Samacheer Kalvi Class 6 English Solutions Term 1 Chapter 3 A Visitor from Distant Lands

Warm Up (Text Book Page No. 132)

Question 1. Look at the pictures. What do their expressions tell you? Fill in the blanks with the item that tastes the same. One example is given for each.
Answer: The pictures show different food items with faces expressing their taste. We need to match foods with similar tastes. Understanding different tastes like sweet, sour, bitter, salty, astringent, and pungent helps us describe food better.
1. Sweet: sugarcane - Jackfruit, Ice-cream, Cake, Candy
2. Sour: lime - Cheese, Orange, tamarind, Vinegar, Curd
3. Bitter: bitter gourd - spinach, fenugreek, curry leaf
4. Salty: salt - dry fish, Pickles, Seaweed
5. Astringent: betel nut - gooseberry, Pomegranate
6. Pungent: ginger - pepper, Garlic, Onion
In simple words: The pictures show food and their tastes. We need to name other foods that taste the same, like sweet foods, sour foods, and so on.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing food, it's good to use specific taste words like 'sour' or 'pungent' rather than just 'good' or 'bad'.

Read and Understand (Text Book Page No. 141)

A. Work in pairs. Tick the best option.

Question 1. When Amma said, 'Don't upset our foreign visitor' she meant
(a) potatoes
(b) pepper
(c) chilli
Answer: (c) chilli
In simple words: Amma used the words "foreign visitor" as a playful way to refer to chilli, meaning not to add too much of it because it is spicy.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to how characters use figurative language or indirect speech to understand their true meaning.

Question 2. Selvi asked, 'Did they come in an aeroplane?' because she
(a) was joking
(b) did not understand her mother
(c) thought it would be fun
Answer: (a) was joking
In simple words: Selvi's question was a joke because she understood that her mother was talking about vegetables coming from far away countries, not literally arriving by aeroplane.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for clues in the dialogue and situation to decide if a statement is serious or a joke.

Question 3. Amma bought the vegetables from the
(a) shops
(b) shopping mall
(c) supermarket
Answer: (a) shops
In simple words: Amma usually buys her vegetables from local shops. This shows she prefers traditional places to buy daily items.

🎯 Exam Tip: When a question asks for a specific detail, make sure to recall the exact information mentioned in the story.

B. Answer these questions. (Text Book Page No. 141)

Question 1. Who first brought these vegetables to India?
Answer: Some foreign merchants were the first to bring these vegetables to India. They introduced new foods while trading for spices.
In simple words: Foreign traders brought these vegetables to India first.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that trade routes often led to the exchange of not only goods but also cultural elements like food.

Question 2. Who came to India from Portugal in search of pepper?
Answer: Vasco da Gama was the person who came to India from Portugal, specifically looking for pepper. He was a famous explorer who opened sea routes to the East.
In simple words: Vasco da Gama came from Portugal to find pepper in India.

🎯 Exam Tip: Knowing key historical figures and their contributions helps in understanding geographical and historical contexts.

Question 3. What did Amma mean when she said tomatoes, ladies' fingers and corn came from other countries?
Answer: Amma meant that because these vegetables - tomatoes, ladies' fingers, and corn - originally came from other countries, they might not be as fresh or locally adapted as native vegetables. This also implies they might have been considered less traditional for their cuisine initially.
In simple words: Amma meant these vegetables were not native to India and came from faraway places.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand the context of sayings; sometimes, what is said directly has a deeper, implied meaning.

C. Read the comic strip again. Make groups of four and frame some questions on what you have read. Each group should ask a question in turns. You cannot repeat the same question. The team which asks more questions is the winner. (Text Book Page No. 141)

Question 1. Which are the foreign vegetables mentioned?
Answer: The foreign vegetables mentioned are corn, tomatoes, and ladies' fingers (okra). These were introduced to India from other parts of the world over time.
In simple words: Corn, tomatoes, and ladies' fingers were named as foreign vegetables.

🎯 Exam Tip: When listing items, ensure you include all the ones specifically asked for in the question.

Question 2. Why was Columbus sad?
Answer: Columbus was sad because he was looking for India and black pepper but instead found South America and the chilli plant. He did not achieve his original goal of reaching India.
In simple words: Columbus was sad because he wanted to find India for pepper but found South America and chilli instead.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the character's motivation and the outcome of their actions to understand their emotions.

D. Discuss in groups and share your views in three or four sentences with others in the class.

Question 1. What is your favourite dish? Do you know the spices that go into it? (Text Book Page No. 141)
Answer: My favorite dish is tomato rice. It tastes delicious and is easy to make. Cinnamon, pepper, chillies, mustard, ginger, and garlic are some of the spices that go into it, making it flavorful and aromatic.
In simple words: My favorite dish is tomato rice. It uses spices like cinnamon, pepper, chillies, mustard, ginger, and garlic.

