Chapter – 7

Glimpses of India

In this post, we have given the Important Questions of chapter 7 “Glimpses of India”. It is the 7th chapter of the prose of Class 10th English.

Board	CBSE Board, UP Board, JAC Board, HBSE Board, UBSE Board, PSEB Board, RBSE Board
Textbook	NCERT
Class	Class 10
Subject	English First Flight
Chapter no.	Chapter 7
Chapter Name	Glimpses of India
Category	Class 10 English Important Questions
Medium	English

Chapter 7 Glimpses of India

A Baker from Goa

Question 1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

Answer: The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the good old Portuguese days and their love of bread and loaves. The writer says that the eaters of loaves have left but the makers still exist.

Question 2. Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?

Answer: Yes, bread making is still popular in Goa. This is very clear from the narrator’s statement that the eaters have gone away leaving the makers behind. There are mixers, moulders and the ones who bake the loaves. The time tested furnaces still exist there.

Question 3. What is the baker called?

Answer: The baker is called a pader in Goa.

Question 4. When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to meet him?

Answer: The baker would come twice a day—once early in the morning and the second time when he returned after selling his stuff. The children would run to meet him as they wanted to have bread-bangles.

Question 5. Match the following. What is a must

• as marriage gift? – cakes and bolinhas
• for a party or a feast? – sweet bread called bol
• for a daughter’s engagement? – bread
• for Christmas? – sandwiches

Answer:

• as marriage gifts – sweet bread called bol
• for a party or a feast – bread
• for a daughter’s engagement – sandwiches
• for Christmas – cakes and bolinhas

Question 6. What did the bakers wear :

• In the Portuguese days
• When the author was young

Answer:

• The bakers were usually dressed up in a peculiar dress called kabai. It was a single piece long frock reaching down to the knees.
• During his childhood days, the author saw the bakers wearing a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full length ones and longer than half pants.

Question 7. Who invites the comment – “he is dressed like a pader” Why?

Answer: Any person who is wearing a half pant which reaches just below the knees invites this comment. This is because the baker, known as a pader, used to dress like that.

Question 8. Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?

Answer: Monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall in the house with a pencil.

Question 9. What does a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ mean?

Answer: It means having a plump physique, like a jackfruit.

Answer the Following Questions

Question 1. What do the elders in Goa still love to remember? OR What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

Answer. The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the good old Portuguese days and the Portuguese loaves of bread. The Portuguese were very famous for their bread.

Question 2. What did the bakers wear when the author was young?

Answer. The bakers in the Portuguese days wore a peculiar dress called the ‘Kabai’. It was a long single piece of frock reaching down to the knees. During the years when the author was young, they wore a shirt and a trouser that used to be longer than a half pant and shorter than a full pant.

Question 3. How did the baker attract the children?

Answer. The baker attracted the children not by his jingle or by the loaves of bread he sold but attracted the children by the bread bangles or the special sweet bread he sold, especially made for children.

Question 4. Baking was considered essential in a traditional Goan village. What reasons does the writer give to Support his point?

Answer. No festival in Goa is complete without bakery products—be it marriages, engagements or any other  Ceremony. Traditional sweet bread, known as ‘bol’ is to be given with marriage gifts. At Christmas ‘bolinhas’ and cakes are a must. Any party or feast without bread is considered incomplete.

Question 5. Even today any person with a jackfruit-like physical appearance is easily compared to a baker. Explain.

Answer. Bread-making is a prosperous business in Goa. The physique of the baker, i.e., his plump and round body are testimony to that. Therefore, anyone who is fat and plump just like a jackfruit is compared to a baker.

Question 6. Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?

Answer. Yes, bread is an important part of Goan life even today. This we can definitely say because bread is not only a part of their daily life but also of important occasions like Christmas, festivals, weddings and engagements. These occasions are incomplete without a special preparation for each event, made from bread.

Question 7. Comment on the significance of a bread baker in a traditional Goan village?

Answer. Bread is a permanent item of a Goan meal and the baker is an important member of the Goan community. Besides, sweet bread ‘bol’ is a special delicacy, served at festivals and cakes and bolinhas are a special charm at Christmas. A baker’s furnace is therefore indispensable in a traditional Goan village.

Question 8. Rodrigues describes his childhood and the bakers of Goa. What does he remember so fondly about those bakers?

