Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions that follow:
“Never mind,” she said, “I can get on by myself. You don’t have to help me.”
The conductor was a jolly sort, fond of joking. “Oh, please don’t be angry with me, my fine madam,” he said.

1. What help did the girl decline?
2. Why did Valli board the bus?
3. What does the phrase ‘fond of’ mean?

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?

Or

How did Valli arrange for her bus fare?

Or

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?

Or

Why did Valli take so much interest in the conversations of the passengers?

Or

Why did Valli ask the passengers and neighbours about the bus journey?

What plans did Valli make and why?

Or

How did Valli plan for her first journey?

Or

What proves that Valli was a meticulous planner?

Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’? How does she react to it?

Or

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