Two Stories about Flight: By Liam O’Flaherty

 

 Two Stories about Flight:  (By Liam O’Flaherty) [Notes prepared by Shish Pal Chauhan)

Answering the Questions in one sentence.

Q1.Why did the seagull dive towards his mother?

Ans. The young seagull dived towards his mother to catch food from his mother’s beak.

Q2. Why was the seagull afraid to fly?

Ans. The seagull was afraid to fly because he was not confident that he could fly.

Q3. Which sight maddened the young seagull?

Ans. The sight of food in his mother’s beak maddened him.

Q4.Why did the seagull stand on one leg with his eyes closed?

Ans. It was because he wanted to attract the attention of his mother.

Q5. What happened to the seagull when he dived to catch fish from his mother’s beak?

Ans. He fell down into space above the surface of the sea.

Q6.What has been called the green flooring here in this lesson?

Ans. The surface of the sea has been called green flooring here in the lesson.

Q7. How much time did the seagull pass alone?

Ans. He passed twenty-four hours.:                              

                            Short Answer-type Qs.

Q1. When did the young seagull’s first flight begin and where did it end?

Ans. Ans. The young seagull’s first flight began as he fell down towards the seawater. After that, his wings opened, spread and he started flying. His flight ended on the surface of the green sea.

Q2. Do you sympathize with the seagull? Give reasons for your choice?

Ans. Yes, we do sympathize with the young seagull. The reasons are: (i) He was afraid of jumping from the ledge. His fear was quite genuine (real) (ii) He had been hungry for the last two days.

Q3.How did the seagull’s mother teach him the art of flying?

Ans. The young seagull’s mother came near him with a piece of fish in her beak. It made him desperate and he jumped at the piece of meat. As he jumped, he fell down towards the sea below. While coming downwards, his wings opened and spread. He began to fly.

Q4. Why did the seagull dive towards his mother?

Ans. The young seagull had been hungry for the last two days. His mother came near him with a piece of fish to tempt him to jump towards it. The young seagull was desperate to catch the piece of meat from his mother’s beak. So he dived towards his mother.

Q5. When did the seagull overcome his fear of the water?

Ans. His legs sank down into the seawater. He screamed (cried) with fright and attempted (tried) to rise again flapping (moving wings for flying) his wings. His feet sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he sank no further. After that, he won over the fear of water.

Q6. “The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull finally to fly?

Ans. The sight of food maddened the hungry bird. It suggests that he was extremely hungry and was about to die. It also shows that anyone can do anything for hunger. The young bird dived to catch the food from his mother’s beak. He fell downwards and finally learned to fly.

Q7. Why was the seagull afraid to fly?

Ans. It was natural for the seagull to be afraid to fly. It was because the bird was not confident that his wings would open and help him fly. He was afraid that he would fall down into the deep waters of the sea.

Long Answer-type Qs

Q1. Describe the methods used by the seagull family to help him overcome his fear and fly?

Ans. His family tried hard to inspire him to fly. They kept taunting him for his cowardice. All except his mother was looking at him as time passed. She tore at a piece of fish to make him feel hungrier than before. She hoped he would try to jump from the cliff to get food. But the young seagull did not do it. He kept screaming. Then his mother made a trick. She took a piece of meat in her beak and started flying very near him. She was a little away from the ledge. The bird was extremely hungry. The sight of food maddened him. He dived towards his mother. He could not reach her and fell down into the space below the ledge. Suddenly its wings opened and spread. The bird started flying.

Q2. Describe how the young seagull made his maiden flight.

Ans. The young seagull was afraid that his wings would not open and support him. He would fall down into the deep water of the sea. His mother tried hard to inspire him to fly. But it was all in vain. At last, his mother hit upon a trick. She took a piece of meat in her beak and started flying very near him. She was a little away from the ledge. The bird was extremely hungry. The sight of food maddened him. He dived towards his mother. He could not reach her and fell down into the space below the ledge. Suddenly its wings opened and spread. The bird started flying. His family also came to encourage him. His flight ended on the surface of the green water where his family members had also alighted. In this way, the young bird made his maiden flight.

                                   For Average Students

                             The Two Stories about Flight

                                 (By Liam O’Flaherty)

                      Answering the Questions in one sentence.

Q1.Why did the seagull dive towards his mother?

Ans. The young seagull dived towards his mother to catch food from his mother’s beak.