🎯 Exam Tip: When asked about personal preferences, always provide a reason or additional detail to make your answer more complete and engaging.

Vocabulary

E. Add 'r', 'er' or 'or' to get the name of the person who does the activity. Take turns in class to make sentences with the words you have formed. (Text Book Page No. 142)
Answer: We add 'r', 'er', or 'or' to verbs to create nouns that describe a person performing an action, like changing 'teach' to 'teacher'. This is a common way to form job titles or descriptions of people.
use+r - user
buy+er - buyer
sail+or - sailor
watch+er - watcher
operat+or - operator
foreign+er - foreigner
bake+r - baker
write+r - writer
govern+or - governor
act+or - actor
In simple words: We add 'r', 'er', or 'or' to action words to make names for people who do those actions. For example, someone who writes is a writer.

🎯 Exam Tip: Practice forming new words by adding suffixes, as this helps expand your vocabulary and understanding of word structures.

F. Complete this table with the help of the given example.
Answer: This table shows how to form the nationality word from a country name. This helps us to correctly identify people from different nations.

🎯 Exam Tip: Learn common nationality words as they often follow patterns but also have irregular forms.

Listening

G. Listen to some interesting facts about spices and choose the best option. (Listening text in on-page -157)

Question 1. Red peppers have
(a) Vitamin A
(b) Vitamin C
(c) Vitamin D
Answer: (b) Vitamin C
In simple words: Red peppers are good sources of Vitamin C.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always pay close attention during listening exercises to catch specific details about nutrients or facts.

Question 2. Red chilli is also called
(a) Paprika
(b) Carica
(c) Pyrus
Answer: (a) Paprika
In simple words: Another name for red chilli, especially when dried and powdered, is paprika.

🎯 Exam Tip: Be aware of alternative names for common ingredients, as they can sometimes be used interchangeably.

Question 3. One pound is equal to grams.
(a) 480
(b) 450
(c) 500
Answer: (b) 450
In simple words: A pound is a unit of weight, and it is roughly equal to 450 grams.

🎯 Exam Tip: Memorize common conversions between different units of measurement, especially for cooking and daily life.

Question 4. Mint leaves help to cure
(a) body pain
(b) fever
(c) upset stomach
Answer: (c) upset stomach
In simple words: Mint leaves are often used to calm an upset stomach because they have soothing properties.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understand the medicinal properties or traditional uses of common herbs and plants.

Speaking (Text Book Page No. 143)

H. Work in pairs. Take turns and speak about spices.

Use Grammar (Text Book Page No. 144)

Saritha: Hi Divya, how are you?
Divya: Hi, I'm fine Saritha.
Saritha: What did you have for breakfast?
Divya: Dhosa with onion chutney.
Saritha: Do you know where onions have come from?
Divya: Yes. I guess it is from Central Asia.
Saritha: Do you know chilli too has come from somewhere else?
Divya: Is it from South America?
Saritha: Yes, you are right.
Divya: Many of the vegetables came from other countries.

Question 1. Use two or three words from the box to describe each picture.
Answer: We can use descriptive words to help others imagine the pictures better. These words highlight key features of each object or scene.
Red Hot Chilli: red, hot, chilli
Snowball: round, icy, white
Black little cat: little, black, cat
Round wooden table: round, wooden, table
Brown Kangaroo: brown, big, kangaroo
Small house: small, red, house
Tall icy mountain: tall, icy, mountain
Three chillies: three, red, chillies
Little boy with a book: little, boy, book
Tiger with cute cubs: tiger, cute, cubs
In simple words: Pick two or three words from the box to describe each picture, like 'red hot chilli' for the chilli.

🎯 Exam Tip: Choose descriptive words that clearly highlight the most important or striking features of an object or image.

I. Correct the order of the words in bold and write them in the blanks. (Text Book Page No. 145)

Question 1. Green little the chilli ................... was very hot.
Answer: The little green chilli was very hot. Correct word order makes sentences clear and easy to understand.
In simple words: We rearrange the words to say "The little green chilli was very hot."

🎯 Exam Tip: Always check if the rearranged words form a grammatically correct and meaningful sentence.

Question 2. Sailors many brave ................... tried to find a sea route to India.
Answer: Many brave sailors tried to find a sea route to India. Proper word order helps in conveying the intended action and its subject clearly.
In simple words: The correct order is "Many brave sailors tried to find a sea route to India."

🎯 Exam Tip: When reordering words, ensure that adjectives come before the nouns they describe (e.g., "many brave sailors," not "sailors many brave").

