CBSE Class 10 English Glimpses of India Important Questions Set 06

Long Answer Questions

Question 1. Why is the presence of baker’s furnace in the village absolutely necessary? What does this tell you about the social and family life of the Portuguese explaining the in content with the value system of the society.
Answer: The presence of a baker’s furnace in the village is absolutely necessary.
The baker with his fragrant and sweet loaves holds a special place in the lives of the Goans. Though the old bakers have died but their offsprings still continue the family profession. The sweet loaves of bread are very popular. Even in the marriage gift, it is of utmost importance to include the sweet bread, sandwiches, bolinhas and other bakery items. These items are prepared in furnaces that still exist. It throws light on the family and social life of the people. The society has a rich value system. We must also live together with love and follow the rituals passed on to us through generations. Modernity must not be at the cost of forgetting our own traditions. The elders have a wisdom to enrich the younger generations’ radical views. There must be a balance between the traditional and social ethos and modern views.

Question 2. India is known for its old traditions. There is unity in diversity. It is all because we the Indians never forget our culture and tradition. We always cherish the traditional practices. Do you agree? Give your views with reference to the lesson ‘A Baker from Goa’ where the author is nostalgic about the bakers and the traditional cakes of Goa.
Answer: The author of ‘A Baker from Goa’ cherishes the traditional practices in Goa. He recalls his encounter with the traditional bakers of Goa. It is true that we, Indians, never forget our cultures and traditions. We are known for our traditional food. This keeps us rooted to our motherland. It gives us a sense of pride when we think about our practices. The baker in the story represents the class of traditional professionals who are still keeping the old practices alive. Lucio Rodrigues tells us that when he was a child, he had a good companionship with a baker. He tells that the bread was baked in the furnace. The bakers were called the paders. In Portuguese time, there were eaters of loaves who cherished traditional bread making. The author does not live in Goa but he still remembers the old days. He might have forgotten so many things but he still remembers everything about the traditions of Goa.

Question 3. The Coorgis are known for their hospitality. They are friendly and caring. Which of their qualities one must inculcate in one’s life? What makes them so loveable?
Answer: Coorgis are well known for their courage, bravery and hospitality. They are very warm people who entertain and look after their guests as family members. They are always willing to recount numerous tales of valour when in the company of their guests. It shows that they want their guests to feel at home by sharing the tales from their lives. We learn to be friendly, caring and sensitive to the need of others. They follow the age-old Indian tradition of ‘Athithi Devo Bhav’. Guests are not considered as burden. They provide them with all the comforts, and make them feel at home. The warmth in their behaviour makes them loveable.

Question 4. The Coorgis are happy because they are true lovers of nature. They have a great environmental sense. They never interfere with nature. What can we learn from them about the environmental issues?
Answer: It is a fact that Coorgis live in harmony with nature. All kinds of aquatic as well as land animals and birds like fish, kingfisher, squirrels, langur, elephant, bees and butterflies, and many other arboreal animals live here fearlessly in the dense forests. It shows that Coorgis have a great environmental sense. They care for their surroundings and never interfere with nature resulting in the serene and lush green atmosphere. We should also protect nature by planting more and more trees. Cities are especially getting more and more polluted. In such a scenario, it is our foremost duty to take a step in the direction of preserving our flora and fauna. We can learn from them how to live in harmony with nature.

Question 5. The Coorgis are religious and have deep faith in God. Justify the fact taking examples from the text. Give your opinion also on the importance of having faith in the Supreme Power.
Answer: The world’s largest Tibetan settlement is situated in Coorg. The monks, in red, ochre and yellow robes are described as being among many other surprises that await us. The monastery is considered to be the heart and soul of India. It is clearly revealed that Coorgis are highly religious people and have deep faith in the Supreme Power. It is of utmost importance to perform all our duties with uninterrupted dedication without cribbing over results. Always have faith in God and think positively. Moulding our thoughts in the right direction does miracles and can bring about the desired change in the way we think or act. Always remember that there is a supreme power who controls the whole universe. We should also have faith in all the religions and not behave like a fanatic.

Question 6. The Coorgis are said to be descendants of Greek Arabs. They have settled here and there but they have never given up their values and culture. Today many Indians have settled abroad but they are still Indians by heart. They still believe in Indian culture and keeping it alive. Do you think that when we settle abroad we must change our culture to adopt the culture of the country where we settle? Does it help us?
Answer: There is no doubt one is known by one’s culture. The Coorgis are the descendants of the Greeks or Arabs and scattered here and there but they have not lost their identity. They still have all the traditional values of their clan. The same is true in the case of Indians settled abroad. They are still Indians by heart. They still believe in Indian culture and keeping it alive. We should never forget our traditions and customs. We should not forget our roots. Our culture gives us recognition. We should never change our values or culture when we are abroad. If we do this, we lose our originality and identity. The Coorgis give us a lesson that we should be proud of our traditions and should never give them up. If we stick to our culture, we always get recognition. It helps us.

