Madam Rides the Bus 7th Lesson
Oral Comprehension Check
Question 1.
What was Vallis favourite pastime?
Answer:
Vallis favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street outside
Question 2.
What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
Answer:
The source of unending joy for Valli was the sight of the bus, filled each time with a set of passengers. 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, and the fare was thirty paise one way, and it took forty five minutes to cover the distance. Valli collected these details from her neighbours who used to travel in that bus
Question 4.
What do you think Valli was planning to do?
Answer:
Valli was planning to ride that bus once to the town
Question 5.
Why does the conductor call Valli madam?
Answer:
The conductor was jolly sort, fond of joking. So, he said to a little bit serious Valli, "Oh, please dont be angry with me, my fine madam."
Question 6.
Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now?
Answer:
Valli started to look outside. A canvas blind cut her view. So she stood up on the seat and peered over the blind. She saw the canal and beyond it palm trees, grasslands and distant mountains
Question 7.
What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child ?
Answer:
Valli told the elderly man that there was nobody there who was a child. She added that she had paid her thirty paise fare like others
Question 8.
Why didnt Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman ?
Answer:
Valli found the woman absolutely repulsive. She had big holes in her ear lobes and ugly earrings in them. She was chewing betel nuts. Valli didnt want to make friends with her
Question 9.
How did Valli save up money for her first journey ? Was it easy for her ?
Answer:
Valli thriftily saved whatever stray coins came her way. It was very difficult to save that money resisting every temptation to buy toys etc
Question 10.
What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh ?
Answer:
Valli laughed when she saw a young cow, tail high in the air, run very fast in the middle of the road, right in front of the bus
Question 11.
Why didnt she get off the bus at the bus station?
Answer:
Valli wanted to return home in the same bus. So, she didnt get off the bus there. Moreover, she was afraid of going out alone
Question 12.
Why didnt Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does this tell you about her ?
Answer:
Valli didnt have extra money to buy there. She did not want to buy or have anything. She was disciplined and had self-respect. She did not accept the conductors offer to buy for her a cold drink. Admirable
Thinking about the Text
Question 1.
What was Vallis deepest desire? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this?
Answer:
Vallis deepest desire was to travel in the bus from her home to the town. The words that tell us this are: fascinating; source of unending joy; wish crept and grew ; wish became stronger and stronger; till an overwhelming desire; dreams; hopes, too jealous
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 was determined to ride in the bus. She gathered the necessary information from her neighbours who travelled in that bus. She learnt that the travel distance was six miles; time needed was forty five minutes and fare was thirty paise one way. She planned the way to save money from the stray coins she chanced to lay hands on. She also thought of the safest time she could skip out of home
Question 3.
What kind of a person is Valli? To answer this question, pick out the following sentences from the text and fill in the blanks. The words you fill in are the clues to your answer?
- "Stop the bus! Stop the bus!" And a tiny hand was raised .....
- "Yes, I ..... go to town," said Valli, still standing outside the bus
- "Theres nobody here ..... ," she said haughtily. "Ive paid my thirty paine like everyone else."
- "Never mind," she said, "I can ..... . You dont have to help me. "Im not a child, I tell you," she said
- "You neednt bother about me. I ..... ," Valli said, turning her face toward the window and staring out
- Then she turned to the conductor and said, "Well, sir, I hope ..... ."
Answer:
- commandingly
- simply have to
- whos a child
- get on by myself
- can take care of myself
- to see you again
- Valli was commanding. She was very clear and casual and confident in answering the conductor. She behaved like a grown-up person and announced boldly that she was no more a child. She believed in "self help is the best help". She wanted to be independent. She wanted to take care of herself. She was polite, sociable and courteous
Question 4.
Why does the conductor refer to Valli as madam ?
Answer:
The conductor was jolly sort, fond of joking. So, he said to a little bit serious Valli, "Oh, please dont be angry with me, my fine madam."
Question 5.
Find the lines in the text which tell you that Valli was enjoying her ride on the bus?
Answer:
Valli enjoyed her ride on the bus thoroughly. The lines that support this idea : Valli devoured everything with her eyes. Oh, it was all so wonderful. Valli too joined in the laughter. But she laughed all the same. Valli clapped her hands with glee.. this was very funny to Valli. Struck with wonder, Valli gaped at everything
Question 6.
Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back?
Answer:
On her way back, Valli watched the same wonderful sights. She greeted them with the same excitement. Then, suddenly she saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside. That was the same cow Valli saw running while the bus was going to the town. Valli was overcome with sadness. Haunted by the memory of the dead cow, Valli refused to look out of the window
Question 7.
What does Valli mean when she says, "I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge." ?
Answer:
When Valli reached home, her mother and a neighbour were talking. Mother said that so many things happen without their knowledge. Valli agreed to the statement. What she had in mind was that she had a ride in the bus which her mother was not aware of
Question 8.
The author describes the things that Valli sees from an eight-year-olds point of view. Can you find evidence from the text for this statement?
Answer:
Yes. The text is clear about the point of view of an eight-year-old girl. Evidence to this effect: "Proud! proud!" She knew not the meaning of proud. She just learnt that the town was six miles "The fare was thirty paise" .. "There is nobody here whos a child.."
Speaking
Question1.
This story has a lot of people talking in it. The conductor jokes and laughs with Valli, some passengers try to show their concern for her, and her mother and her aunt spend time chatting.
Read the conversations carefully. Then think of similar people, or similar situations that you have experienced. Mimic a person or persons who spoke to you, saying what they said, along with your replies?
Answer:
Our neighbour: Do you know, it was just nine yesterday.
Me: What? What is nine? Time? It strikes nine twice every day!
Neighbour: No, not time. It was only nine yesterday. Very rare! Surprising.
Me: What is surprising is the meaninglessness of your statement.
Neighbour: Hey, my father said it. You know, my father is highly educated. When he said it, everyone in my home was surprised!
Me ....: What all you said is right. But what you said first is still silly. Can you tell me the context in which your father said that?
Neighbour: Mother was shivering last night. Father said it was terribly cold this season and cited the above statement.
Me : Now it makes sense. It must be: The temperature was just 9°c centigrade yesterday!
Neighbour: Yes, father said exactly like that
Writing
Write a page - about three paragraphs - on one of the following topics
Question 1.
Have you ever planned something entirely on your own, without taking grown-ups into your confidence? What did you plan, and how? Did you carry out your plan?
Answer:
Planning A Trip on My Own
Planning a trip entirely on my own was indeed more thrilling than actually going on the trip. I had this rare and exciting experience last year. Since my childhood, I have fascination for trees. Just to watch different kinds of trees I go round our village and fields nearby. My dream is to become a research scholar in horticulture.
My dads conversations with his friend sowed the seeds to plan this trip.
My dads friend is an agriculture scientist who works in a Krishi Viznan Kendra (KVK), an agricultural research station, twenty five kilometres away from our village. Once he said that a rose plant in their KVK gives us both red and white coloured flowers - one branch with red and another with white flowers
This was possible, he added, with a technique called grafting. That aroused in me irresistible curiosity to visit that center of marvels. I enquired with my classmates coming from that KVK side the mode of transport, the fares etc. On a day when our school was organising sports, I scheduled this trip without our parents knowledge. I told them I was going to school.
I had saved enough money from my pocket money. I soon boarded the bus that dropped me at the KVK main entrance. The guards there asked me what the purpose of my visit was. I told them I was doing a project on that KVK for my school and showed my ID
They appreciated my effort and one young guard accompanied me to each and every corner of that expansive KVK explaining to me the significance of each spot. It was an intellectually enriching experience. And indeed I did a project on that
Question 2.
Have you made a journey that was unforgettable in some way? What made it memorable?
Answer:
An Unforgettable Journey
When I was just five my parents took us (my elder sister and me) to a famous fair in a nearby town on a Sunday. Huge crowds thronged the place because of its popularity and it being a long weekend. Right from the entrance, at every stall, sister and I were pestering parents for toys and sweetmeats. But parents were postponing buying us things on one pretext or the other. I was growing restless.