Q2. Why was the seagull afraid to fly?

Ans. The seagull was afraid to fly because he was not confident that he could fly.

Q3. Which sight maddened the young seagull?

Ans. The sight of food in his mother’s beak maddened him.

Q4.Why did the seagull stand on one leg with his eyes closed?

Ans. It was because he wanted to attract the attention of his mother.

Q5. What happened to the seagull when he dived to catch fish from his mother’s beak?

Ans. He fell down into space above the surface of the sea.

Q6.What has been called the green flooring here in this lesson?

Ans. The surface of the sea has been called green flooring here in the lesson.

Q7. How much time did the seagull pass alone?

Ans. He passed twenty-four hours.

Short Answer-type Qs.

Q1. When did the young seagull’s first flight begin and where did it end?

Ans. The young seagull’s first flight began as he fell down towards the seawater. After that, his wings opened, spread and he started flying. His flight ended on the surface of the green sea.

Q2. Do you sympathise with the seagull? Give reasons for your choice?

Ans. Yes, we do sympathise with the young seagull. The reasons are: (i) He was afraid of jumping from the ledge. His fear was quite genuine (real) (ii) He had been hungry for the last two days.

Q3.How did the seagull’s mother teach him the art of flying?

Ans. The young seagull’s mother came near him with a piece of fish in her beak. It made him desperate (almost crazy). He jumped at the piece of meat. As he jumped, he fell down towards the sea below.THen his wings opened and spread. He began to fly.

Q4. Why did the seagull dive towards his mother?

Ans. The young seagull had been hungry for the last two days. His mother came near him with a piece of fish to tempt him to jump towards it. The young seagull was desperate to catch the piece of meat from his mother’s beak. So he dived towards his mother.

Q5. When did the seagull overcome his fear of the water?

Ans. His legs sank down into the seawater. He screamed (cried) with fright and attempted (tried) to rise again flapping (moving wings for flying) his wings. His feet sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he sank no further. After that, he won over the fear of water.

Q6. “The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the young seagull finally to fly?

Ans. The sight of food maddened the hungry bird. It suggests that he was extremely hungry and was about to die. It also shows that anyone can do anything for hunger. The young bird dived to catch the food from his mother’s beak. He fell downwards and finally learned to fly.

Q7. Why was the seagull afraid to fly?

Ans. It was natural for the seagull to be afraid to fly. It was because the bird was not confident that his wings would open and help him fly. He was afraid that he would fall down into the deep waters of the sea.

Long Answer-type Qs

Q1. Describe the methods used by the seagull family to help him overcome his fear and fly?

Ans. His family tried hard to inspire him to fly. They kept taunting him for his cowardice. All except his mother was looking at him as time passed. She tore at a piece of fish to make him feel hungrier than before. She hoped he would try to jump from the cliff to get food. But the young seagull did not do it. He kept screaming. Then his mother made a trick. She took a piece of meat in her beak and started flying very near him. She was a little away from the ledge. The bird was extremely hungry. The sight of food maddened him. He dived towards his mother. He could not reach her and fell down into the space below the ledge. Suddenly its wings opened and spread. The bird started flying.

Q2. Describe how the young seagull made his maiden flight.

Ans. The young seagull was afraid that his wings would not open and support him. He would fall down into the deep water of the sea. His mother tried hard to inspire him to fly. But it was all in vain. At last, his mother hit upon a trick. She took a piece of meat in her beak and started flying very near him. She was a little away from the ledge. The bird was extremely hungry. The sight of food maddened him. He dived towards his mother. He could not reach her and fell down into the space below the ledge. Suddenly its wings opened and spread. The bird started flying. His family also came to encourage him. His flight ended on the surface of the green water where his family members had also alighted. In this way, the young bird made his maiden flight.

 

 

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela -Qs & Ans

Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Qs & Ans

Lesson 2 from the book First Flight            

A.   Very Short Answer-type Questions (In Single Sentences)

1.   Mandela became the first black President of a new nation.

2.   Zenani was the daughter of Nelson Mandela.

3.  100,000 South African men, women and children of all races sang and danced with joy.

4.    The inauguration ceremony took place on 10^th May, 1994.

5.  Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as first deputy president.

6.  The formation of a democratic government in South Africa has been called a common victory for justice, peace and human dignity.

