Madam Rides the Bus – Class 10 English MCQs with Answers (For HSLC and CBSE)

Madam Rides the Bus – Class 10 English MCQs with Answers (For HSLC and CBSE)

In this article, we provide you with the most important MCQs from Madam Rides the Bus for Class 10 SEBA and CBSE exams.
All questions are based on previous exam papers to help students practice and score full marks in the MCQ section.
These MCQs cover every key detail of the story — Valli’s curiosity, her observations, the bus journey, and the major events that shape her experience.
Each question includes the correct answer in an expandable format, making it easier for you to revise quickly before exams.

1. Despite having a strong desire, what did Valli resist in the fair to save for the bus fare? [HSLC 2023]

(A) merry-go-round
(B) ribbons
(C) snacks
(D) lollipops

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2. For Valli, the most fascinating thing to watch was— [HSLC 2023]

(A) cows grazing in the field
(B) children playing in the street
(C) the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town
(D) the bullock-carts on the village street

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3. Read the following statements with reference to “Madam Rides the Bus” and choose the correct option: [HSLC 2024]

Statement 1: Valli loved standing at the front door.
Statement 2: Her playmates were of her age.

(A) Statement 1 is true and Statement 2 is false
(B) Statement 1 is false and Statement 2 is true
(C) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true
(D) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are false

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4. “On and on went her thoughts as she calculated and recalculated, planned and replanned.” What was the planning about? [HSLC 2024]

(A) It was about a birthday party
(B) It was about a bus ride
(C) It was about a picnic
(D) It was about a school event

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See More: A Letter to God Class 10 MCQs with Answers

5. Read the two statements given below and choose the correct option. [HSLC 2025]

Statement I – Valli had many playmates of her age in her neighbourhood.
Statement II – Valli gained many new unusual experiences by watching the street.

(A) Statement I is True and Statement II is False
(B) Statement I is False and Statement II is True
(C) Both Statement I and Statement II are True
(D) Both Statement I and Statement II are False

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6. What was the most fascinating scene for Valli?

(A) The bus with new set of curtains
(B) The bus with new set of passengers every time
(C) The bus with new driver every time
(D) The bus with new conductor every time

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7. What was the timing of the afternoon nap taken by Valli’s mother?

(A) 1 to 3
(B) 1 to 4
(C) 2 to 4
(D) 2 to 3

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8. What could Valli do if she stayed in her seat and paid another 30 paise?

(A) Get a discount on her return fare
(B) Return home on the same bus
(C) Visit more places in the town
(D) Take a different bus back home

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9. Why did the bus fare seem like a fortune for Valli?

(A) She was wealthy
(B) She was used to paying higher fare
(C) She didn’t want to travel by bus
(D) She rarely saw that much money

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10. How much was the one-way fare of the bus?

(A) 30 rupee per side
(B) 30 paise per side
(C) 45 paise per side
(D) 60 paise per side

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11. The favourite pastime of Valli was…

(A) To write poems
(B) To do paintings
(C) To play with her friends
(D) To stand in the front doorway of her house

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12. “Valli would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus.” What is the meaning of ‘wistfully’?

(A) Fearfully
(B) Carefully
(C) Willingly
(D) Longingly

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13. Read the following statements and choose the set that is NOT true.

(i) Valli was an eight-year-old girl travelling alone.
(ii) Valli was nervous during the trip.
(iii) Valli had travelled to town many times earlier.
(iv) Valli’s aunty was a chatterbox.
(v) Valli had collected the fare money very easily.

(A) i, iii, iv
(B) ii, iii, v
(C) i, ii, iii
(D) i, iv, v

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14. How did Valli pick up small details about the bus journey?

(A) By listening carefully to neighbours and asking friends
(B) By listening to her neighbours and asking her mother
(C) By listening to neighbours and asking questions here and there
(D) By gathering information from the internet

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15. Valli was very curious about –

(A) People
(B) Things
(C) Games
(D) Lessons

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16. Valli did not get off the bus at the town. Why?

(A) She didn’t have money
(B) She was not interested
(C) She was afraid to look around alone
(D) None of the above

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17. Assertion (A): Valli did not ride the merry-go-round in the village fair.
Reason (R): She had to save money to take a bus ride.

