Extra Questions for Tea from Assam Class 10 first Flight
Important Questions1
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. “Hey, a tea garden!” Rajvir cried excitedly.
(a) Why is the building called ugly?
(b) Why does the author call the tea plants ‘a sea of tea bushes’?
(c) What have the tea plantations been compared to?
(d) What are the doll-like figures referred to here?
Answer
(a) This is because smoke was billowing out of tall chimneys of the building.
(b) The tea bushes were stretched as far as the eye could see just like a sea.
(c) A sea.
(d) Tea-pluckers.
2
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. Pranjol’s father slowed down to allow a tractor, pulling a trailer-load of tea leaves to pass. “This is the second-flush or sprouting period, isn’t it, Mr Barua”? Rajvir asked, “It lasts from May to July and yields the best tea”.
(a) How are the women pluckers different from the other workers on the farms?
(b) When should the tea leaves be plucked to have the best tea?
(c) What did they see at Dhekiabari Tea Estate?
(d) What were the groups of women doing?
Answer
(a) They had bamboo baskets on their backs and wore plastic aprons.
(b) From May to July.
(c) Acres of tea bushes, neatly pruned to the same height.
(d) They were plucking the newly sprouted tea leaves and putting them into baskets on their backs.
3
”Chai garam…. garam chai” a vendor called out in a high pitched voice. He came up to their window and asked, Thai, sa’ab”? “Give us two cups,” Pranjol said. They sipped the steaming hot liquid. Almost everyone in their compartment was drinking too. “Do you know that over 8,00,000,000 cups of tea are drunk every day all over the world ?” Rajvir asked.
(a) Who was speaking in a high pitched voice and for what?
(b) What was ordered by Pranjol?
(c) What information did Rajvir give?
(d) Where were the two boys going?
Answer
(a) A tea vendor for selling tea.
(b) He ordered two cups of tea.
(c) That over 8,00,000,000 cups of tea are drunk every day all over the world.
(d) These two boys were going to Assam.
4
“Tea was first drunk in China,” Rajvir added, “as far back as 2700 B.C.! In fact words such as tea, chai and chini are from Chinese. Tea came to Europe only in the sixteenth century and was drunk more as medicine than a beverage”. The train clattered their luggage and pushed their way to the crowded platform. Pranjol’s parents were waiting for them.
(a) In which country was tea drunk first?
(b) From which language were the words, ‘char and ‘chin adopted in Hindi?
(c) Where was tea drunk first?
(d) Which words are from Chinese?
Answer
(a) China.
(b) Chinese language.
(c) Tea was first drunk in China.
(d) ‘Tea’, `chai’ and ‘chini‘.
5
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. It was a magnificent blue. 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) Where did Pranjol bury his nose?
(b) Describe the ‘magnificent view’.
(c) What made tea plants look tiny and dwarf?
(d) What were doll-like figures amidst the rows of tea bushes doing?
Answer
(a) In the detective book.
(b) There was greenery all around and the place was filled with soft paddy fields.
(c) The size of tea plants as compared to tall trees in the background made them look tiny and dwarf.
(d) They were plucking tea leaves.
1
Answer
According to Rajvir, over eighty crore cups of tea are drunk daily throughout the world.2
Answer
Rajvir had been invited by his classmate Pranjol, who was from Assam, to visit his home during the summer vacation.3
Answer
On both sides of the gravel road were acres and acres of neatly pruned tea bushes. It was the second sprouting period. Women wearing plastic aprons were plucking new tea leaves and putting them in the bamboo baskets.4
Describe the magnificent views of the tea estate with reference to the lesson, ‘Tea from Assam’.
Or
Draw a pen picture of tea gardens in Assam.
