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Comprehension Check - I

Question:

1.       What was Valla’s  favorite  pastime?

2.       What was a source of unending joy for Vall i? What was her strongest desire?

3.       What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out these details?

4.       What do you think Valli was planning to do?

Answer:

1.       Valliammai was eight year old girl who was curious about things. Her favourite pastime was to stand in the front doorway of her house and watch what was happening in the street outside. For her standing at the front door was as enjoyable as other games that the children played outside.

2.       Valli enjoyed the sight of street standing on her door. For her the source of unending joy was the sight of the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town, filled with a new set of passengers each tim e it passed through her street. Her strongest desire was to ride on that bus.

3.       Valli heard conversations of her neighbours and people who regularly travelled on that bus and found out that the town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty pai se one way. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. On reaching the town, if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return home on the same bus. She also gained information by asking them a few Questions.

4.       Valli was planni ng to travel on that bus.

Comprehension Check -  II

Question:

1.       Why does the conducto r call Valli 'mada m'?

2.       Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now?

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

4.       Why didn't Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman?

Answer:

1.       Valli was trying to behave sophisticated and more mature than her age. She is trying to look overconfid ent and smart. The conductor tries to tease her and calls her 'madam'. Everyone is amused at her behaviou r in the bus.

2.       Valli devoured everything with her eyes but her view was cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window. So, she stood up to look over the blin d. She saw that the bus was going along the bank of canal and the road was very narrow. On one side of which there was the canal and beyond it were palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and the blue sky. On the other side, there was a deep ditch and many acres of green fields.

3.       The elderly asked her not to stand in the bus. The elderly man was concerned for her. But Valli was annoyed by his attention and told him that there was nobody on the bus who was a child. She had paid her fare of thirty paise like everyone else.

4.       The elderly woma n sat beside Valli. She found the women repulsive. The elderly women had big earlobes with bigger holes. Valli could smell her chewing betel nut and the betel juice was about to spill out of her mouth. That is why Vaali did not want to make friends with her.

Comprehension Check - III

Question:

1. How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for her? 2. What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh?

3. Why didn't she get off the bus at the bus station?

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

Answer:

1. Valli was very curious to travel on the bus for once. She thriftily saved every coin that came her way resisting herself from every temptation like having peppermi nts, buying toys and balloons. Sacrificing her childish urges would have been very difficult for her. It is tough to savour a candy or to enjoy a toy for the kids.

2.       Valli saw a young cow whose tail was high in the air, running very fast right in front of the bus in the middle of the road. Valli started clapping in glee. The bus slowed and the driver sounded his horn loudly over and over again. However, the m ore he honked, the m ore frightened the cow became and it kept running faster and faster, right in front of the bus. Somehow it was very funny for Valli and she kept on laughing until she had tears in her eyes. At last, the cow m oved off the road.

3.       The bus reached its destination and everyone got off that bus except Valli. She did not get off the bus at the bus station because she had to go back on that same bus. She took out another thirty paise from her pocket and handed the coins to the conductor. She just wanted to ride on the bus.

4.       The conductor insisted Valli to go and have a drink at the stall but she did not want to go because she did not have any money for that. Even when the conductor offered her a cold drink as a treat, she refused firmly and said that she only wanted her ticket. This shows that Valli had a lot of self will and pride. Possibly, she did not want to take anything for free, particularly from a stranger.

Thinking about the Text

Question:

1. What was Valli's deepest desire? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this.

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

3.       What kind of a person is Valli? To Answer this Question, pick out the following sentences from the text and fill in the blanks. The words you fill in are the clues to your Answer.

(i)      "Stop the bus!Stop the bus!" And a tiny hand was raised  _

(ii)     "Yes, I         go to town," said Valli, still standing outside the bus.

(iii)    "There's nobody here      " she said haughtily. "I've paid my thirty paise like everyone else."

(iv)    "Never mind," she said, "I can  . You don't have to help me. "I'm not a child, I tell you," she said,      _

(v)     "You needn't bother about me. I _," Valli said, turning her face toward the window and staring out.

