Madam Rides the Bus
MADAM RIDES
THE BUS
Oral Comprehension Check
Question 1: What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
Answer: Valli’s favourite pastime was to stand in the front doorway of her house and watch
what was happening in the street outside.
Question 1: What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
Answer: Valli’s favourite pastime was to stand in the front doorway of her house and watch
what was happening in the street outside.
Question 2: What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her
strongest desire?
Answer: A source of unending joy for Valli was the sight of the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town, filled with a new set of passengers each time it passed through her street. Her strongest desire was to ride on that bus.
Answer: A source of unending joy for Valli was the sight of the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town, filled with a new set of passengers each time it passed through her street. Her strongest desire was to ride on that bus.
Question 3: What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find
out these details?
Answer: Valli found out that the town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. On reaching the town, if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return home on the same bus. She found out these details by listening carefully to the conversations between her neighbours and the people who regularly used the bus. She also gained information by asking them a few questions.
Answer: Valli found out that the town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. On reaching the town, if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return home on the same bus. She found out these details by listening carefully to the conversations between her neighbours and the people who regularly used the bus. She also gained information by asking them a few questions.
Question 4: What do you think Valli was planning to do?
Answer: Valli was planning to travel on that bus.
Answer: Valli was planning to travel on that bus.
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Question 1: Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?
Answer: When the conductor stretched out his hand to help her get on the bus, Valli said commandingly that she could get on by herself, and that she did not require his help. She did not act like a child, but as a grown-up girl and therefore, the conductor called her ‘madam’.
Answer: When the conductor stretched out his hand to help her get on the bus, Valli said commandingly that she could get on by herself, and that she did not require his help. She did not act like a child, but as a grown-up girl and therefore, the conductor called her ‘madam’.
Question 2: Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now?
Answer: Valli stood up on her seat because her view was cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window. She stood up to look over the blind. She saw that the road was very narrow, on one side of which there was the canal and beyond it were palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and the blue sky. On the other side, there was a deep ditch and many acres of green fields.
Answer: Valli stood up on her seat because her view was cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window. She stood up to look over the blind. She saw that the road was very narrow, on one side of which there was the canal and beyond it were palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and the blue sky. On the other side, there was a deep ditch and many acres of green fields.
Question 3: What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child?
Answer: When the elderly man called her a child, Valli told him that there was nobody on the bus who was a child. She had paid her fare of thirty paise like everyone else.
Answer: When the elderly man called her a child, Valli told him that there was nobody on the bus who was a child. She had paid her fare of thirty paise like everyone else.
Question 4: Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman?
Answer: Valli did not want to make friends with the elderly woman because she found her absolutely repulsive. She saw that the woman had big holes in her ear lobes and very ugly earrings in them. She could smell the betel nut the woman was chewing, and could see the betel juice that was almost about to spill over her lips. That is why she did not want to be sociable with her.
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Answer: Valli did not want to make friends with the elderly woman because she found her absolutely repulsive. She saw that the woman had big holes in her ear lobes and very ugly earrings in them. She could smell the betel nut the woman was chewing, and could see the betel juice that was almost about to spill over her lips. That is why she did not want to be sociable with her.
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Question 1: How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for
her?
Answer: Valli had carefully saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, and the like. Finally, she had saved sixty paise. No, it was not easy for her, especially at the village fair where she was tempted to ride the merry-go-round as she had the money. However, she suppressed her strong desire and saved the money for the bus ride.
Answer: Valli had carefully saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, and the like. Finally, she had saved sixty paise. No, it was not easy for her, especially at the village fair where she was tempted to ride the merry-go-round as she had the money. However, she suppressed her strong desire and saved the money for the bus ride.
Question 2: What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh?
Answer: Valli saw a young cow, whose tail was high in the air, running right in front of the bus in the middle of the road. The bus slowed and the driver sounded his horn loudly. However, the more he honked, the more rightened the cow became and it kept running faster and faster, right in front of the bus. Valli found it so amusing that she had tears in her eyes. At last, the cow moved off the road.