Question 3. Brown dog the big ................... barked at the children.
Answer: The big brown dog barked at the children. The sentence should flow naturally with adjectives in their proper place before the noun.
In simple words: The correct sentence is "The big brown dog barked at the children."

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember the typical English word order: (Articles/Determiners) + (Adjectives) + (Noun).

Question 4. The spice most common ................... used today is the red chilli pepper.
Answer: The most common spice used today is the red chilli pepper. This arrangement correctly highlights which spice is being discussed.
In simple words: We should say, "The most common spice used today is the red chilli pepper."

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to phrases like "most common" and ensure they modify the correct part of the sentence.

Question 5. The path mud long ................... led to a beautiful lake.
Answer: The long mud path led to a beautiful lake. Ordering the adjectives correctly makes the description precise.
In simple words: The correct sentence is "The long mud path led to a beautiful lake."

🎯 Exam Tip: Ensure that all adjectives describing a single noun are placed together for clarity.

Writing (Text Book Page No. 145)

K. How do you cook rice in your house? Fill in the gaps in this recipe for cooking rice. Use the words in the box.
Answer: Here is a simple recipe for cooking rice, which involves cleaning the rice, boiling water, and then simmering until done. Following these steps helps you cook perfect rice every time.
What you'll need:
* 1 cup uncooked white rice
* 2 cups of water
* pinch of salt

How to make it:
1. **Wash** the rice until the **water** runs clear.
2. Drain the water and **keep** it aside.
3. In a medium-sized pan, bring **water** to **boil**.
4. Add the salt, stir, and then add the rinsed and drained **rice**.
5. Reduce the **heat**, cover the rice, and let it simmer on **low** heat for 20 minutes.
6. Check after 15 minutes to see if all the water has evaporated. If it has, the rice is **ready**.
7. If not, replace the **lid** and let the rice simmer for 5 **more** minutes.
8. Remove from pan and serve.
In simple words: To cook rice, first wash it, then boil water with salt, add the rice, cover, and let it cook on low heat until all the water is gone and the rice is soft.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing a recipe, use clear, numbered steps and action verbs so anyone can follow it easily.

Creative Writing

M. Your mother has written a message for you before going out. Write a message to her after finishing lunch.
Answer: When writing a message to someone, it's important to be polite and clearly state the necessary information. This shows responsibility and good communication.
Dear Mom,

I had lunch. I really liked the vegetable biryani you mentioned. Thank you! I have cleaned the kitchen after finishing eating. I am going out to play now and I will be back by 5.30 p.m.

Love,
[Your Name]
In simple words: Write a note to your mom saying you ate lunch, liked the food, cleaned the kitchen, and will be back by 5:30 p.m. from playing.

🎯 Exam Tip: In message writing, always include a greeting, state your points clearly and concisely, and end with a proper closing.

A Visitor from Distant Lands Summary in English

Mani's family lived near Genjee in Villupuram district. Mani's teacher taught about vegetables that came far from India and advised them to eat locally grown vegetables. His parents told him that many merchants sailed to India in search of spices, mainly black pepper. A Portuguese merchant, Vasco-da-Gama, sailed to Kerala in search of spices and took spices from India. In this way, they also introduced many of their native vegetables to India. Christopher Columbus sailed to South America instead of India and found America and the chilli. Chillies were introduced to India through the Portuguese.

A Visitor from Distant Lands Summary in Tamil

மணியின் குடும்பம் விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டத்தில் செஞ்சி அருகே வசித்து வந்தனர். மணியின் ஆசிரியர் இந்தியாவில் இருந்து வெகுதொலைவில் இருந்து இந்தியாவிற்கு வந்த காய்கறிகளைப் பற்றி கற்பித்தார். மேலும் உள்நாட்டில் வளர்க்கப்படும் காய்கறிகளை சாப்பிட அறிவுறுத்தினார். பல வணிகர்கள் மசாலா முக்கியமாக கருமிளகைத் தேடி இந்தியாவுக்கு பயணம் செய்ததாக அவரது பெற்றோர் சொன்னார்கள் ஒரு போர்ச்சுகல் வணிகர் வாஸ்கோடகாமா மசாலாவைத் தேடி கேரளாவுக்குச் சென்று இந்தியாவிலிருந்து மசாலாப் பொருட்களை எடுத்துச் சென்றார். இதுபோன்று அவர்கள் தங்கள் இயற்கைக் காய்கறிகளையும் இந்தியாவிற்கு அறிமுகப்படுத்தினர். கிறிஸ்டோபர் கொலம்பஸ் இந்தியாவிற்குப் பதிலாக தென் அமெரிக்காவுக்கு சென்று அமெரிக்காவையும் மிளகாவையும் கண்டுபிடித்தார். மிளகாய் போர்ச்சுகீசியர்கள் மூலம் இந்தியாவுக்கு அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்டது.