NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English (First Flight) Chapter 5: Glimpses of India (NCERT 2026–27)

Complete solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 5 – “Glimpses of India”, a set of three travel sketches: A Baker from Goa (Lucio Rodrigues), Coorg (Lokesh Abrol) and Tea from Assam (Arup Kumar Datta). This page gives an original summary, theme, word meanings and every textbook exercise answered in full – all Oral Comprehension Check, Thinking about the Text, Thinking about Language and Talk about it questions, with the headings reproduced exactly as in the NCERT book.

Class: 10 Subject: English Book: First Flight Type: Prose (Chapter 5) Authors: Lucio Rodrigues, Lokesh Abrol, Arup Kumar Datta Session: 2026–27
On this page

About the chapter & authors

“Glimpses of India” is a travelogue made up of three short pieces, each painting a vivid picture of a different region of our country. A Baker from Goa, by Lucio Rodrigues, is a warm, nostalgic pen-portrait of the traditional Goan village baker (the pader) and the Portuguese influence on Goan life. Coorg, by Lokesh Abrol, describes the misty, coffee-growing hill district of Kodagu in Karnataka, its proud martial people and its adventure tourism. Tea from Assam, by Arup Kumar Datta, follows two boys, Rajvir and Pranjol, on a train journey to a tea estate in Upper Assam and weaves in legends about the discovery of tea.

Summary

A Baker from Goa. The author recalls his childhood in Goa, when elders fondly remembered the Portuguese days and their famous loaves of bread. Even after the Portuguese left, the bakers – known as paders – survived, carrying the family trade from father to son. The baker came twice a day, and the jingling thud of his bamboo woke the children, who ran out not for the loaves but for the bread-bangles and sweet bread. Bread was woven into every Goan occasion – engagements, marriages, Christmas and festivals all needed cakes, sandwiches and the sweet bol. The baker wore a peculiar long frock called the kabai, collected his bills monthly, and his plump physique was proof that baking was a profitable, happy profession.

Coorg. Coorg, or Kodagu, the smallest district of Karnataka, lies between Mysore and Mangalore and is famous for evergreen rainforests, spices and coffee. Its proud, fiercely independent people may be of Greek or Arab descent, and the Coorg Regiment is one of the most decorated in the Indian Army. The river Kaveri rises in these hills, which offer river-rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock-climbing and trekking, with rich wildlife and Tibetan monasteries at nearby Bylakuppe.

Tea from Assam. Rajvir and Pranjol travel by train to Pranjol’s home, a tea estate in Upper Assam. As endless tea bushes roll past, Rajvir shares legends about the discovery of tea – a Chinese emperor whose water was flavoured by stray leaves, and the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma whose eyelids grew into tea plants. He notes that over eighty crore cups of tea are drunk daily worldwide, and that they have arrived during the second-flush season that yields the finest tea.

Theme & message

The chapter celebrates the rich variety, charm and beauty of India through three very different regions. Each piece blends factual information with personal experience, showing how geography, history, food and tradition shape a place’s identity. Together they remind us that India’s strength lies in its cultural and natural diversity – from the Portuguese-flavoured bakeries of Goa to the martial hills of Coorg and the tea gardens of Assam.

Word meanings

WordMeaning
reminiscingthinking fondly about the past
nostalgicallywith a longing for the past
heraldingannouncing the arrival of
paderthe traditional Goan baker
rebukea scolding; an expression of disapproval
fragrancea pleasant scent or smell
kabaia single-piece long frock worn by old Goan bakers
plump physiquea pleasantly fat body
open testimonya public proof or statement
martialconnected with war or fighting
drifted fromcarried gently along by the air
canopiesroof-like coverings that form shelters
mainstreama tradition that most people follow
tales of valourstories of courage and bravery in war
laidbackrelaxed; not in a hurry
rappellinggoing down a cliff by sliding down a rope
panoramic viewa wide view of a large area of land
ardentvery enthusiastic; keen
ascetica person who lives a simple, strict religious life
second-flushthe sprouting period (May–July) that yields the best tea
billowing(of smoke) rising and rolling out in large clouds
veeredturned sharply in a different direction

I. A Baker from Goa – Textbook Exercises

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 64)

1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

ANSWERThe elders are nostalgic about the good old Portuguese days, the Portuguese rulers and their famous loaves of bread, which they still remember fondly.

