Madam Rides the Bus
Read the following passage carefully.
(Adaped from the autobiography of Milkha Singh)
Question 1.1.
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage answer the following questions: (any eight) [1 × 8 = 8]
(a) How was Eleanor Roosevelt’s personality in contrast to what she became?
(b) Apart from being the First Lady what else did she have to her credit?
(c) What challenges did she face in her personal life but remained unfazed?
(d) Eleanor was a strong woman who helped her husband become the President of America. How?
(e) What does the statement: ‘she became her husband’s legs and eyes’ mean?
(f) What was her special contribution during the depression?
(g) How did she motivate soldiers during World War II?
(h) What did she do for the first time for a First Lady?
(i) What side of her personality is reflected in this passage?
(a) Eleanor Roosevelt was very quiet and parentless in her growing up years. Later, she became the First Lady of the United States, an author, lecturer and a woman who was loved and admired throughout the world.
(b) Apart from being the First Lady, she was an author, lecturer and a woman much admired by people.
(c) In her personal life, she faced many challenges. Her second son died when he was a baby. Her husband was affected by polio which left him physically disabled for life.
(d) Roosevelt nursed her husband back to good health and encouraged him to be in politics. She helped him become the governer of New York and then, the President of the United States in 1933.
(e) ‘She became her husband’s legs and eyes’ means she visited prisons, hospitals, went into mines and factories on his behalf to help him in his job.
(f) During the Depression she travelled all over the country bringing goodwill, reassurance and help to people without food and jobs.
(g) During World War II, she visited American soldiers in camps all over the world.
(h) She kept in touch with the American people through a daily newspaper column called ‘My Day’. She broadcast on the radio and delivered lectures, all first for a First Lady.
(i) Her intelligence and tremendous strength of character is reflected in the passage.
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Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
“Just a chit of a girl, she is,” said her aunt, “and yet look how she pokes her nose into our conversation, just as though she were a grown lady.”
Valli smiled to herself. She didn’t want them to understand her smile.
1. How did Valli’s aunt find her manner of talking?
2. Why did Valli smile?
3. What does ‘poking her nose’ mean?
What kind of a person was Valli?
What was Valli’s favourite pastime?
What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?
When would Valli get on with her excursion? Why?
Why did Valli want to ride on the bus?
What did Valli require for her first bus journey? How did she arrange that?
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How did Valli arrange for her bus fare?
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Why did Valli need sixty paise? How did she collect them?
What information did Valli require to plan for her first journey? How did she get it?
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Why did Valli take so much interest in the conversations of the passengers?
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Why did Valli ask the passengers and neighbours about the bus journey?
What plans did Valli make and why?
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How did Valli plan for her first journey?
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What proves that Valli was a meticulous planner?
Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’? How does she react to it?
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Why does the conductor refer to Valli as ‘madam’?
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