PSEB Class 12 Chapter 3 Bholi Important Question Answers from A Rainbow of English book (Section C)
PSEB Class 12 English Bholi Question Answers – Looking for questions and answers for PSEB Class 12 A Rainbow of English Book (Section C) Chapter 3 Bholi? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 12 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the exam. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Chapter 3 Bholi now. The questions listed below are based on the latest PSEB exam pattern. All the Questions Answers given at the back of the lesson have also been covered.
Related:
PSEB Class 12 English Chapter 3 Bholi Textbook Questions
Comprehension Questions
I Short Answer Type Questions:
1. How many siblings did Bholi have?
Ans. Bholi had six siblings, three brothers and three sisters. She was the youngest of seven children in all.
2. Why was Sulekha called Bholi, the simpleton?
Ans. Sulekha was called Bholi because she was slow to learn and speak. After falling from her cot as a baby, she became mentally slow, and her stammering made people think she was foolish or simple-minded.
3. What was the effect of small-pox on Bholi?
Ans. When Bholi was two years old, she suffered from smallpox. Although her eyes were saved, her face and body were left covered with dark pockmarks, making her look unattractive.
4. Why did the other children make fun of Bholi?
Ans. The other children made fun of Bholi because she stammered whenever she tried to speak. They laughed at her speech defect and often mimicked her, which made her shy and quiet.
5. Why was Ramlal worried about Bholi?
Ans. Ramlal was worried about Bholi because she was neither good-looking nor intelligent. He feared that no one would agree to marry her, unlike his other daughters who were beautiful and smart.
6. Why did the Tehsildar come to the village?
Ans. The Tehsildar came to the village to inaugurate the opening ceremony of a new primary school for girls.
7. Why did the Tehsildar want Ramlal to send his daughters to the school?
Ans. The Tehsildar wanted Ramlal to send his daughters to school because, as a government official and the village Numberdar, Ramlal was expected to set an example for other villagers to follow.
8. Why did Ramlal’s wife agree to send Bholi, but not her other daughters to school?
Ans. Ramlal’s wife agreed to send only Bholi to school because she believed Bholi was ugly and unintelligent. Since no one would want to marry her, she thought schooling would not harm her chances of marriage.
9. Why was Bholi glad to see so many girls of her own age at school?
Ans. Bholi was glad to see so many girls of her own age at school because she hoped that one of them might become her friend. It was a new and happy experience for her.
10. What happened when the teacher asked Bholi her name?
Ans. When the teacher asked Bholi her name, she stammered badly and burst into tears. The kind teacher comforted her and encouraged her to try again.
11. Why did Bholi’s parents agree to Bishamber’s proposal for Bholi?
Ans. Bholi’s parents agreed to Bishamber’s proposal because he was wealthy and did not initially demand any dowry. They considered it a good match for their unattractive and simple daughter.
12. How did Bishamber come to wed Bholi?
Ans. Bishamber, a rich middle-aged grocer with grown-up children, came to marry Bholi in a grand ceremony. He had agreed to marry her despite her looks, thinking she would bring respectability to his life.
13. Why did Bishamber demand five thousand rupees as dowry?
Ans. When Bishamber saw Bholi’s pockmarked face at the wedding, he felt cheated and demanded five thousand rupees as dowry to proceed with the marriage.
14. Why did Bholi refuse to marry Bishamber?
Ans. Bholi refused to marry Bishamber because she realized he was greedy and heartless. She felt humiliated by his dowry demand and boldly declared that she would not marry such a mean and cowardly man.
II. Long Answer Type Questions:
1. Describe, in brief, the early childhood of Bholi.
Ans. Bholi’s early childhood was full of hardships. Her real name was Sulekha, but everyone called her Bholi because she was simple and slow-witted. At ten months old, she fell from her cot and injured her head, which may have affected her brain. Later, smallpox left her face disfigured with dark pockmarks. She also stammered while speaking, and other children often mocked her. As a result, she became shy and timid. Unlike her siblings, she was neglected at home, given old clothes, and received little affection. Her parents worried that she would never find a husband.
2. Ramlal was not worried about his children except Bholi. Why?
Ans. Ramlal was a prosperous farmer with seven children. His sons were educated and doing well, while his three elder daughters were healthy and attractive, making it easy to find good husbands for them. However, Bholi was different, she was neither beautiful nor intelligent, and her pockmarked face and stammering made her appear unfit for marriage. Ramlal feared that no one would marry her, which would bring shame to the family. This constant worry about her future made Bholi a source of concern and sadness for him, unlike his other children.