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

ANSWERYes, bread-making is still popular in Goa. We know this because the mixers, moulders and bakers still exist, the old time-tested furnaces are still in use, and the thud and jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo can still be heard in some places, with sons continuing the family profession.

3. What is the baker called?

ANSWERThe baker is called a pader in Goa.

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

ANSWERThe baker came twice a day – once in the morning on his selling round, and again in the evening after emptying his basket. The children ran to meet him not for the loaves (which the maid-servant bought) but for the bread-bangles they chose carefully and for the special sweet bread.

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 65)

1. Match the following. What is a must
(i) as marriage gifts? (ii) for a party or a feast? (iii) for a daughter’s engagement? (iv) for Christmas?

ANSWER(i) as marriage gifts – sweet bread called bol(ii) for a party or a feast – bread(iii) for a daughter’s engagement – sandwiches(iv) for Christmas – cakes and bolinhas

2. What did the bakers wear: (i) in the Portuguese days? (ii) when the author was young?

ANSWER(i) In the Portuguese days the bakers wore a peculiar single-piece long frock reaching down to the knees, called the kabai.(ii) When the author was young, the bakers wore a shirt and trousers that were shorter than full-length ones but longer than half pants.

3. Who invites the comment — “he is dressed like a pader”? Why?

ANSWERAnyone who wears a half pant that reaches just below the knees invites this comment, because that length of dress resembles the trousers traditionally worn by the bakers (paders).

4. Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?

ANSWERThe monthly accounts of the baker were recorded in pencil on some wall in the house.

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

ANSWERA ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ means a plump, fat and well-rounded body. Bakers and their families were so prosperous and well-fed that anyone with such a healthy, bulky physique is compared to a baker.

Thinking about the Text

1. Which of these statements are correct?
(i) The pader was an important person in the village in old times. (ii) Paders still exist in Goan villages. (iii) The paders went away with the Portuguese. (iv) The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock. (v) Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days. (vi) Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business. (vii) Paders and their families starve in the present times.

ANSWERThe correct statements are: (i), (ii) and (v).(iii), (iv), (vi) and (vii) are incorrect – the paders did not go away with the Portuguese, they no longer wear the long frock, the trade today is less profitable than before, and there is no mention of paders starving today.

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

ANSWERYes, bread is an important part of Goan life. Every special occasion needs bread of some kind – the sweet bol as a marriage gift, sandwiches for a daughter’s engagement, and cakes and bolinhas for Christmas and other festivals. No party or feast is complete without bread, which shows how essential the baker and his furnace are to the village.

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. (nostalgic / hopeful / sad) (ii) Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession. (nostalgic / hopeful / sad) (iii) I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves. (nostalgic / hopeful / naughty) (iv) The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all. (naughty / angry / funny) (v) Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. (sad / hopeful / matter-of-fact) (vi) The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous. (matter-of-fact / hopeful / sad)

ANSWER(i) nostalgic(ii) hopeful(iii) nostalgic(iv) funny(v) matter-of-fact(vi) matter-of-fact

Thinking about Language

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.

