Answers to NCERT Questions

ORAL COMPREHENSION CHECK

1. What was Valli’s favourite pastime?

Ans: Valli’s favourite pastime was to stand in the front doorway of her house and watch what was happening outside in the street.

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

Ans: A source of unending joy for Valli was the sight of the bus that travelled between her village and the desire was to ride on that bus.

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

Ans: Valli found out that the town was six miles away from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. On reaching the town, if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return home on the same bus. She found out these details by listening carefully to the conversations between her neighbours and the people who regularly used the bus. She gained information by asking them a few questions.

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

Ans: Valli was planning to travel on that bus.

5. Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?

Ans: Valli was trying to behave more mature than her age. She was trying to look overconfident and smart. The conductor was amused at her behaviour and in an effort to tease her, calls her ‘madam’.

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

Ans: Valli stood up on her seat because her view was cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window. She stood up to look over the blind. She saw that the road was very narrow, on one side of which was a canal and beyond it were palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and blue sky. On the other side, there was a deep ditch and many acres of green fields.

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

Ans: When the elderly man called her a child, Valli told him that there was nobody in the bus who was a child. She had paid her fare of thirty paise like everyone else.

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

Ans: The elderly woman was having big earlobes with bigger holes. She was chewing betel nut and the betel juice was about to seep out of her mouth. She was giving a sight of unrefined elderly lady. That is why, Valli did not want to make friends with her.

9. How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for her?

Ans: Valli saved every coin that came her way. She made great sacrifices by controlling her normal childish urges of having candies, toys and joyrides. This must have been difficult for her. Kids find it very difficult to savour a candy or to enjoy a toy.

10. What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh?

Ans: Valli saw a young cow, whose tail was high in the air, turning right in front of the bus in the middle of the road. The bus slowed and the driver sounded his horn loudly. However, the more he honked, the more frightened the cow became and it kept running faster and faster, right in front of the bus. Valli found it so amusing that she had tears in her eyes. At last, the cow moved off the road.

11. Why didn’t she get off the bus at the bus station?

Ans: Valli didn’t get off the bus at the bus station because she had to go back on that same bus.

12. Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does this tell you about her?

Ans: Valli did not want to go to the stall and have a drink because she did not have any money for that. Even when the conductor offered her a cold drink free of charge, she refused firmly and said that she only wanted her ticket. This shows that Valli had a lot of self- will and pride. Possibly, she did not want to take anything for free, particularly from a stranger.

THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT

1. What was Valli’s deepest desire? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this.

Ans: Valli’s deepest desire was to ride on the bus which she saw every day. The sentences in the story which depict this are as follows:

“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 overwhelming desire.”

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

Ans: Valli planned that she would take the one o’clock bus, reach the town at one fortyfive, and be back home by two forty-five. She found out that the town was six miles away from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way. The trip to the town took fortyfive minutes. On reaching the town, if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return home on the same bus. She had carefully saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, etc. and finally she had saved sixty paise.

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.

(i). “Stop the bus! Stop the bus!” And a tiny hand was raised ___________.

(ii). “Yes, I ___________ go to town,” said Valli, still standing outside the bus.

(iii). “There’s nobody here ___________,” she said haughtily. “ I have paid my thirty paise like everyone else.”

(iv). “Never mind,” she said, “I can ___________.” You don’t have to help me. “ I am not a child, I tell you,” she said, ___________.

(v). “You needn’t bother about me. I ___________,” Valli said, turning her face towards the window and staring out.

(vi). Then she turned to the conductor and said, “Well, sir, I hope ___________.” Ans:

(i). “Stop the bus! Stop the bus!” And the tiny hand was raised commandingly.

(ii). “Yes, I simply have to go to town, said Valli, still standing outside the bus.

(iii). “There’s nobody here who’s a child,” she said haughtily. “I have paid my thirty paise like everyone else.”

(iv). “Never mind,” she said, “I can get on by myself.” You don’t have to help me. “I am not a child, I tell you,” she said, irritably.

(v). “You needn’t bother about me. I can take care of myself,” Valli said, turning her face towards the window and staring out.

(vi). Then she turned to the conductor and said, “Well, sir, I hope to see you again.”

For Valli, the bus journey probably symbolised the adult world. Like anyone else, she spent her money to buy the ticket. She would have attained a great sense of pride and satisfaction in doing so. Therefore, though a child, Valli wanted to be treated as a grown-up in the bus. She had a great sense of respect which prevented her from taking anyone’s help. She felt she was able to take care of herself very well, and was easily irritated when anyone treated her as a child.

