Important Questions Chapter 7 English Class 10 CBSE Board

Madam Rides the Bus

Short Questions with Answers

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

Question 2: What was a source of unending joy for Valli?
Answer: The sight of the bus filled with passengers was her source of unending joy.

Question 3: What was Valli’s strongest desire?
Answer: Valli’s strongest desire was to ride on the bus to town.

Question 4: How much was the bus fare to the town?
Answer: The fare was thirty paise one way.

Question 5: How long did the bus journey to the town take?
Answer: The bus journey took forty-five minutes.

Question 6: Why did the conductor call Valli “madam”?
Answer: The conductor jokingly called her “madam” because she behaved in a very grown-up manner.

Question 7: What did Valli see when she stood up on her seat?
Answer: She saw palm trees, grassland, mountains, the blue sky, a ditch, and acres of green fields.

Question 8: Why didn’t Valli get off the bus at the town?
Answer: She only wanted to take a bus ride, not roam around the town.

Question 9: What made Valli laugh during her bus journey?
Answer: A young cow running in front of the bus made her laugh until tears came to her eyes.

Question 10: Why did Valli refuse to drink anything at the stall?
Answer: She refused because she had no money to spare and wanted to save it for the return fare.

Long Questions with Answers

Question 1: How did Valli pick up details about the bus journey?
Answer: Valli listened carefully to conversations between neighbours and regular bus users. She also asked a few discreet questions. In this way, she found that the town was six miles away, the fare was thirty paise one way, and the trip took forty-five minutes.

Question 2: How did Valli save up the money for her bus journey?
Answer: Valli thriftily saved stray coins, resisting temptations to buy peppermints, toys, or ride the merry-go-round at the fair. She suppressed her desires and finally saved sixty paise.

Question 3: What preparations did Valli make to slip out of the house?
Answer: Valli planned her trip during her mother’s nap time, which lasted from one to four in the afternoon. She often used those hours to stand at the doorway, and this time she used them to take her bus ride.

Question 4: Describe Valli’s first reaction on boarding the bus.
Answer: When Valli boarded the bus, the conductor greeted her jokingly as “madam” and offered her a seat. She was shy as everyone looked at her, but soon she was thrilled to see the luxurious seats, shiny bars, and beautiful scenery outside.

Question 5: Why did Valli dislike the elderly woman who sat beside her?
Answer: Valli found the woman repulsive because she had big holes in her ear lobes, ugly earrings, smelled of betel nut, and had betel juice on her lips. Valli did not want to be sociable with her.

Question 6: What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh?
Answer: A young cow was running very fast in the middle of the road in front of the bus. The more the driver honked, the faster the cow ran. This scene amused Valli greatly and made her laugh until she cried.

Question 7: What sights did Valli find most fascinating during her bus ride?
Answer: She found the view of palm trees, mountains, green fields, the canal, and village scenes fascinating. She was also struck by the bright shops and crowds in the town, although she chose not to get off the bus.

Question 8: Why didn’t Valli want to buy a cold drink when the conductor offered?
Answer: Valli firmly refused because she did not have enough money. She wanted to keep her money safe for the return fare and did not want to accept free treats.

Question 9: Why was Valli saddened on her return journey?
Answer: On the way back, she saw the same cow lying dead on the roadside. The sight of the lifeless body, with blood and fixed eyes, made her very sad and killed her excitement.

Question 10: What did Valli’s mother mean when she said, “So many things in our midst and in the world outside”?
Answer: Her mother meant that there are many things happening around us that we do not know or fully understand. Valli agreed silently, relating it to her own secret bus journey which her mother was unaware of.