ANSWER
CluesAuthor’s childhood days
the way bread was bakedin age-old, time-tested furnaces whose fire was never extinguished
the way the pader sold breaddoor-to-door, twice a day, carrying a basket on his head and announcing his arrival with a jingling bamboo
what the pader worea single-piece long frock (kabai) in earlier days; later a shirt and knee-length trousers
when the pader was paidat the end of the month, with accounts recorded in pencil on a wall
how the pader lookedplump and prosperous, with a jackfruit-like physique
PARAGRAPH (sample)During the author’s childhood, bread was baked in ancient, time-tested furnaces that never went cold. The friendly pader came door-to-door twice a day, balancing a huge basket on his head and announcing himself with the jingling thud of his bamboo. In the older days he wore a long frock called the kabai, though later bakers wore a shirt and knee-length trousers. He collected his payment at the end of every month and noted the accounts in pencil on a wall. Well-fed and prosperous, the baker always looked plump and cheerful – a happy, familiar figure in every Goan village.

II. 1. Compare the piece from the text (on the left) with the other piece on Goan bakers (on the right). What makes the two texts so different? Are the facts the same? Do both writers give you a picture of the baker?

ANSWERThe two texts present similar facts – both say the Portuguese brought leavened, oven-baked bread to Goa and that the paders have survived after the Portuguese left. However, the styles are very different. The textbook extract is personal, nostalgic and descriptive, full of childhood memories, sounds and feelings, so it gives a warm, living picture of the baker. The second piece (by Nandakumar Kamat) is factual and informative, explaining how paders survived through door-to-door delivery and family tradition. The first makes us feel the baker; the second makes us understand him.

II. 2. Now find a travel brochure about a place you have visited. Look at the description in the brochure. Then write your own account, adding details from your own experience, to give the reader a picture of the place, rather than an impersonal, factual description.

ANSWER (activity – sample)This is a writing activity. Pick a place you have visited; note the brochure’s plain facts (distance, attractions, weather), then rewrite it with your own sights, sounds, smells and feelings. Example: “The brochure simply called Manali ‘a hill station 270 km from Chandigarh’. But when I reached, the crisp pine-scented air, the roar of the Beas river over white rocks, and the apple orchards glowing in the evening light made it feel like a postcard come alive.”

Talk about it

1. In groups, collect information on how bakeries bake bread now and how the process has changed over time.

ANSWER (group activity)Earlier, bread was baked in wood-fired clay or brick furnaces, kneaded and moulded entirely by hand, and sold door-to-door. Today, modern bakeries use electric or gas ovens with controlled temperature, dough-mixing and kneading machines, packaged yeast, and hygienic packaging; bread is sold in shops and supermarkets. The craft has become faster, more standardised and large-scale, but the traditional taste and personal touch are often lost.

2. There are a number of craft-based professions which are dying out. Pick one of the crafts below. Make a group presentation to the class about the skills required, and the possible reasons for the decline of the craft. Can you think of ways to revive these crafts? (Pottery, Batik work, Dhurri weaving, Embroidery, Carpentry, Bamboo weaving, Making jute products, Handloom)

ANSWER (sample – Pottery)Skills: shaping clay on a wheel, sense of balance and symmetry, glazing and kiln-firing, patience and artistic design.Reasons for decline: cheap mass-produced plastic and steel goods, low and irregular income, lack of marketing, and younger generations choosing other careers.Ways to revive: government support and fair pricing, training and design workshops, online and tourist marketing, GI tags for local crafts, and promoting eco-friendly clay products as an alternative to plastic.

II. Coorg – Textbook Exercises

Thinking about the Text

1. Where is Coorg?

ANSWERCoorg, also called Kodagu, is the smallest district of Karnataka. It lies midway between Mysore and the coastal town of Mangalore, in a land of rolling hills.

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

ANSWERAccording to one story, the Kodavus are of Greek descent: when a part of Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and found returning home impractical, the soldiers settled here and married among the locals. Another theory says they are of Arab origin, supported by the long, black, embroidered coat (the kuppia) they wear, which resembles the kuffia of the Arabs and Kurds.

3. What are some of the things you now know about
(i) the people of Coorg? (ii) the main crop of Coorg? (iii) the sports it offers to tourists? (iv) the animals you are likely to see in Coorg? (v) its distance from Bangalore, and how to get there?

