CBSE Class 10 English Glimpses of India Worksheet Set D

Very Short Answer Questions

Question. When did the author usually see the baker?
Answer. He usually saw the baker in the morning.

Question. What was that dress like?
Answer. It was a single piece long frock reaching down to the knees.

Short Answer Type Questions :

Question. Describe the Chinese legend regarding the discovery of tea leaves.
Answer. There is a Chinese legend regarding the discovery of tea leaves. One Chinese emperor always boiled water before drinking it. One day a few leaves of the burning twigs under the pot fell into the water. The result was wonderful. The water gave a delicious flavour. Those leaves that gave the water a delicious flavour were tea leaves.

Question. What is the importance of breads for the Goans?
OR
Why was the Baker’s furnace essential in a traditional Goan village?
Answer. Different kinds of breads are important during the different occasions. Bolinhas had to be prepared during Christmas and other festivals. The mothers used to prepare sandwiches on the occasion of their daughter’s engagement. So, the baker’s furnace was essential.

Question. How and where are tea leaves collected in Assam?
Answer. Assam has the largest number of tea estates in India. Acre upon acre of tea bushes are stretched as far as the eyes can go. All the bushes are pruned to the same height. Groups of tea pluckers carry bamboo basket on their back to collect tea-leaves. They wear plastic aprons. They pluck the newlysprouted tea leaves from the bushes. Then the leaves are dried and processed in factories.

Question. How did the baker make his entry?
Answer. The baker used to enter with the Jingling sound of his specially made bamboo staff. His one hand supported the basket on his head and the other banged the bamboo on the ground.

Question. Why didn’t Pranjol share Rajvir’s excitement?
Answer. Pranjol — born and brought up on a tea plantation — familiar with tea gardens — On the other hand, Rajvir had never visited any tea plantation ever before. A sea of bushes stretching as far as the eyes could see, fascinated him — the magnificent view, orderly rows of tea bushes really excited him — But Pranjol was used to such sights.

Question. Why did Pranjol’s father say in surprise that Rajvir had done his homework before coming there?
Answer. A tractor — pulling a trailer-load of tea leaves at the Dhekiabari Tea Estate — Rajvir asked Pranjol’s father if that was the second flush or sprouting period — Rajvir told that the second sprouting period lasts from May to July — yields the best tea — Such detailed information about tea leaves surprised Pranjol’s father. He told Rajvir that he seemed to have done his homework before coming there.

Question. What is the Indian legend regarding the discovery of tea?
Answer. We have an Indian legend regarding the discovery of tea. Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic, cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditations. It is said that ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. The leaves of those plants, when put in hot water and drunk, banished sleep.

Question. How has tea become a popular beverage?
Answer. Tea is decidedly a very popular beverage in the world. More than eighty crore cups of tea are drunk every day throughout the world. At every platform in India you can hear vendors crying “chai-garam”. The people can’t resist buying the steaming hot cups of tea.

Question. Why was Rajvir so much excited?
Answer. Rajvir had never seen so much greenery before. He was looking at the beautiful scenery. The soft green paddy fields gave way to tea bushes. Against the backdrop of densely wooded hills, a sea of tea bushes stretched as far as the eyes could see. The orderly rows of bushes were pruned to the same height. Rajvir was really excited to see the magnificent view.

Question. What did Rajvir see in the Dhekiabari tea estate managed by Pranjol’s father?
Answer. The tea estate at Dhekiabari was managed by Pranjol’s father. Rajvir saw acre upon acre of tea bushes on both sides of the gravel road. They were all pruned to the same height. Groups of tea-pluckers, wearing plastic aprons were plucking the newly sprouted leaves. It was the second sprouting period.

Question. Where and when did the drinking of tea start and how did it come to Europe?
Answer. The drinking of tea first started in China — drunk in China as far as 2700 B.C. Words like tea, ‘chai’ and ‘chini’ are from Chinese — Tea came to Europe only in the 16th century — In Europe, tea was drunk as medicine than as beverage in the early period.

Question. Where were Rajvir and Pranjol going and why?
Answer. Rajvir and Pranjol were two youngsters. Actually, they were classmates at school in Delhi. Pranjol’s father is the manager of a tea garden in Upper Assam. Pranjol was born and brought up on the tea estate. He invited Rajvir to visit his home and the Dhekiabari Tea Estate during the summer vacation.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. 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. ‘During our childhood in Goa, the baker used to be our friend, companion and guide.’ What does this statement imply in relation to the character of the baker?
Answer. This statement tells us that the baker was a very respected person in the Goan society because he would guide the children about good behaviour (when he mildly rebuked them for peeping into his basket and giving respect to the elders (when he wished “Good morning” to the lady of the house) etc.
He was very informal with the children and so the author considered him as a friend and companion. He was not simply a vendor interested in selling what he made. Thus, he was an important character in the Goan society of those days.