3. Write, in brief, a character-sketch of Bholi’s teacher.
Ans. Bholi’s teacher was kind, patient, and compassionate. She treated Bholi with warmth and respect, unlike others who mocked her. When Bholi stammered, the teacher comforted her instead of scolding her. Her encouragement helped Bholi gain confidence and start speaking without fear. She gave Bholi a picture book and motivated her to study, assuring her that education would bring respect and happiness. The teacher became a guiding force in Bholi’s life, shaping her personality and giving her the courage to stand up for herself.
4. Write, in brief, the character-sketch of Bishamber.
Ans. Bishamber Nath was a wealthy middle-aged grocer from another village. He was selfish, greedy, and hypocritical. Though he agreed to marry Bholi without dowry, he later humiliated her father by demanding five thousand rupees after seeing her face. He was old, lame, and already had grown-up children, yet he wanted money in exchange for marrying Bholi. His actions revealed his greed and lack of humanity. He represented the corrupt dowry system and social hypocrisy. However, Bholi’s rejection of him exposed his cowardice and moral weakness, making him a symbol of greed and insensitivity.
Punjab Board Class 12 English Chapter 3 Bholi Extra Question and Answers
Extract-Based Questions
A. “Her name was Sulekha, but since her childhood, everyone had been calling her Bholi, the simpleton. She was the fourth daughter of Numberdar Ramlal. When she was ten months old, she had fallen off the cot on her head and perhaps it had damaged some part of her brain. That was why she remained a backward child and came to be known as Bholi, the simpleton. At birth, the child was very fair and pretty. But when she was two years old, she had an attack of small-pox. Only the eyes were saved, but the entire body was permanently disfigured by deep black pockmarks. Little Sulekha could not speak till she was five, and when at last she learnt to speak, she stammered. The other children often made fun of her and mimicked her. As a result, she talked very little.”
Q1. What was Bholi’s real name?
Ans. Bholi’s real name was Sulekha.
Q2. Why did everyone call her ‘Bholi’?
Ans. Everyone called her ‘Bholi’ because she was simple, innocent, and slow-minded due to a head injury in childhood.
Q3. What caused the permanent disfigurement of Bholi’s body?
Ans. Smallpox disfigured Bholi’s body with deep black pockmarks, sparing only her eyes.
Q4. When did Bholi begin to speak, and what problem did she have?
Ans. Bholi began to speak at the age of five, but she stammered while speaking.
Q5. How did other children treat Bholi?
Ans. Other children often made fun of her stammer and mimicked her, which made her talk very little.
B. “When they reached the school, the children were already in their classrooms. Ramlal handed over his daughter to the headmistress. Left alone, the poor girl looked about her with fear-laden eyes. There were several rooms, and in each room girls like her squatted on mats, reading from books or writing on slates. The headmistress asked Bholi to sit down in a corner in one of the classrooms. Bholi did not know what exactly a school was like and what happened there, but she was glad to find so many girls almost of her own age present there. She hoped that one of these girls might become her friend.”
Q1. Who took Bholi to school and why?
Ans. Her father, Ramlal, took her to school because the Tehsildar had advised him to send his daughters to set an example.
Q2. How did Bholi feel when she entered the school?
Ans. Bholi felt scared and anxious because it was her first time in a new place away from home.
Q3. What did Bholi notice inside the classroom?
Ans. Bholi noticed several girls sitting on mats, reading books and writing on slates.
Q4. How did the headmistress treat Bholi?
Ans. The headmistress was kind and gentle and asked her to sit in a corner of the classroom.
Q5. What hope did Bholi have after entering the school?
Ans. Bholi hoped that one of the girls might become her friend.
C. “Bholi felt as if suddenly all the bells in the village temple were ringing and the trees in front of the school-house had blossomed into big red flowers. Her heart was throbbing with a new hope and a new life. Thus the years passed. The village became a small town. The little primary school became a high school. There were now a cinema under a tin shed and a cotton ginning mill. The mail train began to stop at their railway station. One night, after dinner, Ramlal said to his wife, “Then, shall I accept Bishamber’s proposal?” “Yes, certainly,” his wife said. “Bholi will be lucky to get such a well-to-do bridegroom. A big shop, a house of his own and I hear several thousand in the bank. Moreover, he is not asking for any dowry.” “That’s right, but he is not so young, you know — almost the same age as I am — and he also limps. Moreover, the children from his first wife are quite grown up.””
