Samacheer Kalvi Class 6 English Solutions Term 1 Chapter 3 Spices of India

Textual Exercise (Text Book Page No. 153)

A. Answer to following questions.

 

Question 1. Why do we add spices to food?
Answer: We add spices to food for two main reasons. Firstly, they help to make our meals more nutritious and balanced. Secondly, spices are good for keeping us healthy and strong. For example, turmeric is known for its health benefits.
In simple words: We add spices to food to make it healthy and tasty. They help balance our diet.

🎯 Exam Tip: When answering "why" questions, always give specific reasons. Connect the reasons to the benefits mentioned in the text.

 

Question 2. Which spices are used a lot in Indian food?
Answer: Many different spices are used in large amounts in Indian cooking. Some common ones include cumin, mustard, pepper, cloves, fennel, cinnamon, and turmeric. These spices give Indian food its unique flavors and aromas.
In simple words: Indian food uses a lot of spices like cumin, mustard, pepper, cloves, fennel, cinnamon, and turmeric.

🎯 Exam Tip: When listing items, try to remember at least five examples to show good knowledge of the topic.

 

Question 3. Which parts of a plant are collected as spices?
Answer: Different parts of plants are collected and used as spices. These can include flowers, leaves, roots, bark, seeds, and even bulbs. For instance, ginger is a root, and cinnamon comes from bark.
In simple words: Flowers, leaves, roots, bark, seeds, and bulbs from plants are all collected to be used as spices.

🎯 Exam Tip: Think about common spices you know and which part of the plant they come from to help remember this information.

 

Question 4. What are the uses of spices?
Answer: Spices are used to make food taste better. When they are cooked with dishes like rice, meat, fish, or vegetables, they give a special savory taste. This makes us want to eat more of the food because it is so delicious.
In simple words: Spices make food taste special and savory, which makes us want to eat more.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on the main benefit of spices (taste) and then provide examples of how they are used.

 

Question 5. What happened after Columbus discovered America?
Answer: After Christopher Columbus discovered America, he found chilli there. Chilli then became a very important spice that spread across the world. His journey changed the kinds of foods people ate everywhere.
In simple words: After Columbus found America, he discovered chilli, which then became a popular spice.

🎯 Exam Tip: For historical events, clearly state the key outcome or discovery that followed the action.

B. Choose the best option.

 

Question 1. People say curry comes from a Tamil word 'Kari' which means
(a) soup
(b) sauce
(c) sambar
Answer: (b) sauce
In simple words: The word 'curry' comes from the Tamil word 'Kari', which means a sauce.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay attention to the origin of words, especially those related to food and culture, as they often appear in questions.

 

Question 2. Pepper is also known as
(a) liquid gold
(b) black gold
(c) white gold
Answer: (b) black gold
In simple words: Pepper is often called 'black gold' because it was very valuable in olden times.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember common nicknames or alternative names for important items discussed in the text, as these often test your specific knowledge.

 

Question 3. ____ wrote about cinnamon in 2700 BC (BCE).
(a) Chinese
(b) Indians
(c) Japanese
Answer: (a) Chinese
In simple words: The Chinese were the first to write about cinnamon a very long time ago, around 2700 BC.

🎯 Exam Tip: Key dates and civilizations associated with discoveries or records are important facts to remember.

 

Question 4. The Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians all bought cinnamon from
(a) Japan
(b) South America
(c) India
Answer: (c) India
In simple words: Ancient civilizations like the Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians got their cinnamon from India.

🎯 Exam Tip: Understanding trade routes and the origins of goods in ancient history is often tested.

Project

C. Compare the travel maps of vasco da Gama and Columbus.

 

Question. Fill in the table with the prompts. Frame sentences with the help of the table.
Answer: The table below compares the journeys of Vasco da Gama and Christopher Columbus.

