CBSE Class 10

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English

The Sermon at Benares NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 10

The Sermon at Benares NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

The Sermon at Benares Thinking about the Text

Question 1.
When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
Answer:
When Kisa Gotami’s only son dies, she goes from house to house asking for some medicines that could bring life back to her son. No, she does not get any such medicine. Death is common to all. Once a mortal dies, no medicine can bring the life back.

Question 2.
Kisa Gotami again goes from house to house after she speaks with the Buddha. What does she ask for, the second time around? Does she get it? Why not?
Answer:
Kisa Gotami again goes from house to house after she speaks to the Buddha. The Buddha had asked her to bring some mustard seeds from a household which had never lost any family member. She was offered mustard seeds by almost all the households but there was not a single household that had not lost any member of the family. So she did not get the required mustard seeds.

Question 3.
What does Kisa Gotami understand the second time that she failed to understand the first time? Was this what the Buddha wanted her to understand?
Answer:
Kisa Gotami could not find a house where nobody had died before. She sat down hopelessly watching the lights of the city, as they flickered up and were extinguished again. Now she understood the fate of a man. She realised that death was common to all and she was not the only one who had lost her child. Almost every household had lost a child, parents or any other relative. Yes, this was the point ‘ that Gautama Buddha wanted her to understand.

Question 4.
Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did the Buddha change her understanding?
Answer:
Kisa Gotami did not understand that death is common to all for the first time. When she could not find a household that had not lost any person she understood that she was not the only one who had lost her son. The Buddha changed her perception. Now she realised that death is common to all. One should not grieve as it does not help in getting peace of mind.

Question 5.
How do you usually understand the idea of ‘selfishness’? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she is being ‘selfish in her grief ’?
Answer:
Selfishness usually means thinking and working for own benefits. When we keep self before others, we are selfish. I don’t agree with Kisa Gotami that she was ‘selfish in her grief’. She had lost her only son and wanted some medicines for him. This act cannot be called a selfish act. She did not want the medicine at the cost of others. It was a desperate effort of a mother for her son which cannot be called an act of selfishness.

The Sermon at Benares Extra Questions and Answers

The Sermon at Benares Reference-to-Context Questions

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
Gautama Buddha (563 B.C. — 483 B.C.) began life as a prince named Siddhartha Gautama, in northern India. At twelve, he was sent away for schooling in the Hindu sacred scriptures and four years later he returned home to marry a princess. They had a son and lived for ten years as befitted royalty.

(a) Gautama Buddha began life as a prince named
Answer:
Siddhartha Gautama

(b) Gautama married a and had a son.
Answer:
royal princess

(c) At fourteen Gautama was sent away for schooling in the Hindu Sacred scriptures. (True/False)
Answer:
True.

(d) Find the same meaning of the word, “holy” in the extract.
Answer:
sacred.

Question 2.
At about the age of twenty-five, the Prince, heretofore shielded from the sufferings of the world, while out hunting, chanced upon a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. These sights so moved him that he at once went out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnessed.

(a) At the age of twenty-five Siddhartha Gautama went for ………..
Answer:
hunting.

(b) The prince chanced to see a sickman, an aged man, then a funeral procession and a begging for alms.
Answer:
monk.

(c) The prince had a royal life absolutely aware of the sufferings of the world. (True/False)
Answer:
False.

(d) Find the same meaning of “awakening” in the extract.
Answer:
enlightenment.

Question 3.
He wandered for seven years and finally sat down under a peepal tree, where he vowed to stay until enlightenment came. Enlightened after seven days, he renamed the tree the Bodhi tree (Tree of Wisdom) and began to teach and. to share his new understandings. At that point he became known as the Buddha (The Awakened or the Enlightened). The Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares, most holy of the dipping places on the River Ganges.

(a) Gautama wandered for and finally sat down under a peepal tree.
Answer:
seven years

(b) Gautama to stay under the tree until enlightened came.
Answer:
vowed.

(c) Gautama came to be known as the Buddha after the enlightenment. (True/False)
Answer:
True.

(d) Find the same meaning of the word ‘roamed’ in the extract.
Answer:
Wandered.

