Maharashtra Board Class 11 English Chapter 1.3 The Call of the Soil Solutions

 

Question 1. Complete the following sentences.
Answer:
1. Before eating apples brought from the market, I wash and peel them off to stay away from any sort of contamination as far as possible.
2. In a farmer’s market, we find rice, pulses, vegetables, fruits, dairy items, eggs, etc.
3. Food adulteration means an addition of another substance to a food which may result in the loss of actual quality of food and its natural composition.
4. Organic food is grown by using fertilizers made with natural ingredients, renewable resources and conservation of soil and water.
5. Organic fertilizer means a type of fertilizer derived from animal matter, human and animal excreta (manure) and vegetable matter, that is, compost and crop residues. These practices help us maintain a healthy lifestyle and make informed choices about the food we consume.
In simple words: This exercise helps us understand basic concepts about food safety, organic farming, and natural fertilizers. It highlights how we can make healthier choices by choosing clean and organic food.

🎯 Exam Tip: Make sure to define terms like food adulteration and organic fertilizers accurately using key scientific or environmental terms to score full marks.

 

Question 2. Complete the following web diagram.
Answer:
Rice varieties available at my Grocer's shop:
• Basmati
• Indrayani
• Kolam
• Ambemohar
These varieties are popular in households due to their unique aroma and texture.
In simple words: This diagram lists different types of rice that you can easily find at a local grocery store. Each variety has its own unique taste and cooking style.

🎯 Exam Tip: When completing web diagrams, write clear and concise points in each branch to keep the presentation neat and easy to read.

Question 2. Name the different rice varieties available at a grocer's shop.
Answer:
Rice Varieties available at my grocer's shop:

• Shruti Kolam
• Basmati
• Kolam
• Vada Kolam

In simple words: Different types of rice like Basmati and Kolam can be found at local grocery stores.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to list varieties, using a bulleted list makes your answer clear and easy to read.

 

Question 3. Find out from your grandparents or parents the names of vegetables and fruits they had eaten in their childhood and mention how the vegetables and fruits are different from the ones today.
Answer:

Name of the vegetable or fruit	Shape	Colour	Taste
			Earlier	Now
Mango	Oblong	Yellow / Green	(a) naturally ripened	(i) artificially ripened
Cauliflower	Round	White with green leaves	(b) mostly available in winter and was very tasty	(ii) we get it throughout the year, but the taste is definitely worse than those available in winter
Apple	Round	Red / Green	(c) used to grow in natural environment and was safely given to sick people	(iii) One pays more to buy the organic varieties which are supposed to be pesticides-free and so good for health

In simple words: Fruits and vegetables in the past were grown naturally and seasonally, making them tastier and healthier. Today, many are grown year-round using artificial methods and chemicals, which often reduces their natural flavor and quality.

🎯 Exam Tip: Presenting comparative data in a neat table format helps you secure full marks and makes it easy for the examiner to read.

 

Question 4. Discuss the difference between conventional farming and organic farming.
Answer: Conventional farming relies heavily on chemical fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, and modern machinery to maximize crop yield. On the other hand, organic farming uses natural inputs like compost, green manure, and biological pest control to maintain soil health and ecological balance. This sustainable approach ensures that the food produced is free from harmful chemical residues.
In simple words: Conventional farming uses chemicals and modern machines to grow a lot of food quickly. Organic farming uses natural methods like cow dung and natural compost to grow food safely without harming the soil.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly highlight key differences like fertilizer use, environmental impact, and cost to write a well-rounded answer.

Conventional Farming	Organic Farming
(a) Relies on chemical intervention	(i) Depends on natural principles
(b) Farmers use synthetic and genetically modified organisms to kill pests and maximize output	(ii) No artificial ingredient or preservative is used and they are minimally processed to maintain the integrity of food
(c) Harms health and environment	(iii) Claimed to be healthier farm system

(A1)

(i) Read the Extract and State Whether the Following Statements are True or False. Correct the False Statements.

 

Question (a). Growing in abundance is more important than the quality of the crop.
Answer: False. The quality of the crop is more important than growing in abundance a lesser variety of crop, as nutritious food is essential for good health.
In simple words: It is better to grow a smaller amount of high-quality, healthy food than a huge amount of low-quality food.

🎯 Exam Tip: When correcting a false statement, always write the complete corrected statement clearly to secure full marks.

 

Question (b). The author wanted to grow the desi variety of rice.
Answer: True. The author strongly preferred traditional, local seeds over modern hybrid varieties.
In simple words: The author wanted to plant local, traditional rice because it is natural and has a better taste and aroma.

🎯 Exam Tip: For true/false questions, read the text carefully to identify the author's specific preferences and choices.

 

Question (c). The author did not succeed in finding Kasbai.
Answer: False. The author was successful in finding Kasbai from an Adivasi woman at Boripada, a remote village, after a long and persistent search.
In simple words: The statement is false because the author did manage to find the traditional Kasbai rice seeds in a small tribal village.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always mention the specific location and person from whom the item was found to make your answer precise.

 

Question (d). The aroma of the ‘desi’ rice would spread around the village.
Answer: True. Traditional rice varieties are known for their strong, pleasant fragrance that fills the air during harvest.
In simple words: This is true because traditional local rice has a very strong and nice smell that can be noticed from far away.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to sensory details like aroma or taste mentioned in the passage to answer such descriptive true/false questions.

 

Question (e) Newer hybrid crops have a great appetite for chemicals.
Answer: True. These modern varieties are specifically bred to respond heavily to chemical inputs like fertilizers and pesticides to maximize yield.
In simple words: This means that newer hybrid crops need a lot of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to grow well.

🎯 Exam Tip: For true/false questions, read the statement carefully and relate it directly to the textbook concepts of modern farming.

 

Question (f) The author is an example of ‘reverse migration’.
Answer: True (‘Reverse Migration’ is a new trend of shifting from bigger cities to nearby smaller towns or suburbs). This movement helps people reconnect with nature and lead a more peaceful life.
In simple words: The author moved from a big city back to a village, which is called reverse migration.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define key terms like 'reverse migration' in your answer to show a complete understanding of the concept.