7.  Nelson Mandela takes the pledge to remove bondage of poverty, hunger and all kinds of discrimination.

8.    The smoke that trailed in the sky by Impala jets symbolised the new South African flag.

9.  The old system in South Africa was based on hatred.

10. The policy of apartheid created a deep and lasting wound in South Africa to its people.

11. The people of South Africa are its greatest wealth.

12.  Obligation to his family, his people and the country are the twin obligations for Mandela.

13.  The twin obligations are filled only in civil and humane society.

14.  Hatred towards each other robs the humanity.

15. Inauguration ceremony took place in Pretoria in South Africa.

16. Mandela talks about the inauguration of the formation of new government in South Africa in this lesson

17. Nelson Mandela feels hungry for the freedom of his countrymen.

Q1.Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?

Ans. The ceremonies took place in the campus of the Union Building of Pretoria. The Parliament House in New Delhi, the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, the Supreme Court of India in New Delhi and Madras High Court in Chennai are some examples of Indian public buildings that are made of sandstone.

Q2.Can you say how 10 May is an ‘autumn day’ in South Africa?

Ans: The tenth May is an ‘Autumn Day’ in South Africa. It is because there was a large gathering of the guests from across the world on that day there. They had come to attend the function of the installation of South Africa’s first democratic and non-racial government.

Q3. At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions “an extraordinary human disaster”. What does he mean by this? What is the “glorious … human achievement” he speaks of at the end?

Ans. The coloured people in South Africa had to suffer discrimination and other types of torture by the white rulers for about three centuries. That was ‘an extraordinary human disaster’. Mandela talks of ‘glorious human achievement’ because a black person became the president of the country where the whites did all types of cruelties for about three hundred years.

Q4. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for?

Ans. Nelson Mandela thanks the international leaders because they came to South Africa to attend the function of forming the first non racial and democratic government there.

Mandela felt privileged to be the host to the nations of the world because not too long ago, the South Africans were considered outlaws. He thus thanked all the international leaders for having come to witness his investiture as President since this event could be considered as a common victory for justice, peace and human dignity.

Q5. What ideals does he set out for the future of South Africa?

Answer 

Mandela set out the ideals of poverty alleviation, removal of suffering of people. He also set the ideal for a society where there would be no discrimination based on gender or racial origins.

Q6. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?

Answer 

The highest military generals of the South African defence force and police saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty.
Their attitude towards blacks had taken great change. Instead of arresting a black they saluted him.

Q7. Why were two national anthems sung?

Ans. The two national anthems were sung when Nelson Mandela’s government was formed. It was done to create balance between two races, the white and the black. It showed the new government’s vision of equality also.

Q8. What does courage mean to Mandela?

Ans. Mandela thinks that courage is not the absence of fear in mind. It is the victory over it. Fear is present in every person. But the brave person is that who conquers fear.

Q9. Mandela talks of twin obligations. What are these?

Ans. According to Mandela, every person has twin obligations in life. One is towards his family, to wife and children. The other is towards his people and the country.

Q10.  In this lesson, Mandela talks of the oppressor. Is the oppressor free in any sense or is he also a slave of something?

Ans. Madela says that the oppressor is a slave of hatred. He is imprisoned behind the bars of prejudices and narrow-mindedness. He has made the other person slave.

Q11. What does Mandela mean when he says that he is “the sum of all those African patriots”, who had made struggle for freedom in South Africa before him?

Ans. By saying so, he pays a glowing tribute to the patriots of South Africa who had struggled for freedom so far. He succeeded in his great mission of getting freedom to South Africa. So he finds their blessings in himself.

Long Answer-type Qs (About 100 words)

Q1. What twin obligations does Mandela talk about in this lesson?

Ans. Nelson Mandela says that everyone has twin obligations. One obligation is towards one’s family, children and parents. Another obligation is towards his people and the country. People fulfil these obligations towards their families and the country in their own ways. But in South Africa, it was not possible to do so. The white-skinned people had put several restrictions on the black coloured people under the policy of apartheid. The person doing his duty for his people was punished and sent behind the bars. Mandela was also sent to prison for fulfilling his obligation towards his people. Thus he was not allowed to fulfil his twin obligations.

Q2. How did the meaning of the word ‘freedom’ change with the passage of time for Mandela?

