A Letter to God

Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions

SAI (2 marks)
1. How was Lencho's cornfield destroyed? Had he any hope of help? (2020C)
2. Did the letter reach God? Why did the postmaster send a reply to Lencho?
(2020)
3. What were Lencho's feelings when the hail stopped? (2020)
4. Why did Lencho's happy mood change into concern? (2020)
SA II (3 marks)
5. The postmaster had mixed emotions while opening the letter. Explain.
(2023)
6. Why did the night after the rains turn sorrowful for Lencho? (2023)
7. What is ironic about the post office staff helping Lencho? (2021C)
A III (4 marks)
8. With a satisfied expression he regarded the field of ripe corn with its
flowers, draped in a curtain of rain. But suddenly a strong wind began to blow
and along with the rain very large hailstones began to fall. These truly did
resemble new silver coins. (2021C)
(i) Who is 'he'?
(ii) What satisfied him?
(iii) What is ironic about 'silver coins'?
(iv) How did the 'silver coins' affect the corn field?
(v) 'draped in a curtain of rain' Which part of speech is
'draped'?
LAI (5 marks)
9. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: (Term
I, 2021-22)
All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God,
whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in
one's conscience. Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the
fields, but still he knew how to write. The following Sunday, at daybreak, he
began to write a letter which he himself would carry to town and place in the
mail. It was nothing less than a letter to God.
I. Study the following statements:
(i) Lencho decided to write a letter to God
(ii) All through the night he thought of his only one hope.
Choose the correct option:
(a) (i) is the cause and (ii) is the effect.
(b) (ii) is the cause of (i).
(c) (ii) preceded (i).
(d) Both (i) and (ii) happened at the same time.
II. 'Lencho was an ox of a man means:
(a) He was very hard-working.
(b) He owned an ox.
(c) He ploughed his field with an ox.
(d) His ox could work like a man.
III. 'But still he knew how to write' implies that:
(a) Lencho could write as he was a farmer.
(b) Ordinarily, a farmer did not know how to write.
(c) All farmers knew how to write.
(d) A farmer cannot know how to write.
IV. Why did he write the letter on Sunday?
(a) Sunday is a holy day for the Christians.
(b) God listens to people only on Sunday.
(c) Lencho was busy rest of the week.
(d) The Post office would open on Monday.
V. Find a suitable word from the passage to complete the following:
Loss: Gain :: Despair: _________
(a) Help
(b) Hope
(c) Deep
(d) Carry
 CBSE Sample Questions
MCQ (1 mark)
1. Lencho is _________ when he says, "that's what they say: no one dies of
hunger." (Term I, 2021-22)
(a) doubtful
(b) stressed
(c) confused
(d) dismissive

ANSWERS
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1. All of a sudden, there was a heavy hailstorm, rain and strong wind. It
destroyed Lencho's cornfield. Very soon his field was covered with hailstones
and no trees and crops remained. There was no hope of yield for the farmer,
Lencho.
2. No, the letter did not reach God. The postman saw the letter addressed to
God asking for 100 pesos. He took the letter to the postmaster. The postmaster
did not want to shake Lencho's faith in God. Hence, he decided to help Lencho.
He gave a part of his salary and asked the other employees to help. He sent
seventy pesos to Lencho in reply and signed the letter 'God' in order to
preserve the man's faith in God.
3. Lencho's soul was filled with sadness. When the storm had passed, he stood
in the middle of the field and said to his sons, “a plague of locusts would have
left more than this. The hail has left nothing. This year we will have no corn."
That night was a sorrowful one for them, but in the heart of Lencho there is
only one hope - help from God.
4. Lencho had strong faith in God, for when his crops needed rain, Lencho
wished and prayed for the rain to God. Next morning he sat in his house and
waited for the rain. As soon as the rain started he became very happy and
began calling the raindrops silver coins. But unfortunately the rain was
accompanied with hailstorm, it turned into a disaster to the crops, plants and
trees, not even a leaf remained on them. The crops were totally destroyed.
Seeing this, Lencho's heart was filled with sadness and thus his mood changed
into concern.
5. When the postmaster came across the letter, he broke out laughing, but
turned serious immediately. He
admired the writer's faith in God and wished he could have such faith. He
decided to answer the letter, but after opening realized that the writer had
asked for money, so he decided to collect money and send it on behalf of God.
6. The rain changed into hailstones as a strong wind began to blow and huge
hailstones began to fall alongwith the rain. Lencho was filled with grief after
the rain stopped as everything was ruined and there was nothing to feed his
family. In this way the night turned into sorrowful for Lencho.
7. Lencho is a hardworking simpleton with blind belief and when his crops
were completely destroyed in the hailstorm, he became worried about his
family and wrote a letter to God. The post office employees decide to help the
poor man out and collected seventy pesos and sent the letter but the man
doubted the post office employees because he did not get the full amount and
called the post office staff a bunch of crooks. This is the irony of the post office
staff helping Lencho.
8. (i) (b) Lencho
(ii) (a) Rainfall
(iii) (b) Destructive hailstones look like silver coins.
(iv) (a) They covered all the fields.
(v) (b) Verb
9. I. (b) (ii) is the cause of (i).
II. (a) He was very hard-working
III. (b) Ordinarily, a farmer did not know how to write.
IV. (a) Sunday is a holy day for the Christians.
V. (b) Hope
CBSE Sample Questions
1. (d)
 Nelson Mendela Long Walk to Freedom
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1. Read the following extracts and answer the questions for ANY ONE of the
given two :
(A) On the day of the inauguration, I was overwhelmed with a sense of history.
In the first decade of the 20th century a few years after the bitter Anglo-Boer
war and before my own birth, the white skinned people of South Africa
patched up differences and created a system of racial domination against the
dark-skinned people of their own land. The structure they created formed the
basis of one of the harshest, most inhumane societies the world has ever
known. Now, in the last decade of the twentienth century, and my own eighth
decade as a man, that system has been overturned forever and replaced by one
that recognised the rights and freedoms of all peoples, regardless of the colour
of their skin.
(i) Explain the feelings of the narrator when he said; "I was overwhelmed with
a sense of history."
Answer. • Mandela felt happy because of his role in ending Apartheid in South
Africa.
• He was overwhelmed remembering all the past events.
(ii) The system of racial domination has been replaced by a system that:
(A) confirms the education of the Blacks.
(B) recognises the rights and freedoms of all people.
(C) recollects the bitter experiences.
(D) focuses on the personality development.
Answer. B) recognises the rights and freedom of all people
(iii) Comment on the kind of society apartheid had created?
Answer. • A system of racial domination / segregation against the darkskinned
people in their own land. • One of the harshest and most inhuman societies of
the world.
(iv) Which phrase would correctly substitute 'patched up' in the given
sentence from the extract:
"...the white skinned people of South Africa patched up their differences..."
Answer. Appeased/repaired/mended (Or any other appropriate word/phrase
should be accepted)
MCQ (1 mark)
1. 'and now it was a gathering of different colours'. What does the author
mean by the underlined phrase?
(a) A multi-coloured rainbow in the sky
(b) Decoration of different colours
(c) Leaders of different nations gathered there
(d) African people wearing different colours (Term I, 2021-22)
SAI (2 marks)
2. What did Nelson Mandela remember on the day of the inaugural ceremony?
(2020)
3. What does Mandela refer to as 'so glorious a human achievement'? (2020C)
LA II (6 marks)
4. Mandela said, "People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they
can be taught to love." Discuss. (2023)
5. 'No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or
his background or his religion. Do you agree? Elaborate on the basis of the
chapter "Nelson Mandela - Long Walk to Freedom". (2023)
LA III (8 marks)
Which two obligations, according to Nelson Mandela, does every man have in
life? How could a man not fulfil these obligations in a country like South
Africa? (2019C)
CBSE Sample Questions

MCQ (1 mark)
1. Mandela refers to liberty as "newborn" because it
(a) was dependent on others for growth and guidance.
(b) had recently been attained with lots of struggle.
(c) made people experience infant-like excitement.
(d) arrived unexpectedly for everyone. (Term I, 2021-22) (R)
SAI (2 marks)
2. Who, according to Nelson Mandela, is a courageous man? (2020-21)
LAI (5 marks)
Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow:
But the decades of oppression and brutality had another unintended effect,
and that was that it produced the Oliver Tambos, the Walter Sisulus, the Chief
Luthulis, the Yusuf Dadoos, the Bram Fischers, the Robert Sobukwes of our
times — men of such extraordinary courage, wisdom and generosity that their
like may never be known again. Perhaps it requires such depths of oppression
to create such heights of character. My country is rich in the minerals and
gems that lie beneath its soil, but I have always known that its greatest wealth
is its people, finer and truer than the purest diamonds. It is from these
comrades in the struggle that I learned the meaning of courage. Time and
again, I have seen men and women risk and give their lives for an idea.
(i) What was the unintended effect of the long oppression? Choose the correct
option.
(a) It made the people indifferent to injustice.
(b) It made the people reject oppression.
(c) It influenced a generation to fight against injustice.
(d) It made people accept their oppression.
(ii) Men of such extraordinary courage refers to the people who __________
(a) liberated and abolished the Apartheid system.
(b) used their resources to spread awareness.
(c) fought for their country's freedom.
(d) demonstrated utmost strength to oppose the system.
(iii) Nelson Mandela compares¸
(a) his countrymen
(c) wise men to diamonds.
(b) patriots
(d) the oppressed
(iv) When Nelson Mandela says, “I have seen men and women risk and give
their lives for an idea.”, he means that they are
(a) stubborn.
(b) committed.
(c) intelligent.
(d) proud.
(v) Select the suitable word from the extract to complete the following:
depths: heights: : compassion: ___________
(a) wisdom
(b) oppression
(c) struggle
(d) courage (Term I, 2021-22)

ANSWERS
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1. (c) Leaders of different nations gathered there.
2. On the day of the inaugural ceremony, Nelson Mandela was overwhelmed
with a sense of history. He remembered the birth of their Apartheid, its effect
on his people and their long fight for freedom, the racial discrimination dark-
skinned people suffered on their own land. He also remembered the freedom
fighters who suffered and sacrificed their lives for freedom. Then he
remembered how the system had been over-turned forever and ever and
replaced by one that recognised the right and freedom of all people, regardless
of the colour of their skin.
3. Nelson Mandela considers the fact that a black person became the President
of India in a place where blacks were not treated even treated equally as
human beings as 'so glorious a human achievement.
4. When Mandela said "People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate,
thy can be taught to love" he is making an observation that people don't start
hating other people the moment they are born, they learn to hate others as
they go by. People are born without prejudice, it is our conditioning that
teaches us to discriminate. Mandela is hopeful that if people can be taught to
hate so can they be taught to love. He expresses his confidence that behaving
lovingly comes natural to humans, and so it will be easier to them to love on
another. He derived his confidence from his experiences in prison. He was
treated harshly in prison and faced much torture, but even during those dark
times he would find one of the guards pitying him. It taught him that even
oppressors have a heart and can change if given a chance.
5. Nelson Mandela believes that freedom is indivisible. He also says that no
one is born hating another person
because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must
learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love
comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. Even in the
grimmest times in prison, when his comrades and he was pushed to their
limits, he would see a glimmer of humanity in one of the guards, perhaps just
for a second, but it was enough to reassure him and keep him going. Man's
goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished.
6. In this lesson, Nelson Mandela talks about two obligations that are there in
every man's life. The first obligation is to the towards the family, parents, his
wife and children. The second obligation is towards his community and his
parents. Mandela says that a man is free to do one's duties only when he has
his freedom. A person of color in South Africa, was oppressed and not allowed
or free to perform his obligations and was punished if he tried to do that. The
author says that he never thought of these things before as a child, but after he
grew up and began to think about it, he fought for the people and their
freedom to perform their personal and social duties.
CBSE Sample Questions
1. (b) (1)
2. According to Mandela, courage was not the absence of fear, but triumph
over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers
that fear. Mandela learned the true meaning of courage from his comrades in
the struggle. And any person who has this attitude in life is a courageous man
to Mandela.
3. (i) (c)
(ii) (d)
(iii) (a)
(iv) (b)
(v) (b) (2) (1x5=5)

