TEA FROM ASSAM

 TEA FROM ASSAM

1. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

They sipped the steaming hot liquid. Almost everyone in their compartment was drinking tea too. “Do you know that over eighty crore cups of tea are drunk every day throughout the world?” Rajvir said. “Whew!” exclaimed Pranjol. “Tea really is very popular.” 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 greenery before. Then the soft green paddy fields gave way to tea bushes.

(a) The ‘hot liquid’ was …………

(i) tea (ii) hot water (iii) wine (iv) none of the above

(b) Which one of the following statements shows that ‘tea really is very popular’?

(i) They sipped the steaming hot liquid. (ii) Almost everyone in their compartment was drinking tea too. (iii) Over eighty crore cups of tea are drunk every day throughout the world. (iv) All of the above.

(c) What was Pranjol doing?

(i) He was reading a detective book. (ii) He was smelling his book. (iii He had covered his nose with his book to save himself from the cold outside. (iv) None of the above.

(d) “Rajvir too was an ardent fan of detective stories.” But at that moment what attracted him the most?

(i) The fragrance of tea. (ii) The interior of the train compartment. (iii) The beautiful greenery outside. (iv) None of the above.

(e) Find the meaning of the word ‘strong liking for something’ from the extract.

(i) ardent (ii) steaming (iii) keener (iv) none of the above         

Answer: (a) (i) tea

(b) (iii) Over eighty crore cups of tea are drunk every day throughout the world.

(c) (i) He was reading a detective book.

(d) (iii) The beautiful greenery outside.

(e) (i) ardent

2. Read the following extracts carefully and answer 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 greenery before. Then the soft green paddy fields gave way to tea bushes.

(a) Why did Rajvir not join Pranjol in reading detective stories?

Answer: Rajvir did not join Pranjol in reading detective stories because at that moment he was engrossed in looking at the beautiful scenery outside the train window.

(b) Describe the sight that fascinated Rajvir outside the train window.      

Answer: Rajvir was fascinated by the spread of green all over the countryside, outside the train window. The green paddy fields had given way to green tea bushes.

3. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. 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.

(a) What was the magnificent view?

(i) The wooded hills. (ii) The sea of tea bushes. (iii) The shade trees. (iv) All of the above.

(b) What was blocking the views of tea plants?

(i) Tall sturdy shade trees. (ii) Row of wild bushes. (iii) A smoking factory. (iv) None of the above.

(c) Who were the “doll-like figures”?

(i) The passengers of the train. (ii) The workers of the factory. (iii) The tea Pluckers. (iv) None of the above.

 (d) What was giving the ugly look to the view?

(i) The tall trees. (ii) The doll-like figures. (iii) An ugly building with smoke billowing out of tall chimenys. (iv) None of the above.

(e) Find the meaning of the words ‘extremely attractive’ from the extract.

(i) magnificent (ii) sturdy (iii) densely (iv) ugly     

Answer: (a) (iv) All of the above.

(b) (i) Tall sturdy shade trees.

(c) (iii) The tea Pluckers.

(d) (iii) An ugly building with smoke billowing out of tall chimenys.

(e) (i) magnificent          

4. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

“Hey, a tea-garden!” Rajvir cried excitedly. Pranjol, who had been born and brought up on a plantation, didn’t share Rajvir’s excitement. “Oh, this is tea country now,” he said. “Assam has the largest concentration of plantations in the world. You will see enough gardens to last you a lifetime!”

(a) Why was Rajvir excited?

(i) He saw the tea garden for the first time. (ii) He was reading about an exciting character in the novel. (iii) His co passenger told him about an exciting character. (iv) None of the above.

(b) Why was Pranjol not excited?

(i) He had been born and brought up on a plantation.  (ii) He was not reading about an exciting character in the novel. (iii) His co-passenger did not tell him about any exciting character. (iv) None of the above.

(c) The train of  Rajvir and Pranjol was passing through ………….

(i) the area rich with tea plantation       (ii) the area rich with wild animals        (iii) the area rich with rain forests         (iv) none of the above

(d) Assam is known as  ……………

(i)  the largest producer of tea in the world (ii) the state has the largest concentration of rain forests (iii) the state has the largest number of pine trees. (iv) none of the above

(e) Find the meaning of the words “a lot of something in one place” from the extract. 

(i) concentration (ii) excitement (iii) plantation (iv) none of the above

Answer: (a) (i) He saw the tea garden for the first time.

(b) (i) He had been born and brought up on a plantation.

(c) (i) the area rich with tea plantation

(d) (i) the largest producer of tea in the world

(e) (i) concentration

5. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow. “Well, there’s the one about the Chinese emperor who always boiled water before drinking it. One day a few leaves of the twigs burning under the pot fell into the water giving it a delicious flavour. It is said they were tea leaves.” “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 vanished sleep.

(a) Rajvir and Pranjol are discussing…………...

(i) the  legends about tea (ii) the Chinese dynasty (iii) the Buddhist dynasty (iv) none of the above

(b)  According to the Chinese legend, tea originated from …………..