Question 4.
At that point he became known as the Buddha (The Awakened or the Enlightened). The Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares, most holy of the dipping places on the River Ganges; that sermon has been preserved and is given here. It reflects the Buddha’s wisdom about . one inscrutable kind of suffering.

(a) The Buddha preached his first …………. at the city of Benares.
Answer:
sermon

(b) The first sermon of Buddha reflects his …………… about one inscrutable kind of suffering.
Answer:
sermon

(c) Before attaining enlightenment, Gautama was known as the Buddha. (True/False)
Answer:
False.

(d) Find the antonym of the ‘comprehensible’.
Answer:
inscrutable

Question 5.
Kisa Gotami had an only son, and he died. In her grief she carried the dead child to all her ’ neighbours, asking them for medicine, and the people said: “She has lost her senses. The boy is dead.” At length, Kisa Gotami met a man who replied to her request, “I cannot give thee medicine for thy child, but I know a physician who can.”

(a) Kisa Gotami went to her neighbours asking them for some
Answer:
medicine

(b) In her grief, Kisa Gotami carried her child to all her neighbours.
Answer:
dead

(c) The neighbours thought that Kisa Gotami lost her senses due to her dead child. (True/False)
Answer:
True.

(d) Find the same meaning of ‘a doctor’ in the extract.
Answer:
a physician.

Question 6.
Poor Kisa Gotami now went from house to house, and the people pitied her and said, “Here is mustard-seed; take it!” But when she asked, “Did a son or daughter, a father or mother, die in your family?” they answered her, “Alas! the living are few, but the dead are many.”

(a) Kisa Kotami went from house to house to get seed.
Answer:
mustard

(b) Kisa found that there was not a single house where no one
Answer:
had died

(c) The neighbours pitied Kisa and told her that the living are many, but the dead are few. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the antonym of the word ‘dead’.
Answer:
living.

Question 7.
Kisa Gotami became weary and hopeless, and sat down at the wayside watching the lights of the city, as they flickered up and were extinguished again. At last the darkness of the night reigned everywhere. And she considered the fate of men, that their lives flicker up and are extinguished again.

(a) Kisa Gotami become weary and hopeless because she could not get ………. from any house.
Answer:
mustard seeds

(b) Kisa sat down at the wayside watching the ………. of the city.
Answer:
lights.

(c) At length, Kisa considered the fate of men, and their lives ………. and are extinguished again.
Answer:
flicker up.

(d) Find the same meaning of ‘put out’ in the extract.
Answer:
extinguished.

Question 8.
Mark! while relatives are looking on and lamenting deeply, one by one mortals are carried off, like an ox that is led to the slaughter. So the world is afflicted with death and decay, therefore the wise do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world.

(a) The world in afflicted with
Answer:
death and decay

(b) Mortals are carried off, like an ox that is led to the
Answer:
slaughter

(c) The wise always grieve, knowing the terms of the world. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the same meaning of ‘gave pain or distress’.
Answer:
afflicted.

Question 9.
Not from weeping nor from grieving will anyone obtain peace of mind; on the contrary, his pain . will be the greater and his body will suffer. He will make himself sick and pale, yet the dead are not saved by his lamentation. He who seeks peace should draw out the arrow of lamentation, and complaint, and grief.

(a) Weeping or grieving increases our ……. and we suffer.
Answer:
pain

(b) He who seeks peace should draw out the arrow of
Answer:
lamentation

(c) Those who never complain and lament are the worst sufferers. (True/False)
Answer:
False.

(d) Find the antonym of ‘alive’ in the extract.
Answer:
dead.

The Sermon at Benares Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Why was Gautama known as Buddha?
Answer:
‘Buddha’ means ‘The Awakened’ or ‘The Enlightened’. After seven years of wandering Gautama attained wisdom. When he started sharing his new understandings with the suffering people, he was called ‘Buddha’.

Question 2.
Where did Gautama Buddha preach his first Sermon? What was it all about?
Answer:
Gautama Buddha preached his first sermon at Benares, the holiest city. It was about the ways to overcome our sorrows. It reflects Buddha’s wisdom about one inscrutable kind of suffering.

