The Hundred Dresses Part 1 – By El Bsor Ester

Question & Answers

Q1. Where in the classroom does Wanda sit and why?( CBSE 2012)
A. Wanda used to sit in that corner of the classroom where the rough boys sat,
the boys who got the lowest marks and had the loudest laughter. No one ever
knew why she really sat there but there were guesses that it was because of the
dirt her shoes carried from all the mud.
 
Q2. Where does Wanda live? What kind of a place do you think it is?
A. Wanda lived in Boggins Heights. According to the description given in the
chapter, it was that part of the city or town where poor people lived. The place
was filled with mud which is where Wanda got the dirt on her shoes from.
 
Q3. When and why do Peggy and Maddie notice Wanda’s absence?
A. On Wednesday, Peggy and Maddie noticed that Wanda was missing. They
had been waiting for her outside school, before school began. As she did not
come, they even got late for school. It was then that they realized her absence
from school.
 
Q4. What do you think “to have fun with her” means?
A. “To have fun with her” means to tease her about the hundred dresses she
claimed to have which is contradictory to the fact that she always wore the same
faded blue dress.
 
Q5. In what way was Wanda different from the other children? ( Board 2011, 2013)
A. Wanda was a quiet and shy girl who had no friends. She had the weirdest
name in her class which differentiated her from everyone else.
 
Q6. Did Wanda have a hundred dresses? Why do you think she said she did?
A. No, Wanda did not actually have a hundred dresses; she only had drawings of
them. She was a poor girl who would have desired to have a closet full of
hundred dresses, all lined up. That is why, she said that she did have them.
 
Q7. Why is Maddie embarrassed by the questions Peggy asks Wanda? Is she
also like Wanda, or is she different? ( Board qt.)
A. Maddie is embarrassed by how Peggy deals with Wanda not because she
cares about Wanda, but because she was poor herself and feared that one day,
they would treat her the same way. Maddie is a poor girl but not as poor as
Wanda and unlike Wanda, she had a lot of friends.
 
Q8. Why didn’t Maddie ask Peggie to stop teasing Wanda? What was she afraid
of?
A. Maddie did not ask Peggy to stop teasing Wanda because as she too was
poor, she feared that she could be the next target for the girls. As Maddie wore
hands down clothes given by Peggy, she was afraid that if they did not tease
Wanda, then probably, they would start teasing her.
 
Q9. Who did Maddie think would win the drawing contest? Why? ( Board 2013)
A. Maddie thought that her best friend Peggie would win the Drawing contest
because she was the best artist in the room.
 
Q10. Who won the drawing contest? What had the winner drawn?
A. Wanda had won the drawing contest. She had flawlessly drawn a hundred
different dresses.

Q11. How is Wanda seen as different by the other girls? How do they treat her?
A. Other girls saw Wanda as poor and vulnerable. She had a strange name, did
not make friends and remained quiet. She sat in the corner with the rough and
noisy boys. Wanda always wore the same dress and came from a place full of
mud on the roads. The other girls treated her badly and belittled her. They made
fun of Wanda.
 
Q12. How does Wanda feel about the dresses game? Why does she say that
she has a hundred dresses?
A. Wanda felt embarrassed and insulted when other girls played the dresses
game on her. She claimed to have a hundred dresses in order to put those
insults and jokes away. Actually, she was preparing drawings of a hundred
dresses for the drawing competition and she referred to them when the girls
asked her that how many dresses did she have.
 
Q13. Why does Maddie stand by and not do anything? How is she different from
Peggy? (Was Peggy’s friendship important to Maddie? Why? Which lines in the
text tell you this?)
A. Maddie stands quietly and watches as Peggy humiliates Wanda because she
felt that Peggy was high and mighty. Thus, Peggy could never be wrong. As
Maddie was poor herself, she feared that she could be the next target for the girls
to mock at. Also, Maddie did not tease Wanda while Peggy did. Yes, Peggy’s
friendship was important to Maddie. The lines which indicate this are -
“Peggy was the most popular girl in school. She was pretty, she had many pretty
clothes and her hair was curly. Maddie was her closest friend.”
 
Q14. What does Miss Mason think of Wanda’s drawings? What do the children
think of them? How do you know?
A. Miss Mason thought of Wanda’s drawings to be wonderful. She even said that
judges liked it so much and thought any one of them to be worthy of winning. The
children too, were awestruck at the sight of such beautiful paintings. It is evident
from the fact that the boys, who had no interest in dresses, were whistling and
Peggy who thought of herself to be the best artist, accepted that Wanda’s
drawings were amazing.
 