Just then I saw a snake charmer. I have a fascination for snakes and snake charmers. I ran towards him. Parents and sister did not notice me. I enjoyed the snake show for about twenty minutes. I forgot the world around me. When the show was over I came into the present. I found parents nowhere around. I started crying. A man of about twenty took my hand into his and started comforting me. He offered to buy toys and sweetmeats for me. But I said I wanted just my parents. He asked for my details
Then he took me to the organisers office. From there they made an announcement over their public address system about my presence there. My parents, by then searching for me for more than a half an hour, listened to it and came there in less than five minutes. Mother took me into her hands and started kissing me profusely. It was a happy reunion. And the experience was unforgettable
Question 3.
Are you concerned about traffic and road safety? What are your concerns? How would you make road travel safer and more enjoyable?
Answer:
Traffic - Road Safety
Not a day passes without news about a road accident. Accidents have become an order than an exception. It pains me deeply when I hear about accidents and the resulting loss of life and limb. Cant we do something to stop them? Should we stay silent? No. Concerted efforts from all concerned can correct the situation
Understanding the seasons for the problem is half the solution. Poor road conditions, uneducated and untrained drivers, irresponsible road users, high powered vehicles, poor traffic rules, unconcerned authorities contribute to the tragedies.
Promoting awareness about road-safety measures, enacting stringent laws, strict enforcing officers, good road conditions, speed-controlled vehicles etc will in long run certainly bring down the number of accidents drastically! If every citizen discharges his/her responsibility, the day of zero accidents is not far away
Activity
Question 1.
Look at the words and phrases given below. Then put a tick against the ones you think you will find in the text?
- a set of passengers
- get on the bus
- get off the bus
- platform
- Tickets, please
- a roar and a rattle
- a row of seats
- slowing down to a crawl
- blowing a whistle
Answer:
I think I will find all the words and phrases given here in the text
Question 2.
You must have travelled by bus more than once. What can you see from a fast moving bus? Given below are some suggestions. Speak briefly about some of these scenes, or about other such scenes that you have seen; or write a sentence or two about them?
Answer:
rivers : I saw the river meandering its way through forests and deep valleys, sustaing life all through her way.
green fields : It was a real feast to my eyes to see such endlessly vast expanses of green fields that give food to all living beings.
hills : Wow ! What a scene to behold ! Rows of high hills with a thick cover of tall green trees !
roadside shops : Shops in a continuous row on either side of the road exhibiting their merchandise luringly, drew people to them.
market places : The town the bus took me to is famous for its many market places that sell multiple varieties of goods of fair prices.
railway tracks : On our way to the town we crossed a railway track. I was surprised to see on the map railway tracks crisscrossing many roads and connecting all corners of the country
moving trains : It was indeed a memorable spectacle for me to see a moving train for the first time in my life. From a distance, it appeared like a speck. As it approached us faster, it grew bigger and bigger. It made a loud roar and rattle.
vehicles on the road : Vehicles of different types and sizes were seen on roads. They were moving in all directions at different speeds.
trees : Innumerable tall, green trees all along the road on either side and on the hills yonder painted the earth green.
a crowd : The busstand and market place witnessed a huge crowd each. So many people in groups were busy buying things.
clothes in shops : Clothes of multiple rainbow shades were artistically displayed in shops. They were of various types and served many purposes.
animals : Our countryside is a home to a wide range of wild animals and domestic animals as well. They enrich our fauna and help man in many a way
Additional Questions :
I. Read the following passage carefully
There was a girl named Valliammai who was called Valli for short. She was eight years old and very curious about things. Her favourite 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
Question 1.
How old is Valliammai, also known as Valli?
Answer:
Valliammai, also known as Valli, is eight years old
Question 2.
What is Vallis favourite pastime?
Answer:
Vallis favorite pastime is standing in the front doorway of her house, watchíng what was happening in the street outside
Question 3.
What does Valli enjoy doing at the front doorway?
- Playing games with her friends
- Watching the street outside
- Reading books
Answer:
Question 4.
Why does Valli find standing at the front door enjoyable?
- Because she likes to gossip with neighbours
- Because she can observe whats happening outside
- Because she can play games with other children
Answer:
Because she can observe whats happening outside
Question 5.
Why are there no playmates of Vallis age on her street?
