Part I A Baker from Goa
Question 1.What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?Answer:The elders in Goa are nostalgic about the good oldPortuguese 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.
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Question 1.Match the following. What is a must1. as marriage gifts? – cakes and bolinhas2. for a party or a feast? – sweet bread called bol3. for a daughter’s engagement? – bread4. for Christmas? – sandwichesAnswer:1. as marriage gifts – sweet bread called bol2. for a party or a feast – bread3. for a daughter’s engagement – sandwiches4. for Christmas – cakes and bolinhas
Question 2.What did the bakers wear :1. In the Portuguese days2. When the author was youngAnswer:1. The bakers were usually dressed up in a peculiar dress called kabai. It was a single piece long frock reaching down to the knees.2. 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 3.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 4.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 5.What does a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ mean?Answer:It means having a plump physique, like a jackfruit.
Thinking About the Text (Page 88)
Question 1.Which of these statements are correct?1. The pader was an important person in the village in old times.2. Paders still exist in Goan villages.3. The paders went away with the Portuguese.4. The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock.5. Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.6. Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business.7. Paders and their families starve in the present times.Answer:1. Correct2. Correct3. Incorrect4. Incorrect5. Correct6. Correct7. 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?1. The thud and the jingle of the traditional baker ‘s bamboo can still be heard in some places, (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)2. Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession, (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)3. I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves, (nostalgic, hopeful, naughty)4. The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all. (naughty, angry, funny)5. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals, (sad, hopeful, matter-of-fact)6. The baker dnd his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous, (matter-of-fact, hopeful, sad)Answer:1. Nostalgic2. Hopeful3. Nostalgic4. Funny5. Matter-of-fact6. Matter-of-fact
Part II CoorgThinking 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 cbastal 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?1. the people of Coorg?2. the main crop of Coorg?3. the sports it offers to a tourists?4. the animals you are likely to see in Coorg?5. its distance from Bangalore and how to get there?Answer:1. They are fiercely independent people and have descended from the Greeks or the Arabs.2. Coffee is the main crop of Coorg.3. It mostly offers adventure sports which include river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing and mountain biking.4. The animals likely to be seen in Coorg are macaques, Malabar squirrel, langurs, slender loris, elephants etc.5. 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)1. During monsoons it rains so heavily that tourists do not visit Coorg. (Para 2)2. Some people say that Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled there. (Para 3)3. The Coorg people are always ready to tell stories of their son’s and father’s valour. (Para 4)4. Even people who normally lead an easy and slow life get smitten by the high energy adventure sports of Coorg. (Para 6)5. The theory of the Arab origin is supported by the long coat with embroidered waist-belt they wear. (Para 3)6. Macaques, Malabar squirrels observe you carefully from the tree canopy. (Para 7)Answer:1. to keep visitors away2. As one story goes3. are more than willing to recount4. The most laidback individuals become converts to5. draws support from6. keep a watchful eye