Answer
The tea bushes were spread like a sea against the backdrop of densely wooded hills. Amidst the orderly rows of tea, bushes were doll-like figures plucking tea leaves.5
Answer
When the train moved ahead, there were huge fields full of green plantations. Rajvir had never seen so much greenery. He called it a ‘magnificent view’. The bushes were spread like a sea against the backdrop of densely wooded hills.6
Answer
The tea pluckers are different from other farm labourers. The women plucking tea leaves in the tea gardens look like dolls. They wear plastic aprons and carry baskets at their backs to put tea leaves in them.7
Answer
There is an ancient legend about the discovery of tea. A Chinese emperor had the habit of drinking boiled water. One day a twig from the fire fell into the pot in which water was being boiled. It gave a delicious flavour to the water. It is said that those were tea leaves and that was the first tea. It is thus thought that tea was first taken in China.8
Answer
He was the manager of a tea garden in upper Assam. He showed Pranjol and Rajvir the acres of tea bushes, all neatly pruned to the same height. Groups of women pluckers with bamboo baskets were plucking the newly sprouted leaves.9
Answer
A Chinese emperor had the habit of drinking boiled water. One day a twig fell into the pot in which water was being boiled. It gave a delicious flavour to the water. It is said that those were tea leaves.10
Answer
Rajvir was amazed to see huge fields full of green plantations. There were vast green tea gardens on both sides of the road. The tall trees at the back of the gardens, in the forest on the rolling hills, looked beautiful.11
Answer
Assam tea is considered to be the best tea as it has the largest concentration of tea plantations in the world. The weather and environmental conditions are perfect here to grow tea plants.12
Answer
It is believed that tea was first drunk in China in 2700 B.C. Words like ‘chai and ‘chini‘ are Chinese. Tea came to Europe in the sixteenth century. At first, it was used more as a medicine than as a beverage.1
Answer
There are many popular legends about the discovery of tea. Two of them are as follows —
A Chinese emperor was used to drinking boiled water. One day a twig from the fire fell into the pot in which water was being boiled. It gave a delicious flavour to the drink. It is said that those were tea leaves. An Indian legend goes like this. Once there was a Buddhist ascetic who used to feel sleepy during meditations. So he cut off his eyelids. Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. When the leaves from these plants were put in hot water and drunk they banished sleep.
2
Answer
Tea was first drunk in China. Even the words `chai’ and ‘chini are from Chinese. It goes back to 2700 B.C. In the 16th century, tea came to Europe and was drunk more as a medicine than as a beverage. Assam has the largest concentration of tea plantations in the world. There are large groups of women with bamboo baskets on their backs. They pluck the newly sprouted tea leaves from the plants and store them in the baskets.3
Answer
Rajvir was fascinated by the scenic beauty of the place. There were vast green tea gardens on both sides of the road. The tall trees at the back of the gardens in the forest on the rolling hills looked beautiful. The women plucking tea leaves looked like dolls. On the way, he saw people drinking tea. He also saw an ugly building with smoke coming out of its chimneys. Rajvir was received by Mrs and Mr Barua and was taken towards Dhekiabari Tea Estate. On both sides of the gravel road were acres and acres of neatly pruned tea bushes. It was the second sprouting period. Women were wearing plastic aprons and plucking new tea leaves and putting them in the bamboo baskets on their backs.4
Answer
Pranjol belonged to Assam. He was studying in a school in Delhi. Rajvir was his classmate. Pranjol’s father was the manager of a tea-garden in Upper Assam. Pranjol invited Rajvir to visit his home during the summer vacation. Both of them travelled to Assam on a train. When the train stopped on the way at a station, a vendor called, ‘chai-garam garam-chaff, they took tea and started sipping it. Rajvir told Pranjol that Over eighty crore cups of tea are drunk every day throughout the world. Pranjol started reading his detective book again. But Rajvir looked out of the window of the moving train. There was beautiful scenery outside. Soon the soft green paddy fields were left behind and there were tea bushes everywhere. Rajvir was fascinated by the magnificent view of tea gardens.5
Answer
Rajvir said that no one really knows who discovered tea. He told Pranjol that there were many legends attached to the discovery of tea. According to one story, a Chinese emperor discovered tea by chance. He always boiled water before drinking it. One day a few leaves off the twigs burning under the pot fell into the water. As a result, the boiled water got a delicious flavour. It is said they were tea leaves. According to another Indian legend, Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist monk, felt sleep during meditations. So he cut off his eyelids. Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. The leaves of these plants when put in hot water and drunk banished sleep. It is believed that tea was first drunk in China in 2700 B.C. Words like ‘chaff’ and `chini‘ are Chinese. Tea came to Europe in the sixteenth century. At first, it was used more as a medicine than as a beverage.