Question 3.
Why was Kisa sad? What advice was given to her?
Answer:
Kisa Gotami had lost her only son. He was dead. She loved him very much and wanted him to be alive. But she could not find any medicine so she was sad. She was advised to go to Buddha.

Question 4.
What did Kisa request her neighbours to give for her son? Did she get it?
Answer:
Kisa Gotami asked her neighbours to give her a medicine that could bring life back to her son. No, she could not get any.

Question 5.
How did Kisa Gotami realise that life and death is a normal process? [Delhi 2019]
Answer:
Buddha asked Gotami to bring mustard seeds from a house which had never lost any member of the family. She was unable to get such a house only then she came to know that life and death is a normal process so as man is mortal and is bound to die.

Question 6.
When and where was Gautama Buddha born? Why did he decide to leave the palace?
Answer:
Gautama Buddha was born in 563 B.C. in Northern India. Buddha was away from all the sorrows of life. Once he saw a sick man, a beggar, an aged man and a funeral procession. He realised that the world was full of sorrow. He wanted to attain knowledge. So he decided to leave the palace to get enlightened.

Question 7.
How did ‘Bodhi Tree’ get its name?
Answer:
After seven years of wandering Gautama sat under a peepal tree. He attained knowledge under that tree and got enlightened. He renamed the tree as ‘Bodhi tree’ which means the tree of wisdom. ‘Bodhi’ means knowledge.

Question 8.
What kind of suffering is reflected in the Sermon?
Answer:
Grief over the death of a loved one is the main theme of this sermon. People fail to understand that death is common to all. All mortals have to die. There is no use of lamentation. One does not get peace of mind unless one overcomes the sorrows.

Question 9.
What were the greatest sorrows that pained Buddha?
Answer:
Poverty, illness and death were the greatest sorrows that pained Buddha. He saw a poor man begging, an old man and a funeral procession that changed his course of life. These sights moved him so much that he went out into the world to seek enlightment and truth.

Question 10.
Why did people think that Kisa had become mad?
Answer:
Kisa Gotami’s only son had died. She was not ready to accept the fact that once a mortal dies, he/she cannot be brought back to life. She went to her neighbours with her dead son to get some medicines to bring him back to life. People thought that Kisa had gone mad.

Question 11.
Why did Kisa go to Gautama Buddha?
Answer:
One of the neighbours advised Kisa Gotami to go to Buddha who could have given her some life¬saving medicine for her son.

Question 12.
According to Gautama Buddha, how can a person get a peace of mind?
Answer:
A person can get peace of mind only if he draws out the arrows of lamentation, complaint and grief. Those who overcome all sorrows become free from disillusion, get peace of mind and be blessed.

The Sermon at Benares Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
“The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and combined with pain… .” with this statement of the Buddha, find out what Kisa Gotami learnt after the death of her child. [Delhi 2016]
Answer:
According to Buddha, all men are mortal so those who have been born cannot avoid dying. Life of mortal is always troubled and brief. Sorrow and suffering are inevitable to the mortals. All young . and adult fall into the power of death; all are subject to death. So the wise do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world. Kisa Gotami after the death of her child learnt from lord Buddha that death is common to all; he who has overcome pain will become free from pain, and be blessed.

Question 2.
The sight of a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession and a monk made Siddhartha leave his home and go out in search of enlightenment. What lesson about life do you learn from this episode?
Answer:
Siddhartha lived a life full of luxuries till the age of twenty-five. Once when he went outside to hunt, he saw a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession and finally, a monk begging for alms. The sight moved Siddhartha so much that he left the home and went in search of enlightenment. The incident revealed a great truth — life is short. Beauty, riches, comforts all are transitory and vanish one day.

If we all understand this fact and work towards making our life valuable for others, there would be no fight, grudges and pain. When somebody does something wrong, he/she forgets that one day we are going to be punished for our wrong deeds. In our trouble, we should have faith in God to struggle in life and wait for good times to come.

Question 3.
What happened when Kisa Gotami went from house to house to get the mustard seeds as instructed by Buddha? Does this teach you something about how to overcome grief and hopelessness? Write your answer.
Answer:
Kisa Gotami was suggested by Buddha to go and bring some mustard seeds from a house where there has been no death. Unable to find such a house, she reflected upon her action. Truth dawned upon her. She realised that surrendering ourselves is the only way to get rid of one’s pains and sufferings. There is a continuous cycle of life and death, happiness and sorrows. Wise persons do not grieve. One should remain calm and dauntless in all the situations. By doing so, peace of mind can be obtained.