The Hundred Dresses- I - Grammar Exercises

Combine the following to make sentences like those above.

i. This is the bus (what kind of bus?). It goes to Agra. (use which or that)
ii. I would like to buy (a) shirt (which shirt?). (The) shirt is in the shop window.
(use which or that)
iii. You must break your fast at a particular time (when?). You see the moon
in the sky. (use when)
iv. Find a word (what kind of word?). It begins with the letter Z. (use which or
that)
 v. Now find a person (what kind of person). His or her name begins with the
letter Z. (use whose)
vi. Then go to a place (what place?). There are no people whose name
begins with Z in that place. (use where)

Answers

i. This is the bus which goes to Agra.

ii. I would like to buy the shirt that is in the shop window.
iii. You must break your fast at a particular time when you see the moon in
the sky.
iv. Find a word that begins with the letter Z.
v. Now find a person whose name begins with the letter Z.
vi. Then go to a place where there are no people whose name begins with Z.

 
Here are two other sentences from the story. Can you say whose point of
view the italicised words express?
(i) But on Wednesday, Peggy and Maddie, who sat down front with other
children who got good marks and who didn’t track in a whole lot of mud, did
notice that Wanda wasn’t there.
(ii) Wanda Petronski. Most of the children in Room Thirteen didn’t have names
like that. They had names easy to say, like Thomas, Smith or Allen.
Answers-
(i) The italicised words express the point of view of Peggy and Maddie.
(ii)The italicised words express the point of view of the narrator.

Other such adverbs are apparently, evidently, surprisingly, possibly,

hopefully, incredibly, luckily. Use these words appropriately in the blanks
in the sentences below. (You may use a word more than once, and more
than one word may be appropriate for a given blank.)
1. _____________ , he finished his work on time.
2.  _____________, it will not rain on the day of the match.
3.  _____________, he had been stealing money from his employer.
4. Television is  _____________ to blame for the increase in violence in society.
5. The children will  _____________learn from their mistakes.
6. I can’t  _____________lend you that much money.
7. The thief  _____________ had been watching the house for many days.
8. The thief  _____________escaped by bribing the jailor.
9. _____________, no one had suggested this before.
10. The water was  _____________hot
Answer:
1. Surprisingly, he finished his work on time.
2. Hopefully, it will not rain on the day of the match.
3. Evidently, he had been stealing money from his employer.
4. Television is possibly to blame for the increase in violence in society.
5. The children will hopefully, learn from their mistakes.
6. I can’t possibly lend you that much money.
7. The thief apparently had been watching the house for many days.
8. The thief possibly escaped by bribing the jailor.
9. Surprisingly, no one had suggested this before.
10. The water was incredibly hot.
 
 

 Summary
The story is about a quiet and shy girl named Wanda Petronski, a Polish
immigrant, who had come to America with her family. She attended school with
American children who found her name to be strange and probably,  the weirdest
in the classroom. This is because they all had easier names. She was poor and
was always seen wearing a faded blue dress. Her classmates teased her
because she claimed to have a hundred dresses “all lined up” in her closet albeit,
always being seen wearing one. The ones who mainly teased her were the two
best friends, Peggy and Maddie. Peggy was the most famous girl in school while
anyone barely knew Wanda.
Peggy and Maddie used to wait for Wanda before school even if it meant getting
late. Maddie, a poor girl herself did not like when Peggy made fun of Wanda. She
feared that she could be next. She wanted Peggy to stop making fun of Wanda,
but could not summon courage to face her as she feared she’d lose her best
friend. However, Peggy’s intention was never to hurt Wanda but she was curious
as to why Wanda had to lie that she had a hundred dresses in her closet.
Truth about the same hundred dresses unveiled on the result day of the drawing
competition. The room was lined with one hundred drawings portraying different
dresses, each so beautiful. That day, she truly had “a hundred dresses all lined
up”, but in the classroom. At that moment, Peggy and Maddie, who were
awestruck realised the theory of a hundred dresses and felt guilty about having
treated her badly.