(vi) Then she turned to the conductor and said, "Well, sir, I hope"

4. Why does the conductor refer to Valli as 'madam'?

5.       Find the lines in the text which tell you that Valli was enjoying her ride on the bus.

6.       Why does Valli refuse to look out of the window on her way back?

7.       What does Valli mean when she says, "I was just agreeing with what you said about things happen ing withou t our knowledge."

8.       The author describes the things that Valli sees from an eight-year-ol d's point of view. Can you find evidence from the text for this statement?

Answer:

1.       Valli's deepest desire was to ride on the bus she saw everyday standing on her front door. The sentences in the story which depict this are as follows:

"Day after day she watched the bus, and gradually a tiny wish crept into her head and grew there:

she wanted to ride on that bus, even if just once. This wish became stronger and stronger, until it was an overwhelming desire."

2.       After Valli had saved her money she had to slip out of her house without her mother's knowledge. Her mother usually took a nap from one to four. That was her best opportunity. She planned that she would take the one o'clock afternoon bus, reach the town at one forty-five, and be back home by about two forty-five. She knew that the town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. On reaching the town, if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return home on the same bus. She had carefully saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermin ts, toys, balloons, and the like, and finally she had saved sixty paise.

3.

(i)      "Stop the bus! Stop the bus!" And a tiny hand was raised commandingly.

(ii)     "Yes, I simply have to go to town," said Valli, still standing outside the bus.

(iii)    "There's nobody here who's a child," she said haugh tily. I've paid my thirty paise like everyone else."

(iv)    "Never mind," she said, "I can get on by myself.You don't have to help me. "I'm not a child, I tell you," she said, irritably.

(v)     "You need n't bother about me. I can take care of myself," Vall i said, turning her face toward the window  and staring out.

(vi)    Then she turned to the conductor and said, "Well, sir, I hope to see you again."

For Valli, the bus jou rney was desire. She spent her money that she had saved after making so many sacrifices to buy the ticket. She would have attained a great satisfaction in doing so. This was the reason that in spite being a child, Valli wanted to be treated as a grown-up on the bus. She had a great sense of self-respect which preven ted her from taking anyone's help. She felt she was able to take care of herself very well, and was easily irritated when anyone treated her as a child.

4.       Valli was about to board the bus and the conductor stretched out his hand to help her get on the bus. Valli said commandingly that she does not require any help and could get on by herself. She behaved like as a grown-up girl and therefore, the conductor called her 'mada m' in an effort to tease her. When the elderly man called her a child and asked her to sit down on her seat out of concern, she replied that nobody was a child on the bus. She kept stressing on the fact that she had paid her fare like everybody else and therefore, she should not be treated differently.

5.       The following lines in the text show that Valli was enjoying her ride on the bus:

)>      "Valli devoured everything with her eyes."

)> "On the one side there was the canal and, beyond it, palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and the blue, blue sky. On the other side was a deep ditch and then acres and acres of green fields - green, green, green, as far as the eye could see. Oh, it was all so wonderful!"

)> "Everyone laughed, and gradually Valli too joined in the laughter. Suddenly, Valli clapped her hands with glee."

)>   "Somehow this was very funny to Valli. She laughed and laughed until there were tears in

her eyes."

)> "Valli wasn't bored to the slightest and greeted everything with the same excitement she'd felt the first time."

6.       Valli was every enthusiastic and excited throughout her jou rney. But on her way back home she refused to look out of the window because she saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside. It had been struck by some fast-moving vehicle. It was the same cow that was running in front of their bus, during their trip to the town. She was overcome with sadness. The memory of the dead cow haunted her and therefore, she refused to look out of the window.

7.       Valli's mother said that many things happen around us, but we are usually unaware of them. Valli had gone on a bus ride to town, all alone, and had come back without any harm. She did all this without the knowledge of her mother. Hence, she agreed with what her mother said.

8.       The author has described the things that Valli saw from an eight-year-old 's point of view. She was fascinated by a bus. Watching the bus filled with a new set of people each tim e was a source of unending joy for her. Her strongest desire was to ride the bus. She saved money by cutting on pepper mints, toys, and balloons, and even resisting the temptation to ride the merry-go-round at the fair. When the author describes the bus, the points he stresses on are the colour and look of the bus. It was a 'new bus', painted a 'gleaming white'. The overhead bars 'shone like silver'. The seats were 'soft and luxurious'.

