Class 10 English Chapter 1 Practice Question Answers - First Flight

Q1. What amused Valli the most?
(a) The sight of buffalo running in front of the bus.
(b) The sight of people running in front of the bus.
(c) The sight of a dog running in front of the bus.
(d) The sight of a cow running in front of the bus.
Ans: (d)
Valli was a young girl who loved watching the bus go by from her doorstep. She found it amusing when a cow would suddenly come running in front of the bus, causing the driver to honk loudly and the passengers to react in surprise. This sight brought a smile to Valli's face as she found it interesting and unexpected.

Q2. What did Valli do one fine spring day?
(a) Caught the bus to the town
(b) Caught the bus to the village
(c) Caught the car to the town.
(d) Caught the car to the village.
Ans: (a)
One fine spring day, Valli decided to catch the bus to the town. She was curious about the world beyond her village and wanted to experience the excitement of riding on a bus. It was a significant step for Valli as it marked her journey from the village to the town, where she would encounter new experiences and adventures.

Q3. What did Valli wish?
(a) Bus ride
(b) Truck ride
(c) Car ride
(d) Cycle ride
Ans: (a)
Valli wished to take a bus ride. She had always been fascinated by the bus that passed by her doorstep, and she longed to experience the thrill of riding in it. The desire to have a bus ride became her cherished wish, and she eagerly waited for an opportunity to fulfill it.

Q4. What was her favourite pastime?
(a) To stand at the front doorway and look into the street.
(b) To stand at the front doorway and look at every passenger.
(c) To stand at the back doorway and look every passenger
(d) None of the Above
Ans: (a)
Valli's favorite pastime was to stand at the front doorway of her house and watch the activities on the street. She loved observing the world outside and particularly enjoyed watching the bus and its passengers. This simple act brought her joy and contentment as she found amusement and interest in the happenings around her.

Q5. What was the most fascinating scene for Valli in the street?
(a) The bus with a new set of curtains every time.
(b) The bus has a new set of passengers every time.
(c) The bus has a new driver every time.
(d) The bus has a new conductor every time.
Ans: (b)
The most fascinating scene for Valli in the street was the sight of new passengers getting on and off the bus every time it passed by her house. She found it intriguing to see different faces and wonder where they were going and what their stories might be. This constant change of passengers made the bus journey a source of fascination for her.

Q6. What can you tell about the conductor from the text?
(a) he was funny
(b) he was grumpy
(c) he was quiet
(d) all of the above
Ans: (a)
From the text, we can gather that the conductor on the bus was a humorous and funny person. He entertained the passengers with his jokes and made the bus journey enjoyable for them. His lively and friendly demeanor made him a likable character, and Valli found his presence on the bus quite amusing.

Q7. “Valli would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus.” What is the meaning of wistfully?
(a) fearfully
(b) carefully
(c) willingly
(d) longingly
Ans: (d)
The word "wistfully" means to look or stare with longing or yearning. When Valli stared wistfully at the people getting on or off the bus, it means she looked at them with a sense of longing or desire to experience the same journey and explore the world beyond her village.

Q8. What saddened Valli?
(a) the dead cow
(b) car accident
(c) the handicapped passenger
(d) all of the above
Ans: (a)
On one occasion, a dead cow was lying on the road, and Valli saw it as the bus approached. The sight of the dead animal saddened her deeply. She felt sorry for the cow and couldn't bear to watch the bus pass over it. This incident brought a sense of sorrow and empathy in Valli.

Q9. What does it tell you about Valli when she refused to accept the conductor’s treat?
(a) responsible
(b) stubborn
(c) rude
(d) disrespectful
Ans: (a)
When the conductor offered Valli a treat, she politely refused it, saying she had to save for her bus ride. This shows that Valli was a responsible and disciplined young girl who knew the value of money and was determined to save for her cherished wish.

Q10. What made her laugh on her journey?
(a) the sight of a running cow
(b) the old woman’s earrings
(c) the old man
(d) None of the above
Ans: (a)
During her bus journey, Valli laughed when she saw a cow running in front of the bus, causing chaos and making the driver honk loudly. The humorous sight of the cow and the reactions of the passengers brought laughter and joy to Valli.

Q11. What did she have to resist on Village Fair Day to save for the ride?
(a) balloons
(b) merry go round
(c) toys
(d) peppermint
Ans: (b)
On Village Fair Day, Valli had to resist the temptation of going on the merry-go-round so that she could save her money for her much-desired bus ride. This reflects her determination and commitment to fulfilling her wish.

Q12. Why did Valli find the woman repulsive?
(a) she had large piercings in her ears
(b) she wore ugly earrings
(c) she was chewing betel nut which could spill out any moment
(d) all of the above
Ans: (d)
Valli found the woman repulsive because she had large piercings in her ears and wore ugly earrings. Moreover, the woman was chewing betel nut, which could spill out any moment. The combination of these factors made Valli feel uncomfortable and repelled by her appearance.

Q13. What did the old man say to Valli that annoyed her?
(a) He shouted at her
(b) he asked why she’s alone
(c) he merely asked her to sit
(d) None of the above
Ans: (c)
The old man annoyed Valli when he merely asked her to sit. Valli felt insulted as she believed she was not like the ordinary village folk and didn't want to be treated like them. She wanted to be treated with respect and not be seen as just any other passenger on the bus.

Q14. How did she pick up small details about the bus journey?
(a) listening to conversations of neighbours
(b) asking a few discreet questions
(c) All of the above
(d) None of the above
Ans: (c)
Valli picked up small details about the bus journey by listening to conversations of her neighbors and asking a few discreet questions. She was observant and curious about the world outside her village, and these methods helped her gather information about the bus journey and its experiences.

Q15. Who is the author of the lesson “Madam rides the Bus”?
(a) Gavin Maxwell
(b) Vallikkannan
(c) Paulo Coehlo
(d) Arup Kumar Dutta
Ans: (b)
The author of the lesson "Madam rides the Bus" is Vallikkannan. The lesson is a heartwarming story about a young girl named Valli and her aspirations to take a bus ride, exploring the world beyond her village.