Q1. What new emotions did Bholi experience after her teacher’s encouragement?
Ans. Bholi felt a sense of happiness, hope, and confidence for the first time in her life.
Q2. How had the village changed over the years?
Ans. The village had developed into a small town with a high school, a cinema, a cotton ginning mill, and a railway stop.
Q3. Who was Bishamber Nath?
Ans. Bishamber Nath was a middle-aged, wealthy grocer who proposed to marry Bholi.
Q4. Why did Ramlal’s wife consider Bishamber a good match?
Ans. Ramlal’s wife considered him a good match because he was wealthy and not demanding any dowry.
Q5. What were the drawbacks in Bishamber’s proposal?
Ans. Bishamber was old, limped while walking, and already had grown-up children from his first wife.
D. “Once again the veil was slipped back from the bride’s face, but this time her eyes were not downcast. She was looking up, looking straight at her prospective husband, and in her eyes there was neither anger nor hate, only cold contempt. Bishamber raised the garland to place it round the bride’s neck; but before he could do so, Bholi’s hand struck out like a streak of lightning and the garland was flung into the fire. She got up and threw away the veil. “Pitaji!” said Bholi in a clear loud voice; and her father, mother, sisters, brothers; relations and neighbours were startled to hear her speak without even the slightest stammer. “Pitaji! Take back your money. I am not going to marry this man.” Ramlal was thunderstruck. The guests began to whisper, “So shameless! So ugly and so shameless!” “Bholi, are you crazy?” shouted Ramlal. “You want to disgrace your family? Have some regard for our izzat!” “For the sake of your izzat,” said Bholi, “I was willing to marry this lame old man. But I will not have such a mean, greedy and contemptible coward as my husband. I won’t, I won’t, I won’t.””
Q1. How did Bholi react during the marriage ceremony?
Ans. Bholi courageously rejected the marriage by throwing the garland into the sacred fire.
Q2. What made Bholi refuse to marry Bishamber?
Ans. Bholi refused to marry him because he demanded a dowry of five thousand rupees after seeing her face.
Q3. How did Bholi’s father react to her refusal?
Ans. Bholi’s father, Ramlal was shocked and scolded her for disgracing the family’s honour.
Q4. What change was seen in Bholi’s speech at that moment?
Ans. When refusing to get married to an old, limped man, for the first time, Bholi spoke clearly and fluently without stammering.
Q5. What did Bholi’s defiance signify?
Ans. Bholi’s defiance signified her self-respect, courage, and transformation into an educated and confident woman.
Multiple-Choice Questions
Q1. What was Bholi’s real name?
A. Champa
B. Mangla
C. Sulekha
D. Radha
Ans. C. Sulekha
Q2. Why was Sulekha called ‘Bholi’?
A. Because she was beautiful
B. Because she was simple and dull-witted
C. Because she was clever
D. Because she spoke fluently
Ans. B. Because she was simple and dull-witted
Q3. What happened to Bholi when she was ten months old?
A. She had an accident and fell from her cot
B. She was attacked by a dog
C. She was bitten by a snake
D. She caught fever
Ans. A. She had an accident and fell from her cot
Q4. Why did Bholi’s face become disfigured?
A. Due to burns
B. Due to chickenpox
C. Due to smallpox
D. Due to an accident
Ans. C. Due to smallpox
Q5. What physical problem did Bholi suffer from?
A. She stammered while speaking
B. She was blind
C. She was deaf
D. She had a limp
Ans. A. She stammered while speaking
Q6. How many children did Ramlal have?
A. Five
B. Six
C. Seven
D. Eight
Ans. C. Seven
Q7. Who advised Ramlal to send his daughters to school?
A. The headmistress
B. The Tehsildar
C. The village priest
D. His wife
Ans. B. The Tehsildar
Q8. Why did Ramlal’s wife agree to send Bholi to school?
A. Because she wanted Bholi to learn
B. Because she loved education
C. Because no one would marry Bholi anyway
D. Because the Tehsildar forced her
Ans. C. Because no one would marry Bholi anyway
Q9. What was Bholi’s reaction when she was told she was going to school?
