Glimpses of India Question Answer | SEBA Class 10 English (First Flight)

Before You Read

Activity

1. What images — of people and of places — come to your mind, when you think of our country?

When I think of India, I see snow-covered Himalayan peaks, the wide Brahmaputra, green tea gardens, the deserts of Rajasthan and long beaches in the south. I also think of people in many kinds of dress: farmers in the fields, Bihu dancers in muga silk, busy crowds in big cities, and pilgrims at temples, mosques, churches and gurdwaras. It is a land of great variety.

2. What parts of India have you lived in, or visited? Can you name some popular tourist destinations?

I live in Assam and have visited Shillong in Meghalaya and Darjeeling in West Bengal. Some popular tourist destinations in India are Kaziranga National Park and Majuli in Assam, the Taj Mahal in Agra, Jaipur, Goa, Kerala's backwaters, Shimla, Manali, Srinagar and Ooty.

3. You may know that apart from the British, the Dutch and the French, the Portuguese have also played a part in the history of our country. Can you say which parts of India show French and Portuguese influences?

French influence is seen in Puducherry (Pondicherry) and its other old settlements of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam, and in Chandernagore in West Bengal. Portuguese influence is seen most strongly in Goa, and also in Daman and Diu and parts of the Kerala coast such as Kochi, in their churches, houses, food and some family names.

4. Can you say which parts of India grow (i) tea, (ii) coffee?

(i) Tea: Assam (the largest tea-growing state), West Bengal (Darjeeling and the Dooars), Tamil Nadu (the Nilgiris), Kerala (Munnar), Tripura and Himachal Pradesh (Kangra).

(ii) Coffee: Karnataka (Kodagu or Coorg, Chikmagalur and Hassan), Kerala (Wayanad) and Tamil Nadu (the Nilgiris and Shevaroy Hills). Karnataka grows the most coffee in India.

I. A Baker from Goa — Oral Comprehension Check (Page 86)

1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the good old Portuguese days. They fondly remember the Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread. Those days are gone, but the memory of that bread is still dear to them.

2. Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?

Yes, bread-making is still popular in Goa. The mixers, the moulders and the bakers are still there, and the "age-old, time-tested furnaces" still burn. The jingling thud of the baker's bamboo can still be heard in some places, and the son carries on the family profession even if the father is no more.

3. What is the baker called?

The baker is called a pader in Goa.

4. When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to meet him?

The baker came at least twice a day: once in the morning when he set out on his selling round, and again when he returned after emptying his huge basket. The children ran to meet him not for the loaves, which the maid-servant bought, but for the bread-bangles they loved, and sometimes for sweet bread of special make.

I. A Baker from Goa — Oral Comprehension Check (Page 87)

1. Match the following. What is a must

What is a must	Answer
(i) as marriage gifts?	sweet bread called bol
(ii) for a party or a feast?	bread
(iii) for a daughter's engagement?	sandwiches
(iv) for Christmas?	cakes and bolinhas

2. What did the bakers wear: (i) in the Portuguese days? (ii) when the author was young?

(i) In the Portuguese days the bakers wore a peculiar dress called the kabai, a single-piece long frock reaching down to the knees.

(ii) When the author was young, the bakers wore a shirt and trousers that were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants.

3. Who invites the comment — "he is dressed like a pader"? Why?

Anyone who wears a half pant that reaches just below the knees invites this comment. This is because the bakers of the author's childhood wore such knee-length trousers, so the dress is still linked with the pader.

4. Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?

The baker's monthly accounts were recorded in pencil on some wall of the house. He collected his bills at the end of the month.

5. What does a 'jackfruit-like appearance' mean?

A 'jackfruit-like appearance' means a plump, round and heavy body. Bakers ate well and lived comfortably, so their "plump physique" showed their prosperity. Even today a fat person is compared to a baker.

I. A Baker from Goa — Thinking about the Text

1. Which of these statements are correct?

(i) The pader was an important person in the village in old times. — Correct
(ii) Paders still exist in Goan villages. — Correct
(iii) The paders went away with the Portuguese. — Not correct
(iv) The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock. — Not correct
(v) Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days. — Correct
(vi) Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business. — Not correct
(vii) Paders and their families starve in the present times. — Not correct

So statements (i), (ii) and (v) are correct.

2. Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?

