Madam Rides the Bus Common Question Answer for HSLC 2025

Madam Rides the Bus Common Question Answer for HSLC 2025: Madam Rides The Bus is the chapter 9 from class 10 NCERT English Textbook. The Story Madam Rides The Bus is written by prominent Tamil author Vallikkannan. Here you can avail Madam Rides the Bus Common Question Answer for HSLC 2025.

Madam Rides The Bus Common Question Answer for HSLC 2025 Class 10

Q1. How was the view outside the bus when it went through the canal ?

Ans: Valli saw nature’s grandeur out of the bus window. She saw the green bank of a canal with the palm trees and mountains in the background and the blue sky. On the other side, she saw a deep ditch and green fields. She saw other vehicles, a young cow running in front of the bus.

Q2. What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child ?

Ans: On being advised by a concerned old man to sit down, Valli told him that she was not a child and she could take care of herself. She told him that she was just as capable and responsible like other passengers as she had paid the fare of thirty paise for the ticket.

Q3. How did Valli feel on seeing the dead cow on the road ?

Ans: On seeing the dead cow on the road side, Valli was filled with sadness. She thought 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 and frightening.

Q4. What was the most fascinating thing for Valli ?

Ans: The most fascinating thing for Valli was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. The sight of the bus was a source of unending joy for her. Each time she used to see a new set of passengers, it was a very thrilling experience for her.

Q5. What was the tiny wish that crept into Valli’s head ?

Ans: The sight of the bus was the most fascinating thing for Valli. Day after day she watched the bus. A tiny wish crept into her head. She wanted to ride on that bus. At least, once. This wish became so strong that it grew into an overwhelming desire.

Q6. Why did Valli listen to the conversations ? What did she get from them ?

Ans: Valli was anxious to know more and more about the bus journey. She had nourished a strong desire to enjoy a bus ride from her village to the nearest town. She listened to the neighbours and people who regularly used the bus. She was collecting the necessary details from them to plan out her bus journey. Such details could help her in her mission.

Q7. How did Valli calculate and plan the bus journey ?

Ans: Valli had gathered all the necessary details about the bus journey from those who regularly used the bus. The town was six miles from her village. The one-way fare was thirty paise. The trip to the town took forty five minutes. If she took the one o’clock bus, she could reach the town at one forty five. She calculated that she could be back home by about two forty five.

Q8. Why was Valli overcome with shyness and avoided everyone’s eyes ?

Ans: It was the slack time of the day. 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. She tried to avoid everyone’s eyes. She walked quickly to an empty seat and sat down.

Q9. What did Valli see when she peered over the blind ?

Ans: Valli found that a canvas blind cut off her view. So, she peered over the blind to look outside. The bus was going along the bank of a canal. Beyond its palm trees and grassland and distant mountains. And then, there were acres of green fields as far as her eyes could see.

Madam Rides the Bus Class 10 PDF Questions And Answers

Q10. Why didn’t Valli like the remark of the elderly man ? What did she say to him ?

Ans: An elderly man saw Valli standing on the bus He asked her to sit down. He had honestly felt concerned for her. Valli didn’t like to be called herself a ‘child’. She retorted that she was not a child. She had paid thirty paise like everyone else.

Q11. How did Valli react when the conductor called her “a very grown up madam ?”

Ans: The bus conductor teased Valli by calling her ‘a very grown up madam’. Valli reacted sharply saying that she was not a madam. She reminded him that he had not yet given her ticket. The conductor mimicked her tone and said, ‘I’ll remember.’ Everyone laughed and gradually Valli too joined in the laughter.

Q12. Why did Valli find the elderly woman absolutely repulsive ?

Ans: The elderly woman who was sitting beside Valli in the bus looked absolutely repulsive to Valli. She had big holes in her ears and had ugly earrings in them. She didn’t relish the smell of the betel nut that she was chewing. The beetlejuice was about to spill over her lips at any moment. She couldn’t be social with such a woman.

Q13. How careful and painstaking elaborate plans did Valli have to make for her first journey and how did she save money for it ?

Ans: Valli had to make careful and painstaking plans for her first bus journey. Saving sixty paise for both ways fare was not an easy job. She saved thriftily every stray coin that came in her way. She had to give up the temptation of buying peppermints, toys and balloons and stifle her desire to ride on the merry-go-round.

Q14. What was the next problem after Valli had enough money ?

Ans: After she had saved enough money, Valli had her next problem. It was how to slip out of the house without her mother’s knowledge. She solved this problem easily. Every day after lunch her mother would nap from about one to four or so. She could easily venture out on her mission.

Q15. Why did Valli laugh until there were tears in her eyes ?

Ans: Valli saw a young cow running very fast in the middle of the road. It was right in front of the bus. The bus slowed down to a crawl. The driver sounded the horn loudly again and again. But more he honked, the more frightened the animal became and galloped right in front of the bus. Valli laughed until there were tears in her eyes.

Q16. Why didn’t Valli get off the bus when the bus stopped at the town ?

Ans: Valli’s destination, the nearest town from her village, had come. Everyone got off except Valli. The conductor reminded that her destination had come and she should get off the bus. Valli told that she was going back on the same bus. She handed thirty more coins to the conductor and asked for the ticket. She just felt like having a bus ride again.

