English Language & Literature — CBSE Class 10 board question

The teacher's encouraging words had a profound and transforming effect on Bholi. Until then, she had been mocked and neglected all her life due to her stammer and pockmarks. The teacher's promise that education would earn her respect and silence all laughter gave Bholi a completely new sense of hope.

As the text describes: "Bholi felt as if suddenly all the bells in the village temple were ringing and the trees in front of the school-house had blossomed into big red flowers. Her heart was throbbing with a new hope and a new life."

Education indeed transformed Bholi — she grew confident, overcame her stammer, and ultimately became bold enough to reject a greedy, unworthy bridegroom in public.

Source: Chapter 8 — Bholi, Read and Find Out (Parts 1–3)

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Examiners look for three elements in a 3-mark answer here:

1. Bholi's prior condition — mocked, stammering, neglected (sets context).
2. Immediate effect — the quotation about temple bells and blossoming trees showing inner joy and renewed hope.
3. Long-term effect — education made her confident and self-reliant (evidenced by the wedding scene).

Quoting or paraphrasing the "temple bells" line directly from the text is a reliable way to score full marks. Keep the answer focused; don't drift into biography or general commentary.