A. She was very happy
B. She started crying out of fear
C. She danced with joy
D. She ran away
Ans. B. She started crying out of fear
Q10. Who encouraged Bholi to speak without fear at school?
A. Her mother
B. Her father
C. The lady teacher
D. The headmistress
Ans. C. The lady teacher
Q11. What did the teacher give Bholi to motivate her?
A. A new dress
B. A book with pictures
C. Chocolates
D. A slate
Ans. B. A book with pictures
Q12. How did Bholi feel after meeting her teacher for the first time?
A. Scared
B. Angry
C. Happy and hopeful
D. Confused
Ans. C. Happy and hopeful
Q13. What transformation occurred in Bholi over the years?
A. She became a bold and educated woman
B. She became more fearful
C. She became weaker
D. She stopped going to school
Ans. A. She became a bold and educated woman
Q14. Who was Bishamber Nath?
A. The village priest
B. The grocer who wanted to marry Bholi
C. The headmaster
D. The Tehsildar’s son
Ans. B. The grocer who wanted to marry Bholi
Q15. What was wrong with Bishamber Nath?
A. He was blind
B. He was very old and limped
C. He had a speech problem
D. He was poor
Ans. B. He was very old and limped
Q16. How much dowry did Bishamber demand after seeing Bholi’s face?
A. 2000 rupees
B. 3000 rupees
C. 4000 rupees
D. 5000 rupees
Ans. D. 5000 rupees
Q17. How did Bholi react to Bishamber’s demand for dowry?
A. She silently accepted it
B. She cried and married him
C. She refused to marry him
D. She ran away
Ans. C. She refused to marry him
Q18. What did Bholi do with the garland Bishamber tried to put on her?
A. She accepted it
B. She threw it into the sacred fire
C. She dropped it on the ground
D. She gave it to her father
Ans. B. She threw it into the sacred fire
Q19. What did Bholi decide to do after refusing the marriage?
A. To run away from home
B. To live alone
C. To serve her parents and teach at the same school
D. To marry someone else
Ans. C. To serve her parents and teach at the same school
Q20. How did the teacher feel at the end of the story?
A. Angry
B. Disappointed
C. Proud and satisfied
D. Indifferent
Ans. C. Proud and satisfied
True or False
State whether the following are true or false-
1. Bholi’s real name was Champa.
2. Bholi had an attack of smallpox when she was two years old.
3. Ramlal was a rich businessman in the village.
4. The Tehsildar advised Ramlal to send his daughters to school.
5. Bholi was very happy to go to school for the first time.
6. Bholi’s teacher was rude and scolded her for stammering.
7. Bishamber Nath was a young and handsome man.
8. Bholi threw the garland into the sacred fire during the wedding.
9. Bholi decided to serve her parents and teach in her school.
10. The teacher felt disappointed with Bholi at the end of the story.
Answers-
1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. False
6. False
7. False
8. True
9. True
10. False
Fill in the blanks
1. Bholi’s real name was __________.
2. When Bholi was ten months old, she fell from her __________.
3. The attack of __________ left her face disfigured.
4. The Tehsildar advised Ramlal to send his __________ to school.
5. Bholi was afraid because she thought she would be treated like the family’s old __________.
6. The kind and gentle __________ encouraged Bholi to speak without fear.
7. Bholi’s father was a __________ in the village.
8. Bishamber Nath demanded a dowry of __________ rupees.
9. Bholi refused to marry a __________ and greedy man.
10. In the end, Bholi decided to become a __________ in her village school.
Answers-
1. Sulekha
2. cot
3. smallpox
4. daughters
5. cow
6. teacher
7. Numberdar
8. five thousand
9. mean
10. Teacher
Extra Questions
Answer the following questions-
Q1. Why was Sulekha called ‘Bholi’?
Ans. Sulekha was called ‘Bholi’, meaning simpleton, because she was slow in learning and speaking. When she was ten months old, she fell from her cot and perhaps injured her brain, which affected her mental development. Later, when she was two, smallpox left her face disfigured with dark pockmarks. She also began to stammer when she tried to speak, and other children often mocked her. Because of these reasons, everyone considered her a simple, foolish child and began calling her ‘Bholi’.
Q2. What kind of family did Bholi belong to?