Answer: Valli saw a young cow, whose tail was high in the air, running right in front of the bus in the middle of the road. The bus slowed and the driver sounded his horn loudly. However, the more he honked, the more rightened the cow became and it kept running faster and faster, right in front of the bus. Valli found it so amusing that she had tears in her eyes. At last, the cow moved off the road.
Question 3: Why didn’t she get off the bus at the bus station?
Answer: She did not get off the bus at the bus station because she had to go back on that same bus. She took out another thirty paise from her pocket and handed the coins to the conductor. She just wanted to ride on the bus.
Answer: She did not get off the bus at the bus station because she had to go back on that same bus. She took out another thirty paise from her pocket and handed the coins to the conductor. She just wanted to ride on the bus.
Question 4: Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What
does this tell you about her?
Answer: Valli did not want to go to the stall and have a drink because she did not have any money for that. Even when the conductor offered her a cold drink free of charge, she refused firmly and said that she only wanted her ticket. This shows that Valli had a lot of self will and pride. Possibly, she did not want to take anything for free, particularly from a stranger.
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Thinking About the Text
Question 1: What was Valli’s deepest desire? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this.
Answer: Valli’s strongest desire was to ride on the bus she saw everyday. The sentences in the story which depict this are as follows: “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.”
Answer: Valli did not want to go to the stall and have a drink because she did not have any money for that. Even when the conductor offered her a cold drink free of charge, she refused firmly and said that she only wanted her ticket. This shows that Valli had a lot of self will and pride. Possibly, she did not want to take anything for free, particularly from a stranger.
~
Thinking About the Text
Question 1: What was Valli’s deepest desire? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this.
Answer: Valli’s strongest desire was to ride on the bus she saw everyday. The sentences in the story which depict this are as follows: “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.”
Question 2: How did Valli plan her bus ride? What did she find out about the
bus, and how did she save up the fare?
Answer: Valli planned that she would take the one o’clock afternoon bus, reach the town at one forty-five, and be back home by about two forty-five. She found out that the town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. On reaching the town, if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return home on the same bus. She had carefully saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, and the like, and finally she had saved sixty paise.
Answer: Valli planned that she would take the one o’clock afternoon bus, reach the town at one forty-five, and be back home by about two forty-five. She found out that the town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. On reaching the town, if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return home on the same bus. She had carefully saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, and the like, and finally she had saved sixty paise.
Question 3: Why does the conductor refer to Valli as ‘madam’?
Answer: When the conductor stretched out his hand to help her get on the bus, Valli said commandingly that she could get on by herself, and that she did not require his help. She did not act like a child, but as a grown-up girl and therefore, the conductor called her ‘madam’. When the elderly man called her a child and asked her to sit down on her seat, she replied that nobody was a child on the bus. She kept stressing on the fact that she had paid her fare like everybody else and therefore, she should not be treated differently.
Answer: When the conductor stretched out his hand to help her get on the bus, Valli said commandingly that she could get on by herself, and that she did not require his help. She did not act like a child, but as a grown-up girl and therefore, the conductor called her ‘madam’. When the elderly man called her a child and asked her to sit down on her seat, she replied that nobody was a child on the bus. She kept stressing on the fact that she had paid her fare like everybody else and therefore, she should not be treated differently.
Question 4: Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back?
Answer: Valli refused to look out of the window on her way back because she saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside, just where it had been struck by some fast-moving vehicle. It was the same cow that was running in front of their bus, during their trip to the town. She was overcome with sadness. The memory of the dead cow haunted her and therefore, she refused to look out of the window.
Answer: Valli refused to look out of the window on her way back because she saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside, just where it had been struck by some fast-moving vehicle. It was the same cow that was running in front of their bus, during their trip to the town. She was overcome with sadness. The memory of the dead cow haunted her and therefore, she refused to look out of the window.
Question 5: What does Valli mean when she says, “I was just agreeing with what
you said about things happening without our knowledge.”
Answer: Valli’s mother said that many things happen around us, but we are usually unaware of them. Valli had gone on a bus ride to town, all alone, and had come back without any harm. She did all this without the knowledge of her mother. Hence, she agreed with what her mother said.
Answer: Valli’s mother said that many things happen around us, but we are usually unaware of them. Valli had gone on a bus ride to town, all alone, and had come back without any harm. She did all this without the knowledge of her mother. Hence, she agreed with what her mother said.