Two Stories About Flying

Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
MCQ (1 mark)
1. The young seagull was alone on the ledge as :
(a) his brothers had flown away.
(b) he was afraid to fly.
(c) the sea was very deep beneath him.
(d) his mother had not yet fed him. (Term I, 2021-22)
SAI (2 marks)
2. What trick did the mother seagull use to encourage her young one to fly?
(2021C)
SA II (3 marks)
3. "I'll take the risk." What is the risk? Why does the narrator take it? (2023)
4. Describe the young seagull's first flight. (2023)
5. What did the young seagull experience when he dived at the fish in his
mother's beak? (2021C)
LA I (5 marks)
6. Read the extract given below and attempt the questions that follow:
(i) Inside the clouds, everything was suddenly black. It was impossible to see
anything outside the aeroplane. The old aeroplane jumped and twisted in the
air. I looked at the compass. I couldn't believe my eyes the compass was
turning round and round and round. It was dead. It would not work. The other
instruments were suddenly dead, too. I tried the radio, "Paris Control? Paris
Control? Can you hear me?" There was no answer. The radio was dead too. I
had no radio, no compass, and I could not see where I was. I was lost in the
storm.
(i) As soon as the pilot was inside the cloud _________
(a) his ears got blocked
(b) he choked with fear
(c) his vision was obstructed
(d) he was jumping up and down
(ii) The devices in the aeroplane were _________
(a) malfunctioing
(b) broken completely
(c) giving wrong readings
(d) stopped responding completely
(iii) The Paris air control did not reply to the piolet's call because __________
(iv) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the word
'twisted' as used in the extract.
(a) Ragini twisted Raghav's wrist.
(b) Ragini twisted the story to suit the occasion.
(c) Ragini did not appreciate Raghav's twisted bent of mind.
(d) Ragini matched the swimmer as he twisted twice in the air before diving
into the water.
(v) Fill in the blank with ONE WORD only.
The narrator's _________ comes through clearly when he sees the compass
turning round and round. (2023)
CBSE Sample Questions
MCQ (1 mark)
1. The purpose of the treatment, given to the young seagull by his parents, was
to ___________
(a) teach him a lesson about the importance of food.
(b) inculcate obedience towards them.
(c) let him overcome his fear.
(d) improve his relationship with his siblings. (Term 1, 2021-22)
SA II (3 marks)
2. Validate the given statement with reference to baby seagull's fear.
'Fear does't exist anywhere else other than one's mind.
(His First Flight- Two Stories about Flying) (2022-23)
LAI (5 marks)
3. Read the extracts given below and comment on the difference in the nature
of help both the characters, of these two stories, received.
(a) Suddenly I came out of the clouds and saw two straight lines of lights in
front of me. It was a runway! An airport! I was safe! I turned to look for my
friend in the black aeroplane but the sky was empty. [The Black Aeroplane]
(b) All through the night Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of
God...The following Sunday, at daybreak he began to write a letter.... It was
nothing less than a letter to God....The following Sunday Lencho came a bit
earlier than usual to ask if there was a letter for him.... Lencho showed not the
slightest surprise on seeing the money, such was his confidence. [A Letter to
God] (2020-21)

ANSWERS
Previous Years' CBSE Board Question
1. (b) he was afraid to fly.
2. The young seagull's parents threatened and cajoled the bird to fly. Unlike his
siblings the seagull did not take flight easily with the help of its parents. The
young seagull did not muster enough strength to fly and so its parents left it
on the cliff to starve. Hunger and heat were taking its toll on the young seagull.
When it saw its mother with food in distance its hunger became unbearable
and it started flying.
3. A huge storm was brewing up and the narrator was keen to reach his home
to spend his holiday with his family and have an English breakfast. So, he
decided to fly through the storm. Thus, he took the risk even when the
visibility was almost zero in the storm.
4. As he dived from the ledge, the young seagull started falling outwards and
downwards. The seagull was terrified and screaming; he thought his heart has
stopped, he could not hear anything. But that feeling lasted only for a moment.
The young seagull's wings spread outwards and he felt the wing cares for him.
He was soring and then flying. He was not afraid anymore. He forgot that he
didn't always know how to fly. His fear soon turned into confidence and then
into amusement.
5. When the young seagull dived at the fish in his mother's beak, he felt
terrified at first and fell downwards and outwards. He thought his heart
stopped and he was screaming. But that fear lasted for only a second. After
that he started flying and soaring. His fear soon turned into confidence. So,
diving at the fish was a transformative experience.
6. (i) (c) his vision was obstructed
(ii) (a) malfunctioning
(iii) Radio was dead
(iv) (d) Ragini matched the swimmer as he twisted twice in the air before
diving into the water.
(v) Belief
CBSE Sample Questions
1. (c) (1)
2. The story of the young seagull is a very good example showing how fear can
hold you as a prisoner. The seagull is a bird. It is meant to fly. Without flying, it
cannot survive. But the young seagull is so scared that it doesn't want to fly.
The same thing happens with humans also. Fear cripples one's mind. We
cannot live to our full potential if we are caught in the shackles of our fear. One
should aim to be free from fear. If one wants to achieve success in life, one has
to fight one's demons. (3)
3. In the first extract, the narrator was lost in the storm. His plane's
instruments had stopped functioning. He was scared. Suddenly, a strange
black plane appeared near him. He was happy to see the plane. The pilot of the
second plane waved his hand and asked him to follow him. He helped the
narrator in landing safely. After his safe landing the narrator wanted to thank
the second pilot. He was told by the woman at control centre that his was the
only plane flying in the sky that night. There was no other plane or pilot. Help
came to him in a mysterious way. We see the work of the divine or the
inexplicable force of nature here. The narrator could have imagined the
second plane that came for his rescue but it still means that help came from
the urge to survive or from his faith in a higher power. In the second extract,
Lencho was a simple, naive and a hard-working farmer. He became a victim of
natural calamity, decided to write to God for help via a letter. The postmaster, a
kind-hearted and generous man, read Lencho's letter addressed to God. To
sustain his faith, the postmaster raised money from friends and colleagues and
sent it to Lencho, in the name of God. He even gave part of his salary. He put all
the money in an envelope addressed to Lencho and wrote a letter containing a
single word "God". Here help came from a known source, a person who
decided to help Lencho on his own accord. We do not see a mysterious hand or
work of a higher power in Lencho's case. All we see is how a fellow human
being touched by the faith of another fellow human being in god and did his
best to cheer him up and retain his faith in god. (5)

From the Diary of Anne Frank

Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1. (B) I started right away at the Montessori Nursery School. I stayed there
until I was six, at which time I started in the first form. In the sixth form, my
teacher was Mrs. Kuperus, the headmistress. At the end of the year we were
both in tears as we said a heartbreaking farewell. In the summer of 1941,
Grandma fell ill and had to have an operation, so my birthday passed with little
celebration.
(i) "In the summer of 1941, Grandma fell ill and had to have an operation, so
my birthday passed with little celebration." State any one inference about
Anne from the above context.
Answer. Anne- sensitive girl/emotionally attached to grandmother. (Or any
other appropriate word/phrase should be accepted)
(ii) The first education of Anne started at _______
(A) some Kindergarten School
(B) a Nursery School
(C) Montessori Nursery School
(D) Elementary School
Answer. (C) – Montessori Nursery School
(iii) Who was Mrs. Kuperus? What kind of relationship did Anne share with
her?
Answer. Anne’s teacher in sixth form and Headmistress. Both had relationship
based on love and respect.
(iv) Substitute the word 'heartbreaking' with a word similar in meaning in the
following sentence:
"At the end of the year we were both in tears as we said a heartbreaking
farewell."
Answer. Emotional/poignant/painful (Or any other appropriate word/phrase
should be accepted)
2. Answer ANY ONE of the following two questions in 100-120 words:
(ii) Amanda from the poem ‘Amanda' is a teenager like Anne Frank and lives in
her fantasy world whereas Anne is a chatter box.
What conversation will Anne Frank have with Amanda about different
perspectives of life? Write your answer in about 120 words.
Answer. Anne to Amanda:
• stop fantasising
• do what you want
• face situations head on
Amanda to Anne:
• strive for freedom
• live your life
• create your own space
• keep dreaming (be optimistic) (any three points, at least one from each side)
MCQ (1 mark)
1. "This is why I started the diary".
Anne started her diary
(a) as she could not confide in any one.
(b) as she was good at writing compositions.
(c) as she wanted to record her feelings for future generations.
(d) as she was secretive by nature. (Term I, 2021-22)
2. Anne decided to let only __________ to read her diary.
(a) a real friend
(b) her father
(c) her grandmother
(d) her mother (Term I, 2021-22)
LAI (5 marks)
3. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow: (5 × 1 = 5)
(a) I wrote the three pages Mr. Keesing had assigned me and was satisfied. I
argued that talking is a student's trait and that I would do my best to keep it
under control, but that I would never be able to cure myself of the habit since
my mother talked as much as I did, if not more, and that there's not much one
can do about inherited traits.
(i) Who was Mr. Keesing?
(a) English teacher
(b) Social Science teacher
(c) Warden
(d) Principal
(ii) According to the extract, the incorrigible habit possessed by the speaker
was
I. making noise in class
II. talking too much
III. procrastinating
IV. coming late to class
V. asking irritating questions Select the correct option:
(a) I and III
(b) Only II
(c) I, IV and V
(d) Only III
(iii) Complete the analogy by electing the suitable word from the extract
routine: habit:: characteristic: ____________
(iv) Select the reason why the narrator is unable to control her trait.
(a) She had deliberately practised it
(b) She wanted to be different from her brother.
(c) Her teacher had encouraged her to continue as she was.
(d) She had inherited it.
(v) Which of the following most nearly means the opposite of the phrase
'under control'?
(a) to spend less
(b) unable to take on the challenge
(c) find it difficult to manage
(d) being very stubborn (2023)
 CBSE Sample Questions
SA II (3 marks)
1. Anne writes that it was fortunate that Mr. Keesing took the joke the right
way. Why does she feel so? (2020-21)
LAI (5 marks)
2. Read the given extract to attempt the questions that follow:
Let me put it more clearly, since no one will believe that a thirteen-year-old
girl is completely alone in the world. And I'm not. I have loving parents and a
sixteen-year-old sister, and there are about thirty people I can call friends. I
have a family, loving aunts and a good home. No, on the surface I seem to have
everything, except my one true friend. All I think about when I'm with friends
is having a good time. I can't bring myself to talk about anything but ordinary
everyday things.
(i) Why does Anne feel the following?
...no one will believe that a thirteen-year-old girl is completely alone in the
world.
(1) People knew she had a family.
(2) People rejected the idea of loneliness.
(3) She had several friends.
(4) She had a cheerful personality.
(5) Her life was comfortable. Choose the correct option from the following:
(a) (1) and (5)
(b) (1), (3) and (4)
(c) (2) and (3)
(d) (2), (4) and (5)
(ii) Select the most appropriate option for (1) and (2).
(1) ...on the surface I seem to have everything, except my one true friend.
(2) Anne doesn't truly connect with anyone.
(a) (1) is true and (2) is false.
(b) (2) is the opposite of (1).
(c) (1) furthers the meaning of (2).
(d) Both (1) and (2) cannot be inferred from the extract.
(iii) From the options given below, identify Anne's tone in the extract.
(a) restless
(b) dissatisfied
(c) scared
(d) hurt
(iv) Select the option which displays an example of 'having a good time.
(a) He is out for a picnic with his friends and they are laughing and singing
together.
(b) He is studying hard for the periodic test the following day to improve his
scores.
(c) He is trying to convince his father to purchase the latest video games for
him.
(d) He just rescued an injured puppy and is tending to its wounds.
(v) What do we get to know about Anne when she says the following?
"I can't bring myself to talk about anything but ordinary everyday things."
(a) She is proud of her ways.
(b) She is struggling to strike conversations.
(c) She is unsure of her own thoughts.
(d) She is unable to have a satisfying conversation. (Term I, 2021-22)

