CBSE Class 10 English – First Flight (Prose)
Chapter 5: The Hundred Dresses–I
20 Important Questions and Answers
As per CBSE 2026–27 Syllabus
1. Why did Wanda Petronski sit in the last row of the classroom?
Answer:
Wanda Petronski sat in the last row of Room Thirteen, in a corner where the rough boys usually sat. She came from Boggins Heights, a poor area of the town, and often walked a long distance to school. Her shoes carried mud into the classroom, which may have made her uncomfortable sitting with other students. Wanda was also a quiet and reserved girl who preferred to remain unnoticed. She had no close friends and rarely participated in class discussions. Her seating position reflected her loneliness and social isolation. It also symbolized how she was separated from the rest of the class because of her poverty and different background.
2. Why was Wanda different from the other girls in the class?
Answer:
Wanda was different from the other girls for several reasons. She had a Polish name that sounded unusual to her American classmates. She belonged to a poor family and lived in Boggins Heights, a place looked down upon by others. Unlike the other girls, she always wore the same faded blue dress, though it was clean. Wanda was extremely quiet and rarely spoke to anyone. She had no friends and usually remained alone. Her classmates found her strange and often teased her because of her appearance and background. These differences made her an easy target for ridicule and prevented her from fitting in with the rest of the class.
3. How did Peggy tease Wanda?
Answer:
Peggy regularly teased Wanda by asking questions about the hundred dresses Wanda claimed to own. She would politely ask how many dresses were hanging in her closet, and Wanda would always reply that she had a hundred. Peggy then asked whether they were made of silk or velvet, knowing that Wanda wore the same old dress every day. The other girls would laugh at Wanda’s answers and treat them as jokes. Although Peggy believed she was only having fun and not being cruel, her questions embarrassed Wanda and made her feel excluded. This repeated teasing reflected the insensitivity shown by the students toward someone who was different from them.
4. Why did Maddie feel uncomfortable when Peggy teased Wanda?
Answer:
Maddie felt uncomfortable because she could understand Wanda’s feelings better than others. Like Wanda, Maddie was also poor and often wore hand-me-down clothes. Whenever Peggy mocked Wanda for her dresses, Maddie imagined herself being laughed at in the same way. She knew that Wanda was hurt by the teasing, but she lacked the courage to stop Peggy. Maddie feared that if she spoke against her friend, she might become the next target of ridicule. As a result, she remained silent even though she knew the teasing was wrong. Her guilt and helplessness reveal her sensitive and thoughtful nature.
5. Describe Wanda’s personality.
Answer:
Wanda was a quiet, patient, and talented girl. She rarely spoke in class and never argued with those who teased her. Despite being mocked by her classmates, she remained calm and dignified. Wanda was also highly imaginative and creative, which became evident when she submitted one hundred beautiful dress designs for the drawing competition. She possessed great determination and self-respect. Though she appeared shy, she had a rich inner world and exceptional artistic talent. Wanda did not seek revenge against those who hurt her. Instead, she responded with kindness and grace. Her character teaches the importance of patience, talent, and inner strength in difficult situations.
6. Why did the students make fun of Wanda?
Answer:
The students made fun of Wanda because she appeared different from them. Her Polish name sounded unusual, and she came from a poor neighborhood. She wore the same faded blue dress every day, which made her claim of owning a hundred dresses seem unbelievable. Since Wanda was shy and did not defend herself, the students found it easy to tease her. They failed to understand her feelings and judged her only by her appearance and social status. Their behavior reflected prejudice and lack of sensitivity. The story highlights how people can be unfairly treated simply because they do not fit into society’s expectations.
7. What does the phrase “a hundred dresses” symbolize?
Answer:
The phrase “a hundred dresses” symbolizes Wanda’s imagination, dreams, and hidden talent. Although her classmates believed she was lying, Wanda’s statement had a deeper meaning. Through her artistic ability, she created one hundred unique dress designs that reflected her creativity and desire for acceptance. The dresses also represented a world where she could escape poverty and express herself freely. While others focused on her outward appearance, Wanda possessed a rich inner life full of ideas and artistic vision. Thus, the phrase symbolizes hope, self-expression, and the importance of looking beyond external appearances to understand a person’s true worth.
8. What kind of girl was Peggy?
Answer:
Peggy was a cheerful, confident, and popular girl in school. She was pretty, wore attractive clothes, and was admired by many classmates. She was not intentionally cruel and often protected younger children from bullies. However, she lacked sensitivity toward Wanda’s feelings. Peggy considered her teasing harmless fun and never realized the pain she caused. She judged Wanda based on her appearance and found amusement in her unusual claims. Although Peggy had good qualities, her behavior shows that even well-liked people can hurt others when they fail to understand their emotions. Her character teaches the importance of empathy and kindness.
9. Why did Maddie not stop Peggy from teasing Wanda?
Answer:
Maddie wanted Peggy to stop teasing Wanda, but she lacked the courage to speak up. Being poor herself, Maddie feared becoming the next target of ridicule. She wore old clothes that had been given to her by others and worried that her classmates would laugh at her if her poverty became known. Since Peggy was popular and well-liked, Maddie did not want to risk losing her friendship. As a result, she remained silent even though she knew the teasing was wrong. Her silence later filled her with guilt and regret. The story shows how fear can prevent people from standing up for what is right.
10. Why was Wanda absent from school?
Answer:
Wanda was absent from school because she and her family eventually moved away from the town. The constant teasing and discrimination she faced made school an unpleasant place for her. Her classmates mocked her name, appearance, and claims about her dresses. Although Wanda never openly complained, the emotional impact of the bullying affected her deeply. Her father decided to move to a place where people with foreign names would not be treated unfairly. Wanda’s absence later made the students realize how badly they had behaved toward her. Her departure serves as a powerful reminder of the harmful effects of bullying and prejudice.