- They are all attending school
- They are busy with other activities
- The passage doesnt specify
Answer:
The passage doesnt specify
II. Read the following passage carefully
The most fascinating thing of all 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. 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!" Neither she nor her friends really understood the meaning of the word, but they used it often as a slang expression of disapproval
Question 1.
What fascinated Valli the most in her village?
Answer:
The bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town fascinated Valli the most
Question 2.
What did Valli desire to do regarding the bus?
Answer:
Valli desired to ride on the bus, even if just once
Question 3.
How often did the bus pass through Vallis street?
- Once a day
- Twice a day
- Thrice a day
Answer:
Twice a day
Question 4.
Why did Valli stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus?
- Because she wanted to make friends with them
- Because she was curious about their destinations
- Because their actions fueled her desire to ride the bus
Answer:
Because their actions fueled her desire to ride the bus
Question 5.
What did Valli shout in English when her friends tried to describe the sights of the town to her?
- "Happy!"
- "Sad!"
- "Proud!"
Answer:
"Proud!"
III. Read the following passage carefully
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-oclock afternoon bus, reach the town at one forty-five, and be back home by about two forty-five.
Question 1.
How did Valli gather information about the bus journey?
Answer:
Valli gathered information about the bus journey by listening to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus, and by asking discreet questions
Question 2.
What was the fare for the bus journey from Vallis village to the town?
Answer:
The fare for the bus journey from Vallis village to the town was thirty paise one way
Question 3.
How far was the town from Vallis village?
- 3 miles
- 6 miles
- 10 miles
Answer:
6 miles
Question 4.
How long did the bus journey take from Vallis village to the town?
- 30 minutes
- 45 minutes
- 60 minutes
Answer:
Answer:
45 minutes
Question 5.
What did Valli consider the fare for the bus journey?
- A fortune
- Too expensive
- Almost nothing at all
Answer:
Almost nothing at all
IV. Read the following Passage carefully
On and on went her thoughts as she calculated and recalculated, planned and replanned.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."
"Its me," shouted Valli. "Im the one who has to get on."
Question 1.
What was Valli poing ?
Answer:
Valli was calculating, recalculating, planning, and replanning
Question 2.
How did Valli manage to stop the bus?
Answer:
Valli managed to stop the bus by shouting and raising her hand
Question 3.
What season was it when Valli stopped the bus ?
- Summer
- Winter
- Spring
Answer:
Spring
Question 4.
What was the reaction of the conductor when Valli shouted to stop the bus ?
- He ignored her
- He scolded her
- He stopped the bus
Answer:
He stopped the bus
Question 5.
How did Valli get the attention of the bus conductor?
- By waving her hand politely
- By shouting loudly and raising her hand
- By sending a message
Answer:
By shouting loudly and raising her hand
V. Read the following passage carefully
By now the bus had come to a stop, and the conductor said, "Oh, really! You dont say so!"
"Yes, I simply have to go to town," said Valli, still standing outside the bus, "and heres my money." She showed him some coins.
"Okay, okay, but first you must get on the bus," said the conductor, and he stretched out a hand to help her up.
"Never mind," she said, "I can get on by myself.
You dont have to help me."
Question 1.
What was Vallis response when the conductor offered to help her up onto the bus?
Answer:
Valli refused the conductors help and said she could get on the bus by herself
Question 2.
Why did Valli show the conductor some coins?
Answer:
Valli showed the conductor some coins to pay for her bus fare
Question 3.
How did the conductor react when Valli showed him some coins?
- He refused to accept the coins
- He was surprised
- He accepted the coins and allowed her on the bus
Answer:
He accepted the coins and allowed her on the bus
Question 4.
Why did Valli insist on getting on the bus by herself?
- She was afraid of the conductor
- She wanted to prove her independence
- She didnt want to inconvenience the conductor
Answer:
She wanted to prove her independence
Question 5.
What was the conductors tone when he said, "Oh, really! You dont say so!"?
- Angry
- Surprised
- Sarcastic
Answer:
Sarcastic
VI. Read the following passage carefully
The conductor was a jolly sort, fond of joking. "Oh, please dont be angry with me, my fine madam," he said. "Here, have a seat right up there in front. Everybody move aside please - make way for madam."