Yes, bread is a very important part of Goan life. The text tells us that marriage gifts are "meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol", and a party or feast loses its charm without bread. The lady of the house must prepare sandwiches for her daughter's engagement, and cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas and other festivals. Children eagerly waited for bread-bangles every morning. That is why the author says the presence of the baker's furnace in the village is "absolutely essential". Bread is linked with every meal, festival and family celebration in Goa.

3. Tick the right answer. What is the tone of the author when he says the following?

(i) The thud and the jingle of the traditional baker's bamboo can still be heard in some places. — nostalgic

(ii) Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession. — hopeful

(iii) I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves. — nostalgic

(iv) The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all. — funny

(v) Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. — matter-of-fact

(vi) The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous. — matter-of-fact

I. A Baker from Goa — Writing

I. Complete the following table with the help of the clues on the left. Then write a paragraph about the author's childhood days.

Clues	Author's childhood days
the way bread was baked	in age-old, time-tested furnaces in the village
the way the pader sold bread	went from house to house twice a day with a basket on his head, banging his bamboo staff on the ground with a 'jhang, jhang' sound
what the pader wore	a shirt and trousers shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants (knee-length)
when the pader was paid	at the end of the month; accounts were written in pencil on a wall
how the pader looked	plump, happy and prosperous, with a 'jackfruit-like' physique

Paragraph: The author's childhood days

In the author's childhood in Goa, bread was baked in old, time-tested furnaces in the village. The baker, or pader, was the children's friend, companion and guide. He came twice a day, carrying a huge basket on his head and banging his specially made bamboo staff on the ground with a 'jhang, jhang' sound. The children ran out without even brushing their teeth, hoping for bread-bangles or sweet bread, while the maid-servant bought the loaves. The pader wore a shirt and knee-length trousers. He did not take money daily; his accounts were written in pencil on a wall and paid at the end of the month. Baking was profitable, so the pader and his family looked plump, happy and prosperous.

II. 1. Compare the piece from the text (on the left below) with the other piece on Goan bakers (on the right). What makes the two texts so different? Are the facts the same? Do both writers give you a picture of the baker?

The facts in the two pieces are almost the same. Both say that the Portuguese bread is remembered with nostalgia, that the paders have survived and that the craft passes from father to son.

The difference lies in the way they are written. The text from the lesson is personal and full of feeling. It uses sense details such as "the thud and the jingle of the traditional baker's bamboo" and the fire in the furnaces, so we can almost hear and see the baker. The other piece is factual and impersonal. It gives information, such as the door-to-door delivery service and that leavened bread was a gift of the Portuguese, but uses no images or memories.

So only the writer of the lesson gives us a living picture of the baker. The second writer gives us facts about paders, not a picture of one.

2. Now find a travel brochure about a place you have visited. Look at the description in the brochure. Then write your own account, adding details from your own experience, to give the reader a picture of the place, rather than an impersonal, factual description.

Brochure description (factual): Kaziranga National Park, spread over Golaghat, Nagaon and nearby districts of Assam, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to about two-thirds of the world's one-horned rhinoceroses. Elephant and jeep safaris are available from November to April.

My own account:

We reached Kohora on a cold December morning, when the mist still hung over the tall elephant grass. At dawn we climbed onto an elephant, and its slow, rocking steps carried us into a sea of grass taller than a man. Suddenly our mahout pointed ahead. A huge one-horned rhino stood in a muddy pool, chewing calmly, as if we did not exist. Wild buffaloes raised their heads, and a herd of swamp deer ran off across the open grassland. Later, on the jeep safari, a family of wild elephants crossed the road in front of us, the baby holding its mother's tail. As the sun went down behind the hills, the sky turned orange and the cries of birds filled the air. I still remember the smell of wet grass and the silence of that evening.

Tip: You may also write about Majuli, Shillong, Darjeeling or any place you have seen yourself.

I. A Baker from Goa — Group Discussion

1. In groups, collect information on how bakeries bake bread now and how the process has changed over time.

Model points for the group:

Then: Bread was made by hand. The dough was mixed and kneaded by hand, left to rise with toddy or natural yeast, shaped by moulders and baked in wood-fired clay or brick furnaces. Bread was sold fresh by the baker himself, door to door.
Now: Most bread is made in factories. Machines mix and knead the dough, commercial yeast is used, and the loaves are baked in electric or gas ovens, sliced and packed in plastic by machine.
Changes: Production is faster and larger, bread lasts longer because of preservatives, and it is sold in shops and supermarkets. Hygiene is better controlled, but much of the special taste, fragrance and personal touch of the village baker has been lost.