Question 4.
What is the truth of life, according to Buddha? How should a wise man behave in times of trouble or mishappenings?
Answer:
According to Buddha, all men are mortal. One who is born, is sure to die. All things in nature die and are reborn—be it animals, plants or objects. Some people start behaving like a madman whenever a problem arises in their life. They lose their sense of reasoning and become depressed. But this is not a solution to come out of your grief. A sensible person understands the realities of life and remains balanced in all the situations. The lesson here is that whenever we come across a problem, we should try to find out its solution. Instead of blaming our fate or others, we must think deep for the reason of that problem. By being calm, resolute and contented, most of the problems can be solved.

Question 5.
How can one attain peace? Does the lesson teach you something? Explain in your own words the theme of the lesson.
Answer:
One can attain peace by renunciation, i.e. by giving up all material gains. Too much affinity to material gains brings grief, one cannot have sleep even, pondering over how to attain one’s material gains like amassing one’s fortune, conquering countries, enriching one’s property. One who can overcome one’s greed, grief and lust can obtain peace.

This lesson, in fact, teaches us through the sermon of Lord Buddha. The sermon teaches us that we all are mortals. So we will die one day. We should not grieve, nor should we crave for material gains, surrender of our selfishness, lust and grief leads us to the path of immortality.
‘ Life is short, men are mortal and everything is transitory. So we should be freg from sorrow. Path to enlightenment is to surrender all material gains and draw out the arrows of lamentation, complaints and grief.

Question 6.
Kisa Gotami lost her only son and grieved. She is desperate in saving his life. She goes from one place to another. She is criticized for this act of desperation and is called mad. Is it not a normal reaction of a normal human being? Is it justified to criticize Kisa Gotami? What is your opinion?
Answer:
Kisa Gotami lost her only son and grieved. She is desperate in saving his life. She goes from one place to another. She is criticized for this act of desperation and is called mad. But I find it a normal reaction of a normal human being. Every mother has such feelings for her son. Every possible effort is made to save a life. Kisa Gotami is also a normal mother who wants her son to come to life. Her action is a normal action. A person loses his common sense when one is grieved.

All logic or reasoning fails. No doubt one has to accept the universal truth of life and death. But it takes time to understand it. Kisa Gotami’s action was a normal act and she should not be called a mad woman. It is a normal action of a grieving mother. It is easy to say that in case of any loss one should be quiet, calm and composed but is difficult to put in practice.

Question 7.
A timely help and sympathy is a great help for those who are in grief. Gautama Buddha helped Kisa Gotami by his kind words and guidance in overcoming her grief. It is a big relief for the grieving person if support and care are extended to them. How are kindness and sympathy important in a peaceful and joyful life?
Answer:
Most people in our society are unhappy and grieved because the values of kindness and sympathy are missing day by day from our life. There is no timely guidance and help. People suffer because of their ignorance or their lack of knowledge about the reality of life. They do not accept the things as they are Overambition and unnecessary craving for the things make them ultimately suffer. They are not satisfied with what they have. They desire for the things they don’t deserve for and suffer.

People are not kind to one another. There is lack of sympathy for one another. This all leads to sufferings. Kisa Gotami suffers because of her selfish desire and craving for her son. Gautama Buddha relieves her from her pain by his guidance and kindness. All human beings are victims of such desires and they suffer but the timely guidance and kindness may help them. Timely help and sympathy is a great help for those who are in grief. Gautama Buddha helped Kisa Gotami by his words love and guidance in overcoming her grief. It is a big relief for the grieving person if support and care are extended to them in time.

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 6

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Oral Comprehension Check

Question 1.
What did Mr Petronski’s letter say?
Answer:
Mr Petronski’s letter said that his daughter Wanda would not come to school as they were shifting to another city. He expressed his bitterness towards the funny comments about the name of his daughter Wanda.