The descriptions that the author gives when Valli looked outside are also typical for an eight-year­ old. The 'blue, blue sky' and the 'acres and acres of green fields - green, green, green' show the enthusi asm of a kid on looking at different colours. Valli clapped her hands in glee on watching a cow run right in front of the bus. She found it so funny that tears came into her eyes. On the other hand, she was overcome with sadness on her way back when she saw the same cow lying dead. It had been a 'lovable, beautiful creature' and later it 'looked so horrible'. The memory of the dead cow haunted her so much that she refused to look outside the window. These are the typical reactions of a young child.

Speaking

Question:

This story has a lot of people talking in it. The conductor jokes and laughs with Valli, some passengers try to show their concern for her, and her mother and her aunt spend time chatting.

Read the conversations carefully. Then think of similar people, or similar situations that you have experienced. Mimic a person or persons who spoke to you, saying what they said, along with your replies.

Answer:

This is an activity, so do you rself.

Writing

Question:

Write a page -about three paragraphs -on one of the following topics.

1. Have you ever planned something entirely on your own, without taking grownups into your confidence? What did you plan, and how? Did you carry out your plan?

2.       Have you made a jou rney that was unforgettable in some way? What made it memorab le?

3.       Are you concerned about traffic and road safety? What are your concerns? How would you make road travel safer and more enjoyable?

Answer:

The Journey

The incident goes back to the year 2008 when all the members of my family were returning after

worshipping the shrine of Jwala Devi, in Himachal Pradesh. We were accompanied by two other families from neighborhood. The Kangra Express started well in time from New Delhi. Everything was in high spirit. All were happy to have a decent trip. In the way we enjoyed with songs tit-bits and other assuming material.

It was about 11:30 am when the train passed Chandigarh. Suddenly the train stopped with a rapid jerk Many passengers fell from their berths. There mere wailings, cries and stampede everywhere.  The passengers were jumping from the compartment to save themselves. All were in a very odd and tantalising situation. There was no alternative left with the people. We too got down from the train and come in the open. On having a close look at the train, we observed that eight bogies were derailed with their wheels in the concrete and the small pebbles. On further enquiry it was found that the track was damaged. Near about one full length of the rail measu ring seven metres was not there.

All left the place. Ambulance and police arrived in no time. The railway officials and the nearby villagers came running to help the passengers. It was a heart-rending scene. Small children along with their mothers were weeping bitterly. But God be thanked that there was no loss of life! A few passengers got slight injuries otherwise all were okay. When ever I enjoy a long jou rney, I immediately think of journey by Kangra Express.

Thinking about the Poem

Question 1:

Who are the characters in this poem? List them with their pet names.

Answer 1:

The characters in this poem are Belinda, a little black kitten, a little grey mouse, a little yellow dog, a little pet dragon and a pirate.

Character    Pet name

Kitten Ink

Mouse         Blink

Dog             Mustard

Dragon       Custard

Question 2:

Why did Custard cry for a nice safe cage? Why is the dragon called "cowardly dragon"?

Answer 2:

Custard cried for a nice, safe cage because it was a coward. It is called a 'cowardly dragon' because everyone else in the house was brave. Belinda was as brave as a drum of bears. Ink and Blink are described as so brave that they could chase lions down the stairs and Mustard was as brave as a tiger in anger. Compared to them, Custard cried asking for a nice and safe cage, which is why it is called a coward.

Question 3:

"Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful..." Why?

Answer 3:

Belinda tickled the dragon unmercifully because it was very frightened and cried for a safe cage. They all laughed at it as it was a coward.

Question 4:

The poet has employed many poetic devices in the poem. For example: "Clashed his tail like iron in a dungeon" -the poetic device here is a simile. Can you, with your partner, list some more such poetic devices used in the poem?

