Madam Rides the Bus Class 10 Questions and Answers | Class 10 English First Flight Madam Rides the Bus Question Answers

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Madam Rides the Bus Important Question Answers Lesson 9

Class 10 English Madam Rides the Bus Question Answers – Looking for Madam Rides the Bus question answers (NCERT solutions) for CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Book Chapter 9? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 10 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the board exam. Our solutions provide a clear idea of how to write the answers effectively. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Chapter 9: Madam Rides the Bus question answers now. The questions listed below are based on the latest CBSE exam pattern, wherein we have given NCERT solutions to the chapter’s extract based questions, multiple choice questions, short answer questions, and long answer questions.

Also, practising with different kinds of questions can help students learn new ways to solve problems that they may not have seen before. This can ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of the subject matter and better performance on exams.

Madam Rides The Bus Chapter 9 Extract Based Questions
Madam Rides The Bus Multiple Choice Questions
Madam Rides The Bus Short Answer Questions
Class 10 Chapter 9 Madam Rides The Bus Long Answer Questions
Class 10 Madam rides the Bus Class 10 Summary, Explanation, Question Ans
See Video of Madam Rides the Bus Important Questions

Class 10 English Madam Rides the Bus Question Answers Lesson 9 – Extract Based Questions

Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select the correct option for each question by carefully reading the passage.

A Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

There was a girl named Valliammai who was called Valli for short. She was eight years old and very curious about things. Her favorite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street outside. There were no playmates of her own age on her street and this was about all she had to do. 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.

What was the short name of the girl?

Ans. Valli was the short name of the girl.

What was Valli’s favorite pastime?

Ans. Valli’s favorite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house.

Why did she spend her time all alone?

Ans. She spent her time all alone because she had no playmates of her age in her street.

Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as- uncommon.

Ans. unusual

Class 10 Madam Rides the Bus Important Question Answers Video

B Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that traveled 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. 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 corner. Their faces would kindle in her longings, dreams, and hopes. If one of her friends happened to ride the bus and tried to describe the sights of the town to her. Valli would be too jealous to listen and would shout, in English “Proud! Proud!”

What did Valli watch daily?

Ans. Valli watched the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town.

What was her overwhelming desire?

Ans. Valli’s overwhelming desire was to ride the bus.

What was Valli’s source of joy?

Ans. The sight of the bus filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending joy for Valli.

Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as- longingly.

Ans. wistfully

C Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

Over many days and months, Valli listened carefully to conversations between her neighbors 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. On and on went her thoughts as she calculated and recalculated, planned and replanned.

How did Valli know details about this bus journey?

Ans. Valli knew details about the bus journey from the conversations between her neighbors and commuters.

What was the distance of the town from Valli’s village?

Ans. The distance of the town from Valli’s village was six miles.

How did she pay for her journey?

Ans. She paid thirty paise for her bus journey.

Pick out the words from the passage that mean the same as- careful questions.

Ans. discreet questions

D Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

Well, one fine spring day the afternoon bus was just on the point of leaving the village and turning into the main highway when a small voice was heard shouting “Stop the bus. Stop the bus!” And a tiny hand was raised commandingly. The bus slowed down to a crawl, and the conductor, sticking his head out the door, said “Hurry then! Tell whoever it is to come quickly.” “it’s me,” shouted Valli. “I’m the one who has to get on.”

Where was the bus going?

Ans. The bus was leaving the village and going to the city.

Who stopped the bus?

Ans. Valli stopped the bus.

What did the conductor say to Valli?

Ans. The conductor asked Valli to hurry up and come quickly.

Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as- “small”.

Ans. tiny

E Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

It was the slack time of day, and there were only six or seven passengers on the bus. They were all looking at Valli and laughing with the conductor. Valli was overcome with shyness. Avoiding everyone’s eyes she walked quickly to an empty seat and sat down. “May we start now, madam?” the conductor asked, smiling. Then he blew his whistle twice, and the bus moved forward with a roar. It was a new bus, its outside painted a gleaming white with some green stripes along the sides. Inside, the overhead bars shone like silver. Directly in front of Valli, above the windshield, there was a beautiful clock. The seats were soft and luxurious.

What were the six or seven passengers doing?

Ans. They were all looking at Valli and laughing with the conductor due to which Valli was overcome with shyness.

Why did she avoid everyone’s eyes?

Ans. Valli avoided everyone’s eyes because she was feeling shy.

How was the outside of the bus painted?

Ans. The outside of the bus was printed white with some green stripes along the sides.

Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as- A time when there is not much work.

