Chapter 8: Bholi

Important questions — the ones the board asked most (14)

1. Q1Short answer6 marksAsked: 2025

   9. Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words each : I. Why was Bholi frightened to go to school? (Bholi) II. Why did Mrs. Pumphrey think the dogs recovery is ‘a triumph of surgery’? (A Triumph of Surgery) III. What story did Ausable cook up regarding the arrival of the police? How did it affect Max? (The Midnight Visitor)

   

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   Model answer

   1. 1.Bholi had never seen a school and had no idea what it was like. A few days earlier, the family's old cow, Lakshmi, had been turned out of the house and sold. So when her father took her away, she feared that she too was being sent away from home for ever, and she was terrified.3 marks
   2. 2.II. Herriot gave Tricki no medicine and did no operation. He only kept him on a strict diet and made him exercise with the other dogs. When Mrs Pumphrey saw her pet return slim, healthy and lively, she could not believe it and called his recovery 'a triumph of surgery'. III. If attempted instead: When there was a knock, Ausable said it was the police. He had already told Max that a balcony lay under his window. Max, afraid of being caught, climbed out of the window to hide on the balcony and fell, because there was no balcony at all.3 marks

   Marks split from a structure derived from past papers (checked twice); not CBSE’s official scheme

2. Q2Long answer6 marksAsked: 2025

   Answer any one of the following two questions, in about 100-120 words : (a) Imagine you are Bholi and write a diary entry, explaining how you dare to take such a bold step of refusing to marry Bishamber. (Bholi) OR (b) In the story, 'A Triumph of Surgery', a wealthy woman's nonsensical behaviour, is depicted. Do you think such individuals are merely displaying foolishness or could their actions potentially, inflict harm upon others ? Support your answer from the text.

   

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   Model answer · Bholi's refusal, diary entry

   1. 1.(a) Monday, 10 p.m. Dear Diary, Today I dared to refuse to marry Bishamber because I could not let a greedy man insult my father. My parents had accepted his proposal because he was a well-to-do grocer who was not asking for any dowry. But at the wedding he lifted my veil, saw my pock-marks and demanded five thousand rupees. My father, Ramlal, placed his turban, his honour, at Bishamber's feet and begged him to take two thousand. With tears streaming down his face, he counted out the notes. Seeing that triumphant smile on Bishamber's greedy face, I knew I could never respect such a man.3 marks
   2. 2.I looked straight at him with cold contempt. Before he could put the garland round my neck, I flung it into the fire and threw away my veil. Where did my courage come from? It came from my teacher. She had promised that one day people would listen to me with respect and I would speak without the slightest stammer. Her words gave me new hope and a new life. So, in a clear loud voice, I said, "Pitaji! Take back your money. I am not going to marry this man." Everyone was startled, because I did not stammer even once.2 marks
   3. 3.Father is worried that no one will ever marry me now. But I am not afraid. I will serve him and Mother in their old age, and I will teach in the same school where I learnt so much. Today Bholi, the simpleton, is gone. I am Sulekha. Sulekha1 mark

   • Begin with the diary format: the day and time, then "Dear Diary,", and sign off as "Sulekha".
   • Name both reasons for the bold step: Bishamber's greed in demanding five thousand rupees, and the courage Bholi's teacher gave her.
   • Quote Bholi's own words, "Pitaji! Take back your money. I am not going to marry this man."

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

3. Q3Long answer6 marksAsked: 2023

   Answer any one of the following questions in 100-120 words : (a) Education is always a great asset in the life of a woman. How did Bholi, an educated girl, face the challenge posed by Bishamber's greed ? (b) Those who are satisfied with what they have are happy in life. Those who aspire more than what they can afford ruin their life. Matilda was one such person. If she were content with her life she would have led a happy life. Elaborate on the basis of the chapter 'The Necklace.'