11. Describe the drawing and coloring contest in the school.
Answer:
The school organized a drawing and coloring contest in which boys had to design motorboats while girls had to design dresses. Everyone expected Peggy to win the girls’ competition because she was considered the best artist in the class. On the day of the announcement, the classroom walls were covered with beautiful dress drawings. To everyone’s surprise, Wanda won the girls’ medal. She had submitted one hundred different dress designs, each unique and beautifully colored. Her artwork amazed both teachers and students. The contest revealed Wanda’s extraordinary talent and proved that her classmates had underestimated her abilities because of her appearance and social background.
12. How did the class react to Wanda’s drawings?
Answer:
The entire class was astonished when they saw Wanda’s drawings. The walls of the classroom were covered with colorful and beautifully designed dresses. Every sketch was unique and showed remarkable creativity. The students admired the drawings and applauded when Miss Mason announced Wanda as the winner of the contest. Peggy and Maddie were particularly surprised because some of the dresses resembled the ones Wanda had often described while being teased. They realized that Wanda had not been foolish or dishonest; instead, she possessed exceptional artistic talent. The students’ reaction reflected their growing respect and admiration for Wanda after recognizing her true abilities.
13. What was Maddie’s greatest fear?
Answer:
Maddie’s greatest fear was that she herself would become the object of ridicule. She came from a poor family and wore hand-me-down clothes. Whenever Peggy teased Wanda, Maddie imagined being asked embarrassing questions about her own dresses. She worried that her classmates would discover that her clothes once belonged to someone else. This fear prevented her from defending Wanda, even though she knew the teasing was unfair. Maddie’s fear shows how social pressure can influence people’s actions. Her character teaches that remaining silent in the face of injustice can lead to feelings of guilt and regret later.
14. How does the story highlight the problem of bullying?
Answer:
The story highlights bullying through the way Wanda is treated by her classmates. Because she was poor, quiet, and had a foreign name, she became the target of jokes and teasing. Peggy and the other girls repeatedly mocked her claim of owning a hundred dresses. Although they considered it harmless fun, their behavior hurt Wanda emotionally. The story shows that bullying is not always physical; words and laughter can also cause pain. Wanda’s eventual departure from the town reveals the serious consequences of such behavior. The chapter encourages students to be kind, respectful, and supportive of people who are different from them.
15. What lesson do we learn from Wanda’s character?
Answer:
Wanda’s character teaches several valuable lessons. She shows patience, dignity, and resilience even when others treat her unfairly. Instead of reacting angrily to the teasing, she remains calm and focuses on her talent. Her success in the drawing contest proves that a person’s abilities should not be judged by appearance or social status. Wanda also demonstrates kindness and forgiveness despite being hurt by others. Through her character, readers learn to respect individuality and appreciate people for their inner qualities. The story encourages students to avoid prejudice and recognize the hidden strengths that every person possesses.
16. Why is Maddie considered the moral voice of the story?
Answer:
Maddie is considered the moral voice of the story because she understands that teasing Wanda is wrong. Unlike many of her classmates, she feels sympathy for Wanda and often experiences guilt when Peggy makes fun of her. Maddie struggles between doing what is right and protecting herself from being ridiculed. Her thoughts and feelings help readers understand the emotional impact of bullying. Although she does not immediately act, she learns an important lesson about courage and responsibility. Through Maddie, the author shows that remaining silent in the face of injustice can make a person partly responsible for the harm caused.
17. How did Wanda prove her classmates wrong?
Answer:
Wanda proved her classmates wrong by winning the school’s drawing competition. Everyone believed that her claim of owning a hundred dresses was a lie because she wore the same dress every day. However, when her one hundred dress designs were displayed in the classroom, the students realized that she had been expressing her imagination and creativity all along. Each drawing was different, colorful, and beautifully made. Her victory demonstrated that she possessed exceptional artistic talent. The event changed the students’ perception of her and showed that people should not judge others based on their appearance or economic condition.
18. What role does Miss Mason play in the chapter?
Answer:
Miss Mason is the class teacher who encourages creativity and appreciates talent. She organizes the drawing and coloring contest and later announces the winners. When Wanda wins, Miss Mason praises her work and asks the students to applaud her achievement. Through her actions, she helps the class recognize Wanda’s exceptional artistic ability. Although she is not directly involved in the students’ teasing, her appreciation of Wanda’s talent contributes to changing their attitudes. Miss Mason represents fairness and encouragement. Her role highlights the importance of teachers in recognizing students’ strengths and promoting an atmosphere of respect and inclusion.
19. Why is the title “The Hundred Dresses” appropriate?
Answer:
The title “The Hundred Dresses” is appropriate because it refers to Wanda’s repeated claim that she owned one hundred dresses. At first, the statement appears unbelievable and becomes the reason for her classmates’ teasing. However, the title gains deeper significance when Wanda wins the drawing contest with one hundred beautiful dress designs. These drawings reveal her creativity, imagination, and talent. The title therefore symbolizes more than actual dresses; it represents Wanda’s dreams, artistic abilities, and individuality. It reminds readers that people often possess hidden qualities that others fail to recognize because of prejudice and superficial judgments.
20. What message does the chapter convey to readers?
Answer:
The chapter conveys a powerful message about kindness, empathy, and acceptance. It teaches readers not to judge people by their appearance, clothing, social status, or cultural background. Wanda’s experience shows how bullying and prejudice can deeply hurt someone, even when the bully believes it is harmless fun. The story also emphasizes the importance of speaking up against injustice rather than remaining silent. Through Wanda’s talent and dignity, readers learn that every person deserves respect and understanding. The chapter encourages students to value diversity, appreciate individual abilities, and treat others with compassion and fairness in all situations.