NIOS Class 12 English Chapter 4 Question Answer
INTEXT QUESTIONS 4.1
1. What incident made Bholi a backward child?
Ans: Bholi had fallen off the cot, and some part of her brain was damaged.
2. At what age did Bholi have an attack of smallpox? What was its effect on her looks?
Ans: Bholi had an attack of smallpox when she was only two years old. It left black pockmarks on her whole body; only her eyes remained intact.
3. Why did Bholi talk very little?
Ans: Bholi talked very little because she stammered while speaking. She was laughed at and mimicked by the children.
4. What kind of farmer was Ramlal? What was his worry about Bholi?
Ans: Ramlal was a prosperous farmer. He was worried about Bholi’s marriage as she had neither good looks nor intelligence.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 4.2
1. Why did the Tehsildar ask Ramlal to send his daughters to school? Give two reasons.
Ans: A new primary school for girls was opened, and new admission was required. Ramlal, being representative of the government in the village, was expected to set an example before the villagers.
2. Why did Ramlal’s wife disagree when he consulted her about sending her daughters to school?
Ans: Because of her apprehension that it would be difficult to get them married off if they were educated.
3. How did Ramlal’s wife agree to send Bholi to school?
Ans: First, it would satisfy the Tehsildar, and secondly, Bholi, being with an ugly face and little sense, had very little chance to get married.
4. Why did Bholi feel frightened at the idea of being taken to school?
Ans: Bholi was frightened at the idea of being taken to school because she had no idea what a school was. She had seen earlier that a cow was being taken out of the house to be sold and guessed the same possibility.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 4.3
Complete the following sentences:
1. Bholi was ______________ when she reached school and saw so many girls of her age.
Ans: hopeful
2. Bholi liked ______________ pictures on the wall.
Ans: colourful
3. The teacher, in the class, asked Bholi _______________________________.
Ans: to get up and tell her name
4. Bholi stammered and ___________________ when the teacher talked to her.
Ans: couldn’t tell the full word
INTEXT QUESTIONS 4.4
Complete the following sentences:
1. The teacher’s ______________________________ address touched Bholi’s heart.
Ans: soft and soothing
2. She felt relaxed and relieved because ________________________________.
Ans: No one had ever called her in this way.
3. Bholi could stammer her full name later because ________________________.
Ans: The teacher encouraged her
4. Bholi was assured by the teacher that soon in a month’s time she would be able to _________.
Ans: read the school book
INTEXT QUESTIONS 4.5
1. What changes came over the village in a few years?
Ans: The village became a small town. Primary school became a high school. A cinema hall and a cotton ginning mill had come up. The mail train had begun to stop.
2. How was Bishamber a well-to-do bridegroom?
Ans: Bishamber had a big shop, a house of his own and several thousand rupees in the bank.
3. Why did Bholi’s mother not consult Bholi for her marriage?
Ans: The mother regarded Bholi as a senseless, dumb cow. She felt Bholi did not have enough courage to either refuse or revolt.
4. What concerns did Ramlal have about Bishamber?
Ans: Ramlal was concerned that Bishamber was not very young, and limped, and had children from his first wife who had grown up.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 4.6
1. How was the grand procession for Bholi’s wedding?
Ans: The procession included a brass band playing music from an Indian film, with the groom riding a decorated horse.
2. How did Ramlal feel about the grandeur of Bholi’s wedding?
Ans: Ramlal was overjoyed and had never imagined that his fourth daughter would have such a grand wedding.
3. What condition did Bishamber lay down to marry Bholi, and why?
Ans: Bishamber Nath demanded five thousand rupees from Bholi’s father when he saw the pockmarks on her face.
4. What happened when Bholi’s veil was removed a second time?
Ans: When Bholi’s veil was removed for the second time, she looked at Bishamber Nath with cold contempt and threw the garland into the fire.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 4.7
1. Why did Bholi refuse to marry Bishamber?
Ans: Because Bholi felt that Bishamber was a greedy and despicable man.
2. Bholi’s decision not to marry Bishamber showed that she was now:
a) shameless and ill-mannered
b) bold and confident
c) a dumb and harmless cow
d) sharp and rude
Ans: b) bold and confident
3. What did Bholi plan to do in the future after rejecting the marriage proposal?
a) She wanted to become a teacher.
b) She intended to leave her family.
c) She was going to marry someone else.
d) She planned to live alone.