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 everyones 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
Question 1.
How did Valli feel when the conductor joked with her and the passengers?
Answer:
Valli felt overcome with shyness when the conductor joked with her and the passengers
Question 2.
What did the conductor do before the bus moved forward?
Answer:
Before the bus moved forward, the conductor blew his whistle twice.
Question 3.
How did the other passengers react when the conductor joked with Valli?
- They were angry
- They were indifferent
- They laughed with the conductor
Answer:
They laughed with the conductor
Question 4.
Why did Valli walk quickly to an empty seat ?
- She was in a hurry to reach her destination
- She wanted to avoid the conductors jokes
- She felt shy and wanted to avoid attention
Answer:
She felt shy and wanted to avoid attention
Question 5.
What was the conductors demeanour while interacting with Valli?
- Serious
- Sarcastic
- Jovial
Answer:
Jovial
VII. Read the following passage carefully
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.
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
Question 1.
What was the colour of the bus outside, and what did the stripes look like?
Answer:
The bus outside was painted gleaming white with green stripes along the sides
Question 2.
How did Valli try to overcome the obstruction of her view outside the bus?
Answer:
Valli stood up on the seat to peer over the canvas blind and see outside
Question 3.
What material covered the lower part of Vallis window?
- Plastic
- Canvas
- Glass
Answer:
Canvas
Question 4.
What did Valli see outside the bus while standing on the seat?
- A busy marketplace
- A narrow road along a canal
- Tall buildings and skyscrapers
Answer:
A narrow road along a canal
Question 5.
What were the surroundings like outside the bus ?
- Desert landscape
- Mountainous region
- Rural and green fields
Answer:
Rural and green fields
VIII. Read the following passage carefully
Oh, it was all so wonderful!
Suddenly she was startled by a voice. "Listen, child," said the voice, "you shouldnt 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.
"Theres nobbdy here whos a child," she said haughtily. "Tve 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?"
Question 1.
How did Valli react when the elderly man asked her to sit down?
Answer:
Valli reacted haughtily when the elderly man asked her to sit down
Question 2.
What did the conductor say about Vallis maturity?
Answer:
The conductor stated that Valli was a very grown-up madam who could pay her own fare and travel to the city all alone
Question 3.
Why was Valli startled by a voice?
- She heard a loud noise outside the bus
- She saw an unexpected passenger
- She was lost in her thoughts
Answer:
She saw an unexpected passenger
Question 4.
Why was Valli annoyed by the elderly mans attention?
- She didnt like talking to strangers
- She felt embarrassed
- She thought she was being treated like a child
Answer:
She thought she was being treated like a child
Question 5.
What was the conductors tone when he called Valli a "very grown-up madam"?
- Sarcastic
- Indifferent
- Genuine
Answer:
Genuine
Madam Rides the Bus Summary in English
"Madam Rides the Bus" is an interesting story. It is narrated by Valli. She was just eight. She was fun-loving. Pastime was watching the street from their front doorway. And the most fascinating scene was the bus with a set of passengers. As she looked at the bus coming and going, she developed a strong desire to ride the bus
She started gathering the information about the distance the bus travelled, the fare and the time it took to go to the town and come back. She started saving coins. She resisted all temptations to buy toys or food items: She planned the time too. Her mother would sleep in the afternoons. That time suited her.
On one fine day, she went to the bus stop. The conductor offered to help her to climb on to the bus. But she said she needed no help. She declared, repeatedly, that she was not a child. The conductor was a jovial man. He addressed her as madam. Valli started enjoying the ride clapping and laughing. She looked out and devoured the sights of canals, rivers, vast expanse of green fields and distant mountains
She boldly told the elderly passengers that she needed neither their advice nor help. She heartily laughed as she saw a young cow galloping in the middle of the road right in front of the bus. She watched with awe a moving train. At the town, she saw shops full of goods and people.
There, she didnt get off the bus. She politely rejected the conductors offer to buy for her a drink. She returned home in the same bus. She was very sad to see the young cow lying dead on the road. She cheerily said goodbye to the conductor. As she reached home she was happy that her mother was not aware of her going out