Question 7. Rajvir felt too excited on reaching Assam while Pranjol showed least interest in his excitement. What could be the reason behind this? Do you think it is appropriate on Pranjol’s part to react like this? Justify your answer with reason.
Answer: Pranjol invited his friend Rajvir to spend some days with him in his hometown Assam. On reaching there, Rajvir was stunned to see the beauty of tea plantations. It was an entirely new experience for him while for Pranjol, these were a common sight so he showed least interest in Rajvir’s excitement. I think it is not appropriate on Pranjol’s part to react thus. No doubt his indifference was natural but it might dampen Rajvir’s spirit. Sometimes we have to act according to the wishes of the person opposite us, especially when the person is very close to us. A true friend is one who understands the feelings of his friend and tries to make him happier. Although Pranjol and Rajvir were very close yet one should always try to strengthen the bond of friendship.

Question 8. Pranjol invited Rajvir to his home in Assam during summer vacation. Express your views on the deep bond that they both shared. Do you also believe in the compatibility of two individuals? Why/Why not?
Answer: Rajvir and Pranjol both were good friends to the extent that they spent time with each other at their homes too. This is apparent from the fact that Rajvir was going to spend his summer vacation with Pranjol in Assam. They both indeed shared a deep bond. Their likes and dislikes were almost similar. They both liked to read detective books. They enjoyed sipping hot steaming tea. True friendship is one in which a friend is always eager to listen to the other. The same is clearly seen when Pranjol listened to the legends associated with tea patiently as told by Rajvir. Compatibility and perseverance are the pillars that support true friendship. Yes, I also believe in the compatibility of two individuals for the relationship to sustain longer.

Question 9. Does the statement – ‘Dwarfing the tiny tea plants were tall sturdy shade-trees….’ remind you of an elder in the family who protects the younger ones with love and care? How should you behave with the elders of the family who do so much for you?
Answer: The view outside the train was magnificent. The sentence ‘Dwarfing the tiny tea plants were tall sturdy shade trees....’ indicates to the nature’s way of protecting its offsprings. The tall sturdy shady trees provide shade to the tiny tea plants which may otherwise get withered away in the heat of the sun. In the same manner, elders of a family protect the younger ones and take a great care of them with love and compassion. Particularly in Indian society, family plays a protective role in nurturing the children and taking care of all their needs. It is the duty of the children also to listen to the elders and respect them. Nowadays family values are fast disappearing. Such a trend is very harmful to the society as well as the individual. Love, empathy, respect for each other, understanding, a sense of individual duties are the qualities that cement the relationships in a family.

Question 10. The Coorgis in the chapter ‘Coorg’ are said to be descendants of Greeks or Arabs. They have settled in India but they have never given up their values and culture. Today many Indians have settled abroad but they are still Indians at heart. Similarly, the paders of Goa in ‘A Baker from Goa’ are keeping alive the traditions of baking which they learned from the Portuguese. Do you think that traditions need to be nurtured? Does it help us?
Answer: There is no doubt that one is known by one’s culture. The Coorgis are believed to be descendants of the Greeks or Arabs, but they have not lost their identity. They still cherish all the traditional values of their culture. The same is true of Indians settled abroad. They are still Indians at heart. They still believe in Indian culture and keep it alive. We should never forget our traditions and customs because they are our identity.
Similarly, in ‘A Baker from Goa’, Lucio Rodrigues tells us about the paders, the traditional bakers of Goa, who learned the art of baking bread from the Portuguese and have continued it for centuries. The Portuguese may have left, but the bakers and their art are still there. The mixers, the moulders and those who bake the loaves are still around, carrying on the tradition of this old art. Even the age-old, time-tested furnaces in which the breads were baked still exist.

Question 11. Describe the author’s experience during his childhood in Goa. Why was the baker or the pader the guide of children in Goa?
Answer: The author remembers fondly his childhood days in Goa. He recalls how the baker used to be the friend, companion and guide of the children. The thud and jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo woke them from their sleep. It heralded the arrival of the baker or the pader in the morning. He used to come at least twice a day. Once, he used to set out in the morning on his selling round. Then he returned after emptying his huge basket. The children ran to meet and greet him. It was not for the love of the loaf. They longed for the bread-bangles. Sometimes it was sweet bread of special make. The children, especially liked the musical entry on the scene with the ‘jhang, jhang’ sound of his specially made bamboo staff. He would greet the lady of the house with good morning but put the children with a mild rebuke. The children would not give up. They would climb a bench and peep into the basket. The author still recalls the fragrance of those loaves. The children would become crazy at the sight of the pader. They would forget even to brush their teeth.