 

Question (ii) Complete the flow chart.
Answer:
• April 2005 started his search for Kasbai rice
• The elders in the village told him about Kasbai whose seeds had disappeared
• Ex-sarpanch Devu Handa told him about the specialities of Kasbai and the reason for stopping its growth
• Devu Handa gave him the information of the place where Kasbai seeds might be possible to get
• Bought Kasbai rice from an Adivasi woman in a remote area
This sequence highlights the persistent efforts required to trace the traditional seeds.
In simple words: This flow chart shows the step-by-step journey of how the author successfully found and bought the traditional Kasbai rice.

🎯 Exam Tip: When completing a flow chart, ensure the events are in the correct chronological order as they happened in the story.

 

Question (iii) Read the text and fill in the blanks.
Answer:
(a) The author wanted to grow organic moong.
(b) Moru Dada wanted to spray pesticides on the moong crop.
(c) Baban’s father and some elders mentioned the name of Kasbai.
(d) “Hybrids need more water, fertilizers and pesticides”, said Devu Handa.
(e) The author bought ten kilos of rice from an Adivasi woman who lived in the remote hills.
These details highlight the author's persistent journey to stick to traditional and organic farming methods despite modern challenges.
In simple words: These sentences complete the key details about the characters and events in the story of finding the Kasbai rice.

🎯 Exam Tip: Underline the filled-in words in your answer sheet to make it easy for the examiner to grade.

(A2)

 

Question (i) List the reactions of the agricultural officer to the author’s inquiry about Kasbai rice seeds.
Answer:
(a) He had not heard of Kasbai.
(b) He felt that the villagers were fooling the author.
(c) He mentioned the names of the latest hybrids and also offered to give him some, free of cost. The officer was quite surprised by the author's interest in an old, traditional variety.
In simple words: The agricultural officer did not know about Kasbai rice, thought the villagers were playing a trick on the author, and tried to give him modern hybrid seeds instead.

🎯 Exam Tip: Present the reactions as clear, distinct points to make it easy for the examiner to award full marks.

 

Question (ii) Note down Devu Handa’s fond memories of Kasbai.
Answer: Devu Handa’s fond memories of Kasbai are as follows:

• It needs no protection from rain
• It has an alluring aroma
• It has no hunger for chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides

These memories highlighted how reliable and fragrant the traditional crop used to be.
In simple words: Devu Handa remembered that Kasbai rice did not get damaged by rain, had a wonderful smell, and grew naturally without needing any chemical fertilizers or pesticides.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use bullet points to list memories clearly, as this helps highlight each distinct feature of the rice.

(A3)

 

Question (i) The writer says he grew “an awful lot of moong”. Explain the word ‘awful’ in this sentence.
Answer: “An awful lot” is an Idiom meaning ‘a very large amount’. Everyone known to the writer did not expect a good yield of moong since he refused to spray any chemical on the plants. In spite of that, Nature did her job and the writer could get three hundred kilograms of moong which was not only ‘awful’, that means ‘large number’ but also a confidence-builder for a first-timer. This unexpected abundance proved that organic farming methods could be highly successful.
In simple words: In this sentence, "awful" does not mean bad; instead, the phrase "an awful lot" means a huge amount. The writer got a surprisingly large harvest of moong beans without using chemicals.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain both the idiomatic meaning of the phrase and how it relates directly to the context of the writer's harvest.

 

Question (ii) The word scent is different from its synonyms aroma, fragrance or perfume. Explain how the word ‘scent’ in the subtitle ‘A Scent of Rice’, has a deeper meaning than ‘perfume’ or ‘fragrance’. Pick phrases having a similar meaning from the following:
Answer: (i) The word ‘Scent’ in the subtitle ‘Scent of Rice’ has a deeper meaning than its synonyms like perfume or fragrance because it represents the soul, heritage, and trace of the traditional Kasbai rice that connects the author to the soil. It refers to an organic, natural essence that lingers in the memory of the land and its people.
In simple words: While words like "perfume" mean a manufactured smell, "scent" refers to a deep, natural aroma that is connected to memories, nature, and the heritage of the land.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the connection between the word 'scent' and nature or heritage to show a deeper understanding of the text's theme.

Question (ii) Phrases
(a) In pursuit of : a quest in order to achieve something
(b) To smell a rat: to believe something wrong is happening
(c) To be keen : interested in some activity one often does and enjoys
(d) On the trail of: Trying to find someone or something by getting information about it
(e) To feel under the water : feel emotionally overwhelmed
The phrases having a similar meaning of ‘A Scent of Rice’ are:
(i) In pursuit of
(ii) On the trail of
Answer:
(i) In pursuit of
(ii) On the trail of
In simple words: The phrases "in pursuit of" and "on the trail of" both mean searching for or trying to find something, which is similar to the idea of following a scent.

🎯 Exam Tip: Carefully read the definitions of all given phrases to identify which ones align with the theme of searching or following a trail.

A4

 

Question 1. She muttered in reply and we looked at Jeevan for a quick interpretation.
Answer: She muttered in reply and we looked at Jeevan for a quick interpretation.
In simple words: This sentence describes a moment where someone spoke quietly and others turned to Jeevan to explain what she meant.

🎯 Exam Tip: For grammar or rewrite questions where the instruction is missing, focus on understanding the meaning of the sentence and identifying key clauses.

A5

 

Question (i) Give reason why the text is against ‘Planting and growing more crop a year seems to be progress by normal standards.’
Answer: Definitely planting and growing more crops a year need to be the target of the farmers but that should not be done at the cost of health hazards due to spraying of chemicals on the plants, using hybrid seeds and most importantly, forgetting our own tradition. Progress is always welcome but it should go hand in hand with safety of health and environment, importance of tradition and sentiment and last but not the least care for the rich biodiversity of our land.
In simple words: Growing more crops is good, but we should not do it by using harmful chemicals or destroying our environment and traditions. True progress means keeping our land and people healthy.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining why a practice is not true progress, highlight the negative impacts on health, environment, and traditional biodiversity.