Answer 4:

In the entire poem, the poet has made wide use of similes. Apart from simile, another poetic device that has been used is repetition. For example, the repetitive use of the word 'little' in the first stanza to highlight how everything from the house to Belinda to her pets were all small. Also, in the seventh stanza, the poet has made use of incorrect spelling as a poetic device to preserve the rhyme scheme of the poem. He has chosen to write 'winda' instead of 'window' as 'winda' rhymes with 'Belinda', whereas 'window' does not. He has also used alliteration in the poem. For example, in the tenth stanza, 'Custard' has 'clashed' his tail with a 'clatter' an d a 'clank'. Similarly, in stanza eleven, the pirate 'gaped' at the dragon and 'gulped' some 'grog'.

Question 5:

Read stanza three again to know how the poet describes the appearance of the dragon.

Answer 5:

The poet describes that the dragon has big sharp teeth. There are spikes on its top. Below its body one can see scales. He has compared its mouth with a fireplace and nose with a chimney. There are daggers on his toes. They can harm anyone. But it is very coward and always longs for safe cage.

Question 6:

Can you find out the rhyme scheme of two or three stanzas of the poem?

Answer 6:

The rhyme scheme of each stanza of this poem is 'aa bb'.

Question 7:

Writers use words to give us a picture or image without actually saying what they m ean. Can you trace some images used in the poem?

Answer 7:

Some such images used in the poem are 'mouth like a fireplace', 'chimney for a nose', 'brave as a barrel full of bears', 'brave as a tiger in a rage', 'went at the pirate like a robin at a worm', etc.

Question 8:

Do you find The Tale of Custard the Dragon to be a serious or a light-hearted poem? Give reasons to support your Answer.

Answer 8:

The Tale of Custard the Dragon is a light-hearted poem. It is almost a parody. The names of the pets of Belin da are all rhyming and humorous. Belinda has been compared to a drum full of bears. The kitten and mouse, both small, could trail lions down the stairs. The little yellow dog was as brave as a tiger, while the dragon was a coward and they all made fun of him. However, when the pirate came to their small house, all of them were engulfed in fear and had hid themselves.

Ironically, the 'cowardly' dragon came to their release and jumped snorting like an engine. It clashed its tail and charged at the pirate like a Robin at a worm and ate him up. Everybody was glad to see the bravery of the dragon, they again came back to adore themselves that they could have been braver than the dragon. But at the end of the poem, the situation again was the same where the other pets were brave and the dragon was the coward.

Question 9:

This poem, in ballad  form, tells a story. Have you come across any such modern song or lyric that tells a story? I f you know one, tell it to the class. Collect such songs as a project.

Answer 9:

Do yourself according to your choice of song.

Chapter 9: Madam Rides the Bus

This is an insightf ul story of an eight year old girl's first bus journey into the world outside her village. The girl Valli, at a very young age, tries to be aware of the mystery of life and death. The outside world for her is affable and captiva ting but puzzling. She wants to understand everything by herself. The talks of the village people about the town added fuel to the fire and she was determined to go to the town on her own withou t anybody's help. She asked the bus conductor to take her to the town and paid her fare herself. She wanted to get through everything with her eyes. She saw the canal, palm tree, grass land, distant mountain and the blue sky. She also saw great stretches of green fields as far as her eyes could see. She was enchanted when she saw a cow running with her raised tail on the road in front of the bus. While returning she noticed that the body of the same cow was crushed and was bleeding. She was shaken from within but was trying to understand the meaning of life and death in her own term s. She returned home in time and no one from her family could know anything about her brave jou rney.

Chapter 9: Poem: The Tale of the Custard the Dragon

It is a fanciful dream about Belin da, who lives all alone in her house only with four pets' viz. a little kitten named Ink, a grey coloured mouse name Blink, a little yellow coloured dog named mustard and a dragon named Custard. All the people of the house felt pride in themselves on their fearlessness at make believe games, and they look down upon poor Custard for his coyness. But one day pirate arrive and only Custard who is the one who is shy, gives a proper vicious response. He gobbles up the pirate and shows that he is also brave and can face the difficulties if the needs be or in certain circumstances.

After the danger is past, everyone started boasting again about their courage, and Custard agreed that everyone else is also brave than he is. But everyone knows the fact as to who is brave and who is not