Answer. Rodrigues describes his childhood. Those were good old Portuguese days, the Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread. The eaters of loaves might have vanished but the makers are still there. We still have amongst us mixers, the moulders and those who bake the loaves. Those time tested furnaces still exist. It is their traditional family work. Those bakers are known as paders in Goa. The writer remembers a baker fondly. He
used to be their friend. He used to visit their house twice a day. In the morning the Jingling sound of the bamboo woke them from sleep. The maid servants purchased the loaves. The bakers also sold bread bangles, sweet bread of special make, cakes and bolinhas. He collected the bill at the end of the month.

Question 9. Describe the childhood memories of the author’s time in Goa and his fondness for breads and cakes?

Answer. The author tells us that bread is an indispensable part of the life of the Goan people since the time of the Portuguese. Bread is a part of not only everyday life but also of festive occasions and events. For each occasion there was a special kind of bread. He also tells us that the baker had leading role in the society was so important in the life of the Goans that they got up with the jingling sound of his bamboo. He also tells us that the baker wore either a Kabai, i.e., a long frock or a shirt and a half pant like trousers. The author seems to be very observant because not only does he know all this but also knows the profit-making in it as he says that in those days, the baker was very prosperous and never starved. He also knew that they maintained monthly bills on the walls. Such strong observation powers would definitely be beneficial for children as they would become aware of the citizens of their neighbourhood.

Question 10. How is a baker synonymous with Goan village?

Answer. Although the Portguese had left left the shores of Goa long back the tradition and practices still remain. This also includes the baker and his bread. The baker still moves around the roads making a certain noise which announces his arrival. The noise not only pleased the ears but was also liked by the children who would rush to buy his sweet bread. The would literally only start with the arrival of the baker and the lady to the house would come out to buy his bread.

Question 11. Baking was considered an essential and a profitable profession in a traditional Goan village. What reasons does the writer give to support his point?

Answer. Goa is very much influenced by the Portuguese. Baking was considered an essential and a profitable profession in a traditional Goan village. The Portuguese are famous for preparing the loaves of bread. We can come across the bakers of bread. It is their traditional family work. The villagers were much fond of the sweet bread known as ‘bol’. The marriage gifts were meaningless without it. So the baker’s furnaces were the essential. ‘Cakes’ and ‘bolinhas’ formed an important item on various occasions like Christmas and other festivals. The baker would collect the bill at the end of month. They recorded their accounts on the wall in pencil. Baking was a profitable business in old days. The baker and his family never starved and they looked happy and prosperous.

Thinking About the Text

Question 1. Which of these statements are correct?

• The pader was an important person in the village in old times.
• Paders still exist in Goan villages.
• The paders went away with the Portuguese.
• The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock.
• Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.
• Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business.
• Paders and their families starve in the present times.

Answer:

• Correct
• Correct
• Incorrect
• Incorrect
• Correct
• Correct
• Incorrect

Question 2. Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?

Answer: Yes, bread is an important part of Goan life. It is needed for marriage gifts, parties and feasts. Bread is also needed by a mother for preparing sandwiches during her daughter’s engagement. Thus, it is necessary to have breads for every occasion, because of which the presence of a baker’s furnace in the vi .age is very important

Question 3. Tick the right answer. What is the tone of the author when he says the following?

• The thud and the jingle of the traditional baker ‘s bamboo can still be heard in some places, (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)
• Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession, (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)
• I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves, (nostalgic, hopeful, naughty)
• The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all. (naughty, angry, funny)
• Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals, (sad, hopeful, matter-of-fact)
• The baker dnd his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous, (matter-of-fact, hopeful, sad)

Answer:

• Nostalgic
• Hopeful
• Nostalgic
• Funny
• Matter-of-fact
• Matter-of-fact

Coorg

Answer the Following Questions

Question 1. Where is Coorg situated? What type of place is it?

Answer. Coorg is situated between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore. It is a very beautiful place and appears as a piece of heaven as if it is drifted from the kingdom of God.

Question 2. Why is Coorg called the land of rolling hills?

Answer. Coorg is called the land of rolling hills because the city is situated on the gentle sloping hills. The entire area is covered with these hills. Brahmagiri hills has a panoramic view.

Question 3. What is the story about the Kodavu people’s Greek descent?

Answer.  According to one story, the Kodavu people are of Greek descent because a part of Alexander’s army moved south and finally settled there when returning became impractical. These people married amongst the locals.

Question 4. Why are the people of Coorg known as descendants of the Arabs?

Answer. The people of Coorg are also known as the descendants of the Arab people because of the long black coat worn by them with an embroidered waist band. This is called kuppia in Coorg which resembles the kuffia worn by the Arabs and Kurds.

Question 5. Which season is the best to visit Coorg?

Answer. The season of joy that commences from September and continues till March is the best to visit Coorg as some showers make the weather perfect and the air becomes fragrant with the aroma of coffee.