Vasco da Gama traveled from Portugal to Calicut between 1497 and 1499, exploring for pepper and bringing pepper back. On the other hand, Columbus also started from Portugal, but he reached South America between 1492 and 1504. He explored for both pepper and chilli and brought back chilli. Both explorers made significant voyages that changed global trade and food.
In simple words: Vasco da Gama sailed from Portugal to India (Calicut) to find pepper. Columbus also started from Portugal but went to South America, where he found chilli.

🎯 Exam Tip: When comparing, always highlight both similarities and differences clearly. Using a table helps organize information well.

Connecting to Self (Text Book Page No. 154)

D. Look at the table carefully. Then Complete the points below.

 

Question 1. The paddy plants are given manure after thirty-five days.
Answer: The paddy plants are given manure after thirty-five days. This step is important to provide nutrients to the young plants. The growth phase usually lasts from 35 to 90 days, during which manure is applied for better yield.
In simple words: Paddy plants get manure to grow strong after 35 days.

🎯 Exam Tip: When completing sentences based on a table, make sure the information exactly matches the data provided.

 

Question 2. The plants take thirty days in the ripening phase.
Answer: The plants take thirty days in the ripening phase. During this time, the grains develop and mature. This phase is crucial for the quality of the rice harvest.
In simple words: It takes 30 days for the paddy plants to ripen.

🎯 Exam Tip: Look for specific durations mentioned in the table for each stage of the process.

 

Question 3. It takes 10 days to harvest the rice.
Answer: It takes 10 days to harvest the rice. This step follows the ripening phase. Harvesting is when the mature paddy is gathered from the fields.
In simple words: Harvesting the rice takes 10 days.

🎯 Exam Tip: Be precise with numbers and units (e.g., "days") as given in the source data.

 

Question 4. The rice grains have to be dried and then stored.
Answer: The rice grains have to be dried and then stored. Drying helps remove moisture to prevent spoilage. This is the final step before the rice is ready for consumption or sale, typically taking 100-120 days for the entire storage phase.
In simple words: Rice grains are dried and then put away for later use.

🎯 Exam Tip: Connect the actions (drying, storing) with their purpose (prevent spoilage, ready for use).

 

Question 5. We soaked the grains for three days before boiling.
Answer: We soaked the grains for three days before boiling. Soaking helps to soften the grains, making them cook faster and more evenly. This preparatory step is not part of the growing cycle but a cooking practice.
In simple words: Grains are soaked for three days before boiling.

🎯 Exam Tip: Note any steps that are preparatory or post-harvest as distinct from the main growing cycle.

E. Talk in groups. Then share your thoughts with the class.

 

Question 1. Do you usually eat all the food served to you? If not, what are the reasons? When you eat lunch at school, which are the dishes you don't eat or waste?
Answer: Yes, I usually eat all the food served to me. I eat lunch at 1:00 p.m. at school. The tiffin items are the dishes I don't eat. I try to avoid wasting food as much as possible, as many people don't have enough to eat.
In simple words: I usually eat all my food, but sometimes I don't eat the tiffin items at school lunch.

🎯 Exam Tip: For personal experience questions, give a clear, direct answer and briefly explain your habits.

 

Question 2. Why do you avoid certain food items?
Answer: I avoid certain food items because I don't find them tasty. Everyone has different preferences, and sometimes certain flavors or textures are not appealing. It's good to try new foods, but it's also okay to dislike some.
In simple words: I avoid some food because I don't like how it tastes.

🎯 Exam Tip: Be honest and simple in your explanation for personal preference questions.

 

Question 3. Can you think of ways to reduce the amount of food wasted in your school?
Answer: Yes, I can think of ways to reduce food waste. One way is to encourage students to take only what they can eat. Another idea is for the school to ask students about their favorite foods and prepare more of those. Also, any leftover food that is still good could be given to people in need. Making students aware of food scarcity can help them appreciate food more.
In simple words: Yes, we can ask students to take less food, make food they like more, and give extra food to people who need it.

🎯 Exam Tip: Brainstorm practical, achievable solutions when asked to suggest ways to improve a situation.