 

Question (ii) Describe in 150 words your experience similar to the writer’s when you pursued something and reached your goal.
Answer: I believe “A man without an aim is like a ship without a radar”. I have been taught from my childhood to set a goal for myself. The choice of my ambition was left to me only and I was never forced to do anything. I had multiple interests like playing football, drawing / painting and also writing about my various experiences. I started writing blogs on different social topics of my interest as well as of my own experiences in multiple walks of life. Gradually, after getting positive responses to my blogs, I got the confidence of writing short stories which were quite well accepted too by my friends and relatives. That gave me immense faith to choose writing as my profession. One day, I saw an advertisement of ‘Crossword’ bookstore asking young writers to take part in a story-writing competition. About forty stories will be published as a book titled “ I want to be an author” without thinking twice, I took part in the competition and the rest is history. Today, I am one of those forty-one young story-tellers. This journey taught me that persistence and self-belief are key to overcoming any initial hesitation.
In simple words: The writer shares a personal story of how they started writing blogs, gained confidence, entered a story-writing contest, and successfully got their work published.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing personal experience essays, structure your response with a clear beginning, middle, and a successful conclusion to show personal growth.

 

Question (iii) The writer goes in search of an invaluable indigenous variety of seeds. List three reasons for the importance of keeping records of our indigenous agricultural practices.
Answer: The reasons for the importance of keeping records of our indigenous agricultural practices are:
(i) (a) Reducing environmental stress by channelling water from mountain peaks to areas of demand and this practice has been going on for centuries.
(b) Using natural fertilizers made from cow dung, cow urine, evaporated cane juice of raw sugar and water to save sick plants. This practice has been mentioned in the vedas.
(ii) Traditional techniques like crop rotation, erosion prevention, systematic use of composts and manures lead to natural agricultural practices and promise better yields.
(iii) (a) Chemical fertilizers lead to degraded soil condition, deterioration in the health of quality of crops and livestock. Documenting these ancient methods ensures that future generations can farm sustainably without relying on harmful chemicals.
In simple words: Keeping records of traditional farming helps us remember natural ways to water crops, use organic fertilizers, and protect the soil from chemical damage.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use the exact sub-points (i), (ii), and (iii) as given in the textbook to make it easy for the examiner to award full marks.

 

Question (iv) Write a blog in about 100 to 150 words on organic farming.
Answer:
Organic Farming – A Blessing or Curse

Early 20th century saw the birth of organic farming which is an alternative to agricultural system in reaction to rapidly changing farming practices. It encourages the use of naturally occurring substances and strictly prohibits synthetic substances. Organic farming allows organically made fertilizers like compost manure, green manure and bone meal manure. Though they do not stop the use of some naturally occurring pesticides but synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are strongly prohibited. They are in favour of techniques like crop rotation, biological pest control, mixed cropping and nurturing insect killers.

Organic farming methods are internationally regulated since it has proved advantageous for health and food safety, food security, soil fertility and most importantly sustainability and biodiversity. That is why, the demand for organic farming has been steadily growing and is being encouraged all over the world. Organic farmers believe that agriculture was practised for thousands of years without the use of chemicals. If it was possible then, nothing should be impossible now. Embracing these traditional methods can pave the way for a healthier and more sustainable future for generations to come.
In simple words: Organic farming is a natural way of growing food without using harmful chemical fertilizers or pesticides. It focuses on keeping the soil healthy using natural compost and traditional farming methods. This helps protect our environment and provides us with safer, healthier food.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing a blog, use a catchy title and divide your thoughts into clear, readable paragraphs to keep the reader engaged.

 

Question (v) Write a short paragraph in about 120 words, to be used as Counter-View for the following topic. ‘Buy a bigger cloth for your coat’.
View Section:
(a) We cannot survive by the dictum ‘Cut your cloth according to your coat’ in today’s world.
(b) In the modern world we should ‘Think Big’
(c) Think of increasing your income instead of reducing your needs.
(d) We cannot deny ourselves, what the new world offers us.
Answer:
Counter-view:
In today's fast-paced and aspirational world, the old saying 'cut your cloth according to your coat' feels outdated and limiting. Instead of constantly restricting our desires and living a life of compromise, we must learn to 'think big' and strive for more. The modern world offers endless opportunities, and we should not deny ourselves the comforts and advancements it provides. Rather than focusing on reducing our needs and minimizing our lifestyle, our energy is better spent on finding innovative ways to increase our income. By expanding our horizons and aiming higher, we can afford a bigger cloth to make the coat of our dreams, driving personal growth and economic progress. Ultimately, aiming higher motivates us to push our boundaries and achieve financial independence.
In simple words: Instead of limiting our dreams to fit our current budget, we should work harder to increase our income so we can afford a better life. Thinking big motivates us to grow rather than just survive.

🎯 Exam Tip: For counter-view questions, clearly address the points mentioned in the 'View' section and present a strong, logical argument opposing them.

Today’s world is full of attractions. But we need to he careful about spending according to our means. We have to be prudent (wise) enough to save for the rainy days so that we don’t have to beg or borrow during emergency. It is, of course, essential to think big but at the same time over-ambition should not lead us to a point of no-return.

We should be well-aware of our capabilities and try to reach our goal judiciously instead of foolishly increasing our demands. We must make “slow but steady wins the race”, the motto of our life. Even if the new world has lots of offer, we must develop the quality of patience to wait for the right thing to come at the right time.

 

Question (vi) ‘Organic farming is the need of the time’. Write your views in favour and against the statement.
Answer: This comprehensive comparison highlights both the ecological benefits and the practical challenges of adopting organic methods on a large scale.

Views	Counter-views
1. Reduced exposure to pesticides and chemicals since natural fertilizers are used.	(a) Some organic pesticides can actually have a worse environmental impact, contrary to the popular belief.
2. One pays more for organic food but it is worth for a healthier diet.	(b) Organic products are costlier since production per unit is less than conventional farming.
3. Better effect on the environment by reducing global warming.	(c) Organic farming may reduce global warming but because of more use of land, this practice is not sustainable with a growing world population.
4. Organic food has better taste and more nutrition since they are given more time to develop and are not pumped with artificial things.	(d) Organic food generally gets spoilt faster since no preservatives are used to maintain their freshness and mishandling of products may deprive the market of their availability.

In simple words: Organic farming has great benefits like fewer chemicals and better taste, but it also has downsides like higher costs and lower crop yields. Understanding both sides helps us make better choices for our health and the planet.