ANSWERS
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1. (a) as she could not confide in any one.
2. (a) a real friend.
3. (i) Maths teacher
Note: Correct answer is not given in options
(ii) (b) only ll
(iii) trait
(iv) (d) she had inherited it
(v) (c) find it difficult to manage
CBSE Sample Questions
1. Anne had a habit of making retorts or cracking jokes in Mr Keesing's class.
She wrote that it was fortunate Mr Keesing took the joke the right way because
as a teacher Mr Keesing was not expected to humour jokes in the class and
could take disciplinarian actions against Anne. But Mr Keesing being the kind
lenient teacher not only laughed at her joke but also spared her any extra
homework or assignment which he usually does when Anne was super
talkative. (3)
2. (i) (b) (ii) (c) (iii) (b) (iv) (a) (v) (d) (1x5=5)

Glimpses of India
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
SAI (2 marks)
1. How did the baker become synonymous with celebrations and occasions in
Goa? (Glimpses of India) (Term II, 2021-22)
2. In Coorg, which is the season of joy? Why? (2021C)
3. Why is Coorg called the land of the rolling hills? (Glimpses of India) (Term
II, 2021-22)
4. What attracts visitors to Coorg? (Glimpses of India) (Term II, 2021-22)
5. What excited Rajvir? Why did Pranjol not share his excitement? (2018)
6. What do the elders in Goa still love to remember? (Delhi 2017)
7. What do we learn about the financial condition of the bakers of Goa? (AI
2017)
8. When did the baker come every day? Why did the children run to meet him?
(Foreign 2017)
9. What legends are associated with the origin of tea? (Delhi 2016)
10. How can a baker be recognised? (Foreign 2016)
11. The people of Coorg have a tradition of courage and bravery. How has it
been recognized in modern India? (Delhi 2015)
12. Which season is the best to visit Coorg? (Delhi 2015)
13. What proves Kodavu people's Arab descent? (AI 2015)
14. Why was Rajvir excited to see the tea-garden? (Delhi 2014)
15. How does Rajvir describe the tea-garden at Dhekiabari? (AI 2014)
16. What was the peculiar dress of the bakers during the Portuguese days?
(Foreign 2014)
SA II (3 marks)
17. 'A Baker from Goa' is a nostalgic saga of childhood memories. Comment.
(2023)
18. Who are paders and why are they friends of children? (2023)
19. Why did Pranjol not share Rajvir's excitement at seeing the tea gardens?
20. How will a tourist enjoy when he climbs the Brahmagiri hills? (2021C)
Read the extract given below and answer the questions
that follow:
21. The most laidback individuals become converts to the life of high-energy
adventure with river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain
biking. Numerous walking trails in this region are a favourite with trekkers.
(a) What do the laidback persons get converted to?
(b) What is liked by trekkers?
(c) Find the word from the extract which means 'paths'. (Delhi 2017 C)
22. "Do you know that over eighty crore cups of tea are drunk every day
throughout the world?" Rajvir said. "Whew!" exclaimed Pranjol. "Tea really is
very popular."
The train pulled out of the station. Pranjol buried his nose in his detective
book again. Rajvir too was an ardent fan of detective stories, but at the
moment he was keener on looking at the beautiful scenery.
(a) How do we know that tea is very popular?
(b) Rajvir was a great fan of reading detective stories. Why didn't he like to
read at that moment?
(c) What is the meaning of the word, 'keener'? (Foreign 2015)
23. Marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol,
just as a party or a feast loses its charm without bread. Not enough can be said
to show how important a baker can be for a village. The lady of the house must
prepare sandwiches on the occasion of the daughter's engagement. Cakes and
bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. Thus, the presence
of the baker's furnace in the village is absolutely essential.
(a) Why is the baker's furnace essential for the Goan people?
(b) On which occasions are the cakes and bolinhas necessary?
(c) Which word in the passage is the opposite in meaning of 'absence'? (Delhi
2014)
24. He would greet the lady of the house with "Good morning" and then place
his basket on the vertical bamboo. We kids would be pushed aside with a mild
rebuke and the loaves would be delivered to the servant. But we would not
give up. We would climb a bench or the parapet and peep into the basket,
somehow. I can still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves. Loaves for the
elders and the bangles for the children.
(a) Why would the children peep into the basket?
(b) Why did he push aside the children?
(c) Which word in the passage means the same as 'to take a quick look'? (Delhi
2014)
25. Evergreen rainforests cover thirty per cent of this district. During the
monsoons, it pours enough to keep many visitors away. The season of joy
commences from September and continues till March. The weather is perfect,
with some showers thrown in for good measure. The air breathes of
invigorating
coffee. Coffee estates and colonial bungalows stand tucked under tree
canopies in prime corners.
(a) Why is the monsoon season not the best period to visit Coorg?
(b) What is the best period for the visitors?
(c) Which word in the passage means the same as 'starts'? (AI 2014)
26. It was a magnificent view. Against the backdrop of densely wooded hills a
sea of tea bushes stretched as far as the eye could see. Dwarfing the tiny tea
plants were tall sturdy shade-trees and amidst the orderly rows of bushes
busily moved doll-like figures. In the distance was an ugly building with smoke
billowing out of tall chimneys.
(a) Why does the author call the tea plants 'a sea of tea bushes'?
(b) Why has the building been described as ugly?
(c) Which word in the passage means 'splendid/ attractive'? (Foreign 2014)
CBSE Sample Questions

SA III (4 marks)
1. Pranjol and Rajvir discuss their next vacation destination. They shortlist
Coorg and Goa. Rajvir is keen on Coorg and tries to convince Pranjol. Develop a
conversation between the two, based on your understanding of Glimpses of
India. You may begin like this: Rajvir: Hey Pranjol! I think we should be visiting
Coorg. It is a beautiful place with coffee plantations. I can smell the aroma
already! Pranjol: We visited a tea plantation last year, in Assam; I want to...
(Term II, 2021-22)
LAI (5 marks)
2. "Hey, a tea garden!" Rajvir cried excitedly. Pranjol, who had been born and
brought up on a plantation, didn't share Rajvir's excitement. "Oh, this is tea
country now," he said. "Assam has the largest concentration of plantations in
the world. You will see enough gardens to last you a lifetime!" "I have been
reading as much as I could about tea," Rajvir said. "No one really knows who
discovered tea but there are many legends."
(i) Why was Pranjol not as excited as Rajvir about the tea gardens?
(a) He disliked looking at tea gardens.
(b) He had worked in tea gardens himself.
(c) He had grown up in and around tea gardens.
(d) He was bored with tea gardens.
(ii) What does Pranjol mean by saying that Assam has the largest
concentration of plantations in the world?
(iii) Fill in the blank with ONE WORD only.
Pranjol's __________ comes through clearly when he exclaims, "You will see
enough gardens to last you a lifetime!"
(iv) How, according to Rajvir, does the world know about the discovery of tea?
(a) Historical places
(b) Traditional tales
(c) Authentic anecdotes (d) Popular publications
(v) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the word 'cried'
as used in line 1 of the extract.
(a) Jaspreet cried a lot in spite of winning second place in a competition.
(b) Jaspreet cried out loud when she saw a white tiger in the sanctuary.
(c) Jaspreet cried for hours when the police were unable to find her lost pet.
(d) Jaspreet has barely cried since she was three years of age. (2022-23)

ANSWERS
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1.

2. Coorg is a beautiful city surrounded by hills and forests and is described as

heaven on earth. It has evergreen rainforests, spices and coffee plantations.
Though it rains heavily during monsoon, the best time to visit Coorg is
sometime between September and March when the weather is perfect with
moderate shower and the air is filled with a distinct smell of aroma and is a
season of joy.
3. Coorg has a lot of hills. Besides being a tourist place, a hill station, it is a
beautiful place and seems to have drifted from the kingdom of God. Moreover,
the entire area is situated among gently sloping hills that seem to roll down in
a panoramic view. This is why Coorg is called the land of rolling hills.
4. The scenic beauty of Coorg attracts tourists. Moreover, many outdoor high-
energy adventures like river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and
mountain biking are available which makes it attractive to visitors.
5. Visiting a tea estate in Assam excited Rajvir as he was visiting for the first
time. He had never seen vast stretches of tea bushes growing in orderly rows
against the backdrop of tall, sturdy shade-trees, which were a part of the
densely wooded hills. While Rajvir found the view to be splendid, Pranjol did
not share his friend, Rajvir's excitement. Pranjol was born and brought up on a
tea estate and was already familiar with the surroundings.
6. The elders in Goa still love to remember the good old Portuguese days. They
fondly remember the authentic loaves of bread for which the Portuguese are
famous. The time tested furnaces, which still exist are a reminder of how
traditional bakers used to bake loaves of bread. Whenever the thud and jingle
of the traditional baker's bamboo is heard at times, it reminds one that this
very sound heralded the arrival of the baker every morning.
7. Baking was a profitable profession, in the older days. Bread used to be (and
still is) an integral part of every Goan tradition and festivals. Therefore, the
fire in the baker's furnace never extinguished. As a result, the baker and his
family never had to face the situation where they had to starve. Instead, the
baker, his family and even the servants looked happy and prosperous.
8. Every day, the baker came twice a day, once in the morning, when he set out
to sell his bread loaves and later, after he had sold all the loaves. Every
morning, when the baker announced his arrival by making the familiar jhang
jhang sound with his bamboo staff, the children ran to meet and greet him.
They longed for the delicious bread bangles, which the baker brought
especially for the children. Sometimes, they were sweet bread of special make.
9. There are two legends associated with the origin of tea. One of them tells us
about the Chinese emperor who accidentally dropped a few leaves from the
twigs used to light the fire under the pot in which he was boiling his drinking
water. It made the water taste delcicious. Those leaves were said to be tea
leaves. The other legend is from India, in which a buddhist ascetic named
Bodhidharma cut off his eyelids to prevent himself from falling asleep during
meditation. Ten teas plants grew from the eyelids. The leaves of these plants
provides remedy for sleep when put in hot water and drunk.
10. There are many ways to recognise a baker. A traditional baker always
carries a bamboo staff, which he
bangs on the road thus, creating a thud and jingle sound. It is the way he
announces his arrival. They can also be recognised by their traditional attire
called Kabai. It is a single piece long frock, which reaches down to their knees.
11. The people of Coorg have a tradition of courage and bravery. Kodavus are
allowed to carry unlicenced firearms. Also, Coorg regiment is the most
decorated in Indian Army.
12. The best time to visit Coorg is sometime in between September and March
when the weather is perfect with moderate shower and the air is filled with
the distinct aroma of the coffee.
13. Kuppia, the traditional attire worn by Kodavus, which is a long black coat
with embroidered waist belt is similar to Kuffia worn by the Arabs and the
Kurds. It proves that Kodavus are the descendents of the Arabs.
14. Visiting a tea estate in Assam excited Rajvir as he was visiting for the first
time. He had never seen vast stretches of tea bushes growing in orderly rows
against the backdrop of tall, sturdy shade-trees, which were a part of the
densely wooded hills. While Rajvir found the view to be splendid, Pranjol did
not share his friend, Rajvir's excitement. Pranjol was born and brought up on a
tea estate and was already familiar with the surroundings.
15. The tea garden at Dhekiabari had acre upon acre of tea bushes stretched
on both sides of the gravel road, all perfectly pruned to the same height.
Groups of tea- pluckers, wearing plastic aprons and carrying bamboo baskets
on their backs, were plucking newly sprouted leaves as it was the second flush,
also known as the sprouting period.
16. In the good old Portuguese days, the traditional baker would wear Kabai. It
appeared peculiar because it was a single piece of long frock reaching down to
the 18.
(a) The most laidback persons get converted to high- energy adventure
junkies.
(b) The trekkers enjoy the numerous walking trails in the Coorg region.
(c) Trails
17. In 'A Baker from Goa', the author describes the elders reminiscing about
"the good old days" when the famous Portuguese bread loaves were aplenty,
while the children have fond memories of the baker being their friend,
companion and guide. He remembers enjoying the "bangle-bread" which was
sometimes a sweet bread made specially.
18. Portuguese were famous for their loaves of bread. the makers and the
bakers of bread still follow the traditional methods of bread making. These
bakers are paders as they wore a single -piece frock known as kibei. They are
friends of children because the jingling thud sound of his bamboo woke the
children of the houses and they would rush out to meet and greet their
beloved baker.
19. Pranjol and Rajvir were classmates at school in Delhi. Pranjol hailed from
Assam and had invited Rajvir to visit his home during summer vacation. When
they reached Assam via train, Rajvir was excited to finally see tea gardens. He
had been reading up on them before the visit. But Pranjol did not share his
excitement as he had been born and brought up on a tea plantation and was
used to seeing all that greenery.
20. A climb to the Brahmagiri hills brings a panoramic view of the entire misty
landscape of Coorg. A walk across the rope bridge leads to the sixty-four-acre
island of Nisargadhama. It is one of the most important places in Coorg.
21. (a) The most laidback persons get converted to high- energy adventure
junkies.
(b) The trekkers enjoy the numerous walking trails in the Coorg region.
(c) Trails
22. (a) We know that tea is very popular because over eight crore cups of tea
are drunk every day throughout the world.
(b) Rajvir was more interested in looking outside the window of his seat and
enjoy the scenic beauty.
(c) Eager
23. (a) The baker's furnace is essential for the Goan people because bread is
essential to the Goan people. Various types of bread and bread preparation
form an integral part of various Goan traditions and festivals.
(b) Cakes and bolinhas are necessary for Christmas as well as other festivals.
(c) Presence
24. (a) The children would peep in the basket looking for their sweet tasting
bread bangles, which the kids pick out themselves.
(b) The children were pushed aside so that the loaves of bread could be
delivered to the servant.
(c) Peep
25. (a) During monsoon season, it pours heavily in Coorg, which keeps visitors
away.
(b) The best time to visit Coorg is sometime in between September and March
when the weather is perfect with moderate shower and the air is filled with
the distinct aroma of the coffee.
(c) Commences
26. (a) The author calls the tea plants 'sea of tea bushes' because they are
stretched as far as the eyes could see.
(b) The smoke emitting out of tall chimeys attached to the building were an
eye sore in compared to the densely wooded hills, sea of tea bushes growing in
orderly rows, tall, sturdy shade-trees, etc.
(c) Magnificent
CBSE Sample Questions
1. Pranjol : I gave you the opportunity to explore a tea plantation last year, in
Assam; I want to visit a different place this year.
Rajvir: Where do you want to go?
Pranjol: I was thinking if we can go to Goa or Shimla.
Rajvir : But I think we should visit Coorg first because it is nearby and there
are lots of things we could learn about the place before we go to other places.
Pranjol: I think you are right. But promise we will go to another place, Goa and
Shimla next year.
Rajvir: Sure, we will, then, I guess we are going to Coorg
this year. I am excited to go to Coorg already. (4)
2. (i) (c) He had grown up in and around tea gardens.
(ii) Pranjol means to say that the cultivation of tea is the highest at one place
namely Assam.
(iii) Frustration/vexation/irritation
(iv) (b) Traditional tales
(v) (b) Jaspreet cried out loud when she saw a white tiger in the sanctuary.
(1x5=5)