4. Why does the conductor refer to Valli as ‘madam’?

Ans: When the conductor stretched out his hand to help her get on the bus, Valli said commandingly that she could get on by herself, and she did not require his help. She did not act like a child, but as a grown-up girl and therefore, the conductor called her ‘madam’. When the elderly man called her a child and asked her sit down on her seat, she replied that nobody was a child on the bus. She kept stressing on the fact that she had paid her fare like everybody else and therefore, she should not be treated differently.

5. 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 show that Valli was enjoying her ride on the bus:

(i). “Valli devoured everything with her eyes.”

(ii). “One the 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. Oh, it was all so wonderful.”

(iii). “Everyone laughed, and gradually Valli too joined in the laughter. Suddenly, Valli clapped her hands with glee.”

(iv). “Somehow this was very funny to Valli. She laughed and laughed until there were tears in her eyes.”

(v). “Valli wasn’t bored to the slightest and greeted everything with the same excitement she’d felt the first time.”

6. Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back?

Ans: Valli refused to look out of the window on her way back because she saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside, where it had been struck by some fast moving vehicle.

It was the same cow that was running in front of their bus, during their trip to the town. She was overcome with sadness. The memory of the dead cow haunted her and therefore, she refused to look out of the window.

7. What does Valli mean when she says, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge.”

Ans: Valli’s mother said that many things happen around us, but we are usually unaware of them. Valli had gone on a bus ride to town, all alone, and had come back without any harm. She did all this without the knowledge of her mother. Hence, she agreed with what her mother said.

8. The author describes the things that Valli sees from an eight-year-old’s point of view. Can you find evidence from the text for this statement?

Ans: The author had described the things that Valli saw from an eight-year-old’s point of view. She was fascinated by the bus. Watching the bus filled with new set of people each time was a source of unending joy for her. Her strongest desire was to ride the bus. She saved the money by cutting on peppermints, toys, and balloons, and even resisting the temptation to ride merry-go-round at the fair. When the author describes the bus, the points he stresses on are the colour and look of the bus. It was a ‘new bus’ painted a ‘gleaming white’. The overhead bars ‘shone like silver’. The seats were ‘soft and luxurious’. The descriptions that the author gives when Valli looked outside are also typical for an eight-year-old. The ‘blue, blue sky’ and the ‘acres and acres of green fields – green, green, green’, show the enthusiasm of the kid on looking at the different colours. Valli clapped her hands in glee on watching a cow run right in front of the bus. She found it so funny that tears came into her eyes. On the other hand, she was overcome with sadness on her way back when she saw the same cow lying dead. It had been a ‘lovable, beautiful creature’ and later, it ‘looked so horrible’. The memory of the dead cow haunted her so much that she refused to look outside the window. These are typical reactions of a young child.

Additional Questions

Extract Based Questions

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow: (4 Marks each)

1. Suddenly she was startled by a voice. “Listen, child,” said the voice, “you shouldn’t stand like that. Sit down.”

a. Who was ‘she’ and whose voice was it?

b. Why wasn’t she sitting?

c. What does Valli see?

d. What was Valli’s reaction when she was called a ‘child’ by an elderly person?

Ans:

a. She was Valli. The voice was that of an elderly man who was concerned about Valli standing on the window seat.

b. As she sat on the seat, she found her view cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of the window. So she stood up on the seat.

c. Valli sees the camel, green fields, palm trees, etc. with her own eyes.

d. She was annoyed rather angry at the elderly person.

2. ‘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.”

a. Who is the child mentioned in the passage?

b. How did the girl prove to the elderly man that she was not a child?

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

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

Ans:

a. Valli is the child mentioned in the passage.

b. She said that she had paid thirty paise like every other passenger and was not a child.

c. Valli didn’t like the physical appearance of the elderly woman.

d. Valli told him that she was not a child as she had paid the same amount of the bus ticket as everyone else had paid.

3. Valli wasn’t bored in the slightest and greeted everything with the same excitement she’d felt the first time. But suddenly she saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside, just where it had been struck by some fast-moving vehicle.

a. While Valli was going back home, she saw something that changed her mood.

What was it?

b. How had the young cow met with this destiny?

c. What made Valli sad and depressed on her journey back to the village?

d. What kind of a person is Valli?