(A) A true, R false
(B) A false, R true
(C) Both A and R true but R is not explanation of A
(D) Both A and R true and R is correct explanation of A

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18. “Valli would stare wistfully…” What is the meaning of wistfully?

(A) Carefully
(B) Willingly
(C) Fearfully
(D) Longingly

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19. “Madam Rides the Bus” is a story about an eight-year-old Valli who wanted to—

(A) save money to ride a bus
(B) ride the bus to bunk school
(C) Both
(D) None

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20. Watching the street was Valli’s—

(A) punishment
(B) responsibility
(C) pastime
(D) nature

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21. Why did the conductor address Valli as “Madam”?

(A) Duty
(B) She was mature
(C) She spoke confidently
(D) She looked old

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22. Read the following statements and choose the correct option:

Statement 1: Valli loved standing at the front door.
Statement 2: Her playmates were of her age.

(A) Statement 1 is true and Statement 2 is false
(B) Statement 1 is false and Statement 2 is true
(C) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are true
(D) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are false

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23. “This wish became stronger and stronger, until it was an overwhelming desire.” What was the wish?

(A) To travel to the town
(B) To stand at the front door
(C) To ride on the bus
(D) To go for excursions

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24. Choose the word having the same meaning as gleaming.

(A) slack
(B) shone
(C) shining
(D) overhead

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25. Who was laughing at Valli?

(A) The bus driver
(B) All the passengers
(C) The elderly lady
(D) The old man

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26. Who is the real “chatterbox”?

(A) Valli
(B) Valli’s aunt
(C) Valli’s mother
(D) Conductor

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27. Read the statements and choose the correct option:

Statement 1: Valliammai spent her favorite pastime playing elaborate games.
Statement 2: The bus conductor was not a cheerful person.

(A) Statement 1 is true and Statement 2 is false
(B) Statement 1 is false and Statement 2 is true
(C) Both are true
(D) Both are false

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28. The story explores the theme of—

(A) childhood helplessness
(B) childhood anger
(C) childhood frailty
(D) childhood curiosity

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29. “What glittering displays of cloths and other merchandise?” Meaning of merchandise—

(A) Merchant
(B) Things for sale
(C) Garments
(D) Marketing

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30. What was the timing of Valli’s mother’s afternoon nap?

(A) 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
(B) 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
(C) 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
(D) 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

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31. What amused Valli the most?

(A) The sight of a buffalo running in front of the bus
(B) The sight of people running in front of the bus
(C) The sight of a dog running in front of the bus
(D) The sight of a cow running in front of the bus

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32. What was Valli’s favourite pastime?

(A) To stand at the front doorway and look into the street
(B) To look at every passenger
(C) To stand at the back doorway
(D) To look at the sky

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33. Despite having a strong desire, what did Valli resist in the fair?

(A) merry-go-round
(B) ribbons
(C) snacks
(D) lollipops

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34. Arrange the sentences in the correct sequence:

P) Valli saw a young cow lying dead.
Q) She paid another thirty paise.
R) There was a girl named Valliammai.
S) “May we start now Madam?” asked the conductor.

(A) PQRS
(B) QPSR
(C) RQPS
(D) RSQP

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35. Read the statements and choose the correct option:

Statement 1: Valli at once decided to ride the bus.
Statement 2: Valli was fascinated by the bus to the nearest town.

(A) Statement 1 true, 2 false
(B) Statement 1 false, 2 true
(C) Both true
(D) Both false

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36. “Gradually a tiny wish crept to her head and grew.” What was the wish?

(A) To watch outside
(B) To listen to gossip
(C) To go shopping
(D) To ride the bus

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37. The conductor calls Valli “Madam” because she behaves like—

(A) An arrogant lady
(B) An aristocratic lady
(C) A grown-up lady
(D) All of the above

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38. Why didn’t Valli like to make friends with the elderly woman?

(A) She was ugly
(B) She was unfamiliar
(C) She was strongly repulsive
(D) All of the above

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39. “It was the slack time of the day” — meaning of “slack time”?

(A) A spare time
(B) A time full of activity
(C) A time when there is not much work
(D) A vacation time

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40. Valli found the woman absolutely repulsive. Antonym of repulsive—

(A) Beautiful
(B) Ugly
(C) Disgusting
(D) Fascinating

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41. What would make Valli jealous?

