How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for her?
Valli saved up money for her first journey by thriftily saving whatever stray coins came her way. She achieved this by resisting every temptation to buy treats like peppermints, toys, and balloons, ultimately saving a total of sixty paise.
No, it was not easy for her. It was extremely difficult and required immense self-control. For instance, at the village fair, she had to resolutely stifle a strong desire to ride the merry-go-round, even though she actually had the money for it.
Explanation
The question requires addressing two parts: the method of saving and the level of difficulty. The context explicitly states that Valli saved 'stray coins' and resisted temptations like 'peppermints, toys, balloons' to collect sixty paise. Regarding the difficulty, the text highlights her struggle by using words like 'difficult' and 'resolutely stifled', specifically pointing to the incident at the village fair where she suppressed her strong desire to ride the merry-go-round.
Solution Steps
Step 1: State how Valli saved money (saving stray coins, resisting temptations like peppermints and toys).
Step 2: State whether it was easy or not (No, it was difficult).
Step 3: Provide evidence from the context to support the difficulty (stifling the desire to ride the merry-go-round at the village fair).