   

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   Model answer · Bholi's education and courage

   1. 1.Education gave Bholi the confidence to reject the marriage. Her real name was Sulekha, but everyone called her Bholi, the simpleton. She had pock-marks and a stammer, and other children made fun of her, so she hardly spoke. Her teacher encouraged her. She gave Bholi a picture book and promised that Bholi would become learned, that people would listen to her with respect, and that she would speak without the slightest stammer. Bholi's heart filled with new hope and a new life. She studied in the village school, which later became a high school, and got a good education. This shows how important education is in a person's life. It changed the shy, mocked girl into a confident young woman and changed the quality of her life.3 marks
   2. 2.Bishamber's greed was the challenge Bholi faced. He was a well-to-do grocer, almost as old as her father, and he limped. At the wedding he saw her pock-marks and demanded five thousand rupees. Her father, Ramlal, placed his turban at Bishamber's feet and begged, but in the end he paid the full sum. Bholi then showed great courage. She looked straight at Bishamber with cold contempt and flung the garland into the fire. She threw away her veil and said in a clear, loud voice, without any stammer, "Pitaji! Take back your money. I am not going to marry this man." This bold step showed her confidence. She also promised to look after her parents in their old age and to teach in the same school where she had learnt so much.3 marks

   • Begin with the line "Education gave Bholi the confidence to reject the marriage" and name the teacher's encouragement.
   • Write that Bishamber demanded five thousand rupees, so his greed is shown clearly.
   • Quote Bholi's bold words "I am not going to marry this man" and say she spoke without any stammer.

   Marks split as in the board’s published marking scheme

4. Q4Short answer6 marksAsked: 2025

   Answer ANY TWO of the following three questions, in about 40-50 words each : I. Bholi’s heart was brimming with “fresh optimism and a renewed existence.” What significance does the expression “a new hope and a new life” hold for Bholi ? II. Lunch transformed into a significant ceremonial event for Mr. Herriot and his associates. Do you agree? Explain with reference to ‘A Triumph of Surgery’. III. Describe Ausable’s fabricated tale regarding the balcony. (The Midnight Visitor)

   How the model answer begins

   1. For Bholi, 'a new hope and a new life' marks the turning point of her life. Neglected and mocked at home, she found love at school. The teacher's kind words, that she would learn, speak without stammering and be…

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5. Q5Long answer6 marksAsked: 2024

   Answer any one of the following two questions in 100 - 120 words : (a) Imagine that Bholi writes a diary entry, exploring the themes of ‘Girl Child’ and ‘Impact of Education’, in the context of her own experiences. Write this dairy entry, as Bholi. OR (b) A character arc is the transformation or development of a character throughout a story and refers to the changes a character undergoes as a result of his/her experiences, challenges and interactions with other characters. In light of the above information, trace the character arc of Griffin in H.G. Wells’ ‘Footprints without Feet’.

   How the model answer begins

   1. Saturday, 10 May, 9:00 p.m. Dear Diary, Today I, Sulekha, finally felt like a real person. All my life everyone at home called me Bholi. Because of the pock-marks on my face and my so-called lack of sense, they believed…

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6. Q6Long answer6 marksAsked: 2023

   Answer any one of the following questions in about 100 - 120 words each : 6 (a) 'Education is considered the most important tool for empowering women in society. It plays an important role in social and cultural development.' Prove the above statements in the light of the story 'Bholi'. OR (b) Matilda's over-ambitiousness was the cause of her destruction. Justify.

   How the model answer begins

   1. Education is a vital area of women empowerment, because giving girls basic education is one way of giving them greater power. The story 'Bholi' by K.A. Abbas proves this. Her teacher's lessons turned Sulekha, called…

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7. Q7Long answer6 marksAsked: 2023

   Destiny had been cruel to Bholi yet she made a place for herself in a conservative society. Discuss.