(i)  burning leaves of a twig (ii) magic of the emperor (iii) experiments in labs (iv) none of the above

(c) According to the Indian legend, tea originated from ……………

(i) eyelids of a Buddhist monk (ii)  eyelids of a Jainism Ascetic (iii)  an experiment in Buddhist temple (iv) none of the above

(d) According to the extract which one of the following properties, the tea has?

(i) It makes you sleep. (ii) It vanishes one’s sleep. (iii) It gives energy when one is extremely tired. (iv) None of the above.

(e) Find the meaning of the word ‘disappeared’  from the extract. 

(i) vanished (ii) delicious (iii) scoffed (iv) ascetic  

Answer: (a) (i) the legends about tea

(b) (i) burning leaves of a twig

(c) (i) eyelids of a Buddhist monk

(d) (ii) It vanishes one’s sleep.

(e) (i) vanished       

6. Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

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. On both sides of the gravel road were acre upon acre of tea bushes, all neatly pruned to the same height. Groups of tea-pluckers, with bamboo baskets on their backs, wearing plastic aprons, were plucking the newly sprouted leaves.

(a) Where were Pranjol and Rajvir going?

(i) Mariani (ii) Dhekiabari Tea Estate (iii) Gohati (iv) Dehradun

(b) Why were they going there?

(i) To celebrate the birthday of Pranjol. (ii) To purchase tea. (iii)To see tea garden. (iv) None of the above.

(c) What did they cross on their way from Mariani to Dhekhiabari?

(i) A cattle –bridge. (ii) A wild sanctuary. (iii) A small hill. (iv) None of the above.

(d) Which one of the following statements is NOT true?

(i) There were tea bushes on both sides of the road. (ii) A group of tea-pluckers was busy with their work. (ii) Dhekiabari Tea Estate was the largest Tea factory managed by Pranjol’s father. (iv) There was no tea shop on the roads.

(e) Which word in the extract is similar in meaning to ‘short loud repeated sound’?

(i) clattered (ii) veered (iii) pruned (iv) plucked     

Answer: (a) (ii) Dhekiabari Tea Estate

(b) (iii) to see tea garden.

(c) (i) A cattle –bridge.

(d) (iv) There was no tea shop on the roads.

(e) (i) clattered    

7. What legends are associated with the origin of tea?     

Answer: (a) There was one Chinese emperor who always boiled water before drinking it. One day a few leaves of the twigs burning under the pot fell into the water, which gave it a delicious flavour. It is said that they were tree leaves.

(b) 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 drunk banished sleep.  

8. Why did Rajvir feel that the view outside the window was magnificent?        

Answer: Rajvir had never seen such beautiful greenery in his life. He was fascinated to see the tea gardens and the wooded hills so he called it a magnificent view. The tea pluckers looked like dolls to him.  

9. Why does Rajvir call the workers doll-like figures?    

Answer: The tea pluckers were the local women. They had covered themselves with clothes from top to bottom. They looked like moving dolls. Rajvir called them doll-like figures. They really looked very pretty. 

10. Why was Pranjol not excited about seeing the tea garden?      

Answer: Pranjol was born and brought up in Assam. He had been watching the tea gardens since his childhood. There was nothing new for him. So he was not excited about seeing the tea gardens.

11. What is the Chinese legend about the discovery of tea?     

Answer: According to the Chinese legend, a Chinese emperor discovered tea accidentally. He used to boil water before drinking it. One day a few leaves of some twigs burning under the pot fell into the water giving it a delicious flavour. It is said that they were tea leaves.   

12. What is the Indian legend about the discovery of tea?        

Answer: According to Indian legend, Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist ascetic, cut off his eyelids because he felt very sleepy during meditation. Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. The leaves of these plants when put into hot water and drunk banished sleep.  

13. How are tea pluckers different from other farmers or labourers on the farms?        

Answer: The tea pluckers were different from other workers on the farm. They had bamboo baskets on their back. They were wearing plastic clothes. They looked like moving dolls.                       

14. Which tea is considered the best tea? Why?     

Answer: The tea prepared from the second flush on the sprouting period which begins in the month of May and lasts till the end of July is considered the best tea. It is the best one because it is prepared from the new leaves.                

15. Rajvir felt too excited about reaching Assam while Pranjol showed the least interest in his excitement. What could be the reason behind this? Do you think it is appropriate on Pranjol’s part to react like this? Justify your answer with reason.     

Answer: Pranjol invited his friend Rajvir to spend some days with him in his hometown Assam. On reaching there, Rajvir was stunned to see the beauty of tea plantations. It was an entirely new experience for him while for Pranjol, these were a common sight so he showed the least interest in Rajvir’s excitement. I think it is not appropriate on Pranjol’s part to react thus. No doubt his indifference was natural but it might dampen Rajvir’s spirit. Sometimes we have to act according to the wishes of the person opposite us, especially when the person is very close to us. A true friend is one who understands the feelings of his friend and tries to make him happier. Although Pranjol and Rajvir were very close yet one should always try to strengthen the bond of friendship.