 

Question 4. Have you seen or known anyone in need of food? Have you helped them? How?
Answer: Yes, I have seen someone in need of food. I helped them by giving them a part of my lunch. Sharing food is a simple way to show kindness and ensure someone doesn't go hungry. It feels good to help others when they are in need.
In simple words: Yes, I saw someone hungry and shared my lunch with them.

🎯 Exam Tip: Provide a brief, personal example to support your answer about helping others.

 

Question 5. Take a pledge in your group not to waste food.
Answer: We, the students of this school, take a pledge that we will not waste food anyway and any longer. We promise to eat all the food given to us or share it with others, understanding that food is precious.
In simple words: We promise as students to stop wasting food from now on.

🎯 Exam Tip: When writing a pledge, use strong, active language to show commitment.

Step to Success (Text Book Page No. 155)

 

Question 1. Four of the following five are alike in certain ways and so form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to that group?
a. Garlic
b. Sesame
c. Mustard
d. Olive
e. Corn
Answer: (e) Corn
In simple words: Garlic, sesame, mustard, and olive are often used as spices or to make oil, but corn is a grain. So, corn does not fit with the others.

🎯 Exam Tip: For "odd one out" questions, identify the common characteristic of the group and then find the item that lacks that characteristic.

 

Question 2. In a certain code language if KBOVBSZ is the code word for JANUARY, what is the code word for OCTOBER?
a. PDUBCFS
b. PDUPCFS
c. BDUPCFB
d. PDUPCFM
Answer: (b) PDUPCFS
In simple words: This code shifts each letter of JANUARY forward by a certain number to get KBOVBSZ. If you apply the same shift pattern to OCTOBER, you will get PDUPCFS. (For example, J moves to K, A to B, N to O, U to V, A to B, R to S, Y to Z, indicating a +1 shift for each letter).

🎯 Exam Tip: For coding-decoding questions, first identify the pattern (e.g., letter shift, reverse order, skipping letters). Apply the same pattern consistently to the new word.

Spices of India Summary in English

In India, spices are the soul of food. Many of the spices in our food are added to balance nutrition and to keep us healthy. Many voyages were made to conquest the spice trade. In 1492, Columbus went to find India and pepper but ran into America and found the chilli. Vasco da Gama, six years later to reach Kozhikode, found pepper. Spices were always important to India's trade. Spices were traded with Mesopotamia, China, Sumeria, Egypt, and Arabia as far back as 7000 years ago. The Romans sent 120 ships from Egypt to trade with India and bring back enormous quantities of pepper.

Spices of India Summary in Tamil

இந்தியாவில் நறுமணப் பொருட்களே நம் உணவின் ஆன்மாவாகும். நமது உணவின் பல நறுமணப் பொருட்கள் ஊட்டச்த்தை சமப்படுத்தவும் ஆரோக்கியமாக வைத்திருக்கவும் சேர்க்கப்படுகின்றன. நறுமணப்பொருள் வர்த்தகத்தை கைப்பற்ற பல பயணங்கள் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டன. 1492-ஆம் ஆண்டில் கொலம்பஸ் இந்தியாவையும், மிளகையும் கண்டுபிடிக்கச் சென்றார். ஆனால் அமெரிக்காவிற்கு சென்று ஓடி மிளகாயைக் கண்டுபிடித்தார். வாஸ்கோடகாமா ஆறு ஆண்டுகளுக்குப் பிறகு கோழிக்கோட்டை அடைந்து, மிளகை கண்டுபிடித்தார். நறுமணப்பொருட்கள் எப்போதும் இந்தியாவின் வர்த்தகத்தில் முக்கியமானது. மெசபடோமியா, சீனா, சுமேரியா, எகிப்து மற்றும் அரேபியா ஆகியவற்றுடன் நறுமணப் பொருட்கள் ஏழாயிரம் ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பு வரை வர்த்தகம் செய்யப்பட்டன. ரோமானியர்கள் எகிப் திலிருந்து 120 கப்பல்களை இந்தியாவுடனான வணிகத்திற்கு அனுப்பி பெருமளவில் மிளகை எடுத்துச் சென்றனர்.