Ans: a) She wanted to become a teacher
4. There was a light of deep satisfaction in the teacher’s eyes. Why?
Ans: Because the teacher was satisfied that learning in the school had transformed the stammering dumb cow Bholi into a very bold and confident girl
INTEXT QUESTIONS 4.8
1. Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong.
i. I have bought a new house last week.
Ans: Wrong. I bought a new house last week.
ii. I have found my book. It was under the mat.
Ans: Right
iii. How many plays Tagore wrote?
Ans: Right
iv. When I got home last night, I found someone broke into the flat.
Ans: Right
v. Where have you been last evening?
Ans: Right
vi. Premchand has written many short stories.
Ans: Right
2. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the words given in brackets.
i. When the authorities ___________ (wake up), most of the forest _______ ___________ (disappear).
Ans: woke up; had disappeared
ii. Children in that village ___________ (be) healthy because their parents _______ _______ _______ (taken care) of their immunisation.
Ans: were; had taken care
iii. I ___________ (can) decide quickly since my teacher ___________ ___________ (teach) me how to make conscious decisions, way back in school.
Ans: could; had taught
iv. Everyone ___________ (appreciate) the lovely painting that she ___________ ___________ (make).
Ans: appreciated; had made
v. We ___________ (run) outside to look at the new car uncle___________ ___________ (buy)
Ans: ran; had bought
vi. My aunt ___________ (like) the sweater I ___________ ___________ (knit) for her.
Ans: liked; had knitted
INTEXT QUESTIONS 4.9
1. Transform the nouns given below into verbs and vice versa:
| Nouns | Verbs |
| a) Conversation | ___________ |
| b)___________ | Humiliate |
| c) Consideration | ___________ |
| d) ___________ | Announce |
| e) Satisfaction | ___________ |
| f) ___________ | Contemplate |
| g) Completion | ___________ |
Ans:
a) Converse
b) Humiliation
c) Considerate
d) Announcement
e) Satisfy
f) Contemplation
g) Complete
2. Fill in the blanks with suitable words given in the brackets.
a) Bholi suffered ___________ (disfigure, disfigurement) following a bout of smallpox. As a result, she became withdrawn and spoke very seldom. When she did speak it was with a ___________ (stammer, stammering) and children mimicked her. This ___________ (mimic, mimicking) and ___________ (humiliate, humiliation) prevented her ___________ (grow, growth).
Ans: disfigurement, stammer mimicking humiliation growth
b) Then she met her teacher who treated Bholi with ___________ (understand, understanding) and spoke to her as an ___________ (intelligence, intelligent) person. She provided her with a book to read and a lot of ___________ (encourage, encouragement). As a result, she lost her fear and blossomed into a self-confident girl. This was her ___________ (triumph, triumphant) over her shortcoming.
Ans: understanding intelligent encouragement triumph
TERMINAL QUESTIONS
1. Bholi’s meeting with her teacher was a turning point in her life. From then on, there was no looking back. She bloomed into a thinking individual with self-esteem and decision-making skills. Illustrate this with examples from the story.
Ans: The teacher affectionately reassures Bholi that with time and daily attendance, she will overcome her fear and speak like everyone else. Bholi is given a colourful picture book with words in big black letters and is told she will learn to read it in a month, followed by bigger books. She’s encouraged that she will become more educated than anyone in the village, gaining respect and confidence. Bholi leaves school with newfound hope and determination.
The teacher’s role in Bholi’s journey symbolises the positive impact of education and empowerment. Bholi’s newfound strength and the teacher’s satisfaction with her decision suggest that Bholi’s future is one of self-reliance and fulfilment.
2. Society is, by and large, insensitive to a person who does not fit into its concept of ‘normal’. Illustrate this with reference to Bholi’s situation.
Ans: Society generally laughs at or ignores people who are different. The same thing happened with Bholi. She had pockmarks on her face, and she stammered when she spoke. Instead of supporting her, people made fun of her. Even her own family did not treat her with love or respect. They called her “Bholi,” meaning a simple, foolish girl. She was neglected, not given new clothes, and no effort was made to help her overcome her speech problem. The villagers also felt that she was not good enough to be married. This shows that society is often insensitive and cruel towards anyone who does not fit into its idea of “normal.”
3. Do you think Bholi would have had a better childhood if her parents had been suitably advised or counselled? Discuss, mentioning her parents’ attitude and the general treatment given to her.
Ans: Yes, Bholi would definitely have had a better childhood if her parents had been properly advised. Her parents did not understand her needs. They considered her a burden because she was slow, had pockmarks and stammered. They neglected her, never showed affection, and did not bother to get medical help or speech therapy for her. She wore old clothes and was never encouraged.