Ans:

a. She saw a cow lying dead by the roadside.

b. It had been struck by some fast-moving vehicle.

c. On her return journey, Valli saw a dead cow lying in the middle of the road.

d. Valli was a kind, compassionate, self-confident, nature-loving and friendly girl.

4. The conductor nodded, and she was overcome with sadness. 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, so frightening as it lay there, legs spreadeagled, a fixed stare in its lifeless eyes, blood all over...

a. Why is ‘she’ overcome with sadness?

b. What had happened to the creature?

c. Why is she so sad?

d. When did she see the cow earlier?

Ans:

a. She had just seen a young cow dead.

b. It had been struck by a fast-moving vehicle.

c. The cow that was full of joy and life a while ago, is lying dead-looking horrible.

d. She saw the cow earlier while going from her village on her bus journey.

5. 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.”

a. What conclusion was made by Valli on the basis of information?

b. What were the sources of information for her?

c. Whose conversations did Valli listen to?

d. What information did she want to get?

Ans:

a. The town was six miles from her village and the fare was thirty paise one way.

b. Neighbours and people who regularly travelled by bus were the sources of information.

c. Conversations between the neighbours and people who regularly used the bus

d. She wanted to get all the details about the bus journey including the distance from the town, the fare and the total time required to reach the town and come back to the village, when the bus drove back after having stopped in the town for some time.

6. After she had enough money saved, her next problem was how to slip out of the house without her mother’s knowledge. But she managed this without too much difficulty. Every day after lunch her mother would nap from about one to four or so. Valli always used these hours for her ‘excursions’ as she stood looking from the doorway of her house or sometimes even ventured out into the village; today, these same hours could be used for her first excursion outside the village.

a. Who does ‘she’ refer to in the passage?

b. What was her new problem after saving enough money for her bus ride?

c. When did Valli plan to slip out of the house without her mother’s knowledge?

d. What did Valli normally use to do when her mother had her daily nap?

Ans:

a. ‘She’ refers to Valli.

b. The new problem was how to escape without her mother’s knowledge for the bus ride.

c. Valli planned to slip out of the house when her mother would be having her afternoon nap which was normally from 1 to 4 p.m.

d. Valli used to go to the village for other excursions.

7. 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. The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between her 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.

a. What was Valli’s favourite pastime?

b. Why did she watch the street?

c. What was the source of unending joy for Valli?

d. What gave Valli new unusual experiences?

Ans:

a. Standing at the door, and watching the street was Valli’s favourite pastime.

b. She watched the streets because it gave her many new unusual experiences.

c. The source of unending joy for Valli was to watch the bus and the people going on the bus.

d. Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences.

8. Her first journey—what careful, painstaking, elaborate plans she had to make for it. She had thriftily saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, and the like, and finally she had saved a total of sixty paise. How difficult it had been, particularly that day at the village fair, but she had resolutely stifled a strong desire to ride the merry-go-round, even though she had the money.

a. Who does ‘her’ refer to in the passage?

b. Where was her first journey made to?

c. What did she do to make it a reality?

d. How did she save the money for the bus fare?

Ans:

a. ‘Her’ refers to Valli.

b. Her first journey was made to the town.

c. She made careful, painstaking and detailed plans to make it a reality.

d. She thriftily saved every penny, resisted temptation to buy things for her liking or taking a ride on the merry-go-round.

9. But suddenly she saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside, just where it had been struck by some fast-moving vehicle. “Isn’t that the same cow that ran in front of the bus on our trip to town?” she asked the conductor. The conductor nodded, and she was overcome with sadness.

a. Whom does ‘she’ refer to?

b. How does the presence of the cow affect her mood during her return journey?

c. What kind of a person is Valli?

d. When was Valli overcome with sadness?

Ans:

a. ‘She’ refers to Valli, an eight-year-old girl.

b. She was sad and sat quietly after seeing the dead cow.

c. She is a kind and sensitive girl. Her spirits are dampened and she becomes sad to see a dead cow.

d. When the conductor nodded in support of her query, Valli was overcome with sadness.

10. The bus rolled on now cutting across a bare landscape, now rushing through a tiny hamlet or past an odd wayside shop. Sometimes the bus seemed on a point of gobbling up another vehicle that was coming towards them or a pedestrian crossing the road. But lo! somehow it passed on smoothly, leaving all obstacles safely behind. Trees came running towards them but then stopped as the bus reached them and simply stood there helpless for a moment by the side of the road before rushing away in the other direction.

a. Where was the bus going?

b. What was the speed of the bus?

c. How did trees look to Valli from the running bus?

d. What trait of Valli’s character is reflected through the way she successfully planned her journey?