Question. 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. 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.

Question. Instead of enjoying their childhood, the children today are keen to enter adulthood. After reading about all the joys that the author Lucio Rodrigues had in his childhood do you think such a keenness on the part of children is desirable?
Answer. I don’t think that the keenness of the children these days to enter adulthood is desirable.
Children these days are in a hurry to enter adulthood and have access to technology. Due to this they are learning things earlier than usual and getting matured beyond their age.
Hence, they are losing out their childhood and missing the joys that it brings with it. As per my thinking, they should grow at a slow pace and enjoy their childhood to the fullest. Children who miss out on their childhood cannot be a complete adult. So, they should not hurry up to be an adult and grow at nature’s pace.

Question. 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.

Extract Based Questions :

Question. Read the given extracts to attempt the questions that follow:
Answer. “Tell me another!” scoffed Pranjol. “We have an Indian legend too. Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic, cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditations. Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk, banished sleep.” “Tea was first drunk in China,’’ Rajvir added, ‘‘as far back as 2700 B.C.! In fact, words such as tea, chai and chini are from the Chinese. Tea came to Europe only in the sixteenth century and was drunk more as medicine than as beverage.”

Question. What different attitude did the European show towards tea?
Answer. The European drank tea just like medicine.

Question. Why did the ancient Buddhist ascetic cut off his eyelids?
Answer. Because he felt sleepy during meditations.

Question. When and where was tea drunk fist?
Answer. As per the legend, tea was first drunk in China in 2700 BC. Tea, chai and chini are absolutely made from the Chines.

Question. What is tea?
Answer. Tea is a beverage.

Question. What benefit do you get from tea?
Answer. When tea is drunk, our sleep vanishes away.

Read the given extracts to attempt the questions that follow:

‘‘We have an Indian legend too. Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic, cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditations. Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk banished sleep.’’ ‘‘Tea was first drunk in China,’’ Rajvir added, ‘‘as far back as 2700 B.C.! In fact 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 beverage.’’ The train clattered into Mariani junction. The boys collected their luggage and pushed their way to the crowded platform. Pranjol’s parents were waiting for them. Soon they were driving towards Dhekiabari, the tea-garden managed by Pranjol’s father. An hour later the car veered sharply off the main road. They crossed a cattle-bridge and entered Dhekiabari Tea estate.

Question. How does China have a deep connection with tea?
Answer. Tea was first drank in China as far back as 2700BC.

Question. What effect was produced by hot-water boiled with leaves on the Buddhist ascetic when he drank it?
Answer.  He immediately forgot sleep and became fresh again to continue his mediation.

Question. What was Pranjol’s father?
Answer. Pranjol’s father managed a tea garden at Dhekiabari.

Question. Why did the boys get down at Mariani Junction?
Answer. Because Pranjol’s father was waiting for their arrival at Mariani Junction.

Question. What origin of tea is described in the Indian legend?
Answer. Tea leaves grew out of the eyelids of an ancient Buddhist ascetic who often felt sleepy during meditation.

Read the given extracts to attempt the questions that follow:

The train pulled out of the station. Pranjol buried his nose in his detective book again. Rajvir too was an ardent fan of detective stories, but at the moment he was keener on looking at the beautiful scenery. It was green, green everywhere. Rajvir had never seen so much green of before. Then the soft green paddy fields gave way to tea bushes.
It was a magnificent view. Against the backdrop of densely wooded hills a sea of tea bushes stretched as far as the eye could see. Dwarfing the tiny tea plants were tall sturdy shade-trees and amidst the orderly rows of bushes busily moved doll-like figures. In the distance was an ugly building with smoke billowing out of tall chimneys.

Question. Do you think he was happy to see the strong trees?
Answer. No, because the strong trees had shaded the tiny tea plants.

Question. How were Pranjol and Rajvir related to each other?
Answer. They were good friends and studying in Delhi together.

Question. Where did he notice a sea of tea bushes?
Answer. He noticed a sea of tea bushes against the backdrop of density wooded hills.

Question. In this extract the narrator used ‘doll-like figures’. What do the ‘doll-like figures’ refer to?
Answer. The doll-like figures refer to the moving rows of tea bushes.

Question. Why did Rajvir not show interest in defection stories when he was also fond of reading them?
Answer. He was going to Assam for viewing the gardens. He didn’t want to lose this opportunity.