Question 6: The author describes the things that Valii sees from an
eight-year-old’s point of view.
Can you find evidence from the text for this statement?
Answer: The author has described the things that Valli saw from an eight-year-old’s point of view. She was fascinated by a bus. Watching the bus filled with a new set of people each time was a source of unending joy for her. Her strongest desire was to ride the bus. She saved money by cutting on peppermints, toys, and balloons, and even resisting the temptation to ride the merry-go-round at the fair. When the author describes the bus, the points he stresses on are the colour and look of the bus. It was a ‘new bus’, painted a ‘gleaming white’. The overhead bars ‘shone like silver’. The seats were ‘soft and luxurious’. The descriptions that the author gives when Valli looked outside are also typical for an eight-year-old. The ‘blue, blue sky’ and the ‘acres and acres of green fields − green, green, green’ show the enthusiasm of a kid on looking at different colours. Valli clapped her hands in glee on watching a cow run right in front of the bus. She found it so funny that tears came into her eyes. On the other hand, she was overcome with sadness on her way back when she saw the same cow lying dead. It had been a ‘lovable, beautiful creature’ and later it ‘looked so horrible’. The memory of the dead cow haunted her so much that she refused to look outside the window. These are the typical reactions of a young child.
Can you find evidence from the text for this statement?
Answer: The author has described the things that Valli saw from an eight-year-old’s point of view. She was fascinated by a bus. Watching the bus filled with a new set of people each time was a source of unending joy for her. Her strongest desire was to ride the bus. She saved money by cutting on peppermints, toys, and balloons, and even resisting the temptation to ride the merry-go-round at the fair. When the author describes the bus, the points he stresses on are the colour and look of the bus. It was a ‘new bus’, painted a ‘gleaming white’. The overhead bars ‘shone like silver’. The seats were ‘soft and luxurious’. The descriptions that the author gives when Valli looked outside are also typical for an eight-year-old. The ‘blue, blue sky’ and the ‘acres and acres of green fields − green, green, green’ show the enthusiasm of a kid on looking at different colours. Valli clapped her hands in glee on watching a cow run right in front of the bus. She found it so funny that tears came into her eyes. On the other hand, she was overcome with sadness on her way back when she saw the same cow lying dead. It had been a ‘lovable, beautiful creature’ and later it ‘looked so horrible’. The memory of the dead cow haunted her so much that she refused to look outside the window. These are the typical reactions of a young child.
Short Answer Type Questions [2 Marks each]
Question 1.
Who was Valli?
Answer:
Valli was the short name of Valliamai. She was an eight year old girl who was very curious.
Who was Valli?
Answer:
Valli was the short name of Valliamai. She was an eight year old girl who was very curious.
Question 2.
Why did Valli kept standing infront of the door?
Answer:
Valli kept standing infront of the door as there were no playmates of her age on her street. So, she used to keep on watching the street outside her house.
Why did Valli kept standing infront of the door?
Answer:
Valli kept standing infront of the door as there were no playmates of her age on her street. So, she used to keep on watching the street outside her house.
Question 3.
What was the most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street?
Answer:
The most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street 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.
What was the most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street?
Answer:
The most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street 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.
Question 4.
How did Valli gathered all the information about the bus?
Answer:
Over many days and months Valli listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus. She also asked a few discreet questions here and there. This way she gathered all the information about the bus.
How did Valli gathered all the information about the bus?
Answer:
Over many days and months Valli listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus. She also asked a few discreet questions here and there. This way she gathered all the information about the bus.
Question 5.
Where was the town located? What was the fare to travel there by bus?
Answer:
The town was located six miles from Valli’s village. The fare to travel to town by bus was thirty paise for one way.
Where was the town located? What was the fare to travel there by bus?
Answer:
The town was located six miles from Valli’s village. The fare to travel to town by bus was thirty paise for one way.
Question 6.
What did Valli kept on planning and calculating continuously?
Answer:
Vails kept on planning and calculating which bus to take, how much time it will take to reach the town and the fare that would be required in completing her journey.
What did Valli kept on planning and calculating continuously?
