Glimpses of India - Q&A
I. A Baker from Goa
Oral Comprehension Check (Page 64)
1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?
[cite_start]The elders in Goa are nostalgic about those good old Portuguese days, the Portuguese people, and their famous loaves of bread[cite: 1235].
2. Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?
Yes, bread-making is still popular in Goa. We know this because the author mentions that although the eaters of loaves might have vanished, the makers are still there. [cite_start]The mixers, moulders, and bakers still exist, and the age-old furnaces have not yet been extinguished[cite: 1237, 1238].
3. What is the baker called?
[cite_start]The baker is called a pader in Goa[cite: 1245].
4. When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to meet him?
[cite_start]The baker would come at least twice a day: once in the morning on his selling round and again when he returned after emptying his huge basket[cite: 1247]. [cite_start]The children ran to meet him not for the love of the loaf, but because they longed for the "bread-bangles" (sweet bread of special make) which they chose carefully[cite: 1251].
Oral Comprehension Check (Page 65)
1. Match the following. What is a must
[cite_start] [cite_start] [cite_start] [cite_start]| (i) as marriage gifts? | sweet bread called bol [cite: 1272] |
| (ii) for a party or a feast? | bread [cite: 1272] |
| (iii) for a daughter's engagement? | sandwiches [cite: 1274] |
| (iv) for Christmas? | cakes and bolinhas [cite: 1275] |
2. What did the bakers wear: (i) in the Portuguese days? (ii) when the author was young?
[cite_start](i) In the Portuguese days, the bakers wore a peculiar dress known as the kabai, which was a single-piece long frock reaching down to the knees[cite: 1277, 1278].
(ii) [cite_start]When the author was young, the bakers wore a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants[cite: 1279].
3. Who invites the comment "he is dressed like a pader"? Why?
[cite_start]Anyone who wears a half pant which reaches just below the knees invites the comment "he is dressed like a pader"[cite: 1280]. [cite_start]This is because this attire resembles the dress worn by bakers (paders) during the author's childhood[cite: 1279].
4. Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?
[cite_start]The monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall in pencil[cite: 1283].
5. What does a 'jackfruit-like appearance' mean?
[cite_start]A 'jackfruit-like appearance' means a plump physique[cite: 1286]. [cite_start]It implies that the person looks happy and prosperous, similar to the bakers of old days who never starved[cite: 1285].
Thinking about the Text (Page 66)
1. Which of these statements are correct?
(i) The pader was an important person in the village in old times. (Correct) [cite_start][cite: 1273]
(ii) Paders still exist in Goan villages. (Correct) [cite_start][cite: 1245]
(iii) The paders went away with the Portuguese. (Incorrect) [cite_start][cite: 1237]
(iv) The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock. (Incorrect) [cite_start][cite: 1279]
(v) Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days. (Correct) [cite_start][cite: 1272]
(vi) Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business. (Correct - implied as it was profitable in old days and they still exist) [cite_start][cite: 1284]
(vii) Paders and their families starve in the present times. (Incorrect) [cite_start][cite: 1284]
2. Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?
Yes, bread is an important part of Goan life. [cite_start]We know this because marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the 'bol', sandwiches are a must for a daughter's engagement, and cakes and 'bolinhas' are essential for Christmas and other festivals[cite: 1272, 1274, 1275]. [cite_start]Also, the sweet bread 'bread-bangles' is loved by children[cite: 1251].
3. Tick the right answer. What is the tone of the author when he says the following?
(i) The thud and the jingle of the traditional baker's bamboo can still be heard in some places.
[cite_start]nostalgic [cite: 1235]
(ii) Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession.
[cite_start]hopeful [cite: 1244]
(iii) I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves.
[cite_start]nostalgic [cite: 1260]
(iv) The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all.
[cite_start]funny [cite: 1264, 1265]
(v) Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals.
[cite_start]matter-of-fact [cite: 1275]
(vi) The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous.
[cite_start]matter-of-fact [cite: 1284, 1285]
Writing (Page 66)
I. In this extract, the author talks about traditional bread-baking during his childhood days. Complete the following table with the help of the clues on the left. Then write a paragraph about the author's childhood days.
[cite_start] [cite_start] [cite_start] [cite_start] [cite_start]| Clues | Author's childhood days |
|---|---|
| the way bread was baked | In age-old, time-tested furnaces [cite: 1238] |
| the way the pader sold bread | He came with a bamboo staff, making a 'jhang, jhang' sound, supporting the basket on his head with one hand and banging the bamboo with the other[cite: 1255, 1256]. |
| what the pader wore | A shirt and trousers which were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants[cite: 1279]. |
| when the pader was paid | At the end of the month[cite: 1282]. |
| how the pader looked | Happy and prosperous with a plump physique[cite: 1285]. |
II. Coorg
Thinking about the Text (Page 71)
1. Where is Coorg?
[cite_start]Coorg is situated midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore[cite: 1371]. [cite_start]It is in the state of Karnataka[cite: 1377].
2. What is the story about the Kodavu people's descent?
There are two stories about their descent. [cite_start]One story says they are of Greek descent because a part of Alexander's army moved south along the coast and settled there when return became impractical[cite: 1386, 1387]. [cite_start]Another theory supports Arab origin because of the long, black coat with an embroidered waist-belt worn by the Kodavus, known as kuppia, which resembles the kuffia worn by the Arabs and Kurds[cite: 1389, 1392].
