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Read the given extract and… (Class 10 English 2026, Q6a)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2026, set 2/4/1 · 5 marks · Reading comprehension

CBSE Class 10 English 2026: question 6(a)

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2026, paper 2/4/1, section C, question 6(a), for 5 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q6(a) · 5 marks · Reading comprehensionCompetency-basedMadam Rides the Bus

Read the given extract and answer any one of the following questions given below. 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. (Madam Rides a Bus)

  1. (i)

    The effect on Valli as she describes the bus reveals that she is _________. Choose the most suitable option.

    1. (A)awed
    2. (B)scared
    3. (C)disgusted
    4. (D)repulsed
    1 mark
  2. (ii)

    How does the author’s use of descriptive language enhance the narrative technique in the passage?

    2 marks
  3. (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. (A)fascination
    2. (B)hunger
    1 mark
  4. (iv)

    Which action of Valli shows that she did not want to miss out on any part of the experience?

    1 mark

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2026 board paper, set 2/4/1.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

Think of how Valli feels about the new bus.

Hint 2

Descriptive details help the reader picture the scene.

Hint 3

Find the action that follows the blind blocking her view.

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

  1. (i) (A) awed: she is wonderstruck by the gleaming new bus.

    1 mark

  2. (ii) The vivid details (white paint, silver bars, clock, soft seats) create a clear picture of the bus. They let readers share Valli's excitement and fascination and see things from her perspective.

    2 marks

  3. (iii) fascination: 'devoured' shows eager absorption of everything she saw.

    1 mark

  4. (iv) She stood up on the seat and peered over the blind, so as not to miss the view outside.

    1 mark

Answer: (i) A; (ii) vivid imagery immerses readers in Valli's excitement; (iii) fascination; (iv) stood on the seat and peered over the blind

Where the marks are

  • (i) awed (1 mark)
  • (ii) any two points (2 marks)
  • (iii) fascination (1 mark)
  • (iv) stood up and peered over the blind (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Madam Rides the Bus, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2026 board paper, set 2/4/1: every question, by section.

The question is transcribed from the official paper; figures are described in words. The solution, hints and chapter tag are ours. Spotted an error? Write tosupport@questionbuddy.in.