Question 6. The people of Coorg have a tradition of courage and bravery. How has it been recognized in modern India?

Answer. The people of Coorg are known for their high energy, courageous and adventurous sports like canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking, trekking, etc. The Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated regiments in the Indian Army. The first Chief of Indian Army, General Cariappa, was a Coorgi, Even now Kodavus are the only people in India permitted to carry firearms without a license.

Question 7. Why has Coorg been referred to as ‘a piece of heaven drifted from the kingdom of God’?

Answer. Coorg is often referred to as a small piece of heaven because of its natural beauty—of its evergreen forest, rolling hills, coffee plantations and spice trees. The freshness of the natural surroundings is further enhanced by the aroma of coffee.

Question 8. What legacy have the colonial powers left to the district of Coorg?

Answer. Colonial presence in Coorg region is evident from the legacy of bungalows and coffee plantations that the region has inherited from them. It is believed that Coorgis are descendant of the Greek or Arab and the culture of these regions is strongly evident in the martial traditions and their marriage and religious ceremonies.

Question 9. What do you know about ‘‘Bylakuppe’’ as mentioned in the lesson, ‘Coorg’?

Answer. Bylakuppe is India’s largest Tibetan settlement of Buddhist monks. They can be seen here dressed in red ochre and yellow robes.

Question 10. Throw some light on the vast bio-diversity of Coorg.

Answer. The evergreen forests of Coorg enclose vast treasures of flora and fauna. It is a home to squirrels, langurs, kingfishers, elephants, slender loris bees and butterflies. Its river Kaveri abounds in Mahaseer—a large fresh water fish. The spice and coffee plantations, further add to its vast biodiversity.

Question 11. Write a brief note about Coorgis.

Answer. Coorgis are also known as Kodaves and they love their independence. These are two school of thought about their ancestors. One school believes as per the dress worn by them. A long black coat with a designed waist-belt similar to the one worm by the Arabs. The other theory believes that a part of Alexandar’s army decided to stay back and subsequently moved to south to Coorg. They spread their family tree by marrying the local girls. These Greek descendants have their own tradition and culture. Apart from the, Coorgis are very friendly and also expert in marital art.

Thinking About The Text

Question 1. Where is Coorg?

Answer: Coorg or Kodagu is the smallest district of Karnataka. It is situated midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore.

Question 2. What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent?

Answer: The fiercely independent people of Coorg are descendents of Greeks or Arabs. A section of Alexander’s army moved South along the coast and settled here only when they were unable to return to their country. These people married among the locals. This is the story about the descent of Kodavu people.

Question 3. What are some of the things you now know about?

• the people of Coorg?
• the main crop of Coorg?
• the sports it offers to a tourists?
• the animals you are likely to see in Coorg?
• its distance from Bangalore and how to get there?

Answer:

• They are fiercely independent people and have descended from the Greeks or the Arabs.
• Coffee is the main crop of Coorg.
• It mostly offers adventure sports which include river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking.
• The animals likely to be seen in Coorg are macaques, Malabar squirrel, langurs, slender loris, elephants etc.
• By road, it is around 250 – 260 kilometres from Bangalore.

Question 4. Here are six sentences with some words in italics. Find phrases from the text that have the same meaning. (Look in the paragraphs indicated)

• During monsoons it rains so heavily that tourists do not visit Coorg.
• Some people say that Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled there.
• The Coorg people are always ready to tell stories of their son’s and father’s valour.
• Even people who normally lead an easy and slow life get smitten by the high energy adventure sports of Coorg.
• The theory of the Arab origin is supported by the long coat with embroidered waist-belt they wear.
• Macaques, Malabar squirrels observe you carefully from the tree canopy.

Answer:

• to keep visitors away
• As one story goes
• are more than willing to recount
• The most laidback individuals become converts to
• draws support from
• keep a watchful eye

Thinking About Language

I. Here are some nouns from the text,

‘culture’ ‘monks’ ‘surprise’ ‘experience’ ‘weather’ ‘tradition’ Work with a partner and discuss which of the nouns can collocate with which of the adjectives given below. The first one has been done for you. ‘unique’ ‘terrible’ ‘unforgettable’ ‘serious’ ‘ancient’ ‘wide’ ‘sudden’

Questions.

• culture: unique culture, ancient culture
• monks: _____________
• surprise: ___________
• experience: __________
• weather: ___________
• tradition: ___________

Answer:

• serious monks, unique monks
• unique surprise, sudden surprise, unforgettable surprise, terrible surprise
• unique experience, terrible experience, unforgettable experience, sudden experience
• terrible weather, unforgettable weather
• unique tradition, ancient tradition

II. Complete the following phrases from the text. For each phrase, can you find at least one other word that would fit into the blank?