🎯 Exam Tip: Presenting views and counter-views in a clear tabular format helps the examiner easily compare your points and awards maximum marks.

 

Question (vii) Appeal your classmate to say ‘No to Junk Food’. Write an appeal to prefer organic food over junk food.
Answer:
Attention! Attention! Attention!

My Dear Friends,

Do you know what you’re putting in your mouth? You surely know, you are what you eat.

I’m here to advise you not to use your stomach as a trash can! Please Say ‘No’ To Junk Food.

But, what is junk food? They’re all your favourites – yes, they are! French fries, chicken nuggets, nachos, taco burgers, chips, chocolates, pizzas, cakes – Ah! all are mouth-watering, aren’t they? But they are also slow-poisoning us everyday causing obesity, various liver diseases, diabetes, and blood pressure at a very young age — the list is long but the choice is yours! Choosing organic options is a wonderful way to respect your body.

Remember: Healthy organic foods bless us but junk foods mess us. Junk food which is rich in calories, fat, sugar and salt is yummier, I do agree with you. But are you ready to take such a big risk of spoiling your health and youth? Eat fresh, local and seasonal food because ‘health is wealth’, my dear friends!

Friends, you must eat to live and not live to eat. Let’s all have a healthy mind in a healthy body. It is my call, your call – our call!
In simple words: This is a friendly message asking classmates to stop eating unhealthy junk food and choose healthy, organic food instead. It reminds us that eating well keeps our bodies and minds strong.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing an appeal, use catchy slogans, exclamation marks, and direct addresses like 'My Dear Friends' to make your message persuasive and engaging.

Projects

 

Question (i) Plant the seed of a flower or fruit of your choice in a pot or in your garden. Note its growth every day and maintain a diary recording its progress.
Answer:
To complete this project, select a seed (such as a sunflower or tomato seed) and plant it in fertile soil. Water it daily and record your observations in a diary.

Sample Diary Entries:
• Day 1: Planted the sunflower seed in a pot with soil and watered it.
• Day 5: Tiny green shoots have started to emerge from the soil.
• Day 10: The stem is now two inches tall with two small leaves.
• Day 15: The plant is growing stronger and more leaves are appearing.

This hands-on activity helps us appreciate the beautiful process of nature firsthand.
In simple words: Plant a seed, water it every day, and write down how it grows step-by-step in a small notebook.

🎯 Exam Tip: For project-based questions, present your observations clearly with dates or day numbers to show systematic tracking.

Question (ii) Find out more career opportunities in the field of agriculture, organic farming, sales, storage, distribution and marketing research.
Answer: There are several career opportunities in these fields, such as Agricultural Officer, Organic Farm Manager, Sales Manager, Logistics and Warehouse Manager, Supply Chain Distributor, and Agricultural Market Analyst. These professions play a vital role in modernizing food production and ensuring efficient supply chains.
In simple words: You can find many different jobs in farming and food supply, like managing organic farms, storing crops safely, selling agricultural products, or researching market trends.

🎯 Exam Tip: When listing career opportunities, categorize them clearly under production, sales, and research to show a structured understanding.

 

Yuvakbharati English 11th Digest Chapter 1.3 The Call Of The Soil Additional Important Questions And Answers

 

Question 1. Find words related to agriculture.
Answer: The words related to agriculture are:
1. foliage of moong
2. pods
3. crop
4. land
5. farming
6. plant
7. sow
8. season
9. seeds
10. tractor
11. plough
12. leaves
13. bloom
14. field
15. ground
16. pesticide
17. yield
18. chemicals
19. farm
20. harvest
21. fertile
22. hybrids
23. fertilizers
24. farmers
25. rice
In simple words: These are common words we use when talking about farming, crops, tools, and growing food.

🎯 Exam Tip: Grouping related vocabulary words helps in building strong word registers for writing skills in exams.

Question 2. The writer disagreed with Moru Dada because –
Answer: The writer disagreed with Moru Dada because he suggested the use of some pesticides on the plants. The author was absolutely clear in his mind not to use any chemical which will be harmful for the soil, the plants and ultimately for human health. He wanted to practice organic farming to keep the environment safe. But for Moru Dada and his friends who were used to the conventional farming, this decision of the author was unthinkable.
In simple words: The writer wanted to grow crops naturally without using harmful chemicals. Moru Dada wanted to use chemical pesticides, which the writer strongly opposed.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining disagreements between characters, clearly state both perspectives to show a complete understanding of the conflict.

 

Question 3. The writer wanted to grow the traditional variety of rice because –
Answer:
1. It did not need very high variety of fertilizers
2. This variety is quite strong and is able to resist pests. Traditional crops are naturally adapted to the local climate and soil conditions.
In simple words: Traditional rice varieties are stronger and do not need expensive chemical fertilizers or pesticides to grow well.

🎯 Exam Tip: List the points clearly using numbers to make your answer easy for the examiner to read and grade.

 

Question 4. The write almost gave up hope of finding the desi variety of rice because –
Answer:
1. In spite of his regular visits to the villages around in search of a good desi variety, he was not successful,
2. Most of the farmers, especially the younger generation, in and around the village of Peth had switched over to hybrids and looked down upon the ‘desi’ variety, as they called the local scented variety of rice. Finding pure traditional seeds had become nearly impossible in a market dominated by newer hybrid seeds.
In simple words: The writer could not find the traditional rice because most local farmers had stopped growing it. They preferred newer hybrid varieties instead.

🎯 Exam Tip: Keep the exact terms like 'desi' and 'hybrid' in your answer as they are key vocabulary words from the chapter.

 

Question 5. Mention the varieties of rice from the passage, “Most of the farmers…disappeared”
Answer:
1. Kasbai – local long-grained scented variety
2. Basmati – more aromatic than Kasbai
3. Hybrids – the latest craze of the farmers. These different varieties highlight the shift from traditional to modern farming choices.
In simple words: The passage mentions Kasbai, which is a local scented rice, Basmati, which has a stronger aroma, and modern hybrid varieties.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked to mention varieties, use a neat list format with brief descriptions for each variety to secure full marks.