Ans. Mandela said that freedom had different meanings for him according to the stages in his age. In the days of his boyhood, it was just running into his fields near his mother’s hut and to swim in the clear water of a stream. He was free to do the small things that a child could do. A he grew in age, that freedom turned into an illusion for him. He began to understand that his freedom was already snatched. As a student, he desired for freedom only just for himself. It was the freedom to stay out at night, read what he pleased and go where he chose. Later as a young man, he yearned for the real kind of freedom. It was the freedom to fulfil his twin obligations. But it was not there.

Q3. What does Mandela say about the policy of apartheid? How did it affect peoples of South Africa?

Ans. The white-skinned peoples of South Africa patched up their differences and erected (set up) a system of racial domination (जातीय शाशन) against the dark-skinned peoples of their own land. The policy of apartheid /əˈpɑː.taɪt/ created a deep and lasting wound in my country and my people. The people of South Africa would take a long time to recover from the deep would created by the policy of apatheid. But the continuous oppression and cruelty on the South Africans produced great men like the Oliver  Tambos, the Walter Sisulus, the Chief Luthulis, etc. They were the men of such extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity (kindness) that their like may never be known again.

A Letter to God by G. L. FUENTES-Questions and Answers

Questions and Answers on A Letter to God

Q1.What did Lencho hope for?

Ans: Lencho hoped for rain because his dry field of ripe corn needed it very much. They would die of hunger if his crop was not saved.

Q2. Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’?

Ans: Lencho’s crops were ripe and ready for harvesting. Lencho imagined that he would get money by selling his crops in the market. So he called the raindrops new coins.

Q3. How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s fields?

Ans: Lencho was very happy when the rain started falling down in his fields. But soon, a strong wind blew and the raindrops changed into hailstones. His crops were destroyed.

Q4. What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped?

Ans: When the hailstones stopped, Lencho was full of sadness. His crops were destroyed. He was shocked and full of worry. He thought that his family would die of hunger if no help reached him.

Q5. Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do?

Ans: Lencho had full faith in God. He believed that God knows everything. God would certainly (surely) help him. So he wrote a letter to God requesting for 100 pesos to sow his crop again in his fields.

 2. Who read the letter?
Ans: The Postmaster read the letter.

Q6. What did the postmaster do then?
Ans: First, the postmaster laughed heartily. But after a few seconds, he became serious. Lencho’s firm faith in God had a deep effect on the postmaster. So he did not want to shatter (shake/break) Lencho’s faith in God. So he decided to collect money t help him.

Q7. What did the postmaster do not to shake Lencho’s faith in God?

                                    Or

What did the postmaster do to help Lencho?

Ans. The postmaster collected money from his employees in charity. He also gave some part of his charity. But he could collect only 70 pesos. He put that money in an envelope and waited for Lencho to deliver (give) it to him. He did so not to shake his faith in  God.

Q8.Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it?
Ans: No. Lencho was not at all surprised to see the letter from God with money inside it. His confidence and faith in God were such that he had expected that reply from God.

Q9. What made him angry?
Ans: When he finished counting money, he found only seventy pesos. But he demanded hundred pesos. He was confident that God could neither make a mistake nor deny him what he had requested. Therefore, he concluded that the post office employees must have taken the remaining thirty pesos.

Q10. Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’?
Ans: Postmaster was moved by Lencho’s complete faith in God. So, he decided to send money to Lencho. Moreover, the postmaster did not want to shake Lencho’s faith in God. So, he signed the letter ‘God’. It was a good ploy to convey a message that God had himself written the letter.

Q11. Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/Whynot?
Ans: No, Lencho does not try to find out who had sent the money to him. This is because he had great confidence in God and never suspected that it could be someone else other than God who would send him the money. His faith in God was so strong that he believed that God had sent him the money.

Q12. Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the irony in the situation? [Remember that the irony of a situation is an unexpected aspect of it. An ironic situation is strange or amusing because it is the opposite of what is expected.]

Ans: Lencho thinks that the post office people have taken the money. It is the post office people who send the money to Lencho. But, on the other hand, Lencho thinks they have stolen his money. He calls them crooks. Thus there is an element of irony in this situation.