Scuffling of feet- noisy, dragging movements of the feet on the ground

Hopscotch- a game in which children hop into and over squares marked on the
ground
Nudge- a gentle push
Incredulously- showing unwillingness to believe
Courteous- polite, respectful
Stolidly- calm, dependable, and showing little emotion and animation
Shrieks- scream
Exaggerated- overemphasise
Her eyes dull- having eyes wanting brightness, liveliness, and vivacity

Bullies- someone who hurts or frightens someone else, often over a period of
time, and forcing them to do something that they do not want to do.
Mistreated- to treat someone badly
Shuddered- shake, tremble
Disguise- to give a different appearance to conceal its identity
Scarcely- hardly; barely
Trimmings- decoration
Sash- a long strip or loop of cloth worn over one shoulder or round the waist,
especially as part of a uniform or official dress
Pretended- not genuine
Admiration- respect and warm approval
Drizzling- rain lightly
Hurried- quick
Gasped- catch one's breath with an open mouth, owing to pain or astonishment.
Ledge- shelf
Windowsill- ledge or sill forming the bottom part of a window
Dazzling- extremely impressive, beautiful, or skilful
Lavish- gorgeous
Murmured- say something in a low or distinct voice
Admiringly- in a way that shows respect or warm approval
Assembled- gather together in one place for a common purpose
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The Hundred Dresses II

Introduction
In continuation of the previous lesson, “The Hundred Dresses II” reveals why
Wanda Petronski had not been coming to school. The Petronski family decided to
move to a big city where no one would care about their unfamiliar name. On
hearing the note, Maddie and Peggy got anxious as they realised that they would
never get a chance for making amends for all the teasing they had done. Both the
girls get relieved only on learning that Wanda liked them and had dedicated one
of the hundred dresses (drawings) to each one of them.
Summary
The lesson begins with all the students of Room no. 13 having a look at the
wonderful drawings of Wanda Petronski. Only then, a note is received by Miss
Mason from Wanda’s father informing that none of his two children will attend
the school as they are moving to a big city where no one would judge them for
their names. Miss Mason was left shocked and conveyed her disappointment to
the class. Maddie was affected by this letter of Wanda’s father. She instantly
developed an urge to apologise to Wanda. Peggy and Maddie, the two best
friends rush to Boggins Heights hoping that the family hadn’t moved yet. But to
their dismay, there was no sign of life in and around the house. Maddie lost her
sleep thinking what a coward she is who couldn’t stand against the wrong. That
day she decided that she’ll never let anyone tease someone like that again. That
weekend Peggy and Maddie decided to write a letter to Wanda that was originally
meant to be apologetic but they ended up writing a friendly note asking her how
did she like the new place. Weeks passed by and there was no reply until one day
near Christmas, Miss Mason announces that she heard from Wanda. In that letter,
Wanda wrote she misses everyone and conveyed her intention of gifting one
dress each to Maddie and Peggy because she has a whole new lot of hundred
dresses lined up in her new house. Both of them were happy to receive it and
later realised that it was their faces she had drawn along with the dresses. Thus,
they both concluded that Wanda did like them.
Oral Comprehension Check -Page 74
Ques 1. What did Mr Petronski’s letter say? ( CBSE)
Ans: Mr Petronski’s letter said that Wanda would not come to school as she was
fed up of being bullied in the school. They were going to shift to a bigger place
where nobody would make fun of unfamiliar name.
Ques 2. Is Miss Mason angry with the class, or is she unhappy and upset?
Ans : Miss Mason seems to be unhappy and upset rather than angry because she
had never expected such a behaviour from the students. She wants everyone to
think about it and asks them not to look down upon anyone in the class.
Ques 3. How does Maddie feel after listening to the note from Wanda’s father?
(CBSE)
Ans: Maddie feels sorry and ashamed for the behaviour although she herself did
not make fun of Wanda. She never tried to stop Peggy to do so and remained a
silent spectator. She feels like a coward.
Ques 4. What does Maddie want to do?
Ans: Maddie wants to amend her behaviour towards Wanda. She wants to
apologise. She decides to meet Wanda at her house in Boggins Heights.
Page 76
Ques 5. What excuses does Peggy think of giving in justification of her behaviour?
Why?
Ans: Peggy tries to defend herself by saying that her behaviour towards Wanda
inspired her to explore her drawing skills as she was able to sketch a hundred
dresses and that made her win the drawing contest.

Ques 6. What are Maddie’s thoughts as they go to Boggins Heights?