ANSWER(i) The people: they are a proud, fiercely independent, hospitable martial race, possibly of Greek or Arab descent; the Coorg Regiment is highly decorated and Kodavus may carry firearms without a licence.(ii) The main crop: coffee – Coorg is coffee country, also known for spices.(iii) The sports: river-rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock-climbing, mountain-biking and trekking along walking trails.(iv) The animals: wild elephants, Mahaseer fish, kingfishers, squirrels, langurs, macaques, Malabar squirrels, slender loris, and birds, bees and butterflies.(v) Distance and how to get there: Coorg is about 250–260 km from Bangalore. One can reach it by air (airports at Mangalore 135 km, Bangalore 260 km), by rail (railheads at Mysore, Mangalore and Hassan) or by road via Mysore, with Madikeri being the gateway.

Thinking about Language

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)
(i) During monsoons it rains so heavily that tourists do not visit Coorg. (para 2) (ii) Some people say that Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled there. (para 3) (iii) The Coorg people are always ready to tell stories of their sons’ and fathers’ valour. (para 4) (iv) Even people who normally lead an easy and slow life get smitten by the high-energy adventure sports of Coorg. (para 6) (v) The theory of the Arab origin is supported by the long coat with embroidered waist-belt they wear. (para 3) (vi) Macaques, Malabar squirrels observe you carefully from the tree canopy. (para 7)

ANSWER(i) “it pours enough to keep many visitors away”(ii) “As one story goes, a part of Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled here”(iii) “more than willing to recount numerous tales of valour”(iv) “The most laidback individuals become converts to the life of high-energy adventure”(v) “The theory of Arab origin draws support from the long, black coat with an embroidered waist-belt”(vi) “keep a watchful eye from the tree canopy”

Collocations – 1. 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 (unique, terrible, unforgettable, serious, ancient, wide, sudden). The first one has been done for you.

ANSWER (sample collocations)(i) culture: unique culture, ancient culture(ii) monks: serious monks, ancient monks(iii) surprise: sudden surprise, unforgettable surprise(iv) experience: unique experience, unforgettable experience, terrible experience(v) weather: terrible weather, sudden weather (change)(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?
(i) tales of ___ (ii) ___ coastal (iii) a piece of ___ (iv) ___ evergreen (v) ___ plantations (vi) ___ bridge (vii) wild ___

ANSWER (text word + another option)(i) tales of valour  (other: tales of courage / adventure)(ii) coastal town  (other: coastal region / area)(iii) a piece of heaven  (other: a piece of cake / land)(iv) evergreen rainforests  (other: evergreen trees / plants)(v) coffee plantations  (other: tea plantations / rubber plantations)(vi) rope bridge  (other: railway bridge / wooden bridge)(vii) wild creatures  (other: wild elephants / animals)

III. Tea from Assam – Textbook Exercises

Thinking about Language

I. 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 particle (up, down, under, out, in). Use these words appropriately in the sentences below.
(i) A heavy ___ has been forecast due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal. (ii) Rakesh will ___ major surgery tomorrow morning. (iii) My brother is responsible for the ___ of our family property. (iv) The ___ rate for this accountancy course is very high. (v) She went to the Enterprise Company to attend a ___ interview.

ANSWER(i) downpour   (ii) undergo   (iii) upkeep   (iv) dropout   (v) walk-in

I. 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 (over, by, through, out, up, down) as appropriate.
(i) The Army attempted unsuccessfully to ___ the Government. (throw) (ii) Scientists are on the brink of a major ___ in cancer research. (break) (iii) The State Government plans to build a ___ for Bhubaneswar to speed up traffic on the main highway. (pass) (iv) Gautama’s ___ on life changed when he realised that the world is full of sorrow. (look) (v) Rakesh seemed unusually ___ after the game. (cast)

ANSWER(i) throw over / overthrow the Government(ii) breakthrough(iii) bypass(iv) outlook(v) downcast

