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English Language & Literature — CBSE Class 10 board question

Q1. [3]
How does "Madam Rides the Bus" bring alive Valli's attributes and experiences through its narrative style?
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2026 2/1/1 Q8 IV
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:12 · grounding rag
Model Answer

The story uses a third-person narrative closely aligned with Valli's perspective to bring out her curiosity, determination, and spirit. Her favourite pastime of watching the bus from her doorway shows her inquisitive nature. Her meticulous planning — secretly saving sixty paise by resisting peppermints and merry-go-round rides, observing timings, asking discreet questions — reveals her resourcefulness. On the ride, her childlike wonder at the cow, the train, and the town's glittering shops highlights her innocence. Her firm, self-reliant responses to the conductor ("I'm not a child") capture her feisty independence.

Source: "Madam Rides the Bus," Chapter 7

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Explanation

The examiner expects you to link narrative style (child's-eye-view, close third person) to specific character traits with brief textual evidence. Three marks = roughly three points: curiosity/determination, planning/resourcefulness, and the bus-ride experiences (wonder + independence). Avoid retelling the plot; instead, show how the narration reveals Valli's character. Quoting a short phrase from the text adds mark-worthy precision.

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Previous-year CBSE Grade 10 board exam questions, organised by subject and chapter, each with a model answer — free to read and print.