Mijbil the Otter

Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
SAI (2 marks)
1. Why does Maxwell say that the air hostess was 'the very queen of her kind'?
(2019C)
2. Why did Maxwell go to Basra? How long did he have to wait there and why?
(2019C)
3. How did Maxwell get the otter? (AI 2019)
4. What game did Mijbil invent in London? (Delhi 2017 C)
[Link] game did Mijbil invent? (AI 2016)
6. What special characteristic of Mijbil did Maxwell learn after he took him to
the bathroom? (Delhi 2015)
7. What guesses did the Londoners make about what Mijbil was? (Delhi 2015)
8. What compulsive habits had Mijbil developed? (AI 2015)
9. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? What does it
tell us about Mijbil? (Foreign 2015)
10. What happened when Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom? (Delhi 2014)
11. Give an example from the text to show that Mijbil is an intelligent animal.
(Al 2014)
SA II (3 marks)
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
12. Early in the New Year of 1956, I travelled to Southern Iraq. By then it had
crossed my mind that I should like to keep an otter instead of a dog, and that
Camusfearna, ringed by water a stone's throw from its door, would be an
eminently suitable spot for this experiment.
(a) What 'experiment' did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for?
(b) Why was it a suitable spot for his experiment?
(c) Write the meaning of the phrase, 'crossed my mind'. (Delhi 2015) Ev
13. When I casually mentioned this to a friend, he casually replied that I had
better get one in the Tigris marshes, for there they were as common as
mosquitoes, and were often tamed by Arabs.
(a) What did the author, Maxwell mention casually to his friend?
(b) Where could Maxwell easily get his pet and why?
(c) What does the word 'casually' mean? (Al 2015)
SA III (4 marks)
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
14. When I casually mentioned this to a friend, he casually replied that, I had
better get one in the Tigris marshes, for there they were as common as
mosquitoes, and were often tamed by the Arabs. We were going to Basra to the
Consulate-General to collect and answer our mail from Europe. At the
Consulate-General we found that my friend's mail had arrived but that mine
had not.
(a) What was 'they'?
(b) Where could the author get 'one'?
(c) Find the exact word from the extract which means 'domesticated.
(d) What did the author find at the Consulate- General? (Delhi 2019)
CBSE Sample Questions
LA II (6 marks)
1. Mijbil and the Tiger, both were looked after by humans. Assume they both
meet each other in the zoo and have a conversation about their lifestyle and
feelings.
Write this conversation as per your understanding of Mijbil the Otter and A
Tiger in the Zoo.
You may begin like this
Tiger: Thanks for visiting me, though I don't usually like visitors.
Mijbil: Oh? I would love visitors, I think. (2022-23)

ANSWERS
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1. Maxwell said that the air hostess was 'the very queen of her kind' because
she was extremely friendly and helpful. He narrated the whole incident with
the box to the hostess and he took her into his confidence. The air hostess
suggested him to keep the pet in his knee. This had an impact and made an
impression on the otter and its owner.
2. Maxwell had to go to Basra to the Consulate-General, to collect and answer
his mail from Europe and he had to wait there for five days. His mail had not
reached on time and his telephone line was not working well. Only after
waiting for five days his mail arrived.
3. Mr. Maxwell had expressed his desire to have an otter as a pet to his friend
while they were travelling to southern Iraq. Few days later, in Basra, a sack
was brought to him to his hotel room by two Arab men. The accompanying
note from Mr. Maxwell's friend read that it was he who had sent Mr. Maxwell
an otter.
4. The game that Mij invented in London was with a ping-pong ball. Mijbil
would place the ball on the high end of a broken suitcase and when the ball
would run down the length of the suitcase Mijbil would rush to the other end
to ambush its arrival. Then he would do it all over again.
5. The game that Mij invented in London was with a ping-pong ball. Mijbil
would place the ball on the high end of a broken suitcase and when the ball
would run down the length of the suitcase Mijbil would rush to the other end
to ambush its arrival. Then he would do it all over again.
6. After he took him to the bathroom, Maxwell learned about a special
characteristic of Mijbil. The otter went wild with joy in the water. He plunged
into the water and rolled in it. Mijbil even splashed water to express his
enjoyment. Watching Mijbil enjoying water, Maxwell realised that for otters,
water must always be kept moving and must be made to do things; still or
stagnant water caused them anger/frustration.
7. Londoners would never guess that Mijbil was an otter. Some of the random
guesses were : baby seal, a squirrel, a walrus, a dog, a hippo, beaver, bear cub,
leopard, even a brontosaur.
8. While they were in London, Mijbil developed some compulsive habits. Like
children on their way to school, Mijbil would place his feet squarely on the
centre of each pair of block or touch the iron railing or lamp post. Especially
while coming back home, Mijbil would tug his owner to the wall of a primary
school, jump on to it, and gallop the full length of its thirty yards.
9. When Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom, Mijbil enjoyed himself
immensely in the water in the bathtub. He would plunge into the water, roll in
it, shoot up and down the length of the bathtub underwater. It shows Mijbil
playfulness and love for water.
10. When Maxwell took Mijbil to the bathroom, Mijbil enjoyed himself
immensely in the water in the bathtub. He would plunge into the water, roll in
it, shoot up and down the length of the bathtub underwater. About Mijbil it
shows his playfulness and love for water.
11. Two days after his first encounter with water in the author's bathroom
Mijbil was seen (by the author) dashing towards the bathroom. When the
author followed Mijbil there, he was amazed to see that Mijbil was fumbling at
the chromium taps with his paws. In slightly more than thirty seconds, Mijbil
had succeeded in turning the tap far enough to produce a trickle of water, and
soon enough turned it some more to achieve the full flow. This shows that
Mijbil was an intelligent animal.
12. (a) Maxwell had thought of owning an otter instead of a dog as pet.
(b) Camusfearna, being surrounded with water was an ideal spot; otters love
to swim in water.
(c) thought of, came to mind
13. (a) The author expressed his desire to keep an otter as pet instead of a
dog.
(b) Maxwell could easily get his pet in the Tigris Marshes because otters are
found as commonly as mosquitoes there.
(c) thoughtlessly/carelessly
14. (a) 'They' referred to the otters.
(b) The author could get one in the Tigris marshes.
(c) Tamed
(d) The author found that at the Consulate-General, his friend's mail had
arrived but his hadn't.
CBSE Sample Questions
1. 1. Hints:
Mijbil:
- Happy about his life with his owner as a pet—perhaps would be scared to be
out in the wild - wouldn't know how to survive
- Gets to play/go for walks
- Enjoys meals and company of the owner - exists peacefully in the company of
his owner
Tiger:
- Unhappy in captivity-blames humans for caging him-wished they'd know the
value of peaceful coexistence
- Longing to be free and in natural habitat -perhaps wouldn't wish to be tamed
as a pet
- Gets disturbed by the human activity (6)
 Madam Rides the Bus
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
SAI (2 marks)
1. What was the most fascinating thing that Valli saw on the street? (Delhi
2019)
2. How did Valli react when she saw the dead cow by the roadside? (Delhi
2016)
3. Why didn't Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does it tell
you about her? (AI 2015)
4. Why does the conductor call Valli, 'madam'? (AI 2015)
5. Give examples to show that Valli was a good planner. (Foreign 2015)
6. Give examples from the text to show that Valli was a meticulous planner.
(Delhi 2014)
7. How can you say that the conductor was a good- natured jolly fellow?
Support your answer with examples. (Foreign 2014)
8. Why does Valli stand upon the seat? What does she see now? (Delhi 2014)
9. Why does the conductor refer to 'Valli' as 'Madam'? (Delhi 2014 C)
SA II (3 marks)
10. How did Valli save money to travel by bus? (2023)
11. Why did Valli spend her time all alone and what became her favourite
pastime? (2023)
12. What stopped Valli from going to the stall to have a drink? What do we
learn about Valli from this? (2023)
13. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
"Don't you want to have a look at the sights, now that you're here?
"All by myself? Oh, I'd be much too afraid."
Greatly amused by the girl's way of speaking, the conductor said, "But you
weren't afraid to come in the bus."
"Nothing to be afraid of about that," she answered.
(a) Who is the 'girl' mentioned in the passage?
(b) Why didn't she get off the bus when she reached her destination?
(c) Write the meaning of the word, "amused". (Delhi 2015)
SA III (4 marks)
14. Valli was sensitive, but at the same time she was fearless and quite
determined. Explain with reference to the text. (Term II, 2021-22)
15. Valli was a mature girl and ahead of her age. Justify the statement with
evidence from the text. (Madam Rides the Bus) (Term II, 2021-22)
16. As Valli, make a diary entry about your experience of riding the bus alone
for the first time. (Madam Rides the Bus) (Term II, 2021-22)
17. Whenever we want to achieve something, difficulties always come in our
way. What did Valli have to do to go and ride in a bus? (Delhi 2017)
18. Once we decide to achieve something, so many difficulties come in our
way. With focused attention we can make that achievement. How did Valli
succeed in fulfilling her desire of riding a bus? (Al 2017)
19. We want to fulfil our desires. Some temptations always come in our way.
We have to face them. How did Valli fight the temptations that came in her way
and manage to fulfil her desire of enjoying a bus ride? (Foreign 2017)
20. In modern era people are selfish and insensitive to the sufferings of their
neighbours. But Valli is not one of them. She grieves over the accidental death
of a young cow. Thus, Valli's character brings forth some values. Discuss these
values on the basis of 'Madam Rides the Bus'. (Delhi 2017 C)
21. "Never mind,” she said, “I can get on by myself." "You don't have to help
me,” said Valli to the conductor. She shows extraordinary courage in making
the bus journey all alone. Taking inspiration from Valli's character, write how
ability and courage to take risk are essential to fulfil one's dream. (Delhi 2015)
22. Behaviour of the conductor in 'Madam Rides the Bus' is an example of
good manners. Mentioning the instances of good manners shown by the
conductor in the story, write how you can make your life happy by observing
good manners. (Al 2014)
23. Valli was so overcome with sadness to see the dead cow that she lost all
enthusiasm. Do you feel the same way? If you feel concerned about the plight
of animals falling prey to the fast moving traffic, what efforts will you make to
make road travel safer? (Foreign 2014)
LAI (5 marks)
24. Valli is very organized, bold and at the same time very sensitive. Comment.
(2021C)
LA II (6 marks)
25. The people and surroundings are a great book to learn from. Valli in the
lesson 'Madam Rides the Bus' learns a lot from others. Mention the traits of
her character which help her to learn from people and her surroundings.
(2023)
LA III (8 marks)
26. "Valli's bus journey was a joyride full of pleasant and new experiences."
Why/ Why not? (2020C)
27. "Valli was a mature girl and ahead of her age." Justify the statement with
instances from the text. (100-150 words) (2020)
28. Valli's dream was to enjoy a ride on the bus to the nearest town. What
preparations did she make to realise her dream? (AI 2019)
CBSE Sample Questions
SAI (3 marks)
1. Valli's unique maiden bus ride experience could be possible because she
belonged to a small village. Do you agree? Why?/Why not? (2 reasons
(Madam Rides the Bus) (2022-23)
 ANSWERS
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. The conductor called Valli 'madam' because even though she was just an
eight year 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 humour her.
5. Valli was a good planner, it is evident from the way she planned her first
ever bus journey. Although it took her months to finally make that journey, in
the meanwhile, Valli gathered all the required information, such as distance
covered, bus fare, arrival and departure time, time taken to travel one way, etc.
She made some sacrifices to save money for the two way journey. Valli even
knew that noon would be the best time to travel because that was the time
when her mother slept after lunch.
6. Valli was a good planner, it is evident from the way she planned her first
ever bus journey. Although it took her months to finally make that journey, in
the meanwhile, Valli gathered all the required information, such as distance
covered, bus fare, arrival and departure time, time taken to travel one way, etc.
She made some sacrifices to save money for the two way journey. Valli even
knew that noon
would be the best time to travel because that was the time when her mother
slept after lunch.
7. The conductor called Valli 'madam' because even though she was just an
eight year 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 humour her.
8. A canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window obstructed her
view outside the bus. She stood up in order to look over the blind. She noticed
that the road was very narrow. On one side of it was the canal and beyond it
were palm trees, grasslands, distant mountains and the blue sky. On the other
side, there was a very deep ditch and many acres of green fields.
9. The conductor called Valli 'madam' because even though she was just an
eight year 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 humour her.
10. Valli saved every coin that came her way. She made great sacrifices by
controlling her normal childish urges of having candies, joys and joyrides. This
must have been difficult for her. Kids find it very difficult to resist to savor a
candy or to enjoy a toy.
11. Valli spent her time all alone because there were no playmates that were
from 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. Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences,
especially that of watching the bus that travelled between her village and the
nearest town.
12. Valli did not want to go to the stall and have a drink because she did not
have any money for that. 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.
13. (a) The girl mentioned in the passage is eight years old Valli.
(b) Valli didn't get off the bus when she reached her destination, the town,
because she was too afraid.
(c) Cause someone to find something funny exciting.
14.