 

Question 6. List ways in which the Government officer cooperated with the author.
Answer:
1. The agricultural officer felt that the villagers were fooling the author as they had not kept any records of the older traditional seeds.
In simple words: The government officer tried to help by warning the author that the local villagers might not be giving him accurate information about the traditional seeds.

🎯 Exam Tip: Even if an answer seems incomplete in your notes, try to complete the thought logically based on the context of the story.

Question 7. Find synonyms of the word ‘insipid’.
Answer: The synonyms of ‘insipid’ are tasteless, flavourless, and bland. These words describe food or things that lack any strong character or interest.
In simple words: 'Insipid' means something has no taste or flavor, like plain water or boiled food without salt.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing synonyms, try to provide at least two to three accurate words to secure full marks.

 

Comprehension

Read the Extract and Complete the Activities Given Below

Global Understanding

 

Question 1. Pick out the sentences that are true.
(i) The author thought that he would have some time to get familiar with farming.
(ii) Moru Dada was not at all sure about sowing moong in that season.
(iii) The moong seeds were brought from Gujarat.
(iv) The author did not own the land where he started farming.
Answer:
(i) True
(iii) True
These statements accurately reflect the author's initial experiences and decisions on his new farm.
In simple words: Only statements (i) and (iii) are correct according to the story, while the others are false.

🎯 Exam Tip: Read the passage carefully to verify each statement before marking it as true or false, as small details can change the meaning.

 

Question 2. State the advantages of the varieties as you find them in the extract.
Answer: The traditional varieties of crops are highly pest-resistant and do not require expensive chemical fertilizers to grow. They are also well-suited to the local climate and soil conditions, ensuring a reliable yield even in tough weather.
In simple words: Traditional crops are stronger because they can fight off pests naturally and do not need costly chemicals to grow well.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly list the benefits such as pest resistance and low cost to show a complete understanding of traditional farming advantages.

Variety	Advantages
1. Hybrid varieties	Short duration crop so can have two crops a year
2. Traditional Rice	Good quality rice with alluring aroma

 

Question 3. Match the pairs to complete the sentences / phrases in A with the alternatives in B.

‘A’	‘B’
1. Tales of Kasbai	(a) was enlightening
2. Visit to agricultural officer	(b) made us more determined to get it
3. Ex-sarpanch	(c) devu Handa
4. Hybrid	(d) insipid

Answer:

‘A’	‘B’
1. Tales of Kasbai	(b) made us more determined to get it
2. Visit to agricultural officer	(a) was enlightening
3. x-sarpanch	(c) devu Handa
4. Hybrid	(d) insipid

In simple words: This matching exercise connects key elements from the story, such as the search for Kasbai rice and the characters involved, with their correct descriptions.

🎯 Exam Tip: Read the chapter carefully to understand the context of each term, which makes matching them much easier and ensures full marks.

Say Whether The Following Statements Are True Or False. Correct The False Statement.

 

Question 1. The old woman weighed 10 kg of rice and gave it to the author.
Answer: False. The old woman did not have a weighing scale. Instead, she measured out the rice using a traditional basket measure.
In simple words: The statement is false because the old woman did not use a modern scale to weigh the rice.

🎯 Exam Tip: When correcting a false statement, clearly state 'False' first, and then write the correct fact as mentioned in the lesson.

 

Question 2. The author and his friend did not know the local dialect very well.
Answer: False. The author's friend, Moru Dada, knew the local dialect very well and spoke it fluently to help communicate with the villagers.
In simple words: This is false because the author's friend actually spoke the local language very well and helped translate.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to the specific characters in the story to avoid getting confused about who knew the local dialect.

Question 3. The people at Boripada village were well-aware of the modern way of farming.
Answer: False. The people at Boripada never heard of hybrids, fertilizers or pesticides. They continued to practice traditional, organic methods of agriculture.
In simple words: The villagers of Boripada did not know about modern farming tools or chemicals and grew their crops the traditional way.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering True/False questions, always provide a brief reason from the text to support your choice and secure full marks.

 

Question 4. The old woman was unhappy to get the price of the rice.
Answer: False. She was very happy and nodded her head with a smile of approval. The fair payment brought a sense of relief and satisfaction to her face.
In simple words: The old woman was actually very pleased with the money she received for the rice.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for keywords like 'happy' or 'nodded' in the passage to correctly identify the character's emotions.

 

Complex Factual:

 

Question 1. Supply Information from the passage,
1. I stood in the middle of lush green field of _______ and _______ .
2. Around me were rows of _______ and below a dense _____ .
Answer:
1. Moong (green gram), looked around me
2. Chikoo trees, foliage of moong
These plants created a beautiful and vibrant ecosystem on the farm.
In simple words: This describes the specific crops and trees that the author saw growing closely together in the field.

🎯 Exam Tip: Fill in the blanks using the exact words from the passage to maintain accuracy.

 

Question 2. Mention any two changes that have occurred in farming of rice.
Answer:
1. Most of the farmers in and around the village of Peth had switched over to hybrids.
2. Kasbai which is a traditional long grained rice variety with distinct aroma being a long duration crop is not preferred by the farmers. This shift highlights how newer, faster-growing varieties are replacing older heritage crops.
In simple words: Farmers started growing hybrid rice instead of traditional varieties like Kasbai because hybrids grow faster.

🎯 Exam Tip: Structure your answer with clear bullet points or numbers when asked to mention specific changes or reasons.

 

Question 3. Mention any two difficulties that the author faced in tracing Kasbai.
Answer:
1. The Agricultural officer didn’t know Kasbai existed. So he couldn’t help the author in procuring it.
2. The local farmers had completely stopped growing this traditional variety, making seeds extremely rare to find. This made the search highly challenging and required extensive travel to remote villages.
In simple words: The author struggled because the government officer had never heard of Kasbai rice, and local farmers had stopped planting it.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked for a specific number of points, ensure you list all of them clearly to get full marks.

Question 4. The only people who still grew Kasbai rice were –
Answer: The adivasis in a hamlet at the foothills of the mountains in the village Asarvari. These tribal communities preserved their traditional farming practices against modern shifts.
In simple words: Only the tribal people living near the mountains in Asarvari village kept growing the traditional Kasbai rice.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention both the specific community (adivasis) and the location (foothills of Asarvari village) to get full marks.

