Madam Rides the Bus
Oral Comprehension Check – I
Q.1. What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
Ans: Valli’s favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house and watching the activities on the street.
Q.2. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
Ans: Watching the bus, with new passengers each time, was a source of unending joy for Valli. Her strongest desire was to ride on that bus.
Q.3. What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out these details?
Ans: Valli found out that the distance to the town was six miles, the fare was thirty paise, and the journey took about forty-five minutes. She gathered this information by listening carefully to others and asking questions discreetly.
Q.4. What do you think Valli was planning to do?
Ans: Valli was planning to take a bus ride to the town all by herself.
Oral Comprehension Check – II
Q.1. Why does the conductor call Valli “madam”?
Ans: The conductor calls her “madam” because she behaves like a grown-up and insists on being treated as an adult.
Q.2. Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see then?
Ans: Valli stands on the seat because she is too short to see outside. From there, she sees canals, palm trees, green fields, distant mountains, and the wide sky.
Q.3. What does Valli say to the elderly man who calls her a child?
Ans: She becomes annoyed and says that no one in the bus is a child, as she has paid her fare like everyone else.
Q.4. Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman?
Ans: Valli found the woman unpleasant because she kept asking questions and had betel juice in her mouth, which irritated her.
Oral Comprehension Check – III
Q.1. How did Valli save money for her journey? Was it easy?
Ans: Valli saved every coin she got and avoided spending money on small pleasures like toys or rides. It was not easy for her to save the money.
Q.2. What made Valli laugh during the journey?
Ans: She laughed when she saw a young cow running in front of the bus with its tail up, trying to escape from it.
Q.3. Why didn’t she get off the bus at the bus station?
Ans: She did not get off because she only wanted to enjoy the ride and was afraid of going into an unknown place alone.
Q.4. Why didn’t Valli go to the stall for a drink? What does this show about her?
Ans: She did not want to spend money because she needed it for her return journey. This shows that she was careful, disciplined, and sensible.
Thinking About the Text
Q.1. What was Valli’s deepest desire? Which words show this?
Ans: Valli’s deepest desire was to ride on the bus. Phrases like “source of unending joy” and her constant watching of the bus show her longing.
Q.2. How did Valli plan her bus ride?
Ans: Valli planned her trip secretly by collecting information from others. She learned about the distance, fare, and time. She saved sixty paise by avoiding unnecessary expenses and did not inform her parents.
Q.3. What kind of a person is Valli?
Ans: Valli is curious, determined, confident, and independent. She behaves like an adult, insists on her independence, and shows courage in traveling alone.
Q.4. Why does the conductor refer to Valli as “madam”?
Ans: He calls her “madam” because of her confident and grown-up behaviour.
Q.5. How do we know that Valli enjoyed her ride?
Ans: Valli was fascinated by everything she saw outside the bus—fields, trees, sky, and the running cow. She laughed happily and found the journey exciting and wonderful.
Q.6. What does Valli mean when she says, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge”?
Ans: Valli says this to hide her secret journey and avoid suspicion, while feeling proud of successfully carrying out her plan.
Q.7. How does the story show the world from an eight-year-old’s perspective?
Ans: The story highlights Valli’s curiosity and excitement. She is attracted to colours, scenery, and simple events like a running cow. Her emotional reaction to the dead cow also shows her innocence and sensitivity, typical of a child.