6. There are two kinds of conflict in the story: between humans and nature, and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated?
Ans: The conflict between humans and nature is shown by the destruction of Lencho’s crops by the hailstorm. As the crops failed by hail, Lencho started feeling sad and gloomy after the storm appropriately projects the conflict of nature and man. The Story also has shown another conflict, between humans themselves. The postmaster, along with the help of the other post office employees, sent Lencho the money that they could manage to collect. They were not related to Lencho in any manner. It was an act of kindness and selflessness on their part. Even though they did a good deed, Lencho blamed them for taking away some amount of money. This shows that man does not have faith in his fellow humans, thereby giving rise to this conflict.

---

Long Qs.

Q1. Why did Lencho write a letter to God? Why did he call the post office employees ‘a bunch of crooks’?

Ans. Lencho’s ripe corn fields were destroyed by hailstones. He was very sad. He knew that his family would die of hunger if no help reached him. He had full faith in God. He hoped that God would surely help him with money to sow crops again in his fields. So he wrote a letter to God.

The postmaster read his letter and laughed heartily. But soon, he became serious. He did not want to break Lencho’s faith in God. So he collected money from his employees to help Lencho. He put the money in an envelope and posted it. Lencho came to get his letter. He opened it and counted the money. He found it less by 30 pesos. He wrote another letter to God. He requested Him to send money directly, not via the post office. He also called the post office employees ‘a bunch of crooks’. He thought them dishonest persons and doubted that they had stolen his 30 pesos. This is the irony in the story.

The Sermon at Benares by Betty Renshaw: Questions & Answers

Lesson 10: The Sermon at Benares for Class X

Type 1: Very Short Qs./Ans.

Q1. When was Siddhart Gautama born?  

Ans. He was born in 563 B.C.

Q2. Where did Buddha preach his first sermon?  

Ans. At Benares

Q3. After how many days of meditation did Buddha get enlightenment?

Ans. After seven days’ meditation

Q4. How many years did Buddha spend in search of enlightenment?  Ans. Seven years

Q5.What did Buddha ask Gotmi to bring?  

Ans.  He asked Gotmi to bring a handful of mustard seed from a house where death had never taken place.

Q6. What did Gotmi realise in the end?  Ans. She realised that death is inevitable (sure to happen).

Q7. Which sights changed Buddha’s life? 

Ans. These sights are of: a sick man, an old man, funeral procession and a begging monk

Q8. At what age did Siddhartha get married?   

Ans At the age of 16

Q9. What was Gautam Buddha’s real name? 

Ans. Siddhartha Gautama

Q10. Who was Kisa Gotami?  

Ans.  A young woman whose only son had died

Q11. What is the meaning of ‘Buddha’?  

Ans. the Enlightenment

Q12. Which family did Siddhartha (Gautama Buddha) belong to?  Ans.  Royal

Q13. At what age was Gautma sent to get schooling?  

Ans. At the age of twelve

Type II: short answer-type Qs (30-35 words each)

Q1. When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?

Ans. Kisa Gotmi’s only son died. She was in deep grief. So she went from one house to the other to get some medicine to bring back her son’s life. Almost all refused because there was no such medicine.

Q2. Kisa Gotami again goes from house to house after she speaks to Gautam Buddha. What does she ask for, the second time around? Does she get it? Why not?

Ans. The Buddha advised her to bring mustard seeds from the house in which no death had ever taken place. The woman went to every house. But she could not get such mustard seeds because no one had such seeds.

Q3. What does Kisa Gotami understand the second time that she failed to understand the first time? Was this what the Buddha wanted her to understand?

Ans. She was tired and hopeless. At last, she understood the bitter truth of life that death comes to all on this earth. It is inevitable. Gautama Buddha wanted her to understand that.

Q4. Why do you think Kissa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did the Buddha change her understanding?

Ans. Gautama Buddha did not tell her that he was unable to bring her son back to life. He wanted to change her mind. So he told her to bring mustard seeds from the house of which no person had ever died. She failed to do so. Then she understood that death was unavoidable in life.

Q5. How do you usually understand the idea of ‘selfishness’? Do you agree with Kisa Gotmi that she is being ‘selfish’ in her grief?

Ans. If a person always thinks about his own benefit and does not bother about others may be called a selfish person. We cannot call Kisa Gotmi selfish. She wanted to bring her son back to life. She did not know that death comes to all on this earth.

Some other questions:

Q1. Who was Gautama Buddha?

Ans. Gautam Buddha was a prince. His real name was siddhartha Gautam. He was kept away from knowing anything about human sufferings. But one day he comes to know this. Then, one day he left his palace and all the comforts of life. He went from one place to the other in search of the ultimate truth behind all human sufferings. At last he got this knowledge.