Ans:

a. The bus was going to the town.

b. The bus was going very fast.

c. Trees seemed running towards them but then stopped as the bus reached them and stood there helpless by the side of the road.

d. The meticulous way with which Valli planned her bus journey reflects her management quality.

Short Answer Questions (30-40 words: 2 Marks each)

1. How did Valli react when she saw the dead cow by the roadside?

Ans: On her return journey, Valli saw a dead cow lying in the middle of the road. It was lying sprawled in a pool of blood, legs spread out, and lifeless eyes staring a horrible scene. She felt sad and this made her lose all the enthusiasm.

2. What was the most fascinating thing for Valli?

Ans: The most fascinating thing for Valli was the bus that travelled between and the nearest town.

3. Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back?

Ans: Valli refused to look out of the window on her way back because the memory of the dead cow haunted her, dampening her enthusiasm.

4. Why does Valli find information about the bus to the town?

Ans: Valli gathered information about the bus because she wanted to take a ride in the bus. She was fascinated by it.

5. Why was the conductor of the bus amused while talking to Valli?

Ans: The conductor of the bus was a jolly person who was fond of joking. On two instances, he was amused while talking to Valli who pretended to be a grown-up lady.

6. Give examples from the text to show that Valli was a meticulous planner.

Ans: Valli was a meticulous planner. She listened carefully to the conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus, and also asked discreet questions. She picked up various small details about the bus journey and then planned it.

7. How can you say that the conductor was a good-natured jolly fellow?

Ans: The conductor was a fun loving, jolly fellow. For instance, when Valli refused his help to board the bus, he said jokingly, “Don’t be angry with me, fine madam… Everyone move aside please — make way for madam.”

8. What information did Valli collect for her first bus ride?

Ans: Valli gathered all the minute details about the bus journey. She gathered that she required sixty paise to buy tickets for the up and down journey, and that the bus would take ninety minutes from village to town and back. She carefully listened to the conversations of the passengers and villagers to get the details.

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

Ans: Valli’s source of unending joy was to have a bus ride. That was her tiny wish which grew into a strong desire with the passage of time. Her desire turned into a longing as she wistfully stared at the faces of the passengers who got on or off the bus.

10. What was Valli’s favourite pastime?

Ans: Valli’s favourite pastime was to stand in the front doorway of her house. She did not play like most other children because there were no playmates of her age on her street. Watching the street also gave her many unusual experiences which were equally enjoyable.

11. Give two reasons why Valli found the elderly woman on the bus, repulsive.

Ans: Valli did not want to make friend s with the elderly woman because she found her repulsive as she had big holes in her earlobes and was wearing ugly earrings. She could not stand the beetle nut the woman was chewing.

12. Why did Valli not get off from the bus when it stopped at the bus stand?

Ans: Valli’s sole purpose was to enjoy the bus ride. She neither had the money to buy anything from the shops at the town nor the courage to get down at the bus stand in the city.

13. What was the conductor’s advice to Valli?

Ans: Calling Valli a child ,the conductor requested her to sit down. It will make her comfortable. Standing up, again and again, could make her fall and get hurt because the bus may make sharp turns.

14. How did Valli manage to leave the house?

Ans: Valli knew that after lunch, her mother would take a nap for about one to four or so. It was Valli’s habit to engage these hours for her excursions and move outside the village.

15. What did Valli calculate and plan?

Ans: Valli calculated and planned that if she took one o’clock afternoon bus, she would reach the town at one forty-five. On reaching town, if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return home by the same bus by two forty-five.

16. What type of a person was the conductor?

Ans: The conductor was a very wise man and knew how to tackle and talk with the passengers. He was fond of jokes and in his jolly tone, interrogated Valli many times.