(A) Villagers travelling by bus
(B) Friends’ travel stories
(C) Her aunt travelling
(D) All of the above

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42. Read the following statements and choose the correct options.
Statement 1: The elderly woman who sat beside Valli was.
Statement 2: The woman was repulsive and Valli disliked the smell and betel that she was chewing.

(A) Statement 1 true, 2 false
(B) Statement 1 false, 2 true
(C) Both true
(D) Both false

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43. What does the phrase “poke her nose” mean?

(A) Something put into the nose
(B) Taking interest in things not her concern
(C) Whispering
(D) Pointing

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44. ‘A fortune’ to Valli was—

(A) Jewels
(B) Thirty paise
(C) Fifty paise
(D) Peppermints

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45. Arrange the following sentences in proper order:

i) Valli gathered details.
ii) Valli planned and replanned.
iii) Valli wished to ride the bus.
iv) Valli saw the dead cow.
v) Valli finally made the journey.

(A) i, ii, iv, v, iii
(B) iii, i, ii, v, iv
(C) iii, ii, i, v, iv
(D) ii, iii, i, iv, v

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46. What is the slang word Valli and her friends used as disapproval?

(A) Fare
(B) Proud
(C) Madam
(D) Repulsive

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47. “Slack time of the day” means—

(A) A time when there is not much work
(B) A time of rush
(C) Daybreak
(D) Day ends

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48. What memory haunted Valli on the way back?

(A) The elderly lady
(B) The bus conductor
(C) A lifeless cow
(D) The scenery

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49. Meaning of discreet—

(A) Easy
(B) Hard
(C) Careful
(D) Simple

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50. Arrange in correct order:

i) Valli saw beautiful scenery
ii) Valli went alone when her mother slept
iii) Valli saw a dead cow
iv) Valli reached the town

(A) ii, iii, iv, i
(B) ii, i, iv, iii
(C) i, ii, iii, iv
(D) iii, i, iv, ii

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51. Why did Valli refuse the conductor’s treat?

(A) Responsible
(B) Stubborn
(C) Rude
(D) Disrespectful

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52. How did Valli feel after seeing the dead cow?

(A) Happy
(B) Sad
(C) Excited
(D) Angry

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53. Match the characters with their roles:

(A) 1-(ii), 2-(iv), 3-(iii), 4-(i)
(B) 1-(ii), 2-(iii), 3-(iv), 4-(i)
(C) 1-(iii), 2-(i), 3-(ii), 4-(iv)
(D) 1-(iv), 2-(i), 3-(ii), 4-(iii)

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54. Meaning of repulsive—

(A) Causing strong dislike
(B) Showing displeasure
(C) Extremely attractive
(D) Admirable

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55. Meaning of wistfully—

(A) Fearfully
(B) Carefully
(C) Willingly
(D) Longingly

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56. Read the statements and choose correct option:

Statement 1: Valli took her seat
Statement 2: The old woman was chewing betel nut

(A) 1 true, 2 false
(B) 1 false, 2 true
(C) Both true
(D) Both false

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57. Why did Valli find the woman repulsive?

(A) She had large piercings
(B) She wore ugly earrings
(C) She was chewing betel nut
(D) All of the above

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58. “Okey Madam… come and join us.” Who said this?

(A) Valli
(B) The woman
(C) The bus conductor
(D) Her aunt

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59. What made Valli decide the exact time for her bus ride?

(A) Watching the driver announce timings
(B) Listening to passengers talking about the schedule
(C) Observing the bus’s arrival every day from her doorway
(D) Asking her mother directly

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60. Why did Valli refuse the snacks offered by the conductor?

(A) She was not hungry
(B) She did not trust strangers
(C) She had no extra money and wanted to remain independent
(D) She disliked the conductor

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61. What emotion did Valli feel when the bus first started moving?

(A) Fear
(B) Excitement
(C) Confusion
(D) Anger

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62. Why did Valli feel that the outside world looked “magical” during the ride?

(A) She was seeing the town for the first time
(B) Everything looked new and lively from the height of the bus window
(C) The conductor praised the beauty of the road
(D) The passengers pointed out beautiful scenes

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63. What lesson did Valli learn by the end of her journey?

(A) Travelling alone is always easy
(B) Adventures are more fun when shared with friends
(C) Joy and sadness are both part of life
(D) Riding a bus is not enjoyable

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