 

Question 5. Each year they had to increase the quantity of urea and pesticides as –
Answer: The hybrid varieties had insatiable appetite for chemicals and fertilizers. This constant demand made the soil increasingly dependent on artificial inputs.
In simple words: Hybrid crops needed more and more chemicals every year to grow well, like a habit that keeps growing.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use key terms like 'insatiable appetite' or 'chemical dependency' to align with the textbook language.

 

Question 6. How was the old lady’s world unspoilt by progress?
Answer: The old lady, who, according to the writer, represents real people of India, holding on to the biodiversity of Indian land. They have been able to do this as they have never heard of hybrids, fertilizers or pesticides. Her simple lifestyle protected the local ecosystem from modern chemical degradation.
In simple words: The old lady lived a simple life without using modern chemicals, hybrids, or pesticides, which kept her environment natural and pure.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain how lack of awareness of modern chemicals actually helped preserve the natural biodiversity.

 

Inference / Interpretation / Analysis

 

Question 1. Explain. “I was grateful to have taken Moru’s advice”
Answer: The author was not sure about planting moong in that season as he wanted to get familiar with the process of farming. But Moru Dada insisted that the season was right for planting moong seeds. He was right and the author was thankful for listening to his advice since he had a good harvest of moong. This successful yield built the author's confidence in traditional agricultural wisdom.
In simple words: The author was hesitant to plant moong, but Moru Dada convinced him it was the right time. The advice worked perfectly, resulting in a great harvest.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly contrast the author's initial hesitation with the successful final outcome of the harvest.

 

Complete the Following Sentence

 

Question 1. The author decided to not plant hybrids because –
Answer: The author decided to not plant hybrids because he wanted to grow organic crops and did not want to use chemical fertilizers and pesticides. He strongly believed in preserving the natural quality of the soil through traditional seeds.
In simple words: The author wanted to do pure organic farming without using harmful chemicals, which are always needed for hybrid crops.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the author's preference for organic farming and his opposition to chemical inputs.

Question 1. Why did the farmer decide to stop growing hybrid crops?
Answer: The hybrid had given him low yield the previous year. This disappointing harvest made him realize that newer varieties were not always reliable.
In simple words: The farmer stopped using hybrid seeds because they did not produce enough crops the year before.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering questions about crop yields, clearly state the cause-and-effect relationship to show a complete understanding.

 

Question 2. The seeds of Kasbai wasn’t easily available because –
Answer: It is a long duration crop and farmers could grow two crops in that duration. Consequently, most local farmers shifted to faster-growing varieties to maximize their annual profits.
In simple words: Kasbai seeds were hard to find because the crop takes a long time to grow. Farmers preferred faster crops so they could harvest twice a year instead of once.

🎯 Exam Tip: Use key terms like "long duration crop" and "two crops" to secure full marks for this reason-based question.

 

Question 3. A visit to agricultural officer was not useful.
Answer: The agricultural officer had not heard of the traditional long duration varieties of rice. He was aware of only the hybrid varieties that gave quick yield. So visiting the agricultural office was not useful. This highlights how modern agricultural administration often overlooks traditional farming wisdom.
In simple words: The agricultural officer only knew about modern, fast-growing hybrid rice and had never heard of traditional rice. Therefore, he could not help the author find Kasbai.

🎯 Exam Tip: Contrast the officer's knowledge of "hybrid varieties" with his ignorance of "traditional varieties" to make your answer impactful.

 

Question 4. People didn’t grow Kasbai.
Answer: The market didn’t recognize Kasbai anymore as a variety of rice, it had lost its popularity. If they grew it they wouldn’t be able to sell it. So people didn’t grow it. This shift in consumer demand forced farmers to abandon their traditional crops.
In simple words: People stopped growing Kasbai because buyers in the market no longer wanted it. Since farmers could not sell it, they stopped planting it.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention the market demand and the inability to sell the crop as the primary reasons why farmers stopped growing Kasbai.

 

Question 5. Write a small paragraph on the new shift to hybrid plants.
Answer: With advent of irrigation farmers have resorted to new hybrid varieties of rice. The long duration crops are now replaced by short duration hybrids as they can plant two crops in one year. The traditional varieties have lost its existence as it requires more duration for its harvest and also will attract cattle for its pleasant aroma unlike the hybrid crops. This transition has significantly altered the biodiversity of rural farmlands.
In simple words: Modern watering systems have led farmers to choose fast-growing hybrid crops over traditional ones. This allows them to grow two harvests a year, even though traditional crops smell better and are of higher quality.

🎯 Exam Tip: Include points about irrigation, short duration vs. long duration, and the loss of traditional varieties to write a comprehensive paragraph.

 

Question 6. Interpret the statement: “It was difficult to keep a straight face …”
Answer: The author was very happy to know that the old lady had Kasbai rice with her. He was unsuccessful in his search for this particular aromatic rice for months and finally finding it filled him with immense joy, making it hard to hide his excitement. He had to struggle to control his expressions so as not to appear overly eager or strange to the villagers.
In simple words: The author was so incredibly happy to finally find the rare rice after searching for months that he struggled to hide his big smile.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain the inner emotion of the character (joy/excitement) and why he had to hide it to correctly interpret the phrase.

Question 7. Guess why the old lady nodded her head in approval.
Answer: The old lady did not have any clue how much to ask for a basketful of seeds which she had given to the writer. She, even did not have a weighing scale to know how much she had given. But the author gave her hundred rupees which probably she did not hope for. She happily accepted the money which might be unexpected but was definitely welcomed by her. This generous gesture established mutual trust between them.
In simple words: The old lady did not know how much to charge for the seeds because she had no scale to weigh them. When the author gave her a hundred rupees, which was more than she expected, she was very happy and agreed to the deal.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering "guess" questions, use clues from the text to explain the characters' feelings and motivations clearly.

 

Personal Response

 

Question 1. Name any two reasons for destruction of foliage in India today.
Answer: Reason 1: The trees are cut to clear the land for construction of buildings.
Reason 2: The growing industries also demand deforestation. This rapid loss of green cover severely impacts local ecosystems and wildlife.
In simple words: Foliage is being destroyed because people are cutting down trees to build houses and factories. This leaves less green space for nature.