2. There are a number of craft-based professions which are dying out. Pick one of the crafts below. Make a group presentation to the class about the skills required, and the possible reasons for the decline of the craft. Can you think of ways to revive these crafts?

Model presentation: Bamboo weaving

Good morning, everyone. Our group has chosen bamboo weaving, a craft that is very much a part of life in Assam and the North-East. Bamboo is used to make baskets, mats, the japi (traditional hat), fish traps, furniture and even houses.

Skills required: The craftsman must know how to choose mature bamboo, split it into thin, even strips, treat it against insects, and weave it into tight patterns. This needs patience, steady hands and an eye for design, and the skill is usually learnt from parents over many years.

Reasons for decline: Cheap plastic and steel goods have replaced bamboo products. Young people see little income in the craft and move to cities for jobs. Middlemen take most of the profit, and artisans lack modern designs and access to markets.

Ways to revive it: The government and NGOs can train artisans in new designs such as lamps, bags and furniture for city buyers. Products can be sold online and at fairs. Banning single-use plastic and promoting eco-friendly bamboo goods will increase demand. Schools can also hold workshops so that children learn and value the craft.

Thank you.

Tip: You may also choose handloom (for example, muga and eri silk weaving in Assam), pottery or jute products.

II. Coorg — Thinking about the Text

1. Where is Coorg?

Coorg, or Kodagu, is the smallest district of Karnataka. It lies midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore.

2. What is the story about the Kodavu people's descent?

The Kodavus are possibly of Greek or Arabic descent. One story says that a part of Alexander's army moved south along the coast and settled in Coorg when returning home became impractical. These soldiers married local people. Their culture can still be seen in their martial traditions and their marriage and religious rites, which are different from the Hindu mainstream. The theory of Arab origin is supported by the kuppia, the long black coat with an embroidered waist-belt worn by the Kodavus, which resembles the kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds.

3. What are some of the things you now know about

(i) the people of Coorg?

The people of Coorg are a proud, brave and "fiercely independent" race. They are known for their hospitality and love to tell tales of valour of their sons and fathers. The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian Army, and General Cariappa, the first Chief of the Indian Army, was a Coorgi. The Kodavus are the only people in India allowed to carry firearms without a licence.

(ii) the main crop of Coorg?

Coffee is the main crop of Coorg. Coffee estates cover the district, and "the air breathes of invigorating coffee". Spices are also grown there.

(iii) the sports it offers to tourists?

Coorg offers high-energy adventure sports such as river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking. Its many walking trails are also a favourite with trekkers.

(iv) the animals you are likely to see in Coorg?

In Coorg one may see mahaseer (a large freshwater fish) in the Kaveri, kingfishers diving for their catch, and squirrels and langurs dropping fruit into the water. Elephants are bathed and scrubbed in the river by their mahouts. Birds, bees and butterflies are everywhere, and macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs and slender loris keep watch from the tree canopy. Wild elephants also roam the forests.

(v) its distance from Bangalore, and how to get there?

Coorg is around 250–260 km from Bangalore by road. There are two routes, both of almost the same distance: the more popular one is via Mysore, and the other is via Neelamangal, Kunigal and Chanrayanapatna. The nearest airports are Mangalore (135 km) and Bangalore (260 km), and the nearest railheads are Mysore, Mangalore and Hassan. Madikeri, the district headquarters, is the only gateway to Coorg.

4. Here are six sentences with some words in italics. Find phrases from the text that have the same meaning. (Look in the paragraphs indicated)

(i) During monsoons it rains so heavily that tourists do not visit Coorg. (para 2)

Phrase: "to keep many visitors away" — "During the monsoons, it pours enough to keep many visitors away."

(ii) Some people say that Alexander's army moved south along the coast and settled there. (para 3)

Phrase: "As one story goes" — "As one story goes, a part of Alexander's army moved south along the coast and settled here..."

(iii) The Coorg people are always ready to tell stories of their sons' and fathers' valour. (para 4)

Phrase: "are more than willing to recount" — "they are more than willing to recount numerous tales of valour related to their sons and fathers."