Q17. Why didn’t Valli want to have a look at the sights alone ?

Ans: The conductor asked if Valli didn’t want to have a look at the sights in the town. She replied that she would be too afraid to visit them all alone. The conductor reminded that she was travelling all alone by bus. Valli replied that there was nothing to be afraid of in the bus.

Q18. Why didn’t Valli accept a free drink from the bus conductor ? What does this act show about her character ?

Ans: The bus conductor asked Valli to let him bring her a cold drink. She replied that she didn’t have enough money for that. He should just give him her ticket. The conductor offered to give it totally free. She said firmly, ‘Please, no.’ This shows how proud and self-respecting Valli was.

Q19. Give examples from the text to show that Valli was a meticulous planner.

Ans: Valli was a meticulous planner, as seen in how she planned her first bus journey. She gathered all the necessary information, including the distance covered, bus fare, arrival and departure times, and the duration of the journey. She also saved money for the round trip and chose the best time to travel based on her mother's schedule.

Class 10 Madam Rides the Bus Common Question Answer for HSLC 2025

Q20. How can you say that the conductor was a good natured jolly fellow ? Support your answer with examples.

Ans: The conductor can be considered a good-natured jolly fellow because he treated Valli with respect and humor. Despite her young age, Valli demanded to be treated like an adult and paid her own bus fare. The conductor, recognizing Valli's confidence and maturity, called her 'madam' and treated her respectfully.

Q21. Why does Valli stand upon the seat ? What does she see now ?

Ans: Valli stands upon the seat to get a better view of the city. From there, she sees the tall buildings, the shops, the people, and the traffic. This elevated perspective allows her to take in the sights and experience the thrill of being in a bustling city.

Q22. Why does the conductor refer to Valli as 'Madam' ?

Ans: The conductor refers to Valli as 'madam' because even though she is just an eight year-old girl, she behaves like a grown-up. Valli demands respect and wants to be treated like an adult because she has paid her own bus fare, just like the other adults on the bus do. The conductor calls her 'madam' to humor her and acknowledge her maturity.

Q23. Why did Valli spend her time all alone and what became her favourite pastime ?

Ans: Valli spent her time all alone because there were no playmates of her own age group. Her favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house and watching what was happening in the street outside. For her, it was every bit as enjoyable as any of the elaborate games other children played.

Q24. What stopped Valli from going to the stall to have a drink ? What do we learn about Valli from this ?

Ans: Valli did not have any money to go to the stall and have a drink. 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.

Q25. What was the most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street ?

Ans: The most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street was the sight of the bus which travelled from her village to the nearest town. The bus was filled with a new set of passengers each time. Watching the bus come and go was a source of unending joy for Valli. She harbours a strong desire to ride the bus one day and even plans for it meticulously.

Q26. How did Valli react when she saw the dead cow by the roadside ?

Ans: When Valli saw the dead cow by the roadside her enthusiasm dampened. She became sad and pensive as the memory of the dead cow kept coming back to her, making her think about the uncertainty and fragility of life.

Q27. Why didn't Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink ? What does it tell you about her ?

Ans: Valli didn't want to go to the stall and have a drink because she was afraid that she would get lost if she got down from the bus. Besides, Valli had very limited money, just enough to buy a ticket for the return journey. This shows that Valli is a responsible and cautious girl who thinks ahead and considers the consequences of her actions.

Q28. Why does the conductor call Valli 'madam' ?

Ans: The conductor called Valli 'madam' because even though she was just an eight- year-old girl, she behaved like a grown-up. She demanded respect and wanted to be treated like an adult because she too had paid her own bus fare like other adults present in the bus. The conductor, seeing Valli behave like that, treated her with respect even though he did it to humor her.

Q29. Give examples to show that Valli was a good planner.

Ans: Valli was a good planner, as evident from the way she planned her first-ever bus journey. She gathered all the required information, such as distance covered, bus fare, arrival and departure time, time taken to travel one way, etc. Valli also made sacrifices to save money for the two-way journey and knew that noon would be the best time to travel because that was when her mother slept after lunch.

Q30. Did Valli’s bus ride remain a secret for her mother and aunt ?

Ans: When Valli entered her house, she found her mother awake and talking to one of her aunts. Her aunt was a real chatterbox. She asked where she had been so far. Valli’s mother spoke casually. She didn’t expect a reply. Both these ladies could know nothing about Valli’s pleasure ride on the bus.

Q31. Why did Valli smile to herself ? Did her mother and aunt had any chance of knowing the secret of her smile ?

Ans: Valli agreed with her mother that many things were happening outside in the world without their knowledge. Ironically, the two ladies didn’t know anything about Valli’s bus-journey. They didn’t know that `just a chit of a girl’ had done such a great feat. Valli smiled to herself. There was no chance of her secret being exposed.

Q32. What dampened Valli’s enthusiasm during the return journey ?

Ans: During her return journey, Valli saw a young cow lying dead by the side of the road. She was the same lovable and beautiful cow that she saw only a little while ago. Now, it looked so horrible and frightening as it lay there. There was a fixed stare in her lifeless eyes and she was smeared with blood. The sight dampened her enthusiasm and she stopped looking outside.