Answer:
Vails kept on planning and calculating which bus to take, how much time it will take to reach the town and the fare that would be required in completing her journey.
Question 7.
How was the interior and exterior of the bus?
Answer:
It was a new bus. Its outside was painted a gleaming white with some green stripes along the sides. Inside, the overhead bars shone like silver. There was a beautiful clock above the windshield and its seats were soft and luxurious.
How was the interior and exterior of the bus?
Answer:
It was a new bus. Its outside was painted a gleaming white with some green stripes along the sides. Inside, the overhead bars shone like silver. There was a beautiful clock above the windshield and its seats were soft and luxurious.
Question 8.
How was the view outside the bus when it went through the canal? [CBSE 2015]
Answer:
On one side there was the canal and, beyond it, palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and the sky. On the other side was a deep ditch and then acres and acres of green fields.
How was the view outside the bus when it went through the canal? [CBSE 2015]
Answer:
On one side there was the canal and, beyond it, palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and the sky. On the other side was a deep ditch and then acres and acres of green fields.
Question 9.
Why did the conductor wanted Valli to sit?
Answer:
The conductor initially told Valli that as she has paid for the ticket, she should sit. When she refused he told her that she may fall and hurt herself when the bus takes a sharp turn.
Why did the conductor wanted Valli to sit?
Answer:
The conductor initially told Valli that as she has paid for the ticket, she should sit. When she refused he told her that she may fall and hurt herself when the bus takes a sharp turn.
Question 10.
Why didn’t Valli want to talk to the elderly woman?
Answer:
The elderly woman was wearing ugly earrings and was chewing betel nut. The betel juice was about to seep out of her mouth. Valli found all this repulsive and hence did not wanted to talk to her
Why didn’t Valli want to talk to the elderly woman?
Answer:
The elderly woman was wearing ugly earrings and was chewing betel nut. The betel juice was about to seep out of her mouth. Valli found all this repulsive and hence did not wanted to talk to her
Question 11.
What questions did the old woman ask Valli?
Answer:
The old woman asked Valli if she was travelling alone. She also asked her whether she knew where exactly she had to go in the town.
What questions did the old woman ask Valli?
Answer:
The old woman asked Valli if she was travelling alone. She also asked her whether she knew where exactly she had to go in the town.
Question 12.
How did Valli save money to travel by bus? [CBSE2013]
Answer:
Valli had thriftily saved whatever stray coins came her way. She resisted every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons and ride on the merry-go-round at the village fair to save money for her bus journey.
How did Valli save money to travel by bus? [CBSE2013]
Answer:
Valli had thriftily saved whatever stray coins came her way. She resisted every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons and ride on the merry-go-round at the village fair to save money for her bus journey.
Question 13.
How did Valli manage to travel by bus without the knowledge of her mother?
Answer:
Valli managed to travel by bus without the knowledge of her mother as she was asleep when Valli went out.
How did Valli manage to travel by bus without the knowledge of her mother?
Answer:
Valli managed to travel by bus without the knowledge of her mother as she was asleep when Valli went out.
Question 14.
How did Valli feel on seeing the dead cow on the road? [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
Valli was filled with sadness. She thought what had been a lovable, beautiful creature just a little while ago had now suddenly lost its charm and its life and looked so horrible and frightening.
How did Valli feel on seeing the dead cow on the road? [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
Valli was filled with sadness. She thought what had been a lovable, beautiful creature just a little while ago had now suddenly lost its charm and its life and looked so horrible and frightening.
Question 15.
What did Valli see when she reached home?
Answer:
On reaching back home Valli saw that her mother was awake and talking to one of her aunts.
What did Valli see when she reached home?
Answer:
On reaching back home Valli saw that her mother was awake and talking to one of her aunts.
Long answer questions
Question 1.
The people and surroundings are a great book to learn. Valli in the lesson ‘Madam Rides The Bus’ learns a lot from others. Mention the traits of her character which help her to learn from her surroundings.
Answer:
Valli dreamt of riding on the bus. Her eagerness to fulfill her dream fired her curiosity. This curiousness led her to listen to the conversations of people going on the bus ride and asking discreet questions so that she could gather as much information as she can regarding the bus journey.