Question 2.
Is Miss Mason angry with the class, or is she unhappy and upset?
Or
What was Miss Mason’s reaction after reading Mr Petronski’s letter?
Answer:
Ms. Mason was unhappy and upset as she was disturbed by the ill treatment to Wanda by the students of her class. She did not approve of the humiliation of a child just because of her strange name, dress or house.

Question 3.
How does Maddie feel after listening to the note from Wanda’s father?
Answer:
Maddie felt guilty after listening to the note from Wanda’s father. She was not able to concentrate on her work.

Question 4.
What does Maddie want to do?
Answer:
Maddie wanted to fell Wanda that she did not want to hurt her feelings.

Question 5.
What excuses does Peggy think up for her behaviour? Why?
Answer:
Peggy thought that she was satisfied that she did not make fun of Wanda’s name. She realised her mistake of thinking that Wanda was not bright enough to understand her insulting remarks.

Question 6.
What are Maddie’s thoughts as they go to Boggins Heights?
Answer:
As Maddie reached Boggins Heights, she felt like confessing to Wanda that she was wrong in being with the girls who made fun of her name. She even wanted to tell her that everyone appreciated Wanda for her nice nature. She wanted to urge her not to leave the school because of her misbehaviour.

Question 7.
Why does Wanda’s house remind Maddie of Wanda’s blue dress?
Answer:
Wanda’s house reminded Maddie of Wanda’s blue dress which was shabby but clean like the little white house.

Question 8.
What does Maddie think hard about? What important decision does she come to?
Answer:
Maddie thought about the contest which was won by Wanda. She came to an important decision that she was instrumental in Wanda’s getting the prize as she kept on asking about her dresses which gave her ideas to paint those beautiful dresses.

Question 9.
What did the girls write to Wanda?
Answer:
The girls wrote a letter to Wanda telling her about the contest. They appreciated her for the fine paintings and the hundred beautiful dresses. They wanted to apologise for their misbehaviour. They expressed their love for Wanda in the letter.

Question 10.
Did they get a reply? Who was more anxious for a reply, Peggy or Maddie? How do you know?
Answer:
They got a reply to their letter. Maddie was more anxious than Peggy. Maddie was not able to sleep comfortably. She would think about Wanda before sleeping.

Question 11.
How did the girls know that Wanda liked them even though they had teased her?
Answer:
The girls came to know that Wanda liked them even more though they had teased her, through her letter. Wanda had written that she missed them all.

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Thinking about the Text

Question 1.
Why do you think Wanda’s family moved to a different city? Do you think life there was going to be different for their family?
Answer:
Wanda’s family moved to a different city because her father felt bad about the mean behaviour of the girls towards Wanda. Perhaps he got a better job in the city where he would be able to take better care of his children.Yes, life was going to be different because in the big cities people do not seem to be bothered about the petty things like the names of the people and their dresses.

Question 2.
Maddie thought her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing. Was she right?
Answer:
Maddie thought that her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing because her silence encouraged Peggy to tease Wanda. She should have protested against Peggy.

Question 3.
Peggy says, “I never thought she had the sense to know we were making of fun of her anyway. I thought she was too dumb. And gee, look how she can draw!” What led Peggy to believe that Wanda was dumb? Did she change her opinion later?
Answer:
Peggy was a well-to-do girl who often played pranks on Wanda who never returned the insult to the girls whom she considered her friends. This made her think that Wanda was dumb. But when Peggy came to know that she was a good artist, she realised that Wanda was very creative and intelligent. She changed her opinion about Wanda when she saw the hundred beautiful dresses and a letter.

Question 4.
What important decision did Maddie make? Why did she have to think hard to do so?
Answer:
Maddie was an emotional and kind girl. She decided to speak up in protest of picking on and teasing. She was ready to forego the friendship of Peggy for taking such a bold decision. She had kept quiet whenever Peggy made fun of Wanda, but now she realised her mistake of giving company to Peggy in this insulting game.

Question 5.
Why do you think Wanda gave Maddie and Peggy the drawings of the dresses? Why are they surprised?
Answer:
Maddie and Peggy always made fun of Wanda’s hundred dresses. They believed her to be a liar. Wanda gave her beautiful designs to them to make them realise that the dresses were there in her imagination though they might not be there in her closet. They were surprised to see the designs.