15. Valli was an eight-year old girl who was born in a small village. She had no
one to play with, so her favourite pastime was to stand at the doorstep and
watch thing street and her most favourite part was the sight of a bus arriving
and departing every hour. It gave her immense pleasure to look at the new set
of passengers each time the bus crossed by. Gradually, after watching the bus
for so many days, Valli developed a desire to take a ride on the bus. She started
gathering information about it, she listened to the conversations between her
neighbours who frequently travelled by bus and in the process, would ask a
few questions in order to collect more information. In this way she gathered
all the information about the distance, time and ticket fare. Now, she needed to
save the money which was not easy as she has to resist the
temptation of peppermint, candy and merry-go-round. Finally she saved 60
paise for the ride, as one-sided fare of the bus was thirty paise. Finally, one day
she boarded the bus during its not very busy hours. It was an amazing sight
for everyone to see such a small girl travelling all alone. Valli didn't take
anyone's help on the bus, refused a free treat by the conductor and didn't talk
to strangers. This shows her commanding confident and self-dependent
nature. This also shows that she has determination and maturity ahead of her
age.
16. 17th July Saturday
Dear Diary
Today, I had the chance to experience and fulfil one of my dearest and lifelong
dream- riding the bus. I have been always just a spectator, watching people
travel by bus. But today, I was one of them. The bus ride in itself was a great
experience. Not only was I able to travel successfully. I also managed to return
safely, even paying for my own fares. I saw a lot of new things along the route,
things outside of my small village. I really enjoyed the journey. But one thing
that I learned out of the whole journey was the complexity of life. This was a
result of the death of the young cow. I saw running in the traffic. While on my
way to town, it was alive and trying to cross the road, which gave me a good
laugh just watching the young animal. But on my way back home, I saw that
same cow, dead on the side of the road. This left me wondering limited nature
and complexity of our lives and how death can come anytime. I did not expect
to encounter today's tragic event. But I am also glad that I was able to
experience it too.
Good night
Love
Valli
17. Whenever we want to achieve something, difficulties always come in our
way. Usually, one tends to give up on his/her aspirations or desires and
compromise with the situation. One might not even dare to go against the flow
or face the difficulties head on to fulfil their wishes. However, Valli was nothing
of that sort. Valli was eight years old when she developed an overwhelming
desire to ride the bus. She would watch the bus come and go every day. Being
curious by nature, Valli longed to experience bus ride but she was limited by
lack of money, support from elders and of course, by her age. Valli did not let
these difficulties stop her from taking that bus ride. First, she gathered all the
necessary information, such as distance covered by the bus, the bus fare,
arrival and departure time it takes to make the journey one way, etc. Then she
planned everything meticulously. She decided to travel alone and at noon
because that was the time her mother would be fast asleep. To save enough
money to make a two way journey Valli fought temptations. She denied herself
many goodies, such as peppermints, toys, ballons, etc. She even controlled her
strong desire to ride the merry-go-round at the village fair. It took her months
to plan and prepare for her first bus journey. After she boarded the bus, the
elders present inside tried to treat her like the child that she was. However,
Valli refused to be treated that way and maintained her self respect. She
enjoyed her bus ride to the fullest, and, at the same time, took every
precaution for a safe journey. This shows that Valli had the courage and
confidence to accomplish her dreams.
18. Valli was an eight-year old girl who was born in a small village. She had no
one to play with, so her favourite pastime was to stand at the doorstep and
watch things and people. She liked gazing at the hustle and bustle of the street
and her most favourite part was the sight of a bus arriving and departing
every hour. It gives her immense pleasure to look at the new set of passengers
each time the bus crossed by. Gradually, after watching the bus for so many
days, Valli developed a desire to take a ride on the bus. She started gathering
information about it, she listened to the conversations between her
neighbours who frequently travelled by bus and in the process, would ask a
few questions in order to collect more information. In this way she gathered
all the information about the distance, time and ticket fare. Now, she needed to
save the money which was not easy as she has to resist the temptation of
peppermint, candy and merry-go-round. Finally she saved 60 paise for the
ride, as one-sided fare of the bus was thirty paise. Finally, one day she boarded
the bus during its not very busy hours. It was an amazing sight for everyone to
see such a small girl travelling all alone. Valli didn't take anyone's help on the
bus, refused a free treat by the conductor and didn't talk to strangers. This
shows her commanding confident and self-dependent nature. This also shows
that she has determination and maturity ahead of her age.
19. Valli was an eight-year old girl who was born in a small village. She had no
one to play with, so her favourite pastime was to stand at the doorstep and
watch things and people. She liked gazing at the hustle and bustle of the street
and her most favourite part was the sight of a bus arriving and departing
every hour. It gives her immense pleasure to look at the new set of passengers
each time the bus crossed by. Gradually, after watching the bus for so many
days, Valli developed a desire to take a ride on the bus. She started gathering
information about it, she listened to the conversations between her
neighbours who frequently travelled by bus and in the process, would ask a
few questions in order to collect more information. In this way she gathered
all the information about the distance, time and ticket fare. Now, she needed to
save the money which was not easy as she has to resist the temptation of
peppermint, candy and merry-go-round. Finally she saved 60 paise for the
ride, as one-sided fare of the bus was thirty paise. Finally, one day she boarded
the bus during its not very busy hours. It was an amazing sight for everyone to
see such a small girl travelling all alone. Valli didn't take anyone's help on the
bus, refused a free treat by the conductor and didn't talk to strangers. This
shows her commanding confident and self-dependent nature. This also shows
that she has determination and maturity ahead of her age.
20. In modern era, people are selfish and insensitive to the sufferings of their
neighbours. But Valli is not one of them. On her way to the town, while she was
in the bus, she came across a young cow running in the middle of the road, in
front of the bus. Watching the young creature running about spiritedly, filled
little Valli with joy and excitement, and she clapped with glee. However, the joy
and excitement was shortlived as while coming back from the town, she saw
the same young cow lying by the roadside, quite dead. Valli had been
enthusiastic throughout the journey and would have never imagined of
witnessing death so closely. But on being faced with such a tragic and dismal
truth of life, the readers come across a sensitive Valli as she grieved the
accidental demise of the young cow. She became sombre thinking about what
had been a beautiful creature a while ago, alive and free spirited, was not so
anymore. It seemed to have lost its charm, now that it lay lifeless in a pool of
blood. Eight year old Valli neither feels frightened nor does she lose her
confidence, only her enthusiam dampens. Instead, she processes the
information like a grown up. She feels sympathy for the dead young cow.
21. Eight year old Valliammai, aka Valli, was full of curiosity about things. She
didn't have any playmates of her own age on her street. However, for her,
standing in the front door way, watching the things happening in the street
outside was as enjoyable as any child's game. Valli's favourite was to watch,
filled with fascination the bus come and go every day and everything about it,
the bus, the passengers, etc. made her curiouser and curiouser. She had never
been on bus before but now she wanted to. Valli decided to ride the bus alone,
and so, she started planning for her first bus ride. Valli was a good planner.
The eight year old girl planned the whole bus tour all by herself gathered all
the details necessary to make the journey, such as distance covered, bus fare,
arrival and departure time, time taken for one way, etc. She saved enough
money for a round trip by curtailing her extra expenses. Little Valli was quite
confident even at such a young age. The unaccompanied minor did not feel
scared being surrounded by unknown faces, going to unknown places. She
dealt with the bus conductor, the elderly man and woman smartly and
confidently, and refused to be treated like a child. Valli didn't get down from
the bus to grab a bite or have a
drink at the stall. It shows Valli, even though a child, was cautious and careful,
and did not give into temptations easily. Hiding the truth about the bus
journey from her mother, Valli revealed to the readers that she is secretive. She
may still have been eight years old when she returned from her bus journey,
but came back wiser than before.
22. Behaviour of the conductor in 'Madam Rides the Bus' s an example of good
manners. The conductor was a jolly person who liked to joke. We too can make
our life happy by observing good manners. When, at first, while going to the
town little Valli stopped the bus, the bus conductor helped her to get on the
bus by stretching out his hand. Throughout the journey, he showed concern
for the eight year old child who was travelling in the bus unaccompanied. He
made sure that Valli was comfortable at her seat and cautions her that she
might fall if she did not sit. When in town, the conductor offered to get Valli
something to drink when he learned that she would be scared to venture out
all by herself. When Valli demanded to be treated like an adult, with respect,
and not as a child because she had paid for her bus ticket, the bus conductor
took it in a good humour. People like the bus conductor are always a positive
influence on others. They win over others with their kindness and jolly nature
and good behaviour is a part of their persona. We too should imbibe good
qualities. We too should be kind and helpful to each other, speak politely and
take things in a good spirit instead of being so quick to take offence.
23. Valli was quite overcome with sadness to see the young cow, which had
been running about spiritedly in the middle of the road a while ago was now
lying dead by the road side. It came as a rude shock and dampened Valli's
enthusiasm. It is sad to see the defenseless stray animals dying in road
accidents. People are selfish and insensitive to the sufferings of the creatures
who cannot speak for themselves. Many consider stray animals, especially
cattles a menace. They are, in fact, a threat, not only to themselves but also to
public driving vehicles when running about freely on the road. It is extremely
concerning to see the sorry plight of animals falling prey to the fast moving
traffic. Therefore, efforts must be taken to make roads safe for them as well as
the humans. The Municipal Corporation must establish animal shelters, where
the animals would be well taken care off. Precautions must be taken to
safeguard the roads and those travelling by it. Therefore, following speed
limits must be made mandatory. If found guilty of over-speeding, drinking and
driving, jumping traffic lights or disregarding traffic rules, etc. the
perpetrators must be punished. As the proverb goes – a stitch in time saves
nine, a single precaution taken can save many innocent lives.
24. Valli is very organized and this is evident in the way she meticulously plans
her trip in the bus and collects money for it. When she boards the bus, she
does not take any help from anyone and refused a free treat from the
conductor. She demanded respect and wanted to be treated like a grown up
because she too had paid her own bus fare just like the other adults in the bus.
On her way back in the bus, she sees a tragic incident and she is moved by it.
This indicates that she is very sensitive as well. This shows that she is very
organized, bold and sensitive at the same time. She displays determination
and maturity beyond her age.
25. Valli was an eight-year-old girl who was born in a small village. She liked
gazing at the hustle and bustle of the street and her most favourite part was
the sight of a bus arriving and departing every hour. Valli was curious about
the bus rides and used to listen to other people talking about their bus ride
and dreamt of riding on bus herself. She asked those people questions about
their experience of the ride so that she could gather information regarding the
bus journey. When Valli gets on the bus she acts confidently and behaved
maturely. She tries to carry herself as an adult and refuses to take help from
others. When the bus reached the town, she was observant and explored the
town. Later she learns about the death of a cow and gets sad. She handled it
with maturity and accepted death as a part of life
26. One day Valli a eight-year-old girl boards the bus. She finds a place to sit
and pays thirty-paise fare to buy the ticket. The conductor is surprised to find
a young girl riding a bus unsupervised. Valli makes it clear to him that she
wants to be treated as an adult. The conductor is a good-natured jolly fellow.
As the bus moves, Valli enjoys watching the scenery from the window and she
is excited. She watches a young cow running across the street and she is
amused to watch new sights along the way. Once it reaches the destination,
she does not get down and waits to return to her place in the same bus. On her
journey back she notices that the young cow that was sprinting in the road
was dead and she is moved by it and becomes sad. She loses her enthusiasm.
The bus reaches her home in the evening and she carefully returns home.
27. Valli was an eight-year old girl who was born in a small village. She had no
one to play with, so her favourite pastime was to stand at the doorstep and
watch things and people. She liked gazing at the hustle and bustle of the street
and her most favourite part was the sight of a bus arriving and departing
every hour. It gave her immense pleasure to look at the new set of passengers
each time the bus crossed by. Gradually, after watching the bus for so many
days, Valli developed a desire to take a ride on the bus. She started gathering
information about it, she listened to the conversations between her
neighbours who frequently travelled by bus and in the process, would
ask a few questions in order to collect more information. In this way, she
gathered all the information about the distance, time and ticket fare. Now, she
needed to save the money which was not easy as she has to resist the
temptation of peppermint, candy and merry-go-round. Finally she saved 60
paise for the ride, as one-sided fare of the bus was thirty paise. Finally, one day
she boarded the bus during its not very busy hours. It was an amazing sight
for everyone to see such a small girl travelling all alone. Valli didn't take
anyone's help on the bus, refused a free treat by the conductor and didn't talk
to strangers. This shows her commanding confident and self-dependent
nature. This also shows that she has determination and maturity ahead of her
age.
28. Valli was eight years old when she developed an overwhelming desire to
ride the bus. She would watch the bus come and go every day. Being curious by
nature, Valli longed to experience bus ride but she was limited by lack of
money, support from elders and of course, by her age. Valli did not let these
difficulties stop her from taking that bus ride. First, she gathered all the
necessary information, such as distance covered by the bus, the bus fare,
arrival and departure, time it takes to make the one way journey, etc. Then she
planned everything meticulously. She decided to travel alone and at noon
because that was the time her mother would be fast asleep. To save enough
money to make a two way journey Valli fought temptations. She denied herself
many goodies, such as peppermints, toys, balloons, etc. She even controlled
her strong desire to ride the merry-go-round at the village fair. It took her
months to plan and prepare for her first bus journey. After she boarded the
bus, the elders present inside tried to treat her like the child that she was.
However, Valli refused to be treated that way and maintained her self respect.
She enjoyed her bus ride to the fullest, and, at the same time, took every
precaution for a safe journey. This shows that Valli had the courage and
confidence to accomplish her dreams.
CBSE Sample Questions
1. It seems that a bus-ride is a fascinating means of recreation and adventure
in villages rather than in bigger cities and towns. As she belonged to a small
village, she could travel alone safely unlike in towns or cities. In addition to
that, she observed one bus several times. The attraction of riding a bus or an
automobile may exist in children of her age even in big cities. Big cities would
offer more opportunities for a bus ride on the same route. (3)
 The Sermon at the Benares
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
SAI (2 marks)
1. Grief is often seen as a measure of love. Justify your response to Buddha's
sermon. (Term II, 2021-22)
2. How, according to Buddha, can one obtain peace of mind? (The Sermon at
Benares) (Term II, 2021-22)
3. How did Kisa Gotami realise that life and death is a normal process? (Delhi
2019)
4. Why was Kisa Gotami sad? What did she do in her hour of grief? (Delhi
2015)
5. What did the Buddha want Kisa Gotami to understand? (Delhi 2015)
6. Why did the Buddha choose Benares to preach his first sermon? (AI 2015)
7. Why did Kisa Gotami go from house to house? (AI 2015)
8. How did the Buddha teach Kisa Gotami the truth of life? (AI 2014)
9. What did the Buddha do after he had attained enlightenment? (Foreign
2014)
SA II (3 marks)
10. What did Siddhartha Gautama come across by chance when he was about
twenty-five years old? (2023)
Read the extract given below answer the questions that follow.
11. At about the age of twenty-five, the Prince, heretofore shielded from
sufferings of the world, while out hunting chanced upon a sick man, then an
aged man, then a funeral procession and finally a monk begging for alms.
(a) Name the Prince.
(b) What are the sights of sufferings that the Prince saw?
(c) Give the meaning of the word, 'shielded'. (AI 2016)
12. Mark! While relatives are looking on and lamenting deeply, one by one
mortals are carried off, like an ox that is led to the slaughter. So the world is
afflicted with death and decay. Therefore, the wise do not grieve, knowing the
terms of the world.
(a) What is the fate of mortals?
(b) Why do the wise not grieve?
(c) Write the meaning of the word, 'lamenting'. (Delhi 2015)
SA III (4 marks)
13. How does Buddha bring about a different perspective in Kisa Gotami's
understanding of life? (The Sermon at Benaras) (Term II, 2021-22)
14. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
At twelve, he was sent away for schooling in the Hindu sacred scriptures and
four years later he returned home to marry a princess. They had a son and
lived for ten years as befitted royalty.
(a) Who does 'he' stand for?
(b) What did 'he' study for four years?
(c) What does the phrase, 'as befitted royalty' mean?
(d) What happened after ten years? (AI 2019)
15. "The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief
and combined with pain.... ." With this statement of the Buddha, find out the
moral value that Kisa Gotami learnt after the death of her child. (Delhi 2016)
16. Through 'The Sermon at Benares', the Buddha preached that death is
inevitable and we need to overcome the suffering and pain that follows. Based
on your reading of the lesson, write how one should cope with the death of a
loved one. (Al 2015)
17. The Buddha said, "The world is afflicted with death and decay, therefore
the wise do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world." Do you think the
statement is appropriate even for today's life? Write your views in the context
of the above statement. (Delhi 2014)
LAI (5 marks)
18. Kisa Gotami lost her only son, so grief overwhelmed her. How did she learn
that death is as normal in life as birth is? (2021C)
19. Through the story of Kisa Gotami, what did the Buddha try to preach to
common man? (2020C)
20. How did Siddhartha Gautam become the Buddha? (Delhi 2012) LA II (6
marks)
21. 'As ripe fruits are in danger of falling early, so mortals when born are
always in danger of death. With this statement of the Buddha, find out the
moral values that Kisa Gotami learnt after the death of her child. (2023)
22. Why did Kisa Gotami meet the Buddha? How did Buddha change her
life?(2023)
LA III (8 marks)
23. What lesson did Kisa Gotami learn the second time that she had failed to
learn the first time? (2020)
24. What lesson on death and suffering did the Buddha teach Kisa Gotami in
the chapter. 'The Sermon At Benares'? (100-150 words) (2020)
25. What lesson on death and suffering did the Buddha teach Gotami in the
chapter, 'The Sermon at Benares'? (2018)
CBSE Sample Questions
SAI (2 marks)
1. What is the significance of the Buddha's request for a handful of mustard
seeds and the addition of a condition to it? (Term II, 2021-22)