On the bus journey, Valli acted confidently and behaved maturedly. She did not consider herself to be any less than an adult. She was focused on fulfilling her dream and did not get tempted to go outside the bus and explore the town when the bus reached the town.
On the return journey, she learnt about death when she came to terms with the dead cow. This made her aware of the fact that death is a part of life and should be accepted as it is a natural phenomenon. Thus, the bus journey made her learn a lot of things.
The people and surroundings are a great book to learn. Valli in the lesson ‘Madam Rides The Bus’ learns a lot from others. Mention the traits of her character which help her to learn from her surroundings.
Answer:
Valli dreamt of riding on the bus. Her eagerness to fulfill her dream fired her curiosity. This curiousness led her to listen to the conversations of people going on the bus ride and asking discreet questions so that she could gather as much information as she can regarding the bus journey.
On the bus journey, Valli acted confidently and behaved maturedly. She did not consider herself to be any less than an adult. She was focused on fulfilling her dream and did not get tempted to go outside the bus and explore the town when the bus reached the town.
On the return journey, she learnt about death when she came to terms with the dead cow. This made her aware of the fact that death is a part of life and should be accepted as it is a natural phenomenon. Thus, the bus journey made her learn a lot of things.
Question 2.
Age is not a barrier when it comes to doing something different and great. Which characteristics of Valli help her achieve the wonder of visiting the town at such a tender age? [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
In today’s era, age is no more a barrier. Children are doing wonders at a very young age. Same goes with Valli. At an age of 8 years, Valli was able to pursue her dream all alone by travelling in the bus to town. She was no different from others, except that she had certain characteristics that made her fulfil her dreams. Valli was a very confident and a bold girl. She had a knowledge of proper planning and execution. She controlled her wishes to save money for the bus ride. Also, she was a very good observer and learner. All these qualities made her realise the dream of visiting the town. Hence, one should always remember that there is no age to learn and experience new things.
Age is not a barrier when it comes to doing something different and great. Which characteristics of Valli help her achieve the wonder of visiting the town at such a tender age? [CBSE 2014]
Answer:
In today’s era, age is no more a barrier. Children are doing wonders at a very young age. Same goes with Valli. At an age of 8 years, Valli was able to pursue her dream all alone by travelling in the bus to town. She was no different from others, except that she had certain characteristics that made her fulfil her dreams. Valli was a very confident and a bold girl. She had a knowledge of proper planning and execution. She controlled her wishes to save money for the bus ride. Also, she was a very good observer and learner. All these qualities made her realise the dream of visiting the town. Hence, one should always remember that there is no age to learn and experience new things.
Question 3.
What kind of person is Valli? Illustrate your answer from the text that you have read. [CBSE 2012]
Answer:
Valli was a detetmined, confident and brave girl. She was also a good planner and executioner. She sacrificed a lot of things to achieve her dream. For example, she curbed the temptation to buy sweets and riding on the merry-go-round in the fair so that she could save money for the bus ride. Sacrificing all these things at such a tender age is very difficult for a child. She also behaved confidently in the bus and did not get bobbed down in the presence of elders.
When the bus reached the town, Valli did not succumb to the temptation of going out to explore the town or having a drink. She did this as she had a limited amount of money which she wanted to ‘ save for her return journey. So, Valli used her money wisely. When the conductor offered her a drink, she showed good manners in refusing to have it.
What kind of person is Valli? Illustrate your answer from the text that you have read. [CBSE 2012]
Answer:
Valli was a detetmined, confident and brave girl. She was also a good planner and executioner. She sacrificed a lot of things to achieve her dream. For example, she curbed the temptation to buy sweets and riding on the merry-go-round in the fair so that she could save money for the bus ride. Sacrificing all these things at such a tender age is very difficult for a child. She also behaved confidently in the bus and did not get bobbed down in the presence of elders.
When the bus reached the town, Valli did not succumb to the temptation of going out to explore the town or having a drink. She did this as she had a limited amount of money which she wanted to ‘ save for her return journey. So, Valli used her money wisely. When the conductor offered her a drink, she showed good manners in refusing to have it.
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