Question 6.
Do you think Wanda really thought the girls were teasing her? Why or Why not?
Answer:
Yes, Wanda knew that the girls, Maddie and Peggy, were teasing her. Whenever they asked her about her dresses and shoes, she always told them a lie that she had one hundred dresses and sixty pairs of shoes. Her decision of leaving the school showed that she was aware of the fact that she was teased by them.

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Extra Questions and Answers

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Reference-to-Context Questions

Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Question 1.
A deep silence met the reading of this letter. Miss Mason took off her glasses, blew on them and wiped them on her soft white handkerchief. Then she put them on again and looked at the class. When she spoke her voice was very low.“I am sure that none of the boys and girls in Room Thirteen would purposely and deliberately hurt anyone’s feelings because his or her name happened to be a long, unfamiliar one. I prefer to think that what was said was said in thoughtlessness. I know that all of you feel the way I do, that this is a very unfortunate thing to have happened—unfortunate and sad, both. And I want you all to think about it.”

(a) Miss Mason was reading the letter about Wanda’s leaving the school.
Answer:
sad

(b) Miss Mason expected that none of the students would of anybody’s name.
Answer:
make fun

(c) The unfortunate thing that had happened was that the girls had ridiculed Wanda. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the meaning of the word “deliberately”.
Answer:
knowingly

Question 2.
The first period was a study period. Maddie tried to prepare her lessons, but she could not put her mind on her work. She had a very sick feeling in the bottom of her stomach. True, she had not enjoyed listening to Peggy ask Wanda how many dresses she had in her closet, but she had said nothing.

(a) Maddie could not concentrate on her studies as she was about Wanda.
Answer:
worried

(b) Maddie was because Wanda had left the school.
Answer:
upset

(c) Maddie liked Peggy’s ill-treatment of Wanda. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the meaning of the word “closet”.
Answer:
Cupboard or almirah for storing dresses.

Question 3.
She’had stood by silently and that was just as bad as what Peggy had done. Worse. She was a coward. At least Peggy hadn’t considered they were being mean but she, Maddie, had thought they were doing wrong. She could put herself in Wanda’s shoes.

(a) Maddie felt that she was a …………..
Answer:
coward

(b) Maddie thought that Peggy was doing to Wanda.
Answer:
wrong

(c) Maddie put herself in Wanda’s shoes. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the antonym of ‘brave’ from the extract.
Answer:
‘coward’

Question 4.
Maddie could say nothing. All she hoped was that they would find Wanda. She wanted to tell her that they were sorry they had picked on her and how wonderful the whole school thought she was and please, not to move away and everybody would be nice. She and Peggy would fight anybody who was not nice.

(a) Peggy and Maddie were to find Wanda.
Answer:
desperate

(b) Maddie and Peggy would anybody who was not nice.
Answer:
fight

(c) Peggy and Maddie were sorry because they picked on Wanda. (TVue/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find the meaning of the phrase “picked on”.
Answer:
criticise

Question 5.
“Well, anyway,” said Peggy, “she’s gone now, so what can we do? Besides, when I was asking her about all her dresses, she probably was getting good ideas for her drawings. She might not even have . won the contest otherwise.”

(a) When Peggy was asking her about all her dresses, she was getting for her drawings.
Answer:
good ideas

(b) Peggy felt that it was good that Wanda had left the town
Answer:
for good

(c) Peggy’s words encouraged Wanda to do well in drawings. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the meaning of the word “perhaps” from the extract.
Answer:
probably

Question 6.
And before Wanda could press her lips together in a tight line, the way she did before answering, Maddie would cry out, “Stop!” Then everybody would feel ashamed the way she used to feel.

(a) Wanda used to press before answering the question.
Answer:
her lips together

(b) The way everybody ill-treated and Wanda made them ashamed of.
Answer:
teased

(c) In her sleep, Maddie’s conscious mind made her cry out to stop teasing. (True/False)
Answer:
False

(d) Find the meaning of the word “press”.
Answer:
squeeze

Question 7.
“Boy!” said Peggy, “this shows she really likes us. It shows she got our letter and this is her way of saying that everything’s all right. And that’s that.”