ANSWERS
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1.

2. According to Buddha, weeping or grieving for a lost one will not give anyone
peace of mind. Life is all about living and dying. This is what makes us mortal.
And grieving will only increase the pain and make the body suffer. Rather, if a
person seeks peace of mind, he should draw out the grief and complaint. This
will make the man composed and thus provide him peace of mind.
3. The Buddha in order to cure her son, asked Kisa Gotami to bring him a
handful of mustard seeds from a house where the death of a loved one had
never taken place. As Kisa Gotami went from house to house to obtain a
handful of mustard seeds, she learned that everybody had lost somebody they
loved dearly. She understood that
death is inevitable, therefore, lamenting over the loss of loved ones is fruitless,
it does not bring them to life.
4. Kisa Gotami was sad because she had lost her son, her only child. In her
hour of grief, Kisa Gotami carried the corpse of her son to all her neighbours,
asking them for medicine.
5. The Buddha wanted Kisa Gotami to understand that death is common to all;
it is inevitable. He also wanted her to understand that lamenting over the loss
of loved ones does not bring them back.
6. Benares is the most holy of the dipping places on the River Ganges. It
attracts crowds of people who want to get rid of their sorrows and sufferings.
The Buddha wanted to lessen their sorrows and sufferings. That is why he
chose Benares to preach his first sermon.
7. At first, Kisa Gotami carried the corpse of her son to all her neighbours
asking for medicine that would revive his dead son. Later, The Buddha asked
Kisa Gotami to bring him a handful of mustard seeds from a house where
there had never been a death of a loved one. Kisa Gotami once again went from
house to house looking for such a family to procure the mustard seeds.
8. The Buddha in order to cure her son, asked Kisa Gotami to bring him a
handful of mustard seeds from a house where the death of a loved one had
never taken place. As Kisa Gotami went from house to house to obtain a
handful of mustard seeds, she learned that everybody had lost somebody they
loved dearly. She understood that death is inevitable, therefore, lamenting
over the loss of loved ones is fruitless, it does not bring them to life.
9. After attaining enlightenment, Siddhartha Gautama renamed the peepal tree
he had been meditating under as the Bodhi Tree also known as the Tree of
Wisdom. Soon, he began to teach and share his new understanding. He came
to be known as the Budhha (the awakened or the Enlightened).
10. Siddhartha Gautama was born and brought up in a royal family. He was
shielded from the sufferings of the world. At about the age of twenty-five,
while out hunting, he came across a sick man, then an aged man, then a
funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms, for the first time.
These sights moved him so much that he decided to go out into the world to
seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnessed.
11. (a) Siddhartha Gautama
(b) The prince first saw a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral
procession and finally a monk begging for alms.
(c) Protected/Unaware
12. (a) Death and decay
(b) The wise do not grieve because they know that death is universal and that
it is certain.
(c) Mourning/Grieving
13. In 'The Sermon at Benares' when Kisa Gotami visited the Buddha begging
the Enlightened One to revive her dead son, the Buddha sent Kisa Gotami to
bring a handful of mustard seeds from such a household where the family has
never ever suffered the loss of a loved one. While searching for a family where
no one has ever died, Kisa Gotami realises that such a household does not
exist. She realises that death and suffering is common to all. The Buddha said
that the mortals' life is brief and troubled, and combined with pain. Death is
inevitable; every one dies after reaching old age. The Buddha gives the
examples of ripe fruits and earthen vessels. He explains that just as ripe fruits
and earthen vessels are always in the danger of early falling and perishing
respectively, mortals too, whether fool or wise, young or adult are always in
danger of death. Once a mortal dies, he or she cannot be saved or brought back
from the dead. One might stop for a while and lament the loss of a loved one.
However, life moves on. The wise, who know that the world is already affected
by pain, death and suffering, do not grieve. Grieving does not bring one peace
of mind. It only brings one more sufferings and sorrows. Yet, the dead do not
return to the world. To seek peace, one must free oneself from all kinds of
grief, complaints and lamentation. Once it is done, only then one can truly be
blessed.
14. (a) 'He' stands for Prince Siddhartha Gautama.
(b) For four years 'he' studied sacred Hindu scriptures.
(c) 'As befitted royalty' means meeting the royal standards.
(d) After ten years, the prince forsook the comforts and securities of the
palace and set out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the
suffering that prevailed.
15. "The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and combined with
pain...." With this statement of the Buddha, the moral value that Kisa Gotami
learnt after the death of her only child is that one must accept the truth that
the world is afflicted with death and decay and that death is common to all;
everyone suffers equally. Throughout life mortals form materialistic bonds
from which they never want to separate. However, nothing lasts forever.
Therefore, one should not act selfishly by trying to hold back that which is
already gone. One must not grieve, for grieving does not bring peace of mind.
It only brings more sorrow. To achieve peace of mind, one has to surrender all
selfishness and completely overcome one's sorrow. One who is able to do that
will be blessed.
16. "The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and combined with
pain...." With this statement of the Buddha, the moral value that Kisa Gotami
learnt after the death of her only child is that one must accept the truth that
the world is afflicted with death and decay and that death is common to all;
everyone suffers equally. Throughout life mortals form materialistic bonds
from which they never want to separate. However, nothing lasts forever.
Therefore, one should not act selfishly by trying to hold back that which is
already gone. One must not grieve, for grieving does not bring peace of mind.
It only brings more sorrow. To achieve peace of mind, one has to surrender all
selfishness and completely overcome one's sorrow. One who is able to do that
will be blessed.
17. "The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and combined with
pain...." With this statement of the Buddha, the moral value that Kisa Gotami
learnt after the death of her only child is that one must accept the truth that
the world is afflicted with death and decay and that death is common to all;
everyone suffers equally. Throughout life mortals form materialistic bonds
from which they never want to separate. However, nothing lasts forever.
Therefore, one should not act selfishly by trying to hold back that which is
already gone. One must not grieve, for grieving does not bring peace of mind.
It only brings more sorrow. To achieve peace of mind, one has to surrender all
selfishness and completely overcome one's sorrow. One who is able to do that
will be blessed.
18. During Buddha's there was a woman named Kisa Gotami. She had only one
son. When he died one day she was so overcome with grief and wanted her
child to be alive again. Since she got no help from anyone, she approached
others for help and she approached Buddha. After listening to her, Buddha
asked her to bring a handful of mustard seeds for a house where no one has
ever died. She went from door to door in search of a house where no one has
died. But she could find no such house. This is when she realized the truth
about life that life is a cycle and death is the ultimate truth of mortal existence
and it is as normal in life as birth.
19. Through the story of Kisa Gotami, Buddha is trying to preach to common
man about life and its trials and tribulations. He says that mortal's life is brief,
troubled and combined with pain. Death is inevitable and every human dies
after reaching old age. Buddha compares human body to the old fruits and
earthen vessels that are always in danger of destroying and perishing. Mortals
are always in danger of death and destruction. And once a mortal dies, he or
she cannot be saved or brought back to existence. One stops for a while and
laments the loss of the loved one. But life moves on. He says that grieving only
brings pain and doesn't bring peace of mind. To seek peace, one must free
oneself from all kinds of grief and complaints.
20. Sidhhartha Gautama was born in a royal family. At an appropriate age,
after he had completed his education prince Siddhartha married a princess
and they had a son. For twenty-five years, the prince lived a charmed life as
befitted royalty. During this time he was completely unaware of the sufferings
of the world. One day, while he was out hunting, the prince came across, by
chance, first a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral procession and
finally a monk begging for alms. Extremely moved by what he saw, prince
Siddhartha gave up his comfortable life and went out into the real world. He
sought enlightenment related to the sorrows he had witnessed. After
wandering for seven years, prince Siddhartha sat down under a peepal tree.
He made a promise to himself to sit under the same tree until he was
enlightened. Seven days later, when he gained the high spiritual knowledge, he
renamed the tree Bodhi Tree. He began to teach and share his newly acquired
wisdom and understandings. At that point, he came to be known as the
Budhha or the Enlightened One.
21. The Buddha said that the mortals' life is brief and troubled, and combined
with pain. Death is inevitable; everyone dies after reaching old age. The
Buddha gives the examples of ripe fruits and earthen vessels. He explains that
just as ripe fruits and earthen vessels are always in the danger of early falling
and perishing respectively, mortals too, whether fool or wise, young or adult
are always in danger of death. Once a mortal dies, he or she can't be saved or
brought back from the dead. One might stop for a while and lament the loss of
a loved one. However, life moves on. The wise, who know that the world is
already affected by pain, death and suffering, do not grieve. Grieving doesn't
bring one peace of mind. It only brings one more sufferings and sorrows. Yet,
the dead doesn't return to the world. To seek peace, one must free oneself
from all kinds of grief, complaints and lamentation. Once it is done, only then
one can truly be blessed.
22. In 'The Sermon at Benares' when Kisa Gotami visited the Buddha begging
the Enlightened One to revive her dead son, the Buddha sent Kisa Gotami to
bring a handful of mustard seeds from such a household where the family has
never ever suffered the loss of a loved one. While searching for a family where
no one has ever died, Kisa Gotami realises that such a household does not
exist. She realises that death and suffering is common to all. The Buddha said