Q2.  What does Gautam Buddha ask Kisa Gotmi to do?

Ans. Gautam Buddha asked Kisa Gotmi to bring mustard seeds from the house of which no person had ever died. He wanted her to learn the hard fact that death comes to all on the earth.

Q3. What did Kisa Gotmai realise about death?

Ans. Gautama Buddha wanted to change Kisa Gotmi’s mind. So he told her to bring mustard seeds from the house of which no person had ever died. She failed to do so. Then she understood that death was unavoidable in life.

Long Answer-Type Qs.

Q1. Who was Gautama Buddha? What made him renounce his royal life and become a monk?

Ans. Gautama Buddha was a prince. His original name was Siddhartha Gautama. He was sent for schooling to understand the Hindu religious books at the age of twelve. He studied them till he was sixteen. He was married at the age of 16. After that, he had a son. He was kept away from watching human sufferings. But, at the age of 25, he happened to see them. He saw a sick man, then an old man. After that, he saw a funeral procession and a monk, begging for alms. All these sights moved his heart. He left the palace and went into the world in search of truth behind human sufferings. Thus he became a monk.

Q2. Describe how Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment as given in the lesson ‘The Sermon at Benares’.

Ans. Gautama Buddha was a prince. His original name was Siddhartha Gautama. He had every comfort of life.

He was kept away from watching human sufferings. But, at the age of 25, he happened to see them. He saw a sick man, then an old man. After that, he saw a funeral procession and a monk, begging for alms. All these sights moved his heart. He left the palace and went into the world in search of truth behind human sufferings. Thus he became a monk. First he wandered here and there. But at last, he sat under a Bodhi tree. He took a vow not to leave until the place until he got enlightenment. After seven days, he got enlightenment. He was known as ‘Buddha’ after that.

Q3. How did Gautama Buddha make Kisa Gotmi realise that death is inevitable?

Ans. Kisa Gotmi’s only son died. She was in deep grief. So she went from one neighbour to the other to get some medicine to bring back her son’s life. Almost all refused to bring back her son’s life. At last, a person advised her to take her son to the Buddha. So she went to him and requested to revive the life of her son. The Buddha advised her to bring mustard seeds from the house in which no death had ever taken place. The woman went to every house. But she could not get such mustard seeds. She was tired and hopeless. At last, she understood the bitter truth of life that death comes to all on this earth. It is inevitable.

Madam Rides the Bus by Vallikkannan: Questions & Answers

                              Madam Rides the Bus  by Vallikkannan

A. Very Short Questions/Answers

Q1. Who is the writer of the lesson ‘Madam Rides the Bus’?

Ans. Vallikkannan is the author/writer of this lesson.

Q2. What is the age of Valli? 
Ans. Valli is an eight year old girl.

Q3. What is Valli’s pastime?

Ans. Her pastime is to stand outside her house and watch all that happens out.

Q4. Did Valli had playmates of her own age? 
Ans. No, Valli had no playmates of her own age.

Q5. What is the most fascinating experience for Valli?

Ans. Watching the bus was the most fascinating experience for Valli.

Q6. Between which destinations did the bus run? Or What was the route of the bus?

Ans. The bus travelled between her village and the nearest town.

Q7. What was Valli’s tiny wish? 
Ans. Valli’s tiny wish was to ride on that bus.

Q8. What was the distance between Valli’s village and the nearest town?

Ans. The town was six miles away from Vally’s village.

Q9 What time did one trip of the bus take?

Ans. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes.

Q10. What was one side fare of the bus?

Ans. The fare for one side journey was thirty paise.

Q11. How much money did Valli save? 

Ans. She saved sixty paise.

Q12. What was the conductor’s nature? 

Ans. The conductor was a jolly good person.

Q13. What did Valli bring from the town? 

Ans. Valli bought nothing from the town.

Q14. What did Valli usually buy? 

Ans.Valli usually bought peppermint, toys, balloons, etc.

Q15. What did Valli not like to be called by the bus conductor?

Ans. She did not like to be called a child and a madam.

Q16. What activity of the old woman did Valli not like?

Ans. Valli did not like the old woman’s chewing betel nut.

Q17. What desire of hers had Valli stifled? 

Ans. She had stifled a strong desire to ride the merry-go-round.