Question 12. Give a pen-portrait of the baker or the pader highlighting the changes that came in his fortune and dress with the passage of the time.
Answer: The baker or the pader used to be an essential part of the Goans’ life. The baker or bread seller had a peculiar dress during the Portuguese days. It was known as the kabai. It was a single piece long frock reaching down the knees. With the passage of time, he started wearing a shirt and trousers which were just longer than the short pants. The baker and his family always looked happy and prosperous in the good old days. Their plumpy physique was an open testimony of their happiness and prosperity. However, as the time changed, the bakers continued their profession but with their reduced fortune and importance. The thud and jingle of the traditional bamboo of the baker is still heard in the streets of Goa even now. Sweet breads or the bols are still the part of feasts, marriages and Christmas in Goa. However, the old charm and craze have become rather dim in recent days.

Question 13. What do our elders are often heard reminiscing nostalgically about in Goa? Did the old profession of making the famous loaves of bread end with the Portuguese?
Answer: Our elders in Goa — heard reminiscing nostalgically about the good old Portuguese days — are often heard saying nostalgically about their famous loaves of bread — Many eaters of loaves might have vanished — the makers are still alive — profession of baking loaves of bread has not died with ending of the Portuguese rule. Goa still has the mixers, the moulders and the bakers of those loaves — the furnaces still bake those unique loaves of bread — Even today one can hear the thud and jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo in the morning — Marriages, feasts, Christmas and other festivals are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol — the baker’s presence in even Goan village is absolutely essential — Baking was indeed a profitable profession in good old days — the tradition hasn’t died completely yet.

Question 14. Baking was a profitable profession in the old days in Goa. Prove it by giving examples from the text.
Answer: Baking was indeed a profitable profession in the old days in Goa — the people of Goa were used to the refreshing fragrance of the loaves of bread — On all occasions and ceremonies, they needed them — Marriage gifts — meaningless without the sweet bread or the bol. No party — complete if bread was not served in it — the lady of the house must prepare sandwiches on the engagement ceremony of her daughter — Christmas and other festivals must have bolinhas during their celebrations — the presence of the baker’s furnace was absolutely necessary in every Goan village — the baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month. The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous. Their plump physique was an open testimony to their happiness and prosperity.

Question 15. What are popular theories regarding the descent of the people of Coorg?
Answer: The Coorgi people are distinct people. Their religious practices, marriages and traditions are distinct from the Hindu mainstream. There are two theories regarding the descent of the Coorgi people. It is believed that perhaps they are of Greek or Arabic descent. According to one theory, a part of Alexander’s army moved south along the coast. Their return became impractical. These people settled down there. They married amongst the locals. Another theory gives their descent to the Arabs. The theory of Arab origin draws support from their dress which resembles the traditional Arabic dress. Their long, black coat with an embroidered waist-belt worn by the Kodavus, known as Kuppia, resembles the kuffia worn by the Arabs and the Kurds.

Question 16. Why does the author call Coorg a ‘piece of heaven’ that must have drifted from the kingdom of God?
Answer: Coorg is among the most beautiful regions of India. The author rightly calls it ‘a piece of heaven’ that must have drifted from the kingdom of God. This land of rolling hills is also the home of beautiful rainforests. The rainforests cover more than thirty per cent of Coorg. The evergreen rainforests have a rich flora and fauna. The very air of Coorg breathes of fresh coffee. The beautiful sprawling coffee estates are dotted with colonial bungalows. The river Kaveri obtains its water from the hills and rainforests of Coorg. Kingfishers dive for Mahaseer, a large freshwater fish in these waters. Squirrels and langurs drop partially eaten fruit into the clear water. Elephants enjoy being bathed and scrubbed in the Kaveri by their mahouts. The climb to the Brahmagiri hills gives a panoramic view of the entire misty landscape of Coorg. The sixty-four acre island of Nisargadhama is a little paradise for tourists. So are the temples and Buddhist monks wearing red, ochre and yellow robes. All of them represent the heart and soul of India.

Question 17. Describe the physical and geographical features of Coorg.
Answer: Coorg is a piece of heaven — drifted from the Kingdom of God — land of rolling hills inhabited by proud race of martial men, beautiful women, coffee and wild elephants — the smallest district of Karnataka — home to evergreen forests, spices and coffee plantation — beautiful region of rolling hills, rainforests and mist lies between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore — Rainforests dominate the physical feature — cover more than thirty per cent of this district — rains heavily during the monsoons — ideal season for the tourists starts from September and ends in March — river Kaveri obtains its water from the hills and rainforests of Coorg — The region abounds in wild elephants and langurs besides a lot of birds, bees and butterflies — The Brahmagiri hills — a panoramic view of the entire misty landscape of Coorg — The sixty-four acre island Nisargadhama — a little paradise for the tourists.