Ans. ‘Slack Time’

F Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

Valli devoured everything with her eyes. But when she started to look outside, she found her view cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window. So she stood up on the seat and peered over the blind The bus was now going along the bank of a canal. The road was very narrow. On one side there was the canal and, beyond it palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and the blue, blue sky. On the other side was a deep ditch and then acres and acres of green fields-green, green, green, as far as the eye could see.

Why did Valli stand up on her seat?

Ans. Valli stood up on her seat because she wanted to look outside.

Where was she going?

Ans. She was going to the city.

How was Valli feeling?

Ans. Valli was feeling happy and enjoying her ride.

Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as- looked through.

Ans. peered

G Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

Suddenly she was startled by a voice “Listen child,” said the voice, you shouldn’t stand like that. Sit down” Sitting down, she looked to see who had spoken. It was an elderly man who had honestly been concerned for her, but she was annoyed by his attention. “There’s nobody here who’s a child” she said haughtily, “I’ve paid my thirty paise like everyone else.” The conductor chimed in, “Oh, sir, but this is a very grown-up madam. Do you think a mere girl could pay her own fare and travel to the city all alone?”

What did somebody say to Valli?

Ans. Somebody said to Valli that she should not stand like that and asked her to sit down.

What did the elderly man advise the child?

Ans. The elderly man advised the child to sit down.

What did the conductor chime in about Valli?

Ans. The conductor chimed in about the girl calling her as a grown-up woman.

Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as- proudly.

Ans. haughtily.

H Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

An elderly woman came and sat beside her “Are you all alone, dear?” She asked Valli as the bus started again. Valli found the woman absolutely repulsive- such big holes she had in her ear lobes, and such ugly earrings in them! And she could smell the betel nut the woman was chewing and see the betel juice that was threatening to spill over her lips at any moment. Ugh!- who could be sociable with such a person?

What did the elderly woman try to do?

Ans. The elderly woman tried to befriend Valli.

Why did Valli find the woman repulsive?

Ans. Valli found the woman absolutely repulsive as she had big holes in her ear lobes and ugly earrings in them. She was also chewing betel nut.

What did the woman ask her?

Ans. The woman asked Valli if she was all alone.

Pick out the word from the passage that means the same as- causing dislike.

Ans. repulsive

Class 10 English First Flight Madam Rides the Bus Lesson 9 Multiple Choice Questions

Q1. What amused Valli the most?
A. The sight of buffalo running in front of the bus.
B. The sight of people running in front of the bus.
C. The sight of a dog running in front of the bus.
D. The sight of a cow running in front of the bus.

Ans. D The sight of a cow running in front of the bus.

Q2. What did Valli do one fine spring day?
A. Caught the bus to the town
B. Caught the bus to the village
C. Caught the car to the town.
D. Caught the car to the village.

Ans. A Caught the bus to the town.

Q3. What did Valli wish?
A. Bus ride
B. Truck ride
C. Car ride
D. Cycle ride

Ans. A Bus ride

Q4. What was her favourite pastime?
A. To stand at the front doorway and look into the street.
B. To stand at the front doorway and look at every passenger.
C. To stand at the back doorway and look every passenger
D. None of the Above

Ans. A To stand at the front doorway and look into the street

Q5. What was the most fascinating scene for Valli in the street?
A. The bus with a new set of curtains every time.
B. The bus has a new set of passengers every time.
C. The bus has a new driver every time.
D. The bus has a new conductor every time.

Ans. B The bus has a new set of passengers every time.

Q6. What can you tell about the conductor from the text?
A. he was funny
B. he was grumpy
C. he was quiet
D. all of the above

Ans. A he was funny

Q7. “Valli would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus.” What is the meaning of wistfully?
A. fearfully
B. carefully
C. willingly
D. longingly

Ans D longingly

Q8. What saddened Valli?
A. the dead cow
B. car accident
C. the handicapped passenger
D. all of the above

Ans. A the dead cow

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

Ans. A responsible

Q10. 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

Ans. A the sight of a running cow

Q11. 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

Ans. B merry go round

Q12. 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

Ans. D all of the above

Q13. 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

Ans. C he merely asked her to sit

Q14. How did she pick up small details about the bus journey?
A. listening to conversations of neighbours
B. asking a few discreet questions
C. All of the above
D. None of the above

Ans. C All of the above

Q15. Who is the author of the lesson “Madam rides the Bus”?
A. Gavin Maxwell
B. Vallikkannan
C. Paulo Coehlo
D. Arup Kumar Dutta

Ans B Vallikkannan

Class 10 English Madam Rides the Bus Question Answers (including questions from Previous Years Question Papers)

In this post we are also providing important short answer questions from the chapter Madam Rides the Bus for CBSE Class 10 Boards in the coming session. These questions have been taken from previous years class 10 Board exams and the year is mentioned in the bracket along with the question.