Long Answer Questions (100-150 words: 8 Marks each)

1. Write a character sketch of Valli.

Ans: Valli was an eight-year-old girl born in a small village. However, she was a very curious girl. She spent her time standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street outside. Watching the street gave her many new and unusual experiences. Her curiosity about travelling on the bus to the town urged her to plan a bus trip. She was very meticulous in planning for the trip. She calculated the distance between her home and the town, and the time it took for a trip up and down by bus. She was a determined girl. She saved money by resisting temptations to buy her favourite things like peppermint, balloons, toys, etc. and suppressing her keen desire to ride merry-go-round at the village fair. Valli also proved to be very impressive and bold by finally deciding to ride in the bus. Her childish innocence veiled by her smart and bold outlook which amused the conductor who offered her a seat in the bus. Valli thoroughly enjoyed her ride to the town, and laughed and clapped when the young cow ran on the middle of the road in front of the bus. But her enjoyable bus ride became a nightmare on her return journey. She saw the same cow lying dead on the road. This sight haunted her, dampened her spirits, and saddened her. This is typical of the tendency of a matured person. She refused to look out of the window thereafter. Valli, on the whole, can be described as a curious, joyful, disciplined, smart, bold, and at the same time, a mature girl.

2. “Never mind,” she said, “I can get on by myself.” “You don’t 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 risk are essential to fulfil one’s dream.

Ans: Valli is an eight-year-old village girl. She is fascinated by the bus that comes to the village every hour. She develops a desire and then a longing, turning into a firm determination to ride the bus. She meticulously plans for it and saves money for the bus journey. Then she boards the bus without anyone’s help. She travels all alone, confidently and independently and finally returns home successfully. Her selfdependence and self-respecting nature help her to nurture her goal. She enjoys her journey. Similarly, to achieve goals in life, we need to have such values in us. One should be confident and self-dependent. Proper planning and strong determination lead to success. Enthusiasm and excitement to achieve the goal are also needed to nurture our goals in life.

3. Valli was so overcome with sadness to see the dead cow that she lost all enthusiasm. Do you feel the same way? If you feel concerned about the plight of animals falling prey to the fast-moving traffic, what efforts will you make to make travelling on roads a safer activity?

Ans: While going to town, Valli saw a cow running in the middle of the road in front of the bus. The more the driver honked the horn, the faster it galloped. Valli laughed to see that. On her return journey, Valli saw the same cow, lying sprawled in a pool of blood, with legs spread out, and lifeless eyes, staring. It saddened her making her lose all enthusiasm.

I also feel the same when I see animals falling prey to the fast-moving traffic. We should take some serious steps to make road travel safer. Firstly, stray animals should be kept away from busy roads. Proper shelters should be made for them. Secondly, traffic laws should be implemented strictly. Whosoever violates the traffic rules must be penalised with fines, punishments and other legal provisions, as and when required. Rash driving must be kept under a check. If an animal falls prey to a road accident, it must be rushed to the animals’ hospital immediately.

4. Valli’s journey to the city is also her induction into the mystery of life and death. Elaborate.

Ans: Valli gets introduced to the mystery of life and death on her first bus journey in the outside world. She was wonderstruck and enjoyed the beauty of the outside world. She clapped, laughed and enjoyed when she saw a young cow running in the middle of the road, in front of the bus. The driver sounded the horn to warn it, but the more he honked, the faster it galloped. Valli found it funny and amusing. She laughed till tears came into her eyes. On her way back, she saw the same cow lying dead on the road. Some fast speeding vehicle must have hit it. It was a horrible sight. It looked quite frightening. It was laying with legs spread out, a fixed stare in its lifeless eyes and blood around it. The image of the dead cow haunted her, dampening her spirits and making her sad.

5. Who was Valli? What was her overwhelming desire?

Ans: Valli was an eight-year-old girl. She was a curious girl. She wanted to know many things. She did not have playmates of her own age. Her favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house to see what was happening outside. The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that passed through the street each hour. The bus travelled between her village and the nearest town. The sight of the bus was a source of unending joy for Valli. It was a great joy for her to watch new sets of passenger’s every time the bus passed through the street. As she watched the bus day after day, she developed a wish to have a ride on that bus. Her wish became stronger and stronger until it was an overwhelming desire.

6. What did Valli notice after she boarded the bus?

Ans: Valli looked around in the bus. It had a soft and comfortable seat. It had a beautiful clock above the windscreen. The overhead bars shone like silver. Then she tried to look outside. She found her view cut off by a curtain that covered the lower part of her window. So she stood on her seat to enjoy the outside scene. The bus was going along the bank of a canal. She saw palm trees, mountains and the blue sky. On the other side, there were green fields. Suddenly, an elderly man warned Valli not to stand on the seat. She called her a child and said that she could fall and get hurt. But Valli did not care for him. She told him proudly that she was not a ‘child’. She had paid the full fare like the others. The conductor told the man that Valli was a grown-up madam. Valli looked at the conductor angrily and said that she was not a madam.