) spoke non-stop about herself. (D) The old woman asked her questions: (a) due to anxiety about Valli travelling alone. (b) out of curiosity and concern for Valli. (c) interest in Valli's life and need for travel. (d) due to the habit of interfering in Valli's life.(E) How do you think Valli felt when the old woman asked her questions? Pick the option that best describes her feelings. (a) (1) irritated (2) agitated (b) (1) concerned (2) upset (c) (1) upset (2) agitated (d) (1) upset (2) irritated ANSWERSRead the extract and answer the following questions: 1.Over many days and months Valli listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus, and she also asked a few discreet questions here and there. This way she picked up various small details about the bus journey. 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. On reaching town, if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return home on the same bus. This meant that she could take the one-o'clock afternoon bus, reach the town at one forty-five, and be back home by about two forty-five... (i) In how much time could Valli reach the town in the bus? Valli could reach the town in forty-five minutes in the bus. (ii) When did Valli plan to ride the bus to the town? When she knew about the riding time to the town she planned to ride the bus. (iii) The word ‘discreet’ means It means ‘careful’. (iv) How much time was Valli supposed to take to reach the town in the bus? She was supposed to take forty-five minutes to reach the town in the bus. 2. "Don't you I 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. (a) Who is the girl’ mentioned in the passage ? The ‘girl' mentioned in the passage is Valli. (b) Why didn't she get off the bus when she reached her destination ? She didn't get off the bus when she reached her destination. It was because she was much afraid of that. (c) Which character trait is seen here of the girl? It is of great self-confidence. (d) Write the meaning of the word “amused.” It means ‘entertained’.Jpadhlie akshay LAST 10+ YEARS QUESTIONS —— © /padhle.akshayQ.1.What was the most fascinating thing of all for Valli 7 [CBSE 2011] Ans. The most fascinating thing of all for Valli was one thing, It was the bus. The bus looked very mysterious for her. It was a kind of another world for her. It travelled between heruillage and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour. The bus filled Valli with unending joy with a new set of passengers. Q.2.What was the result of Valli's seeing the bus daily? How did she react at the people getting down the bus ? Ans. The result of Valli's seeing the bus daily was one. It was she developed a great desire to ride on that bus. The people got down from it. Their faces created dreams and wishes in Valli's mind. If a friend rode on the bus and described it, she would be jealous. She called “Proud! Proud Q.3.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? Ans. Valli stood near the bus when it stopped. She told the conductor that she had to go to town. She showed some coins for the fare. The conductor told her first to get inside the bus. He tried to help her enter. But she told him that she could get on by herself. Q.4.How did the conductor and other passengers react to Valli ? Ans. The conductor was a jolly kind of man. He was fond of joking. He was very humorous. He enjoyed joking with all alike. He requested Valli not to be angry with him. He addressed her as, 'madam'. He also taunted her saying 'make way for madam.’ Some six or seven passengers looked at Valli. They Laughed with the conductor. Q.5.Why did Valli stand on the seat? What did she see outside ? Or Describe the outside scene that Valli saw from inside the bus. Ans. Valli boarded the bus for her travel to the town. She started looking outside. But a canvas blind cut off the outside view. So Valli stood on her seat. The bus was going along the canal bank. One side there were mountains, blue sky, palm trees and grassland. On the other there was a deep ditch and green fields. Q.6.How did Valli react when someone called her child'? What did the conductor add then? Ans. Valli stood on the seat to see outside. Then someone called her a child and told Valli not to stand. She would fall down. But Valli said that there was nobody there who was a child. She had paid her full fare like others. At this, the conductor added that she was a very grown-up madam. A mere girl could not travel alone to the city. Q.7What problem did Valli have after saving enough money for the bus ride? How did she solve it ? Ans. Valli had saved enough money for the bus ride. She faced the next problem. It was how to slip out of the house without her mother's knowledge. Every day her mother would nap for an hour or so after lunch. Valli used this time for going out. So she rode the bus during this hour.Q.8.How did the train pass when the bus came to a railroad crossing? Ans. There was a railway crossing on the way of the bus to town. The cow was going ahead of the bus. The cow moved off the road. The bus came to a railroad crossing. A train was seen coming. It grew bigger and bigger. Then it rushed past the crossing gate with a great roar. It shook the bus. Then the bus went on and passed the train station. Q.9.What of the town did Valli see after the train station? How did she react to it? Ans. 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. The bus entered the town. There were big and bright looking shops. There was a shining display of clothes and other articles. There were big crowds also. Q.10.What happened when Valli reached home after the bus ride ? Ans. Valli finally reached home. She had a bus ride as she wanted. She found her mother awake. She was talking to one of Valli's aunts. This aunt was a real chatterbox. She went on talking and talking. She asked Valli where she had been. But Valli just smiled. She didn't reply. Her mother and aunt continued talking.Q.1.What was Valli's stronger desire? What did she do to fulfil it? Ans. Valli was an eight years old girl. She had no playmates. Her favourite pastime was to stand in front of her house. She would see what happened in the street outside. A bus went from her village to the nearby town. Soon she developed a great desire to ride on the bus. Soon she started putting her desire into action. She gathered every information about the bus. The fare was thirty paise one way. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. The afternoon bus left at one-o'clock. The journey back home was by two forty-five bus. For her ride, Valli saved money by not buying peppermints, toys, balloons etc. After saving money, she rode on the bus one day. Q.2.How did Valli plan her bus ride? What did she find out about the bus, and how did she save up the fare? Ans. Valli watched the bus day after day. Slowly a wish entered her mind to ride on that bus. She would look at the people who got off and on the bus. She picked up various details about the bus and the journey. She found that the bus travelled to the nearby town. It was about six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. The bus returned from the town after some minutes’ stay. Valli could take the one-o'clock afternoon bus, reach the town at one forty-five. She would be back home by about two forty-five. She calculated, recalculated, planned and replanned the ride. She then started saving the fare money. Q.3.What scene did Valli see on way back home that made her very serious? Why didn't she look outside then ? Or Describe what Valli learnt something serious about life on her journey back home. Ans. Valli at last reached the town. The conductor told her to get down. But Valli told him that she was going back on that same bus. On way back home Valli saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside. She asked the conductor if the cow wasn't the same that had run before the bus earlier. The conductor shook his head. Valli understood. She was overcome with sadness. It lay there with spread-out legs. There was blood all over. The memory of this dead cow haunted Valli. She now no longer wanted to look out of the window. Q.4.Describe what interested Valli more while she was riding on the bus. Ans. Valli rode on the bus one fine spring day. She was quite excited about it. On the way she saw trees that came running towards them. There were palm trees, distant mountains. and the blue sky. Valli Looked at these and enjoyed. Everything was amazing for her. Suddenly Valli clapped her hands with joy. A young cow came running before the bus. It was running right in front of the bus. The driver sounded the horn loudly again and again. But the more he played on the horn, the more frightened was the animal (cow). It also became faster. It was all very funny for valli. She laughed and laughed.Q.5There is a lot of humour caused by the conductor due to Valli's behaving like a mature woman. Describe this humour. Ans. The story has a lot of humour. It is because of the conductor. He is fond of joking and is very humorous. Valli also causes this humour. The elder man in the bus calls her child’. Valli says she has paid full fare. At this the conductor adds 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’. This causes plenty of humour. 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’. This causes plenty of humour. Q.6. 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? Or 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? Ans. It is a fact that we have to struggle much to achieve something. But if we have a focused attention the difficulties wouldn't be there in our way. This is amply proved by Valli. Valli is a determined girl. When she wants to get something she starts planning and achieves it with a determined mind. She plans to ride the bus one day. She finds out all the details about the bus, like the fare and time when it leaves for the town and comes back. She starts saving for the bus ride. She stops spending money on unnecessary things. She gathers the information about the bus and plans to ride it. She is not affected what the conductor says and what the woman sitting beside her says. However, she is affected by the death of the cow. Valli thus proves how we can achieve things.) paadahie aksna\y CHAPTER BASED MCQs sadchie.aksna\vQ1- What did the old man say to Valli that annoyed her? A) He shouted at her B) he asked why she’s alone C) he merely asked her to sit D) None of the above Q2- “Valli found the woman absolutely repulsive”. What do you mean by “repulsive”? A) causing strong dislike B) showing displeasure C) extremely attractive D) admirable Q3- Why did Valli find the woman repulsive? A) she had large piercings in her ears B) she wore ugly earrings C) she was chewing betel nut which could spill out any moment D) all of the above Q4- Why did the old lady ask Valli so many questions? A) she was bothered about Valli B) she liked Valli C) she was poking her nose D) she was bored Q5- What did she have to resist on Village Fair Day to save for the ride? A) balloons B) merry go round C) toys D) peppermint Q6- What was the next challenge once she’d saved enough money? A) tell her mom about it B) know about the timings C) buy a ticket D) to sneak out of the house Q7- What made her laugh on her journey? A) the sight of a running cow B) the old woman's earrings C) the old man D) None of the aboveQ8- Why did Valli not get off the bus for sight-seeing? A) she was afraid B) she didn’t want to C) she didn’t have the time D) she didn’t like the city Q9- What does it tell you about Valli when she refused to accept the conductor’s treat? A) responsible B) stubborn C) rude D) disrespectful Q10- Who was a “real chatterbox”? A) Valli B) conductor C) her aunt D) all of the above ANSWERS rFYNn a Arrrpvowmrorn