3. What are some of the things you now know about
(i) the people of Coorg?
[cite_start]They are a proud race of martial men and beautiful women[cite: 1372]. [cite_start]They are fiercely independent, hospitable, and have many tales of valour[cite: 1386, 1393]. [cite_start]They are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a license[cite: 1395].
(ii) the main crop of Coorg?
[cite_start]The main crop of Coorg is coffee[cite: 1370, 1377].
(iii) the sports it offers to tourists?
[cite_start]It offers high-energy adventure sports like river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing, and mountain biking[cite: 1400].
(iv) the animals you are likely to see in Coorg?
[cite_start]You are likely to see Macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs, slender loris, wild elephants, bees, butterflies, and Kingfishers (birds)[cite: 1398, 1414, 1415, 1416]. [cite_start]Also, Mahaseer (a large freshwater fish) is found in the waters[cite: 1397].
(v) its distance from Bangalore, and how to get there?
[cite_start]The distance from Bangalore is around 250-260 km[cite: 1435]. [cite_start]One can reach there by road via two routes: one via Mysore (most frequented) and the other via Neelamangal, Kunigal, and Chanrayanapatna[cite: 1436].
4. Here are six sentences with some words in italics. Find phrases from the text that have the same meaning.
(i) During monsoons it rains so heavily that tourists do not visit Coorg. (para 2)
[cite_start]keep many visitors away [cite: 1378]
(ii) Some people say that Alexander's army moved south along the coast and settled there. (para 3)
[cite_start]As one story goes [cite: 1387]
(iii) The Coorg people are always ready to tell stories of their sons' and fathers' valour. (para 4)
[cite_start]willing to recount [cite: 1393]
(iv) Even people who normally lead an easy and slow life get smitten by the high-energy adventure sports of Coorg. (para 6)
[cite_start]The most laidback individuals become converts to [cite: 1400]
(v) The theory of the Arab origin is supported by the long coat with embroidered waist-belt they wear. (para 3)
[cite_start]draws support from [cite: 1389]
(vi) Macaques, Malabar squirrels observe you carefully from the tree canopy. (para 7)
[cite_start]keep a watchful eye [cite: 1415]
Thinking about Language (Page 73)
Collocations
1. Here are some nouns from the text. Work with a partner and discuss which of the nouns can collocate with which of the adjectives given below.
culture, monks, surprise, experience, weather, tradition
unique, terrible, unforgettable, serious, ancient, wide, sudden
(i) culture: unique culture, ancient culture
(ii) monks: serious monks
(iii) surprise: sudden surprise, terrible surprise
(iv) experience: unforgettable experience, terrible experience, unique experience
(v) weather: terrible weather
(vi) tradition: ancient tradition, unique tradition
2. Complete the following phrases from the text. For each phrase, can you find at least one other word that would fit into the blank?
[cite_start](i) tales of valour [cite: 1393] (Other word: bravery, love)
[cite_start](ii) coastal town [cite: 1371] (Other word: city, area)
[cite_start](iii) a piece of heaven [cite: 1371] (Other word: land, cake)
[cite_start](iv) evergreen rainforests [cite: 1377] (Other word: trees, forests)
[cite_start](v) coffee plantations [cite: 1377] (Other word: tea, banana)
[cite_start](vi) rope bridge [cite: 1418] (Other word: suspension, wooden)
[cite_start](vii) wild creatures [cite: 1372] (Other word: animals, elephants)
III. Tea from Assam
Thinking about Language (Page 74)
I. 1. Use these words appropriately in the sentences below. You may consult a dictionary.
upkeep, downpour, undergo, dropout, walk-in
(i) A heavy downpour has been forecast due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.
(ii) Rakesh will undergo major surgery tomorrow morning.
(iii) My brother is responsible for the upkeep of our family property.
(iv) The dropout rate for this accountancy course is very high.
(v) She went to the Enterprise Company to attend a walk-in interview.
2. Now fill in the blanks in the sentences given below by combining the verb given in brackets with one of the words from the box as appropriate.
over, by, through, out, up, down
(i) The Army attempted unsuccessfully to overthrow the Government. (throw)
(ii) Scientists are on the brink of a major breakthrough in cancer research. (break)
(iii) The State Government plans to build a bypass for Bhubaneswar to speed up traffic on the main highway. (pass)
(iv) Gautama's outlook on life changed when he realised that the world is full of sorrow. (look)
(v) Rakesh seemed unusually downcast after the game. (cast)
II. -ing and -ed adjectives (Page 75)
1. Think of suitable -ing or -ed adjectives to answer the following questions.
(i) a good detective serial on television?
exciting / interesting
(ii) a debate on your favourite topic 'Homework Should Be Banned'?
engaging / stimulating
(iii) how you feel when you stay indoors due to incessant rain?
bored / depressed
(iv) how you feel when you open a present?
excited / delighted
(v) how you feel when you watch your favourite programme on television?
entertained / interested
(vi) the look on your mother's face as you waited in a queue?
tired / annoyed
(vii) how you feel when tracking a tiger in a tiger reserve forest?
thrilled / excited
(viii) the story you have recently read, or a film you have seen?
boring / interesting / exciting