that the mortals' life is brief and troubled, and combined with pain. Death is
inevitable; every one dies after reaching old age. The Buddha gives the
examples of ripe fruits and earthen vessels. He explains that just as ripe fruits
and earthen vessels are always in the danger of early falling and perishing
respectively, mortals too, whether fool or wise, young or adult are always in
danger of death. Once a mortal dies, he or she cannot be saved or
brought back from the dead. One might stop for a while and lament the loss of
a loved one. However, life moves on. The wise, who know that the world is
already affected by pain, death and suffering, do not grieve. Grieving does not
bring one peace of mind. It only brings one more sufferings and sorrows. Yet,
the dead do not return to the world. To seek peace, one must free oneself from
all kinds of grief, complaints and lamentation. Once it is done, only then one
can truly be blessed.
23. Kisa learns her lesson the second time she goes out to find mustard seeds
from a house where no one has ever died. Death is natural and it comes to
every living being. She understood that death and sorrow are inseparable. Life
of a man is like an earthen pot that breaks and meets its end. No amount of
weeping and lamenting can bring the dead back to life. Neither from grieving
nor from lamenting can anyone obtain peace of mind; on the contrary, his pain
will only get worse and his body will suffer. He will only make himself pale and
sick, yet the dead are never saved by his lamentation or grief. So, wise men
don't grieve. He who takes out the arrow of lamentation and gets composed,
he will get peace of mind. He who has overcome all sorrow will become free
from sorrow, and be blessed.
24. During Buddha's time, there lived a woman named Kisa Gotami. She had
only one son. Her son died one day but she wanted that her child should come
alive again. After getting no help from the villagers, she approached Buddha
with a request to bring her son back to life again. After pondering deeply over
the matter, Buddha asked her to bring a handful of mustard-seeds, but she
should bring it from a house where no one has ever died. Kisa Gotami went
door to door, but she could not find even a single house where nobody had
ever died. Through this, Buddha taught Kisa that death is the ultimate truth,
no one can escape the cycle of life. All mortals are destined to die sooner or
later. He says that there is no family in the world in which no one has ever
died. This world is afflicted with death and decay, and no lamentation or
grieve can bring a dead man back to life. He who has overcome all sorrow will
become free from sorrow and will be the blessed one.
25. In 'The Sermon at Benares' when Kisa Gotami visited the Buddha begging
the Enlightened One to revive her dead son, the Buddha sent Kisa Gotami to
bring a handful of mustard seeds from such a household where the family has
never ever suffered the loss of a loved one. While searching for a family where
no one has ever died, Kisa Gotami realises that such a household does not
exist. She realises that death and suffering is common to all. The Buddha said
that the mortals' life is brief and troubled, and combined with pain. Death is
inevitable; every one dies after reaching old age. The Buddha gives the
examples of ripe fruits and earthen vessels. He explains that just as ripe fruits
and earthen vessels are always in the danger of early falling and perishing
respectively, mortals too, whether fool or wise, young or adult are always in
danger of death. Once a mortal dies, he or she cannot be saved or brought back
from the dead. One might stop for a while and lament the loss of a loved one.
However, life moves on. The wise, who know that the world is already affected
by pain, death and suffering, do not grieve. Grieving does not bring one peace
of mind. It only brings more sufferings and sorrows. Yet, the dead does not
return to the world. To seek peace, one must free oneself from all kinds of
grief, complaints and lamentation. Once it is done, only then one can truly be
blessed.
CBSE Sample Questions
1. Kisa certain in her grief went to Buddha and pleaded him to cure her dead
child. Buddha requested her to bring a handful to mustard seeds from a family
which has never lost a family member or a friend. Kisa Gotami went from
household to household only to realise that everyone had lost someone they
dearly loved. It made her realise that grief had made her selfish. (2)
 The Proposal
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1. Answer ANY FOUR of the following five questions in 40-50 words each:
(v) What message might the Buddha's story hold for those who are in
positions of power and privilege ?
Answer. • Death brings grief and suffering • It treats everyone equally • Death
takes away material possessions, power and privilege • One should not be
controlled by desires and material possessions. (any two points)
SAI (2 marks)
1. What was the objective of Lomov's visit to Chubukov's house? (The
Proposal) (Term II, 2021-22)
2. Write a brief character sketch of Lomov. (The Proposal) (Term II, 2021-22)
3. How did Chubukov react when Lomov expressed his desire to marry his
daughter? (2019C)
4. How does the argument about Oxen Meadows start? (Delhi 2017C)
5. Why does Chubukov suspect Lomov when he comes to his house? (AI 2016)
SA II (3 marks)
6. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:
"Please don't shout! You can shout yourself hoarse in your own house but here
I must ask you to restrain yourself!"
(a) Who is speaking and to whom?
(b) What is the dispute over?
(c) What does the word 'restrain' mean? (Delhi 2017)
7. "Why, you're in evening dress! Well, I never! Are you going to a ball or what?
Though I must say you look better...."
(a) Who is speaking and to whom?
(b) Why is the person spoken to in an evening dress?
(c) What does the word, 'ball' mean here? (AI 2017)
8. The court? You can take it to court, and all that! You can! I know you; you're
on the look-out for a chance to go to court and all that.
(a) Who is the speaker?
(b) What dispute is to be taken to the court?
(c) What does the phrase, 'to be on the look-out for' mean? (Foreign 2017)
9. They only come to five dessiatins, and are worth perhaps 300 roubles, but I
can't stand unfairness. Say what you will, I can't stand unfairness.
(a) Who speaks the above lines and to whom?
(b) How much are the meadows worth?
(c) Find a word in the extract that means 'not based on what is just. (Delhi
2016)
10. There's nothing to argue about. You see my aunt's grandmother gave the
free use of these Meadows in perpetuity to the peasants of your father's
grandfather, in return for which they were to make bricks for her.
(a) Who is speaking to whom?
(b) Who gave the meadows and why?
(c) Give the meaning of the word, 'perpetuity'. (Foreign 2016)
11. Don't excite yourself, my precious one. Allow me. Your Guess certainly has
his good points. He's purebred, firm on his feet, has well-sprung ribs, and all
that. But, my dear man, if you want to know the truth, that dog has two
defects; he's old and he's short in the muzzle.
(a) Who is the speaker here? Who is he speaking to?
(b) According to the speaker what is the truth about Guess?
(c) What is the adjectival form of 'truth'? (Delhi 2014)
12. I'm off my balance with joy, absolutely off my balance! Oh, with all my soul
... I'll go and call Natasha, and all that.
(a) Who is the speaker?
(b) Why is he so very happy?
(c) Why is he going to call Natasha? (AI 2014)
13. I've been hoping for it for a long time. It's been my continual desire. [Sheds
a tear] And I've always loved you, my angel, as if you were my own son. May
God give you both - His help and His love and so on, and so much hope...
(a) Who is the speaker here? Who is he talking to?
(b) Why does the speaker shed a tear?
(c) Which word in the passage is opposite in meaning to 'despair'? (Foreign
2014)
SA III (4 marks)
14. Read the extract given below and answer the question that follow:
"But, please, Stephen Stepanovitch, how can they be yours? Do be a reasonable
man! My aunt's grandmother gave the Meadows for the temporary and free
use of your grandfather's peasants. The peasants used the land for forty years
and got accustomed to it as if it was their own, when it happened that...
(a) Who is the speaker of the above lines?
(b) Why did his aunt's grandmother give the meadows?
(c) Why did the peasants treat the land as their own?
(d) What light do these lines throw on the speaker's character? (2018)
15. Neighbours must have a cordial relationship which Lomov and Natalya do
not have. Describe the first fight between them. __________ (AI 2016)
16. Arguments and disputes seldom solve a problem. Describe the dispute
between Natalya and Lomov over the dogs and their superiority. (Foreign
2016)
17. Chekov has used humour and exaggeration in the play to comment on
courtship in his times. Illustrate with examples from the lesson, 'The Proposal.
Also mention the values, you think, any healthy relationship requires. (Al
2015)
LA I (5 marks)
18. Read the extract given below and attempt the questions that follow.
Lemov But you can see from the documents, honoured Natalya Stepanovna.
Oxen Meadows, its true were once the subject of dispute, but now everybody
knows they are mine. There's nothing to argue about. You see my aunts
grandmother gave the free use of these Meadows in perpetuity to the peasants
or your father's grandfather, in return for which they are to make bricks for
her. The peasants belonging to your father's grandfather had the free use of
Meadows for forty years, and had got into the habit of regarding them as their
own, when it happened that
Natalya : No, it isn't at all like that! Both grandfather and great grandfather
reckoned that their land extended to Burnt Marsh - which means Oxen
Meadows were ours. I don't see what there is to argue about, its simply silly.
(i) The subject of dispute was regarding
(a) free use of Meadows
(b) making of bricks
(c) peasants using Meadows
(d) ownership of Meadows
(ii) Find the word from the extract which means 'continuance':
(a) disoute
(b) perpetuity
(c) belonging
(d) reckoned
(iii) Lemov's aunt's grandmother gave Oxen Meadows to Natalya's father's
grandfather in lieu of
(iv) According to Natalya why did Oxen Meadows belong to them?
(v) Fill in the blank with ONE WORD only. The peasants had free use of
Meadows for years. (2023)
CBSE Sample Questions
SAI (2 marks)
1. Which two issues about himself convinced Lomov of his decision to get
married? (Term II, 2021-22)
SA II (3 marks)
2. How can we say that Natalya was continuously successful in maintaining an
upper hand during her arguments with Lomov? (Any one example) (The
Proposal) (2022-23)
SA III (4 marks)
3. Farce is a kind of comedy which includes situations and dialogues that are
ridiculous, exaggerated and even absurd. Evaluate the play, The Proposal, as a
farce. (Term II, 2021-22)
LAI (5 marks)
4. Natalya and Ivan argued about the ownership of Oxen Meadows and the
superiority of their respective dogs in the play, 'The Proposal'. Imagine
yourself as the playwright of the play. Based on your understanding of the
personality traits of Natalya and Ivan, write a dialogue based on an imaginary
event, show-casing another argument between them. (2020-21)