Missing Alternate word

• tales of __________ ___________
• coastal __________ ___________
• a piece of __________ ___________
• evergreen __________ ___________
• plantations __________ ___________
• bridge __________ ___________
• wild ___________ ___________

Answer: Missing Alternate word

• valor, bravery
• town belt, village
• heaven cake
• rainforests jungle
• coffee tea, banana
• rope steel, concrete
• creatures animals

Tea from Assam

Answer the Following Questions

Question 1. Why was Rajvir excited to see the tea gardens?

or

What made Rajvir amazed on the way?

Answer. Rajvir found the view outside the train splendid and eye catching with a lot of greenery. It was his first visit to Assam and he was fascinated by the sprawling tea gardens, spreading like the green sea of neatly pruned bushes and found it more interesting to watch, than reading his book on detectives.

Question 2. How did Rajvir describe the view from the train?

Answer. Rajvir described the magnificent view of the landscape from the train window. It was a sea of tea bushes, fleeting against the backdrop of densely wooded hills. At odd intervals, there were tall shade-tree and one could see women tea-pluckers picking tea leaves, who appeared to be doll like figures.

Question 3. What information was given by Pranjol’s father to Rajvir about Assam Tea Estate?

Answer. Pranjol’s father agreed to Rajvir’s information about it being the second-flush or sprouting period and it lasted from May to July and yields the best tea.

Question 4. What legends are associated with the origin of tea?

Answer. According to Chinese legend, once a few leaves of the twigs burning under the pot fell into the water and gave a delicious flavour: According to the Indian legend, Bodhidharma cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditation and threw them on the earth. Ten tea plants grew out of those eyelids. When he boiled them in water and drunk that water, it banished his sleep.

Question 5. What is the Chinese legend regarding tea?

Answer. The Chinese legend about tea is that there was a Chinese emperor who had the habit of boiling water before drinking it. Once, a few twigs of the leaves burning under the pot fell into the water and gave it a delicious flavour. Those leaves were tea leaves.

Question 6. How did Rajvir describe, the tea garden at Dhekiabari?

Answer. Rajvir’s visit to Dhekiabari, where Pranjol’s father worked as a manager, was a novel experience and he found it extremely fascinating. As they proceeded along the gravel road, with neatly pruned sea of tea bushes spreading over acres of land, he saw groups of tea-workers, wearing plastic aprons and baskets of bamboo sticks on their back, picking newly sprouted tea leaves.

Question 7. What is the Indian legend regarding the discovery of tea?

Answer. We have an Indian legend regarding the discovery of tea. Boddhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic, cut off his eyelids because he fell 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 8. How are the tea-pluckers different from the other farm labourers?

Answer. Tea pluckers are different from the other farm labourers as the tea pluckers are hired labourers whereas the farm labourers can be hired or can be the owners of the land. Tea pluckers just pluck leaves whereas farm labourers go through the whole process, i.e., from sowing to harvesting.

Question 9. Describe the magnificent views of tea estate with reference to the lesson ‘‘Tea from Assam’’.

Answer. The view around the tree estate was magnificent. There was greenery all round. 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 of tea-pluckers.

Thinking About Language

Question 1. Look at these words: upkeep, downpour, undergo, dropout, walk-in. They are built up from a verb (keep, pour, go, drop, walk) and an adverb or a preposition (up, down, under, out, in). Use these words appropriately in the sentences below. You may consult a dictionary.

• A heavy _____ has been forecast due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.
• Rakesh will _____ major surgery tomorrow morning.
• My brother is responsible for the ____ of our family property.
• The ____ rate for this accountancy course is very high.
• She went to the Enterprise Company to attend a _____ interview.

Answer:

• downpour
• undergo
• upkeep
• dropout
• walk-in

Question 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’

• The Army attempted unsuccessfully to ____ the Government, (throw)
• Scientists are on the brink of a major _____ in cancer research, (break)
• The State Government plans to build a ____ for Bhubaneswar to speed up traffic on the main highway, (pass)
• Gautama’s ____ on life changed when he realised that the world is full of sorrow, (look)
• Rakesh seemed unusually _____ after the game, (cast)

Answers:

• overthrow
• breakthrough
• bypass
• lookout
• downcast

We hope that Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 7 Glimpses of India Important Questions helped you. If you have any queries about Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 7 Glimpses of India Important Questions or about any other notes of Class 10 English, so you can comment below. We will reach you as soon as possible…