Question Bank — First Flight 7 — Madam Rides the Bus

QUESTION BANK

First Flight — Unit 7: Madam Rides the Bus (Prose + Poem)

Section A — MCQs (10 × 1 = 10 marks)

1. Valli’s strongest desire was to
   (a) play with friends (b) ride the bus to town (c) go to the village fair (d) buy toys

2. How much was the one-way bus fare?
   (a) Twenty paise (b) Thirty paise (c) Forty paise (d) Sixty paise

3. Which word in the story means “longingly”?
   (a) haughtily (b) wistfully (c) curtly (d) resolutely

4. Assertion (A): Valli refused the conductor’s offer of a cold drink.
   Reason (R): She did not have enough money and did not want anyone to pay for her.
   (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
   (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
   (c) A is true but R is false.
   (d) A is false but R is true.

5. The elderly woman on the bus was repulsive to Valli mainly because
   (a) she asked too many questions (b) she chewed betel nut (c) she had big holes in her ear lobes (d) both (b) and (c)

6. Assertion (A): Custard is called a “cowardly dragon”.
   Reason (R): He cried for a nice safe cage while others boasted of bravery.
   (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
   (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
   (c) A is true but R is false.
   (d) A is false but R is true.

7. What happened to the young cow on Valli’s return journey?
   (a) It was still running on the road (b) It was lying dead by the roadside (c) It had reached the town (d) It was tied near the station

8. The rhyme scheme of the first stanza of “The Tale of Custard the Dragon” is
   (a) aabb (b) abab (c) abcb (d) aabc

9. Valli’s mother and aunt were talking about
   (a) the village fair (b) things happening without their knowledge (c) the bus journey (d) the dead cow

10. Which poetic device is used in “Mouth like a fireplace, chimney for a nose”?
    (a) Metaphor (b) Simile (c) Alliteration (d) Personification

Section B — Reference to Context (3 × 4 = 12 marks)

Extract 1

“Never mind,” she said, “I can get on by myself. You don’t have to help me.”

(i) Who is the speaker and to whom is she speaking?
(ii) What does this line reveal about the speaker’s character?
(iii) Identify the literary device used in the conductor’s reply that follows this line (“Oh, please don’t be angry with me, my fine madam”).
(iv) What does the word “madam” suggest about how the conductor views Valli at this moment?

Extract 2

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

(i) Who spoke these words and why?
(ii) How did Valli react to being called “child”?
(iii) Pick out the word from the extract that means “surprised”.
(iv) What does this incident show about Valli’s attitude towards herself?

Extract 3 (Poem)
“Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears,
And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs,
Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage,
But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.”

(i) Name the pets and their owners.
(ii) What contrast is highlighted in these lines?
(iii) Identify the simile used for Belinda.
(iv) What does Custard’s behaviour suggest about him?

Section C — Short Answer (5 × 3 = 15 marks)

(Answer in 40–50 words each)

1. How did Valli manage to save sixty paise for the bus ride?
2. Why did Valli stand on the seat during the journey? What did she see?
3. Why did Valli refuse to make friends with the elderly woman on the bus?
4. Describe Custard’s appearance as given in the poem.
5. How did the other pets and Belinda treat Custard?

Section D — Long Answer (2 × 6 = 12 marks)

(Answer in 100–120 words each)

1. Draw a character sketch of Valli on the basis of her behaviour throughout the bus journey.
2. “Appearances can be deceptive.” How is this idea brought out through the characters in “The Tale of Custard the Dragon”?

Section E — Language and Writing (2 × 4 = 8 marks)

1. Fill in the blanks with words from the unit (thriftily, wistfully, haughtily, repulsive, curtly):
   (a) Valli looked __ at the passengers getting on the bus.
   (b) She answered the old woman _ and turned away.
   (c) The elderly woman seemed ___ to Valli because of her betel-stained lips.

2. Imagine you are Valli. Write a diary entry (80–100 words) describing your first bus journey, your excitement, and the sight of the dead cow that saddened you.