Ans. Bholi was the youngest daughter of Numberdar Ramlal, a prosperous farmer and village revenue officer. The family lived comfortably with enough food and resources. Bholi had three brothers, all educated in the city, and three elder sisters, two of whom were already married. However, while her siblings were healthy and intelligent, Bholi was neglected due to her appearance and speech defect. No one paid her much attention or cared for her properly. Her old clothes were handed down from her sisters, and she was often treated with indifference, showing the family’s bias against weakness and imperfection.
Q3. How did Bholi react when her father asked her to go to school?
Ans. When Ramlal told Bholi she was being taken to school, she was terrified. She did not know what a school was and feared she might be abandoned like their old cow, Lakshmi, who had recently been sold. Out of fear, she screamed and pulled her hand away from her father’s grip. Her hesitation showed her insecurity and the lack of love she had received. However, when she was bathed, dressed in clean clothes, and taken to school, she began to hope it might be a good place. This marked the beginning of her transformation through education.
Q4. How did Bholi’s first day at school change her life?
Ans. Bholi’s first day at school was a turning point in her life. She was initially scared and confused, but her teacher’s kind and encouraging behavior filled her with hope. The teacher spoke gently, comforted her when she stammered, and praised her effort. She also gave Bholi a picture book and assured her that if she studied regularly, she would become knowledgeable and respected. For the first time, Bholi felt valued and loved. The teacher’s warmth enhanced self-confidence and courage in her heart, helping her believe that education could free her from fear and humiliation.
Q5. What role did the teacher play in transforming Bholi’s personality?
Ans. Bholi’s teacher played a crucial role in changing her life. She was the first person to treat Bholi with kindness, patience, and respect. Instead of mocking her for stammering, the teacher encouraged her to speak and praised her small efforts. She assured Bholi that if she continued studying, she would become confident and respected. Her words gave Bholi a new sense of identity and self-worth. The teacher’s empathy and motivation helped Bholi overcome her fears and realize her potential.
Q6. What proposal did Bishamber Nath make, and why did Ramlal accept it?
Ans. Bishamber Nath, a wealthy middle-aged grocer from another village, proposed to marry Bholi. Although he was nearly Ramlal’s age, limped, and had grown-up children from his first wife, Ramlal and his wife saw this as a great opportunity. Bishamber demanded no dowry, which made the proposal even more appealing. Ramlal’s wife argued that Bholi was lucky to get such a well-off suitor, especially since her pockmarked face and stammering made it difficult to find a match. Fearing that she might remain unmarried, Ramlal reluctantly agreed, valuing social status and family honor over Bholi’s happiness.
Q7. What happened during Bholi’s wedding ceremony?
Ans. During the wedding, everything was grand and joyous until the groom, Bishamber Nath, saw Bholi’s pockmarked face. He immediately refused to marry her unless Ramlal paid him a dowry of five thousand rupees. Humiliated, Ramlal begged and pleaded but finally gave in to save his family’s honor. Bishamber then smugly prepared to place the garland around Bholi’s neck. At that moment, Bholi, filled with courage and self-respect, refused to marry him. She threw the garland into the fire, shocking everyone.
Q8. Why did Bholi refuse to marry Bishamber Nath?
Ans. Bholi refused to marry Bishamber Nath because she realized his greed and cruelty. When he demanded five thousand rupees after seeing her face, she saw his true character and that he was selfish, mean, and cowardly. She felt humiliated that he would marry her only for money. Having gained self-confidence through education, Bholi no longer wanted to accept an unfair life. She boldly declared that she would not marry such a man, even if it meant defying her family and society.
Q9. How did Bholi’s parents and guests react to her refusal?
Ans. Everyone at the wedding was shocked when Bholi refused to marry Bishamber. Her father, Ramlal, was thunderstruck and begged her not to disgrace the family. The guests began whispering, calling her “shameless” and “crazy.” Her relatives were stunned to see her speak boldly without stammering. They had always considered her a weak, dumb girl, but her firm voice and confidence surprised everyone. Though Ramlal felt humiliated, Bholi remained calm and fearless. She stood by her decision, proving that her education had empowered her to stand up against injustice.
Q10. What was Bholi’s decision at the end of the story, and what does it signify?
Ans. At the end of the story, Bholi decided not to marry and instead devoted her life to caring for her parents and teaching in her village school. Her decision symbolized her complete transformation from a timid, neglected girl into an educated, self-reliant woman. By rejecting a greedy suitor, she also rejected the oppressive traditions that demeaned women. Her resolve to teach represented her desire to empower other girls through education, just as her teacher had empowered her.