(a) According to Peggie, the content of the letter reveals that Wanda
Answer:
liked

(b) ‘She’ is the extract refers to
Answer:
Wanda

(c) Peggy’s statement shows that she was surprised, understanding the response of Wanda. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find a synonym of ‘admire’ from the extract.
Answer:
likes

Question 8.
Tears blurred her eyes and she gazed for a long time at the picture. Then hastily she rubbed her eyes and studied it intently. The colours in the dress were so vivid that she had scarcely noticed the face and head of the drawing. But it looked like her, Maddie! It really looked like her own mouth. Why does it really look like her own self! Wanda had really drawn this for her. Excitedly, she ran over to Peggy’s.

(a) Maddie realized that Wanda had been to her.
Answer:
nice

(b) Maddie was eager to know whether Wanda had painted Peggy’s also.
Answer:
picture

(c) The colours in the dress were really vivid. (True/False)
Answer:
True

(d) Find a synonym of ‘purposely’ from the extract.
Answer:
intently

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Short Answer Questions

Question 1.
Why had Wanda’s father written a letter to Miss Mason?
Answer:
Wanda’s father was pained to know that his daughter was teased in the school for her strange name so he wanted to inform the teacher that his daughter would not attend the school where the students made fun of her name. They were shifting to a bigger city where people did not make fun of strange names.

Question 2.
Why was there a silence when the teacher read the letter from Wanda’s father?
Answer:
The students realised their mistake. They now felt sorry for Wanda and were sad at her departure from the school. They also felt vilely for thinking that ‘name’ of a person is more important than anything else in life. So there was a silence when the teacher read the letter from Wanda’s father.

Question 3.
Why was Maddie upset after listening to the teacher’s views on teasing the fellow students?
Answer:
Maddie was a conscientious student who did not enjoy hurting others but she had been a mute spectator when Peggy was making fun of Wanda’s hundred dresses. Now she realised that she had been a party to all the insults and humiliations which Wanda suffered quietly. So she was disturbed after listening to the teacher’s views on teasing the fellow student.

Question 4.
Why was Maddie sad about Wanda?
Answer:
Maddie was sad about Wanda because she had realised her mistake that she should not have made . fun of her.

Question 5.
Why did Peggy and Maddie decide to go to Boggins Heights?
Answer:
Peggy and Maddie decided to go to Boggins Heights because they felt sorry to know that they were misbehaving with an innocent girl and were teasing her for her poverty. Now they realised their mistake and wanted to say sorry to Wanda.

Question 6.
What is the comparison between Wanda’s house and her dress?
Answer:
The comparison between Wanda’s house and her dress is that both of them look shabby but are clean.

Question 7.
How did the memories of Wanda haunt Maddie?
Answer:
The memories about Wanda haunt Maddie because she realised her mistake that she should not have kept quiet when Peggy was making fun of Wanda. Now she felt that it was very cruel of her to be a party to insulting an innocent girl who was like her.

Question 8.
How did Maddie decide to compensate for making fun of Wanda?
Answer:
Maddie decided to compensate for making fun of Wanda by becoming strong enough to oppose such harassment faced by a student. She decided not to be quiet when somebody was teased for his/her funny name or dress.

Question 9.
Why did Maddie write a letter to Wanda?
Answer:
Maddie wrote a letter to Wanda to congratulate her on her success telling her that she had won the contest. She also wanted to appreciate the designs of hundred dresses. In fact, Maddie and Peggy, in their letter wanted to convey that they were sorry for insulting her by making fun of her hundred dresses.

Question 10.
Why did Maddie and Peggy not get the reply to the letter written to Wanda?
Answer:
Maddie and Peggy did not get the reply to the letter written to Wanda because they did not know her address and they had written it at the address Boggins Heights from where it was to be forwarded to her new address, which took some time but they felt that she did not reply because she was angry.

Question 11.
What was the Christmas gift to Peggy and Maddie from Wanda?
Answer:
Wanda offered a drawing of the green dress with the red trimming to Peggy and for Maddie she gave the drawing of blue dress as a Christmas gift.

Question 12.
How did the children decorate Room Thirteen?
Answer:
The children decorated the room with great love and care. They decorated it with Christmas bells and a small tree.