🎯 Exam Tip: Present your points clearly using numbered labels like 'Reason 1' and 'Reason 2' to make it easy for the examiner to grade.

 

Question 2. Frame any four questions that you would ask a farmer if you interview him.
Answer:
1. What do you usually grow in your farm?
2. What are the challenges you face while pursuing farming as your sole occupation?
3. What do you do on a daily basis?
4. What sprays do you use?
These questions help us understand both the daily routine and the larger economic struggles of agricultural life.
In simple words: These questions are designed to find out what crops a farmer grows, what daily challenges they face, and how they manage their fields.

🎯 Exam Tip: Ensure your interview questions are polite, direct, and cover different aspects of the person's life and work.

 

Question 3. Mention any four rice varieties that you have heard of.
Answer: There are many varieties of rice in India. The most common types of rice and parboiled rice are white rice, basmati rice, and emperor's rice. These varieties differ in aroma, grain length, and cooking texture.
In simple words: Some of the well-known types of rice include white rice, basmati rice, parboiled rice, and emperor's rice.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always list the exact number of items requested in the question to secure full marks.

 

Question 4. According to you how can we develop sustainability in Agriculture.
Answer: The sustainability can be attained by the following practices. These methods help maintain soil health and protect the ecosystem.
1. Rotating crops
2. Planting cover crops
3. Applying integrated pest management
4. Embracing diversity
In simple words: We can keep farming healthy for the future by changing crops, planting soil-protecting plants, controlling pests naturally, and growing different kinds of crops.

🎯 Exam Tip: List all four points clearly using numbers to make your answer easy for the examiner to read and award full marks.

 

Question 5. Why do you think, the author was grateful to the old lady who was ‘unspoilt by progress’?
Answer: I think, progress has its pros and cons. It is true that we cannot sit idle when the world is progressing by leaps and bounds. But we need to recognise the adverse (ill) effects of ‘progress’ and keep them away as much as possible. That is why, the author was delighted to see the old lady who had carefully kept the tradition alive by preserving the seeds of Kasbai rice. Her efforts ensured that a unique and nutritious local variety was not lost forever.
In simple words: The author was happy because the old lady saved traditional rice seeds, keeping a valuable part of nature safe from modern changes.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain both sides of 'progress' briefly before highlighting the old lady's role in preserving tradition to show a balanced understanding.

 

Language Study

 

Question 1. The author thought that he would have some time for farming. (Rewrite using the Infinitive of the underlined gerund)
Answer: The author thought that he would have some time to farm. This change replaces the noun-like gerund with a verb-based infinitive.
In simple words: We changed the word 'farming' to 'to farm' to use an infinitive form.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that an infinitive always takes the form of 'to' followed by the base verb (to + verb).

 

Question 2. I was trying to figure out how we should go about it. (Place the modal auxiliary with another showing obligation)
Answer: I was trying to figure out how we must go about it. The word 'must' indicates a strong necessity or duty.
In simple words: We replaced 'should' with 'must' to show that doing something is a strong duty.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify the original modal auxiliary ('should') first, then replace it with 'must' or 'ought to' to show obligation.

 

Question 3. The hybrid had given him low yield the previous year.
Answer: The hybrid had not given him high yield the previous year. This change in phrasing maintains the original meaning while using negative construction.
In simple words: This sentence means the same thing but uses different words. Instead of saying it gave a "low yield", we say it did "not give a high yield".

🎯 Exam Tip: When rewriting sentences, ensure the core meaning remains unchanged unless specifically asked to change it.

 

Question 4. Kasbai is a traditional long grained rice variety.
Answer: Kasbai is a traditional long grained rice variety, Isn’t it? Adding a question tag is a common way to turn a statement into a question for confirmation.
In simple words: We added "Isn't it?" at the end to turn the statement into a question. This is called adding a question tag.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always use a comma before the question tag and end the sentence with a question mark.

 

Question 5. The entire area would have this heady aroma. (Rewrite in past perfect tense)
Answer: The entire area had this heady aroma. This tense shift helps describe a state that existed in the past.
In simple words: The sentence is changed to show that the smell was already present in the area in the past.

🎯 Exam Tip: Follow the textbook's provided answer key closely for grammar transformations, even if multiple interpretations exist.

 

Question 6. His eyes turned dreamy as he drifted to the past. (Make it compound sentence)
Answer: His eyes turned dreamy and he drifted to the past. Combining these two clauses with a coordinating conjunction creates a balanced compound sentence.
In simple words: A compound sentence joins two complete thoughts using a word like "and". Here, we removed "as" and connected the two parts with "and".

🎯 Exam Tip: Use coordinating conjunctions like 'and', 'but', or 'or' to join two independent clauses when forming a compound sentence.

 

Question 7. “If my field alone has Kasbai it will be a treat for the cattle.” He explained (Rewrite in reported speech)
Answer: He explained that if his field alone had Kasbai it would be a treat for the cattle. Notice how the tenses shift backward when changing from direct to indirect speech.
In simple words: When we report what someone else said, we change words like "my" to "his", "has" to "had", and "will" to "would".

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember to change pronouns and tense markers (like 'has' to 'had' and 'will' to 'would') when converting to reported speech.

 

Question 8. The only people who still grew it were the adivasis. (Rewrite removing ‘who’)
Answer: Only the adivasis still grew it. Removing the relative pronoun simplifies the sentence structure while keeping the focus on the subject.
In simple words: We made the sentence shorter and more direct by removing the word "who" and rearranging the words.

🎯 Exam Tip: Removing relative pronouns like 'who' often requires you to rephrase the sentence to keep it grammatically correct and natural.

 

Question 9. Her world was unspoilt by ‘Progress’.
Answer: Progress did not spoil her world. This active voice construction makes the statement more direct and impactful.
In simple words: Instead of saying her world "was unspoilt", we say that progress "did not spoil" her world. It means the exact same thing.

🎯 Exam Tip: Changing passive voice ("was unspoilt by") to active voice ("did not spoil") is a great way to make your writing stronger and clearer.