If her parents had been counselled, they might have realised that every child deserves love and equal treatment. They could have supported her education earlier and helped her develop confidence. Instead of pity and neglect, proper guidance, love and care would have given Bholi a happier and healthier childhood.
4. “New clothes had never been made for Bholi. The old dresses of her sisters were passed on to her.” What light does this statement reflect on her parents’ behaviour?
Ans: This statement shows that Bholi’s parents were indifferent and uncaring towards her. They did not value her as much as their other children. She always wore old, used clothes while her sisters got new ones. This clearly reflects neglect, discrimination and lack of love. They treated her as if she did not deserve the same respect and care as the others.
5. Here is a table of the cause and effect of certain actions and events. Match them:
| Cause | Effect |
| i. Bholi was nervous. | a) Bholi kept looking at the pictures in the classroom. |
| ii. The teacher assured Bholi that she would get respect from all and that she would be the most learned person. | b) Bholi was sweating all over her body. |
| iii. The teacher patted Bholi affectionately. | c) Bholi became hopeful of a better tomorrow. |
| iv. Bholi couldn’t understand what the teacher taught. | d) The class girls were laughing at her. |
| v. The headmistress had asked her about her nervousness soon. | e) Bholi could overcome her to sit there in the corner. |
| vi. There were many girls of Bholi’s age in the class. | f) Bholi hoped she would make friends with any one of the girls. |
| vii. The teacher asked Bholi to get up. | g) Bholi sat in a corner of the class. |
| viii. She feared her stammering tongue would betray and disgrace her again. | h) Bholi’s heart throbbed with new hope for new life. |
| ix. The teacher was very encouraging and spoke in soothing words. | i) Bholi had no fear of being laughed at. |
| x. The teacher affectionately patted her. | j) Bholi left the corner where she sat for a long time. |
| xi. The teacher assured better treatment from the people of the village. | k) Bholi felt cheered up and confident. |
Ans:
| Cause | Effect |
| i. Bholi was nervous. | b) Bholi was sweating all over her body. |
| ii. The teacher assured Bholi that she would get respect from all and that she would be the most learned person. | c) Bholi became hopeful of a better tomorrow. |
| iii. The teacher patted Bholi affectionately. | k) Bholi felt cheered up and confident. |
| iv. Bholi couldn’t understand what the teacher taught. | a) Bholi kept looking at the pictures in the classroom. |
| v. The headmistress had asked her about her nervousness soon. | e) Bholi could overcome her fear to sit there in the corner. |
| vi. There were many girls of Bholi’s age in the class. | f) Bholi hoped she would make friends with any one of the girls. |
| vii. The teacher asked Bholi to get up. | d) The class girls were laughing at her. |
| viii. She feared her stammering tongue would betray and disgrace her again. | g) Bholi sat in a corner of the class. |
| ix. The teacher was very encouraging and spoke in soothing words. | i) Bholi had no fear of being laughed at. |
| x. The teacher affectionately patted her. | j) Bholi left the corner where she sat for a long time. |
| xi. The teacher assured better treatment from the people of the village. | h) Bholi’s heart throbbed with new hope for new life. |
6. Given below are the events in a jumbled form. Rewrite them in order as they occur in the story.
a) Bishamber refused to marry Bholi and demanded money.
b) The marriage was a show of great pomp and splendour.
c) The teacher felt deep satisfaction in seeing Bholi as a bold and confident girl.
d) The bandsmen got confused and struck up a closing song.
e) Bishamber was considered a well-to-do bridegroom for Bholi by her parents.
f) Bholi confidently told her father to take back the money and refused to marry Bishamber.
g) A great transformation had taken over the village.
h) The guests called Bholi shameless and a disgrace to the family.
Ans:
- g) A great transformation had taken over the village.
- e) Bishamber was considered a well-to-do bridegroom for Bholi by her parents.
- b) The marriage was a show of great pomp and splendour.
- a) Bishamber refused to marry Bholi and demanded money.
- f) Bholi confidently told her father to take back the money and refused to marry Bishamber.
- h) The guests called Bholi shameless and a disgrace to the family.
- d) The bandsmen got confused and struck up a closing song.
- c) The teacher felt deep satisfaction in seeing Bholi as a bold and confident girl.
Additional Study Materials
- NIOS Class 12 English Sample Paper
- Chapter 1: The Crow and the Deer
- Chapter 2: Mary Kom’s Interview
- Chapter 3: An Astrologer’s Day