Ans: Maddie was feeling ashamed and apologetic for being a silent spectator
while Peggy humiliated Wanda. She was feeling upset and distraught for Wanda
and herself. She was also repenting for not stopping Peggy for behaving badly
with Wanda.
Ques 7. Why does Wanda’s house remind Maddie of Wanda’s blue dress? (CBSE)
Ans : Wanda’s house was sparse and old but neat and clean like her blue dress
that she wore everyday to school. Thus, Maddie was reminded of the same old
blue dress.
Ques 8. What does Maddie think hard about ? What important decision does she
come to?
Ans: Maddie thinks about not to be a mute spectator anymore that she had been
in case of Wanda. She promised herself about not letting any injustice happen to
anyone even if she would have to lose a friend due to this.
Page 79
Ques 9. What did the girls write in the letter?
Ans: Maddie and Peggy wrote a friendly letter to Wanda. They wanted to
apologise for their behaviour but they ended up asking her whether she liked her
new school and teacher. They informed her about her sketches winning the
drawing competition. They praised her drawing skills and also told how much
other students liked her talent. The letter was just a usual letter one may write to
a good friend.
Ques 10. Did Maddie and Peggy get a reply? Who was more anxious for a reply?
How do you know?
Ans : No, they didn’t get a reply from Wanda. Maddie was more anxious for a
reply than Peggy because she was very upset and felt guilty for what they did with
Wanda . She had assumed that Wanda was deeply hurt so she was not replying
and blamed herself for everything. Maddie used to have sleepless nights and saw
frightful dreams about Wanda.
Ques 11. How did the girls know that Wanda liked them even though they had
teased her?
Ans: Both Maddie and Peggy realised that Wanda liked them although they had
teased her because she had gifted them her two beautiful dresses, a green one
with red trimmings to Peggy and the blue one to Maddie. She had even drawn
their faces in the painting of the dresses they got.
Thinking about the Text (Page 79,80)
Ques 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?
Ans : Wanda’s family moved to a different city due to the racist and insulting
behaviour of students towards Wanda and her brother. They were teased by
other students for their funny name and blue dress. Life there in a different city
was going to be different because people there did not have such a narrow mind
and would not tease them because of their name or status.
Ques 2. Maddie thought her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing. Was she right?
Ans: Yes, Maddie thought that her silence was as bad as Peggy’s teasing because
it is often said that turning a blind eye to a crime is worse than committing a
crime. So by being silent she indirectly encouraged Peggy to do so.
Ques 3. Peggy says, “I never thought she had sense to know we were making 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?
Ans . As Wanda remained silent when Peggy teased her, Peggy thought that she
was too dumb to realize that she was being mocked at. When she saw the
beautiful drawings made by Wanda, she changed her mind and realized that
Wanda was a talented girl.
Ques 4. What important decision did Maddie make? Why did she have to think
hard to do so ?
Ans: Maddie decided to go to Wanda’s house with Peggy to apologise and amend
for all that had happened but Wanda had left her house with her family. She felt
bad because she thought of herself as a coward who did not stop Peggy to insult
Wanda. So, she decided to raise voice against injustice and bullying.
Ques 5. Why do you think Wanda gave Maddie and Peggy the drawings of the
dresses ? Why are they surprised ?
Ans: When Maddie and Peggy wrote a letter to Wanda, she might have
understood their feelings behind their letter and during the dresses game, she
had observed both of them. So she requested Miss Mason to give two of her
drawings to them and had taught them a lesson of life. Maddie and Peggy were
surprised as she gifted them the drawings with their faces.
Ques 6. Do you think Wanda really thought the girls were teasing her ? Why or
why not ?
Ans: Wanda was aware of the misbehaviour of the girls who teased her everyday
“but she remained calm. To keep them mum she fabricated a story of having a
hundred dresses and sixty pairs of matching shoes in her closet. She taught them
a lesson of life by the drawings of the hundred beautiful dresses she claimed to
have.
Ques 7. Appearance could be misleading’. Support this statement with reference
to the story ‘The Hundred Dresses’. [Value Based Question]
Ans: Wanda was a poor polish girl. She used to sit in a lonely corner of the classroom
where the noisy rough boys sat. She always wore pale blue dress that was never ironed.
Her classmates would tease her and look down upon her as she was poor and had a
different name. Despite that, she was highly intelligent and dignified. She was a talented
artist and had drawn sketches of hundred dresses for a drawing competition which she
won. Each design was exquisite and innovative. She was quite creative and the children
were mesmerized by her potential. She won the heart of her classmates, when she gave
those drawing to them.

Listened closely- listened with attention

Damp and dismal- wet and sad (here, expressing a state of hopelessness)
Forbidding- Unfriendly or threatening in nature
(To) make amends- to show that one is sorry by doing something else

Picking on someone- criticising someone

Cornucopias- decorative containers (usually containing flowers and fruits)
Holly- a shrub having prickly dark green leaves, small white flowers, and red berries. It is
used in Christmas decorations.