   How the model answer begins

   1. Destiny was cruel to Bholi from her childhood, yet through education she made a respected place for herself in a conservative society. Her real name was Sulekha, and she was the youngest of the seven children of…

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8. Q8Short answer6 marksAsked: 2024

   Answer any TWO out of the three questions, in 40-50 words each: (i) Do you think Bholi could have confidently refused to marry Bishamber if she wasn't educated? Give reasons. (Bholi) (ii) Who was Henry? What role did he play in Ausable's plan? (The Midnight Visitor) (iii) How did Think - Tank interpret the following nursery rhyme? "How does your garden grow with cockle shells and silver bells?" (The Book that Saved the Earth)

9. Q9Short answer6 marksAsked: 2024

   Answer any TWO out of the three questions, in 40-50 words each : (i) Do you think Bholi could have confidently refused to marry Bishamber if she wasn't educated ? Give reasons. (Bholi) (ii) Who was Henry ? What role did he play in Ausable's plan ? (The Midnight Visitor) (iii) "Richie was my whole life after his father died," said Richard's mother. Describe Richard Ebright's relationship with his mother. (The Making of a Scientist)

   How the model answer begins

   1. (ii) Henry was a waiter at the hotel where Ausable, the secret agent, was staying. Ausable had ordered drinks before Max, a rival spy, came into his room with a pistol to take an important paper.

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10. Q10Short answer6 marksAsked: 2024

    Answer any TWO out of the three questions, in 40-50 words each : 2 x 3 = 6 (i) Do you think Bholi could have confidently refused to marry Bishamber if she wasn’t educated ? Give reasons. (Bholi) (ii) Who was Henry ? What role did he play in Ausable’s plan ? (The Midnight Visitor) (iii) Horace Danby was a typical thief. Describe how he planned his work. (A Question of Trust)

    How the model answer begins

    1. No, I do not think so. Education changed Bholi completely. The kind teacher encouraged her, helped her overcome her stammer and gave her self-confidence and self-respect. That is why she could boldly refuse to marry the…

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11. Q11Short answer3 marksAsked: 2026

    The teacher built up Bholi’s confidence on her first day at school. Discuss. (Bholi)

    How the model answer begins

    1. The teacher reassured Bholi on her first day at school by speaking to her with love and sympathy. When Bholi sat crying in her corner after the girls had laughed at her, the teacher called her name in a voice so soft…

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12. Q12Short answer3 marksAsked: 2026

    What makes Bholi believe that the place where she was taken was better than her home? (Bholi)

    How the model answer begins

    1. Bholi believed the place was better than her home because she was cared for that day. At home she was neglected: new clothes were never made for her, and no one washed or mended the old dresses passed on to her by her…

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13. Q13Short answer3 marksAsked: 2025

    “In time you will be more learned than anyone else in the village. Then no one will ever be able to laugh at you.” What effect did her teacher’s words have on Bholi ? Elaborate. (Bholi)

    How the model answer begins

    1. The teacher's words filled Bholi with new hope and motivated her to learn. She felt as if all the bells in the village temple were ringing and the trees in front of the school-house had blossomed into big red flowers.…

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14. Q14Short answer3 marksAsked: 2025

    Was it easy for Bholi to refuse to marry Bishambar ? What gave her the confidence to do so ? (Bholi)

    How the model answer begins

    1. No, it was not easy for Bholi to refuse to marry Bishambar. Her parents' reputation was at stake, as her father feared he could never show his face in the village. She had lacked confidence all her life and had never…

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Questions parents and students ask

How many marks does "Bholi" carry in CBSE Class 10 English?

In the CBSE papers of 2023–2026, this chapter carried about 2 marks and about 0 questions a year; by marks it ranks 11 in English.

Which are the most important (VVI) questions of "Bholi"?

The 14 questions above are from the board’s real papers, each with the years it was asked; the most-asked come first with their full model answers. All 14 written questions of this chapter, with answers, are in the Ask Medha app.

Do the answers follow the board’s marking scheme?

Yes. CBSE publishes its marking schemes; every model answer here is written point by point to the marks the board’s own scheme gives, and checked by a second, independent model.