Q1. [5]
It was a new bus, its outside painted a gleaming white with some green stripes along the sides. Inside, the overhead bars shone like silver. Directly in front of Valli, above the windshield, there was a beautiful clock. The seats were soft and luxurious.
Valli devoured everything with her eyes. But when she started to look outside, she found her view cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window. So she stood up on the seat and peered over the blind.
Read the given extract and answer any one of the following questions given below :
- (i) The effect on Valli as she describes the bus reveals that she is _________.
Choose the most suitable option. [1]
- (A) awed
- (B) scared
- (C) disgusted
- (D) repulsed
- (ii) How does the author's use of descriptive language enhance the narrative technique in the passage ? [2]
- (iii) Fill in the blank with the correct word from the bracket.
The use of the word 'devoured' adds to a sense of _______ (fascination / hunger) in the extract. [1]
- (iv) Which action of Valli shows that she did not want to miss out on any part of the experience ? [1]
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2026 2/4/1 Q6 (a)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:13 · grounding stimulus+chapter
Model Answer
(i) (A) awed
(ii) The author uses vivid, sensory language such as "gleaming white," "shone like silver," and "soft and luxurious" to paint a picture of the bus as something magnificent and new. This descriptive language reflects Valli's wonder and excitement, making the reader see the bus through the eyes of an eight-year-old experiencing it for the first time. It enhances the narrative by establishing Valli's awe and curiosity as central to the story.
(iii) The use of the word 'devoured' adds to a sense of fascination in the extract.
(iv) When Valli found her view blocked by a canvas blind, she stood up on the seat and peered over the blind. This shows she was determined not to miss any part of the experience.
Source: Madam Rides the Bus, Chapter 9
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Explanation
- (i) "Devoured with her eyes" and standing up despite the obstruction clearly signal awe, not fear or disgust.
- (ii) For 2-mark descriptive language questions, always quote specific words/phrases from the passage, then explain their effect on the reader or narrative.
- (iii) "Devoured" is a metaphor for intense, eager looking — fascination, not literal hunger.
- (iv) Keep 1-mark answers to one crisp sentence; quote or closely paraphrase the text directly.
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