(iv) Even people who normally lead an easy and slow life get smitten by the high-energy adventure sports of Coorg. (para 6)

Phrase: "The most laidback individuals become converts to" — "The most laidback individuals become converts to the life of high-energy adventure..."

(v) The theory of the Arab origin is supported by the long coat with embroidered waist-belt they wear. (para 3)

Phrase: "draws support from" — "The theory of Arab origin draws support from the long, black coat with an embroidered waist-belt..."

(vi) Macaques, Malabar squirrels observe you carefully from the tree canopy. (para 7)

Phrase: "keep a watchful eye" — "Macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs and slender loris keep a watchful eye from the tree canopy."

II. Coorg — Thinking about Language

Collocations

Which is a common collocation, and which one is odd? Strike out the odd sentence or phrase.

(a) 'How old are you?' is the common collocation. 'How young are you?' is odd.

(b) 'a pleasant person' is the common collocation. 'a pleasant pillow' is odd.

1. Here are some nouns from the text: culture, monks, surprise, experience, weather, tradition. Work with a partner and discuss which of the nouns can collocate with which of the adjectives given below: unique, terrible, unforgettable, serious, ancient, wide, sudden.

Noun	Collocations
(i) culture	unique culture, ancient culture
(ii) monks	serious monks, ancient monks
(iii) surprise	sudden surprise, unforgettable surprise, terrible surprise
(iv) experience	unique experience, unforgettable experience, terrible experience, wide experience
(v) weather	terrible weather, unforgettable weather
(vi) tradition	ancient tradition, unique tradition

2. Complete the following phrases from the text. For each phrase, can you find at least one other word that would fit into the blank?

Phrase	Word from the text	Other words that fit
(i) tales of ___	valour	bravery, courage, adventure
(ii) coastal ___	town	area, road, belt
(iii) a piece of ___	heaven	cake, land, advice
(iv) evergreen ___	rainforests	trees, forests, songs
(v) ___ plantations	coffee	tea, rubber, cardamom
(vi) ___ bridge	rope	wooden, iron, railway
(vii) wild ___	creatures	elephants, animals, flowers

Own examples: misty hills, rolling hills, martial traditions, river rafting, walking trails.

II. Coorg — Important Questions for Exams

1. Why does the author call Coorg "a piece of heaven that must have drifted from the kingdom of god"?

The author calls Coorg a piece of heaven because of its rare natural beauty. It is a land of rolling hills, evergreen rainforests, spices and coffee plantations, and "the air breathes of invigorating coffee". From September to March the weather is perfect. It is also home to "a proud race of martial men, beautiful women and wild creatures". Such a lovely land seems to have come down from heaven itself.

2. When is the best season to visit Coorg? Why do many visitors stay away during the monsoons?

The best season to visit Coorg is from September to March, which the author calls "the season of joy". The weather then is perfect, "with some showers thrown in for good measure". During the monsoons, however, it rains so heavily that many visitors are kept away.

3. Describe the river Kaveri and the life around it.

The Kaveri gets its water from the hills and forests of Coorg. Its clear waters are full of mahaseer, a large freshwater fish. Kingfishers dive for their catch, while squirrels and langurs drop partly eaten fruit into the water just to enjoy "the splash and the ripple effect". Elephants enjoy being bathed and scrubbed in the river by their mahouts. The river is thus full of life and playfulness.

4. What can a visitor see from the Brahmagiri hills, at Nisargadhama and at Bylakuppe?

The climb to the Brahmagiri hills gives a panoramic view of the whole misty landscape of Coorg. A walk across a rope bridge leads to Nisargadhama, a sixty-four-acre island. At nearby Bylakuppe, India's largest Tibetan settlement, visitors may run into Buddhist monks in red, ochre and yellow robes. The author calls meeting them "a bonus".

5. What is the kuppia? Which theory about the Kodavus' origin does it support?

The kuppia is the long, black coat with an embroidered waist-belt worn by the Kodavus. It resembles the kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds. So it supports the theory that the Kodavus are of Arab origin.

6. Why does the author say that visitors "searching for the heart and soul of India" will find it in Coorg?

The author feels that Coorg shows the variety and spirit of India in one place. It has unspoilt nature: misty hills, rainforests, the Kaveri and many birds and animals. Its proud Kodava people have their own martial traditions, dress and customs, and a tradition of hospitality. It offers adventure sports for the energetic and peace for those who want it, and even the Buddhist monks of Bylakuppe live there in harmony. Nature, bravery, hospitality and different cultures existing side by side make up the true soul of India. That is why the author says visitors will find it "right here in Coorg".