The Hundred Dresses Part 2 Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Peggy realised her fault in making fun of Wanda. What excuses did she think up for her behaviour with Wanda? What does it show about her character?
Answer:
Peggy said that she had never called Wanda a foreigner and made fun of her name. She thought Wanda did not have sense to know that she was making fun of her, she thought her to be too dumb. Maddie was sorry for her behaviour and how wonderful the whole school thought she was. Both wanted to request her not to move from there. Peggy and Maddie would fight anyone who wouldn’t be nice to her. Peggy realised her fault. It shows that she was not a bad human being. She never realised that her innocent fun would hurt Wanda to such an extent. She had a soft corner for her by the end of the story.

Question 2.
How is Wanda different from other girls?
Answer:
Wanda Petronski was a young Polish girl. She studied in a school with some American children. She was an introvert girl who rarely spoke to anybody in the school. She was different from other students in the school. She did not have good clothes. She always wore faded clothes. She had a funny name. She lived in Boggins Heights. She did not have friends. She usually occupied the seat next to the last seat in the row in the corner where only rough boys sat.

Question 3.
Maddie was full of sympathy and compassion for Wanda but she never stopped Peggy from making fun of Wanda. Why? What does it show about Maddie? Do you think it was her self-interest and lack of courage which stopped her from helping Wanda?
Answer:
Maddie and Peggy were good friends. Peggy was a pretty and rich girl. Maddie was not so rich. She- knew that Peggy was making fun of Wanda but she never stopped her. She did not want to lose Peggy as a friend. She had compassion and sympathy for Wanda. She did not appreciate Peggy’s act of making fun of Wanda but never opposed her. It shows Maddie was not a bold girl. She did not have courage to say right things right. She was selfish to some extent. Yes, in my opinion it was her self-interest and lack of courage that stopped her from helping Wanda.

Question 4.
Who is a better human being-Maddie or Peggy? What attributes in the personality of Maddie make her different from Peggy?
Answer:
Peggy and Maddie both were good friends. They studied in the same school and the same class. They were American girls. Peggy was a rich, pretty girl with blonde hair. Maddie was also a pretty girl but she was not as rich as Peggy. Both, Maddie and Peggy used to make fun of Wanda. Peggy never missed any opportunity of teasing Wanda. Maddie belonged to a poor family.

She was always with Peggy but she had sympathy for Wanda too. She did not like Peggy making fun of Wanda. She wanted to stop Peggy but could never muster the courage for the same. Maddie had a different temperament than Peggy. In the end when they came to know that Wanda was leaving the school, Maddie was affected the most. She came out as a better human being by the end of the story.

Question 5.
How did Wanda win the hearts of her classmates towards the end of the story? What is more important, money or talent? How did Wanda prove that beauty and wealth do not pay in the long run, it is the talent that helps?
Answer:
Wanda was a poor Polish girl who studied in an American school with the American students. They used to make fun of her name. Maddie and Peggy, two American girls, used Jo tease her by asking her about the dresses she had. Wanda decided to leave the school forever. But before leaving the school she wanted to prove herself and show her talent. She participated in a drawing competition in the school. She made hundred paintings showing hundred different dresses.

Wanda wrote a letter to Ms Mason telling her that the girls could keep those hundred dresses as a Christmas gift from her. She gifted two special paintings to Maddie and Peggy. She won the hearts of everyone by her gesture. It shows that to win other’s money is not everything. Talent, plays a very important role in one’s life. In long run money and beauty do not pay, it is the skill and talent which help us.

Question 6.
We should behave well with all the students in our class specially with the weak and poor students. We should not make fun of them. Do you agree? What would have you done if you had been Peggy or Maddie?
Answer:
We should behave well with all the students in our class especially with the weak and poor students. We should not make fun of them. It was very unfortunate that Wanda had to leave her school because other girls made fun of her name and dress. We should always respect our friends and class fellows.

If someone is weaker, ugly or poor, it is not his/her fault. We all are the creation of God and should have respect for his creation. We should never hurt feelings of others. If I had been in place of Maddie I would have stopped all the girls from making fun of Wanda. I would have recognised her talent and had supported her in continuation of her education with dignity and self respect in the same school.