The Hundred Dresses - II Class 10 Worksheet English Chapter 1

Q.1. What did Wanda convey through her letter?

Wanda wanted to tell the classmates that they could have the hundred dresses that she had drawn for them as she had another hundred in her closet. In particular Peggy and Maddie could have the green and blue respectively. She wished them a merry Christmas and said that she missed her old school and teacher.

Q.2. What was the content of Jan Petronski’s letter?

The letter contained the news that neither Wanda nor her brother would come to that school anymore as the Petronski’s were moving to a big city where no one would bother them about their strange name.

Q.3. Why did Maddie rush to Peggy’s house while gazing at the drawing ?

Maddie rushed to Peggy’s house while gazing at the drawing because she had seen her face in the drawing and wanted to confirm about Peggy for the same.

Q.4. Compare and contrast the characters of Maddie and Peggy.

Although Maddie and Peggy were friends, they differed considerably in their attitude towards Wanda. While Peggy took delight in teasing Wanda, Maddie did not quite like it as she too was not a very rich girl. When Miss Mason read Jan Petronski’s letter to the class Maddie was deriding herself for being a coward who did not have the courage to stand up to help a girl who was being ridiculed. Peggy, too, felt that she had contributed to Wanda’s going away but she had no regrets and covered her feelings with pretended casualness. She suggested that they go and meet Wanda at Boggs Heights to which Maddie readily agreed. When the two were unable to meet the Petronski’s, Peggy felt that they had done their part and even thought that she should be given credit for giving Wanda new ideas for her dresses. Maddie on the other hand is penitent and decides never to treat anyone or allow anyone to be treated the way Wanda was.

Q.5. Why was Maddie unable to concentrate on preparing her lessons?

Maddie was unable to prepare her lessons as she felt guilty of keeping quiet when Peggy hurt Wanda’s feelings by asking embarrassing questions which ultimately resulted in Wanda leaving the school for good.

Q.6. Why did Maddie have sleepless nights ?

Maddie had sleepless nights because she was very upset about what all had happened and couldn’t amend her behaviour towards Wanda as she had shifted to some other city.

Q.7. What did Maddie notice when she looked at the drawing given to her by Wanda?

Maddie looked at the dresses with vivid colours that Wanda drew. She did not look at the faces. Later, she realised that Wanda had drawn the beautiful dresses for Maddie and Peggy with their faces to match. 

Q.8. Why did Peggy and Maggie go to Boggins Heights?

Peggy and Maddie went to Boggins Heights to meet Wanda and apologies for being so thoughtless to her. They also wanted to tell her not to leave the school and promise to fight anyone who was nice to her.

Q.9. Wanda was successful in turning her taunts into triumphs. Justify this statement.

Wanda was hounded by Peggy and asked the same embarrassing question. She had the same answer. She did not show her anger or irritation at being humiliated. Peggy thought her to be so dumb that she did not even know that she was being made fun of. However, Wanda kept all these taunts to herself and showed her maturity by responding positively and giving it back to her in the best possible way – by beating her in her own game at drawing. When everyone thought Peggy would win the drawing contest, Wanda won it and the admiration of all the students and her teacher. Wanda shows her magnanimity by forgiving Peggy and gifting her a drawing which would constantly remind her of herself and the treatment that was meted out to her. She thus converted her taunts into triumphs.

Q.10. What did Maddie and Peggy write in the letter to Wanda ? What happened to it ? How did Maddie behave even though Peggy had begun to forget the whole business?

Peggy and Maddie wrote a friendly letter to Wanda. Rather than being sorry they asked her about her new school, new teacher. They told her about the result of drawing contest which she had won and that her drawings were very beautiful. They meant to say sorry indirectly. They signed it with lot of X’s for love and didn’t say anything to tease her. But they did not get any reply from her. After sometime Peggy had begun to forget the whole business. But Maddie was surrounded by the thoughts of Wanda and everything that happened to Wanda. She felt guilty and decided not to be silent anymore so that other might not feel ashamed like her.