III. Tea from Assam — Thinking about Language

I. 1. Look at these words: upkeep, downpour, undergo, dropout, walk-in. Use these words appropriately in the sentences below.

(i) A heavy downpour has been forecast due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.

(ii) Rakesh will undergo major surgery tomorrow morning.

(iii) My brother is responsible for the upkeep of our family property.

(iv) The dropout rate for this accountancy course is very high.

(v) She went to the Enterprise Company to attend a walk-in interview.

2. Now fill in the blanks in the sentences given below by combining the verb given in brackets with one of the words from the box (over, by, through, out, up, down) as appropriate.

(i) The Army attempted unsuccessfully to overthrow the Government. (throw)

(ii) Scientists are on the brink of a major breakthrough in cancer research. (break)

(iii) The State Government plans to build a bypass for Bhubaneswar to speed up traffic on the main highway. (pass)

(iv) Gautama's outlook on life changed when he realised that the world is full of sorrow. (look)

(v) Rakesh seemed unusually downcast after the game. (cast)

II. 1. Think of suitable -ing or -ed adjectives to answer the following questions. How would you describe

(i) a good detective serial on television? — thrilling / exciting / interesting

(ii) a debate on your favourite topic 'Homework Should Be Banned'? — interesting / exciting

(iii) how you feel when you stay indoors due to incessant rain? — bored / depressed

(iv) how you feel when you open a present? — excited / delighted

(v) how you feel when you watch your favourite programme on television? — relaxed / entertained / pleased

(vi) the look on your mother's face as you waited in a queue? — bored / tired / annoyed

(vii) how you feel when tracking a tiger in a tiger reserve forest? — excited / thrilled / frightened

(viii) the story you have recently read, or a film you have seen? — interesting / amazing / boring

2. Now use the adjectives in the exercise above, as appropriate, to write a paragraph about Coorg.

Coorg is one of the most interesting places in India. The journey through its misty hills and coffee estates is relaxing, and the air smells of fresh coffee. For adventure lovers, Coorg offers thrilling sports such as river rafting, rock climbing and rappelling. Even a person who is usually bored at home will feel excited on its walking trails. Watching elephants being bathed in the Kaveri is an amazing sight, and meeting a wild elephant on a trail can be quite frightening. The people of Coorg are warm and hospitable, and their tales of valour are fascinating. No visitor to Coorg ever comes back disappointed.

III. Tea from Assam — Speaking and Writing

1. Collect information about tea, e.g. its evolution as a drink, its beneficial qualities. Then form groups of five and play the following roles: Imagine a meeting of a tea planter, a sales agent, a tea lover (consumer), a physician and a tea-shop owner. Each person in the group has to put forward his/her views about tea.

Useful facts for the role play:

According to the lesson, tea was first drunk in China as far back as 2700 B.C., and words such as 'tea', 'chai' and 'chini' come from Chinese. Tea reached Europe only in the sixteenth century, where it was drunk more as medicine than as a beverage.
The tea plant grows wild in Assam. In 1823 Robert Bruce came to know of it through the Singpho people of Upper Assam, who brewed a drink from its leaves. The first consignment of Assam tea was shipped to London in 1838 and auctioned there in January 1839.
Assam has the largest concentration of tea plantations in the world and produces about half of India's tea. Assam tea is famous for its strong, malty flavour and bright colour.
The second flush (May to July) gives the best tea.
Tea contains antioxidants and a little caffeine, which refreshes the mind. Too much strong tea, or tea with too much sugar, is not good for health.

Model role play:

Tea Planter: I feel tea is not just a drink for Assam; it is our life. Our gardens in Upper Assam give work to lakhs of people, and Assam tea is known all over the world for its strong, malty taste.

Sales Agent: I agree with you. It is important to know that buyers abroad ask for Assam tea by name. I would like you to know that our sales of second-flush tea, plucked from May to July, are always the highest.

Tea Lover: For me, the day cannot begin without a hot cup of tea. It is my feeling that tea brings people together. Guests in every Assamese home are welcomed with tea.