Question 18. Describe the rainforests, the river Kaveri, and coffee plantations in Coorg.
Answer: Coorg — land of rolling hills and rainforests — The rainforests dominate the landscape of Coorg. They cover over thirty percent of Coorg. The rainforests have a lot of rains during the monsoons. — tourists season starts from September and ends in March — The hills and rainforests — source of the river Kaveri — Mahaseer, a large freshwater fish — Kaveri waters — The forests of Coorg — rich flora and fauna — Birds, bees, butterflies, Malabar squirrels, langurs and wild elephants — shelter in the rainforests of Coorg — The very air of Coorg smells — fresh coffee — Coffee estates and colonial buildings — scattered all around amid the rolling hills.

Question 19. What did Rajvir see during his train journey? Why was he more excited than his friend Pranjol?
Answer: Rajvir, a classmate of Pranjol, is visiting Dhekiabari Tea Estate in Assam, for the first time. Actually, he is enjoying the train journey to Assam with his friend Pranjol, whose father manages Dhekiabari Tea Estate. The beautiful scenery fascinates Rajvir. It is green, green everywhere. He sees so much greenery for the first time in his life. Now the landscape changes. The paddy fields give way to tea bushes. A sea of tea bushes are stretching as far as eyes can go. The orderly rows of bushes are pruned to the same height. Groups of tea pluckers are carrying bamboo baskets on their backs. They are plucking the newly sprouted leaves. The magnificent view fascinates Rajvir. However, Pranjol is not so much excited. These views are not new to him. He was born and brought up on a tea plantation.

Question 20. It seems that Rajvir had done a lot of homework regarding tea and its history. Do you support Pranjol’s father’s statement that he gave about Rajvir’s knowledge in this regard?
Answer: It is true that Rajvir had never visited a tea estate ever before in his life. His visit to Dhekiabari Tea Estate was at the invitation of his classmate Pranjol, whose father managed the estate. But Rajvir seemed to have done a lot of homework and reading about tea and tea plantations before coming to Assam. He told Pranjol that tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. More than eighty crore cups of tea are drunk every day throughout the world. When he saw an ugly building with smoke billowing out of its tall buildings, he at once cried “Hey, a tea garden!”. Actually, he had been reading as much about tea as he could. He narrated different legends regarding the discovery of tea leaves. It was Rajvir who narrated the legends describing how tea leaves were discovered in India and China. Rajvir impressed and surprised Pranjol’s father about his deep knowledge of tea-leaves. When he saw a tractor pulling a trailer load of tea leaves he recognised that it was the second-flush or sprouting period. He also knew that it continues from May to July and yields the best tea.

Question 21. What are the different legends related to tea leaves?
Answer: Tea was first drunk in China as far back as 2700 B.C. — words like ‘chai’ and ‘chini’ came from Chinese — According to one Chinese legend, there was a Chinese emperor — he always boiled water before drinking it — One day, some leaves from the twigs burning under the pot fell into the boiling water — The leaves gave a delicious flavour. It is said that they were tea leaves — an Indian legend too about the discovery of tea leaves — Bodhidharma was an ancient Buddhist ascetic — It is said that he cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditations — said that ten tea plants grew out of his eyelids — the leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk, banished sleep — In Europe, tea came as late as the sixteenth century — was drunk more as medicine than as beverage.

Question 22. Pranjol was born and brought up on a tea estate in Assam but it was Rajvir who knew much about tea leaves and the legends associated with tea. Base your answer on their visit to Dhekiabari Tea Estate in Assam.
Answer: Pranjol was born and brought up on a tea plantation — His father managed Dhekiabari Tea Estate in Assam — his friend Rajvir’s knowledge about tea and its history was more profound than him — the reason was simple — Rajvir had done a lot of reading about tea and its history — even surprised Pranjol’s father with his in-depth knowledge of the subject. Rajvir’s visit to Dhekiabari — an opportunity for him to connect his reading and knowledge to the real existing tea plantation — was fascinated by the magnificent sea of tea bushes stretching as far as his eyes could go — saw with his own eyes the groups of tea pluckers, with bamboo baskets on their backs, plucking the newly-sprouted leaves — His studies helped him to recognise that the trailer-load of tea leaves were the second-flush — the sprouting period that gave the best tea. 