Q18.What is the full name of Valli? 

Ans. Valliammai

B.  Short Questions/Answers ( 30-35 words)

Q1.What was Valli’s favourite pastime?

Ans. Standing the front door of her house and watching the usual activities happening in the street. She would also enjoy watching children playing there. She would also enjoy watching the bus coming and going through the street.

 Q2.What details did Valli pick up about the bus journey? How did she get this detail?

Ans. She came to know that the one side journey of the bus to the town took forty-five minutes. The town was six miles away from her village. The one side fare of the bus was thirty paise. She got this detail by making questions to the people.

Q3. What plans did Valli make for her journey?

Ans. First she saved bus fare for her to and fro journey. She got detail about the suitable time for her journey. She would sit in the bus at one in the afternoon and come back home at 2:45 p.m.

Q4.Why does the conductor call Valli ‘Madam’?

Ans. The conductor calls Valli ‘madam’ just out of fun. It was because she did not want to be treated like a child. She did not want any type of help from the conductor.  She had a lot of self confidence in her.

Q5. Why did Valli stand up on her seat?

Ans.  Valli wanted to enjoy the outside scenes. But she was unable to see out properly. It was because the lower part of the window was covered with a canvas blind. So she had to stand up to look outside the bus.

Q6.What did the elderly woman say to Valli and what was Valii’s reaction to it?

Ans. The elderly woman asked Valli several questions. She told Valli that it was not proper for a child to travel alone in a bus. She asked her some questions. That made Valli feel irritated. She told the woman that she should not bother about her.

Q7. What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh?

Ans. The sight of a young cow made Valli laugh. It was running towards the bus. The driver reduced the speed. He also blew horn again and again. But the young cow came in front of the bus. It amused Valli most.

Q8. How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for her?

Ans. She saved money for her first journey by resisting (opposing) her desires to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, etc. She had aslo stifled (suppressed) her strong desire to ride the merry-go-round at the village fair.

Q9.Why didn’t Valli get off the bus at the bus stand on reaching the town?

Ans. Valli did not get off the bus on reaching the town. First she had no extra money to go the market to buy anything. Second, it may be that she did not want to miss that bus.

Q10.Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does it tell you about her?

Ans. Valli did not want to go to the stall and have a drink because she had no extra money with her. It tells us about her control over her emotions. She did not accept cold drink from the conductor. It shows her self respect.

Q11.Why did Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back?

Ans. Valli refused to see out of the window because her excitement  had gone. She had seen the young cow dead. Sometime ago, it was running in front of the bus. All this made her sad.

Q12. What was Valli’s deepest desire? Find out the words and phrases in the story that tell you this?

Ans. Valli’s deepest desire was to travel in the bus that ran between her village and a town. She would daily stand at the gate of her house daily to watch the bus come and go with a strong desire.

Q13. How did Valli plan her bus ride? What did she find out about the bus and how did she save up the fare?

Ans. She made a plan to save sixty paise for fare of the both sides. She also planned to ride in 1 O’clock bus. She would reach the town at 1:45. She would be back at home around 2:45. She saved that money by sacrificing her desires.

C.Long Answer-Type Qs. (100-120 words)

Q1. How did Valli plan to ride a bus?

Ans. Valli was eight years old. A bus used to pass every hour through that street. It travelled between her village and the nearest town. Slowly, Valli had a strong desire to travel in the bus. She always listened to people who travelled in that bus. She picked up detail of the journey. It was of just six miles. She needed thirty paise for one side fare of the journey. She made a plan to save sixty paise for fare of the both sides. She also planned to ride in 1 O’clock bus. She would reach the town at 1:45. She would be back at home around 2:45. When she planned everything, she rode the bus one day.

Q2. Describe the character of Valli (Valliammai)

Ans. Valli was an eight year old girl. She was curious about knowing things around her. Her pastime is to stand outside her house and watch things. A bus used to pass through her street every hour. It created in her a strong desire to ride in that bus. She was intelligent also. So she collected every detail about the bus journey. She sacrificed her other desires for the sake of her desire to ride the bus. She collected sixty paise for the bus fare. One day, she boarded the bus. She was very bold and confident. She talked to the bus conductor fearlessly. She was very sensitive to other living beings also. She enjoyed natural scenes outside the bus. She entertained other passengers and the conductor by her innocent and funny talks.