ANSWERS
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1. Lomov decided to pay a visit to his neighbour, Chubukov's house. His main
objective was to ask Chubukov's permission for him to propose marriage to
Natalya Stepanovna, Chubukov's daughter. And in the hope of making a good
impression, he wore his evening suit.
2. Ivan Lomov is the neighbour of Chubukov. He seeks the hand of his
neighbour's daughter Natalya. Deciding that he needed to get married, he
wants Natalya to be his wife. Amidst the issue of the proposal, he instead got
into a heated argument with the very woman he wanted to propose to. This
shows Lomov to be haughty, quarrelsome, materialistic and immature.
3. Lomov came to Chubukov to ask for the hand of his daughter Natalya in
marriage. Chubukov was suspicious at first and thought that he had come to
ask for money. But later when he came to know the real reason for his coming,
he was overwhelmed with joy for he believed it would be a profitable match
for his daughter.
4. Lomov, at first, claims that Oxen Meadows belongs to him. Surprised on
hearing this, Natalya then claims that Lomov is wrong, Oxen Meadows belong
to her. Thus, the argument over the ownership of Oxen Meadows started.
5. Chubukov suspected Lomov of coming to borrow money because the latter
came with a request, which Lomov said only Chubukov could help him with.
Lomov did not reveal his purpose of coming directly. Lomov had asked
Chubukov for help twice previously.
6. (a) The lines are spoken by Natalya to Lomov.
(b) The dispute is over the ownership of Oxen Meadows.
(c) Check/Control
7. (a) These lines are spoken by Natalya to Lomov.
(b) Lomov wore the evening dress because he had gone to meet Chubukov to
ask Natalya's hand in marriage.
(c) Formal party for dancing
8. (a) The speaker is Chubukov.
(b) The dispute is over the ownership of Oxen Meadows.
(c) Always be ready for/always searching for
9. (a) Natalya says these lines to Lomov.
(b) Approximately 300 roubles.
(c) Unfair
10. (a) Lomov says these lines to Natalya.
(b) Lomov's aunt's grandmother gave the meadows to the peasants of
Natalya's father's grandfather for free use in return for which they were to
make bricks for her.
(c) The state of lasting for a long period/for all times.
11. (a) The speaker is Chubukov. He said this to Lomov.
(b) The truth is that, Guess has two defects: he's old and he's short in the
muzzle.
(c) Truthful
12. (a) The speaker is Chubukov.
(b) Lomov has just expressed his desire to marry Chubukov's daughter
Natalya.
(c) Chubukov wants to call Natalya so that Lomov can propose to her for
marriage.
13. (a) The speaker is Chubukov. He is talking to Lomov and Natalya.
(b) He is happy that his continual desire to see his only daughter married has
finally been fulfilled.
(c) Hope
14. (a) The speaker of the above lines is Lomov.
(b) His aunt's grandmother gave the Meadows for the temporary and free use
to Natalya's grandfather's peasants.
(c) The peasants got accustomed to using the land for free as their own.
(d) Argumentative
15. Unlike other neighbours who have a cordial relationship with each other,
next door neighbours Lomov and Natalya do not share such a relationship.
Lomov wanted to get married and settle down. He considered Natalya to be an
ideal women for him because she was beautiful, rich, well-educated, an
excellent housekeeper and estate manager. He came to Natalya to propose to
her unaware of her argumentative nature. Their very first meeting exposed
their real characteristics. The would-be couple proved that they were
materialstic when, in spite of being rich landlords, they quarrelled over a very
small piece of land called Oxen Meadows. Lomov said that his aunt's
grandmother gave the Meadows to the peasants of Natalya's great grandfather
for free and temporary use in return for making bricks. The peasants used
Oxen Meadows for forty years, got accustomed to it and started considering it
as their own land. Natalya, however did not believe the explanation. Instead,
she argued that Oxen Meadows belonged to her family all along. She even
offered to make a present of it to Lomov, which he refused to accept as,
according to Lomov, it already belonged to him. They quarrelled endlessly.
16. Arguments and disputes seldom solve a problem especially when it is a
silly argument over a petty matter. Lomov and Natalya too fiercely argue over
the superiority of their dogs. Lomov says that his dog, Guess, unfortunately
became lame recently, yet, he is a first rate dog. Natalya contradicts Lomov by
saying that Guess is not a pure breed like Squeezer, who is a high pedigree.
Lomov calls Squeezer overshot and a bad hunter. Natalya disagrees with
Lomov and claims that Squeezer is younger and heathier than Guess, therefore
much better than him.
17. Chekov has used humour and exaggeration in the play to comment on
courtship in his times. Ivan Lomov and Stepan Chubukov have known each
other for years and share a cordial relationship. When Lomov goes to meet
Chubukov and asks for Natalya's hand in marriage, Chubukov is elated. He
hugs and kisses Lomov as he cannot contain his joy. Chubukov is a hypocrite
and his hypocrisy creates humour in the play when he starts hurling abuses at
his old friend Lomov and talks to him in a derogatory manner. He does this to
support and encourage the shrew Natalya in her arguments with Lomov. What
also adds to the elements of humour in the play is that the real purpose of the
meeting, the marriage proposal, is almost forgotten amidst all this quarrelling
over petty issues. Exaggerated actions that exceed the limit of common sense
are exemplified in all the characters. Lomov gulps down water, puts his hand
over his heart, runs to the door and 'staggers out. Chubukov gives consent on
behalf of Natalya for marriage to Lomov. "She is in love,... She's like a lovesick
cat," says Chubukov, but he does not say anything
to Natalya regarding the proposal. Soon enough Lomov as well as the readers
learn that Natalya is far from being a 'lovesick cat'. Natayla argues fiercely and
endlessly unaware of his intentions of marrying her. However, as soon as she
comes to know the reality, Natalya becomes hysterical, falls down into a chair
and wails. She tells her father to bring Lomov back because she is 'dying.
Courtesy, sincerity, love and mutual understanding are keys of healthy
relationship all of which are missing from Lomov and Natalya's alliance.
18. i. (d) - ownership of Meadows
ii. (b)- perpetuity
iii. They were supposed to make bricks for her
iv. According to Natalya both grandfather and great grandfather reckoned that
their land extended to Burnt Marsh which means Oxen Meadows were theirs.
V. 40 years.
CBSE Sample Questions
1. Lomov decided to get married because he was getting old and believed that
he had many ailments. He wanted to lead a peaceful and settled life. These are
the two issues that lead to his decision.(2)
2. Natalya is the twenty five year old daughter of Chubukov, a landowner. She
is an excellent estate manager and a house keeper. But she is extremely
quarrelsome, fussy and proud. She is able to answer every query and present
an agrument defeating the one presented by Lomov. She argues with him
about the ownership of Oxen Meadows and the superiority of her dog
Squeezer. She is not prepared to accept that the Oxen Meadows are not theirs.
She argued that it is a matter of principle and not greed. She never loses cool
while presenting her arguments. (3)
3. Ivan Lomov, a wealthy young man seeks the hand of his wealthy neighbour
Chubukov's daughter Natalya. He goes to Chubukov's house to propose to
Natalya. However, both Lomov and Natalya turn out to be haughty,
quarrelsome, materialistic and immature. They start quarrelling over petty
issues. Amidst all the quarrelling, the proposal is forgotten. Element of
exaggeration and absurdity set the tone of ridicule and mar the relationship
involving love and romance. The mask of hypocrisy falls off the faces of the
characters of the play sooner than expected. Ultimately the proposal is made
for economic good sense. Hence it can be said that the play is a farce which is a
kind of comedy which includes situations and dialogues that are ridiculous,
exaggerated and even abused. (4)
4. Extrapolating via dialogue writing
Accept relevant responses corresponding to the competencies listed for
content and expression. (5)