Q1. What kind of a person was Valli?

Ans. Valli was a curious, keen observer who had strong will power and determination. She was bold and brave. She had immense self confidence and wanted to do everything on her own. She was Innocent, highly sensitive, intelligent and was a very careful planner. Valli’s favorite pastime was to stand in the front doorway of her house and watch the happenings of the street.

Q2. What did Valli do after she got into the bus?

Ans. She got into the bus and she looked at everything very thoroughly. When she looked outside she found her view cut off by the canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window. So she stood upon the seat and peered over the blind.

Q3. Why did Valli want to ride on the bus?

Ans. Valli used to watch the bus on its hourly rounds through her street everyday. The sight of the bus filled with new passengers every time gave her unending joy. She was curious and wished to ride it once. So she wanted to ride on the bus to enjoy it.

Q4. How did Valli plan for her first journey?

Ans. Valli made careful and painstaking plans for her first journey. She saved every penny, cut down on her expenses and resisted all the temptations to save sixty paise for the fare. She gathered the information from the passengers and neighbors. She calculated the time required and chose afternoon, as her mother would take a nap during that time. All this shows that she was a meticulous planner.

Q5. What did Valli see out of the window on her first journey?

OR

During her journey, Valli absorbed the natural beauty and clapped her hands in happiness on seeing a young cow running very fast. What does this reveal about Valli? (CBSE QUESTION BANK)

OR

How was the view outside the bus when it went through the canal? [CBSE 2015]

Ans. Valli saw nature’s grandeur out of the bus window. She saw the green bank of a canal with the palm trees and mountains in the background and the blue sky. On the other side, she saw a deep ditch and green fields. She saw other vehicles, a young cow running in front of the bus.

Q6. What did Valli find when she entered her house after the ride from the bus?

Ans. Valli entered her house after the ride from the bus. Her mother was awake and talking to one of her aunts. She was from South Street and was a real chatterbox. She would never close her mouth once she started talking.

Q7. How did Valli arrange for her bus fare?

OR

How did Valli save money to travel by bus? [CBSE 2013]

Ans. Valli arranged for her bus fare meticulously for her first journey outside the village. Valli needed sixty paise for the two way fare of the bus. She needed some knowledge and ample time. She saved the money herself, collected the information from the passengers and utilised the time of her mother’s nap for it.

Q8. Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman?

Ans. Valli was a girl of superior nature. She greatly disliked the elderly woman for her big holes in the ears. The earrings were very ugly. She was chewing the betel nut. Its juice could fall at any moment. She was asking irrelevant questions from Valli.

Q9. What was Valli’s favorite pastime?

Ans. Valli was a Tamil girl. She had no playmates. It was her favorite pastime to stand in the doorway of her house. Thus, she was able to watch all that was going on in the street. This became her favourite pastime because she did not have any friends.

Q10. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?

Ans. Valli was deeply attracted towards the bus. She had the strongest desire to ride in it. It traveled between her village and the nearest town at an interval of an hour. The sight of the bus and passengers had been the source of unending joy for her.

Q11. What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out these details?

Ans. Valli used to look at the faces of the daily travelers of the bus very often and listened to the conversations held between her neighbors and the passengers. Sometimes she also asked questions from them.

Q12. What do you think Valli was planning to do?

Ans. Valli was a clever girl. She was planning to travel by bus. She gathered information regarding the bus fare, timings and the time the bus took to the town and back.

Q13. How did Valli feel on seeing the dead cow on the road? [CBSE 2014]

Ans. 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.

Q14. Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now?

Ans. Valli stood up on her seat. She had a keen desire to see everything with her own eyes. So she started to look outside. She saw that the bus was going along the bank of a canal. The road was very narrow. Beyond it were the palm trees, mountains and fields etc.

Q15. What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child?

Ans. Valli was a very smart girl. She had a superiority complex in her mind. She did not want to be called a child. On hearing herself termed as a child, she answered that there was no child. She had paid thirty paise like everyone else did.

Class 10 Madam Rides the Bus Long Answer Questions Lesson 9

Q1. On and on went her thoughts as she calculated and recalculated, planned and replanned. In which manner did Valli calculate, plan and prepare herself for the ride on the bus?

Ans. For her trip to the town, Valli had carefully, painstakingly, and elaborately planned everything. She had put all of her money into savings. She managed to resist the desire to purchase ice, toys, balloons, and peppermints. In the end, she managed to save sixty paise. She resisted the urge to ride the merry-go-round at the community fair. The next challenge was to sneak out of the house unnoticed by her mother. But she was able to do this without too much difficulty because her mother took a nap every day after lunch from around one to four. During this time, she would travel to the city.