Physician: I think that tea, taken in moderation, is good for health. It contains antioxidants and gives a mild, refreshing lift. But I am afraid too many cups a day, or tea with lots of sugar, can harm sleep and health. I also suggest not drinking strong tea just with meals.

Tea-shop Owner: I disagree with you a little, doctor. My customers drink three or four cups a day and stay quite fit! May I know why you are against sugar in tea?

Physician: Because extra sugar adds empty calories and raises the risk of diabetes. A cup of plain liquor tea or tea with less sugar is a healthier choice.

Tea Planter: Then I suggest we all promote good quality, pure tea. When people drink better tea, the growers, sellers and consumers all benefit.

Tea Lover: I agree with that. Let us end this meeting with a cup of fresh Assam tea!

2. You are the sales executive of a famous tea company and you have been asked to draft an advertisement for the product. Draft the advertisement using the information you collected for the role play.

BRAHMAPUTRA GOLD — Pure Assam Tea

From the gardens of Upper Assam to your cup

Grown in the lush tea estates of the Brahmaputra valley
Hand-plucked "two leaves and a bud" from the finest second flush
Strong, malty flavour and rich golden colour
Naturally rich in antioxidants; refreshes body and mind
Packed fresh at the garden in an airtight, aroma-lock pack

Wake up to the real taste of Assam!

Available in 100 g, 250 g and 500 g packs at all leading stores.
Introductory offer: 10% extra free on every 500 g pack.

(A picture of a steaming cup of tea against green tea bushes and a smiling tea-plucker with a bamboo basket can be added to make the advertisement colourful.)

III. Tea from Assam — Important Questions for Exams

1. What did Rajvir see from the train as it passed through Assam?

Rajvir saw "green, green everywhere". The soft green paddy fields gave way to tea bushes. Against a backdrop of densely wooded hills, "a sea of tea bushes stretched as far as the eye could see". Tall, sturdy shade-trees dwarfed the tiny tea plants, and doll-like figures (the tea-pluckers) moved busily among the orderly rows. In the distance he saw an ugly building with smoke billowing out of tall chimneys, and cried excitedly, "Hey, a tea garden!"

2. Why did Pranjol not share Rajvir's excitement on seeing the tea gardens?

Pranjol did not share Rajvir's excitement because he had been born and brought up on a tea plantation, so tea gardens were an everyday sight for him. He told Rajvir, "Assam has the largest concentration of plantations in the world. You will see enough gardens to last you a lifetime!" For Rajvir, his classmate from Delhi, the sight was completely new.

3. Narrate the two legends about the discovery of tea that Rajvir told Pranjol.

The first is a Chinese legend. A Chinese emperor always boiled water before drinking it. One day a few leaves from the twigs burning under the pot fell into the water and gave it a delicious flavour. It is said that they were tea leaves.

The second is an Indian legend. Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic, cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditation. Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. The leaves of these plants, when put in hot water and drunk, banished sleep.

4. What facts about tea did Rajvir share with Pranjol?

Rajvir had been reading as much as he could about tea. He told Pranjol that over eighty crore cups of tea are drunk every day throughout the world, and that no one really knows who discovered tea. Tea was first drunk in China as far back as 2700 B.C., and words such as tea, 'chai' and 'chini' are from Chinese. Tea came to Europe only in the sixteenth century, and was drunk more as medicine than as a beverage. Later he told Mr Barua that the second-flush period, from May to July, yields the best tea.

5. Describe the scene at Dhekiabari Tea Estate as the boys drove in.

After driving for an hour, the car turned sharply off the main road, crossed a cattle-bridge and entered Dhekiabari Tea Estate. On both sides of the gravel road were "acre upon acre of tea bushes", all neatly pruned to the same height. Groups of tea-pluckers, with bamboo baskets on their backs and wearing plastic aprons, were plucking the newly sprouted leaves. A tractor pulling a trailer-load of tea leaves passed by.

6. Why was Mr Barua surprised? What does this show about Rajvir?

Mr Barua, Pranjol's father, was surprised because Rajvir knew that it was the second-flush or sprouting period, which lasts from May to July and yields the best tea. He said, "You seem to have done your homework before coming." This shows that Rajvir was curious and well-read, and that he had prepared for his visit by reading about tea. He was also eager to learn, for he said, "But I hope to learn much more while I'm here."

Glimpses of India Question Answer – Class 10 English

Key points