Get practice on extract-based Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for the English lesson ‘Bholi’ from the NCERT book ‘Footprints without Feet’ class 10 CBSE Board. Attempt questions yourself and then check the answers given at the last of each question set.
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I. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.
“She remembered how a few days ago their old cow, Lakshmi, had been turned out of the house and sold. “N-n-n-n NO, no-no-no,” she shouted in terror and pulled her hand away from her father’s grip. What’s the matter with you, you fool? Shouted Ramlal. “I am only taking you to school.” Then he told his wife, “Let her wear some decent clothes today or else what will the teachers and the other schoolgirls think of us when they see her? New clothes had never been made for Bholi. The old dresses of her sisters were passed on to her. No one cared to mend or wash her clothes. But today she was lucky to receive a clean dress which had shrunk after many washings and no longer fitted Champa.”
Questions:
1. “Let her wear some decent clothes today or else what will the teachers and the other schoolgirls think of us when they see her?”
This suggests that Ramlal was concerned about__________.
- A) bholi’s education
- B) his financial status
- C) his social reputation
- D) bholi’s happiness
2. Based on the extract, which of the options describes Bholi’s condition at home?
- A) Spoiled
- B) Worshipped
- C) Pampered
- D) Neglected
3. Which of the following options describes the meaning of ‘passed on’ as used in the extract?
- A) We should remember our family members who have passed on.
- B) Three weeks passed on the cruise.
- C) An education bill is passed on the 6th of August.
- D) The secretary passed on her birthday gift to her sister.
4. Why do you think that Bholi refused to go to school initially?
- A) She could not read or write properly.
- B) She thought her friends will make fun of her stammer.
- C) She thought she was being sold away by her parents.
- D) She was expelled from her previous school.
5. “I am only taking you to school.” How would you describe Ramlal’s mood when he says this to Bholi?
- A) Petrified
- B) Perplexed
- C) Nauseated
- D) Heavenly
Answers:
1. C) his social reputaion
2. D) Neglected (‘Neglected’ means suffering a lack of care. Bholi either wore dirty clothes or the old dresses of her sisters. This indicates her neglected situation at home.)
3. D) The secretary passed on her birthday gift to her sister. (To pass on something means to give someone something that someone else has given to you.)
4. C) She thought she was being sold away by her parents. (Bholi remembered how the family had sold their old cow a few days ago. She thought they will throw her out of the house too.)
5. B) Perplexed (‘Perplexed’ indicates the state of being confused and worried. Here, Ramlal was perplexed when Bholi started crying as he tried sending her to school.)
II. Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.
“Bholi was seven years old when Mangla was married. The same year a primary school for girls was opened in their village. The Tehsildar sahib came to perform its opening ceremony. He said to Ramlal, “As a revenue official you are the representative of the government in the village and so you must set an example to the villagers. You must send your daughters to school. That night when Ramlal consulted his wife, she cried, “Are you crazy? If girls go to school, who will marry them?” But Ramlal had not the courage to disobey the Tehsildar.”
1. Which ‘example’ is being referred to in this extract?
- A) Promoting child marriage.
- B) Promoting boys’ education.
- C) Providing donation to the school.
- D) Promoting girls’ education
2. Why do you think Ramlal’s wife ‘cried’ when he told him about sending the girls to school?
- A) She was thrilled about sending the girls to school.
- B) She did not want the girls to attend school.
- C) She did not want to stay away from her girls.
- D) She was worried about the cost of schooling.
3. Which option correctly describes the meaning of ‘representative’ as used in the extract?
- A) A person appointed to act or speak on behalf of someone or a group.
- B) A person who opens schools in villages.
- C) The head of a big institution who makes all decisions.
- D) A person who gives money to all the employees.
4. What is the meaning of the phrase ‘set an example’?
- A) To decide something that becomes a rule for others to follow.
- B) To behave in a way that inspires others to imitate.
- C) To achieve something that no other person has achieved.
- D) To be on one’s best behaviour.
5. According to the extract, which of the following statements is true?
- The Tehsildar requested Ramlal to send his girls to school.
- Ramlal was a cruel and violent father.
- Ramlal and his wife were excited about the primary school.
- The Tehsildar came to collect revenue from Ramlal.
Answers:
1. A) Promoting girls’ education (When a primary school for girls was opened in the village, Ramlal was asked to send his girls to the school and thus, promoting girls’ education.)
2. B) She did not want the girls to attend school. (Ramlal’s wife refused to send the girls to school. She believed if the girls went to the school, then no one would marry them.)
3. A) A person appointed to act or speak on behalf of someone or a group. (Ramlal works on behalf of the government as a revenue officer in the village.)
4. B) To behave in a way that inspires others to imitate. (The phrase ‘set an example’ refers to inspiring others to follow in your exemplary footsteps.)
5. A) The Tehsildar requested Ramlal to send his girls to school. (When Tehsildar sahib came for the opening ceremony of the primary school, he tried convincing Ramlal to send his girls to the school and set an example for the others.)
III. Read the extract and answer the questions given below.
“At birth, the child was very fair and pretty. But when she was two years old, she had an attack of small-pox. Only the eyes were saved, but the entire body was permanently disfigured by deep black pockmarks. Little Sulekha could not speak till she was five, and when at last she learnt to speak, she stammered. The other children often made fun of her and mimicked her. As a result, she talked very little. Ramlal had seven children – three sons and four daughters, and the youngest of them was Bholi. It was a prosperous farmer’s household and there was plenty to eat and drink. All the children except Bholi were healthy and strong.”
1. “The other children often made fun of her and mimicked her.” Choose the option listing the most likely reason for the children to make fun of Bholi.
- Bholi could not study well.
- Bholi could not speak fluently.
- She was very fair and pretty.
- Bholi was healthy and strong.
2. Which of these words is a synonym for ‘prosperous’?
- Upset
- Lucky
- Influential
- Wealthy
3. Which of these lines from the extract suggests Bholi’s poor well-being?
- Ramlal had seven children – three sons and four daughters.
- There was plenty to eat and drink.
- All the children except Bholi were healthy and strong.
- It was a prosperous
- farmer’s household.
4. Which of the following indicates an example of contrast in the extract?
- Number of children in the house and Bholi’s age.
- Prosperity of the household and Bholi’s age.
- Prosperity of the household and Bholi’s poor well-being.
- Number of boys and girls in the house.
5. Which of the following emotions can be attributed to the narrator while describing Bholi?
- Hostile
- Sympathetic
- Disgust
- Anger