Question 10. She nodded her head in approval.
Answer: She nodded her head as she had approved. This change converts the noun phrase 'in approval' into a subordinate clause 'as she had approved' to show the action clearly.
In simple words: Instead of using the word 'approval', we rewrite the sentence using the action word 'approved' to show she agreed.

🎯 Exam Tip: When rewriting sentences, identify the part of speech to be changed and ensure the tense of the sentence remains consistent.

 

Vocabulary

 

Question 1. Match the words in column ‘A’ with their synonyms in column ‘B’.

Words (A)	Synonyms (B)
1. Foliage	(a) Careful
2. Gingerly	(b) Moist
3. lush	(c) Leaves of a tree
4. dump	(d) Thick

Answer: The correct matching pairs are shown in the table below, which helps in understanding the exact meanings of these descriptive words.

Words (A)	Synonyms (B)
1. Foliage	(c) Leaves of a tree
2. Gingerly	(a) Careful
3. lush	(d) Thick
4. dump	(b) Moist

In simple words: Synonyms are words that have the same or very similar meanings. Matching them helps us build a stronger vocabulary.

🎯 Exam Tip: To match synonyms correctly, try using the words in a simple sentence to see if they can replace each other without changing the meaning.

 

Question 2. Write antonyms of the words from the given extract:
1. Appear
2. Wise
3. Short duration
Answer:
1. Appear - Disappear
2. Wise - Foolish
3. Short duration - Long duration
These antonyms represent the exact opposite meanings of the words provided in the list.
In simple words: Antonyms are words that mean the opposite of each other, like hot and cold.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always read the passage carefully to find the exact antonym used in the text rather than just writing any general opposite word.

Question 3. From one word for:
1. mixed varieties
2. a different type of something
Answer:
1. hybrids
2. aroma
3. variety
In simple words: This exercise asks you to find a single word that represents the given descriptions.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to vocabulary lists in your textbook to easily recall one-word substitutes during exams.

 

Question 4. From the odd words from each group of words.
1. Reminisce, Remember, Think, Speak.
2. Mourn, Wail, Delight, Lament.
3. Appeasable, Insatiable, Satisfiable, Satiable.
4. City, Hamlet, Town, Village.
Answer:
1. Speak
2. Delight
3. Insatiable
4. City
In simple words: In each list, we choose the word that has a different meaning from the rest of the group.

🎯 Exam Tip: Group the words by their common meanings first; the one that does not share this common meaning is your odd word out.

 

Question 5. Match the words in column ‘A’ with their synonyms in column ‘B’.

Question. Match the vocabulary words in Column 'A' with their correct meanings in Column 'B'.

Column 'A'	Column 'B'
(a) biodiversity	1. chemical used to kill harmful insects
(b) hybrid	2. plant food
(c) pesticide	3. existence of wide variety of plants and animals on earth
(d) fertilizers	4. mixed-breed

Answer:

Column 'A'	Column 'B'
(a) biodiversity	3. existence of wide variety of plants and animals on earth
(b) hybrid	4. mixed-breed
(c) pesticide	1. chemical used to kill harmful insects
(d) fertilizers	2. plant food

These definitions help us understand key agricultural and ecological terms used in the text.
In simple words: This matching exercise helps us connect scientific words with their everyday meanings, like matching 'pesticide' to insect killer and 'hybrid' to a mixed breed.

🎯 Exam Tip: When matching columns, write the complete correct pair side-by-side in your answer sheet to make it easy for the examiner to grade.

 

Grammar

 

Question 1. Find out some simple, complex and compound sentences from the text.
Answer:
(i) Simple Sentences:
• At that point, I could not have asked for anything more.
• Moru Dada rented his tractor to plough the land.
• We started to look for a good variety of traditional rice.
• The officer-in-charge here had more knowledge of rice.

(ii) Complex Sentences:
• Kasbai is a traditional long-grained rice variety which has a distinct aroma.
• My bare feet were muddy as I walked around gingerly.
Identifying these sentence structures helps us appreciate the author's varied writing style.
In simple words: Simple sentences have only one main action or thought, while complex sentences connect a main idea with an extra detail using words like 'which' or 'as'.

🎯 Exam Tip: To identify a complex sentence, look for subordinating conjunctions like 'which', 'as', 'because', or 'although' that connect a dependent clause to an independent clause.

• We were clear that we would not use any chemicals.
• Even when there were flash floods in the sixties, Kasbai had stood its ground.

(iii) Compound Sentences

• They just grew their rice and ate what they got.
• It was just before sunrise and the sky was turning a bright orange.
• I made a quick trip to Surat and bought around 10 kilograms of moong.
• Nature did her job and she needed no bribes.

 

Question 2. List of subordinating conjunctions.
Answer: All wh-words like, who, what, when, whom, where, why, how though / although unless since, as, that, because, while, whereas before, whichever, whoever, after etc., are subordinating conjunctions. These words are essential for connecting dependent clauses to independent clauses.
In simple words: Subordinating conjunctions are words like 'because', 'although', and 'when' that connect a main idea to an extra detail in a sentence.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses, which cannot stand alone as complete sentences.

Glossary

1. lush – dense / thick
2. damp – wettish / moist
3. dense – thickest
4. pods – shells
5. exhilarated – very happy
6. plough – cultivate
7. thrilled – excited
8. hibiscus – a type of flower
9. yield – amount produced
10. convincing – persuasive
11. fertile – productive / rich
12. morale – confidence
13. booster – uplift / encouragement
14. hybrids – mixed breeds
15. aroma – scent / smell
16. pleasantries – polite talks

Vocabulary

• 17. tremble – shiver / shake
• 18. alluring – attractive / fascinating
• 19. fall in line (phr) – agree
• 20. rued – regretted bitterly
• 21. hamlet – small village
• 22. ditches – watercourses / canals / drains
• 23. scrambling – climbing / moving with difficulty
• 24. gravels – pebbles / stones
• 25. wrinkled – covered with lines
• 26. muttered – whispered / spoke in an undertone
• 27. scowled – looked angrily
• 28. nestling – naturally / pleasantly located house
• 29. hustle and bustle (phr) – excited activities
• 30. biodiversity – all the varieties of life on earth, their communities
• 31. habitat fuzz – a soft covering