Q2. Never mind ‘she said, “I can get on by myself” “You do not have to help me, said Valli to the conductor. She shows extraordinary courage in making the bus journey all alone. Taking inspiration from Valli’s character, write how ability and courage to take risks are essential to fulfil one’s dreams.

OR

Valli shows extraordinary courage in taking a bus journey all alone. Explain how ability and courage are essential to fulfill one’s dream. (CBSE SQP 2019-20)

OR

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]

Ans. It is undeniably true that having the skill and bravery to take chances is necessary to achieve one’s goals. Valli was eight years old. She didn’t go outside at all. She didn’t even take a bus once. Her parents forbade her from leaving the house, but she summoned bravery and boarded a bus to travel. She relished the travel and was aware of the outer world’s realities. She was a little child, yet despite that, she managed to travel without difficulty because she had the guts to take chances.

In other words, we can say that the thing or task that seems to be very hard is actually not so tough. We can do it if we have the ability and courage to take risks. If we do not dare to take risks, we lose opportunities to get better.

Q3. 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?

OR

Once we decide to achieve something, so many difficulties come in our way but with focused attention we can make that achievement. How did Valli succeed in fulfilling her desire of riding a bus?

Ans. It is true that obstacles do present themselves whenever we seek anything out. Nonetheless, ambition in life is necessary. Perseverance is necessary to achieve goals. Valli wanted to take the bus, but she lacked the funds to do so. The task at hand was to come up with the necessary sum of money, so Valli had diligently saved whatever spare change that came her way while restraining herself from splurging on things like peppermints, toys, balloons, and the like. At the end, she had thirty pence. She also paid close attention to the bus’ timetable and routine. She also listened in on chats regarding people’s travels. Nonetheless, her efforts allowed her to fulfil her goal in the end.

Q4. Compare Valli’s journey to the city with her journey back home. Why was there a change in her mood?

OR

“Valli’s journey to the city is also her introduction into the mystery of life and death.” Elaborate.

OR

Why did Valli not enjoy her bus ride back home?

Ans. The voyage to the city for Valli also serves as her introduction to the enigma of life and death. Valli was travelling to the city when she noticed a cow moving quickly along the middle of the road in front of the bus. She first continued to giggle while having tears in her eyes. We receive happiness and enjoyment from life. Valli admired the setting.

She came upon a dead cow on the road on her way home. Perhaps it had been struck by a fast-moving vehicle. She was aware that it was the same cow that had made her life enjoyable and joyful just a short while earlier. Sadness swept over her, engulfing her. She realised the impact death may have on life. What was once a charming, lovely creature had suddenly lost its allure and liveliness and looked horrifying and terrifying. Valli was plagued by the vision of the dead cow and found it difficult to enjoy the rest of her journey.

Q5. How did Valli plan her bus ride? What did she find out about the bus and how did she save the fare?

Ans. Valli was an eight-year-old Tamil girl. No one played with her. She likes to stand on the front threshold of her house and watch the world go by. She kept an eye on what was going on outside on the street. She yearned for a bus ride more than anything else. She listened in on the conversations taking place between her neighbours and regular bus travellers. She even asked them questions. She was well-informed on the bus, the bus fare, and the travel time. Between her village and the closest town, a bus ran. Her village was six kilometres from the town.

The cost for one way was thirty paise. In order to pay for the two side trips, she had to collect sixty rupees. She had heard this from a well-dressed individual. It took 45 minutes to travel to the town. She would catch the bus in the afternoon at 1 o’clock and arrive in the town at 1:45. She planned to return around 2:45. She saved money despite all of her urges to buy balloons and toys. All the dropped coins that came her way, she gathered. She stayed away from the swing and the merry-go-round at the village fair. She then gathered the necessary funds.

Q6. Find the lines in the text which tell you that Valli was enjoying her ride on the bus.

Ans. The following lines in the text tell us that Valli was enjoying her ride on the bus.

While the bus was moving on a narrow road along the bank of a canal, she saw distant mountains, fields, sky and so on. She went on seeing as far as her eyes could see. She uttered, “Oh, it was all so wonderful.”
The bus rolled on cutting across a bare landscape and was about to gobble up another vehicle. The bus left everything safely and Valli suddenly clapped her hands with glee. There came a cow, it ran faster at the horn and came right before the bus. This scene made her laugh until there were tears in her eyes. The conductor said, “Hey, lady, haven’t you laughed enough? Better save some for tomorrow.”
The bus passed the shopping street. There were displays of clothes and other merchandise! Such big crowds! Struck dumb with wonder, Valli gaped at everything.

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