II. 1. Think of suitable -ing or -ed adjectives to answer the following questions. You may also use words from those given above (interesting/interested, exciting/excited, boring/bored).
(i) a good detective serial on television? (ii) a debate on your favourite topic ‘Homework Should Be Banned’? (iii) how you feel when you stay indoors due to incessant rain? (iv) how you feel when you open a present? (v) how you feel when you watch your favourite programme on television? (vi) the look on your mother’s face as you waited in a queue? (vii) how you feel when tracking a tiger in a tiger reserve forest? (viii) the story you have recently read, or a film you have seen?

ANSWER (sample)(i) interesting / thrilling(ii) exciting / interesting(iii) bored(iv) excited / surprised(v) excited / entertained(vi) worried / irritated(vii) excited / frightened / thrilled(viii) interesting / fascinating

II. 2. Now use the adjectives in the exercise above, as appropriate, to write a paragraph about Coorg.

ANSWER (sample paragraph)Coorg is a fascinating and exciting destination. Its misty hills and coffee-scented air leave every visitor thrilled. Adventure lovers are excited by river-rafting and rappelling, while nature lovers are interested in its rich wildlife. Nobody who travels here is ever bored; instead, they return with unforgettable, satisfying memories of this charming hill country.

Talk about it

1. Read the following passage about tea. Collect information about tea, e.g. its evolution as a drink, its beneficial qualities. You can consult an encyclopedia or visit Internet websites. Then form groups of five and play the following roles: imagine a meeting of a tea planter, a sales agent, a tea lover (consumer), a physician and a tea-shop owner. Each person has to put forward his/her views about tea.

ANSWER (role-play – sample views)Tea planter: “I feel proud that the tea we grow in Assam and Darjeeling is famous worldwide; good plantation care gives the finest second-flush leaves.”Sales agent: “I would like you to know that demand for Indian tea is huge – over eighty crore cups are drunk daily across the world.”Tea lover: “It is my feeling that no morning is complete without tea; it refreshes me instantly.”Physician: “It is important to know that tea, taken in moderation, has antioxidants, but too much can harm sleep and digestion.”Tea-shop owner: “I agree with everyone – tea brings people together; my little shop is always full of happy customers.”

2. You are the sales executive of a famous tea company and you have been asked to draft an advertisement for the product. Draft the advertisement using the information you collected for the role play. You can draw pictures or add photographs and make your advertisement colourful.

ANSWER (sample advertisement)ASSAM GOLD TEA – Wake Up to Goodness!
Picked fresh from the finest second-flush gardens of Upper Assam. Rich aroma, golden colour, full of antioxidants and energy. One sip and your tiredness vanishes! Trusted by millions – join the eighty crore cups enjoyed every day. Assam Gold – the taste of India in every cup. Available at all leading stores.

Extra questions

Short answer

1. Why did the children in Goa not mind not brushing their teeth?

ANSWERThey believed that hot tea could wash and clean their mouths nicely, and humorously argued that even the tiger never brushed its teeth, so brushing was unnecessary.

2. Which river rises in Coorg, and what fish is found in it?

ANSWERThe river Kaveri obtains its water from the hills and forests of Coorg. The large freshwater fish called Mahaseer is found in abundance in its waters.

3. What two legends about the discovery of tea does Rajvir narrate?

ANSWERFirst, a Chinese emperor’s boiled water was flavoured when a few leaves of burning twigs fell into it – said to be tea leaves. Second, the Indian legend of the Buddhist ascetic Bodhidharma, whose cut-off eyelids grew into ten tea plants whose leaves banished sleep.

4. What is special about the people of Coorg with regard to firearms?

ANSWERThe Kodavus are the only people in India who are permitted to carry firearms without a licence, a privilege linked to their proud martial tradition.

5. What is the ‘second-flush’ period in tea cultivation?

ANSWERThe second-flush or sprouting period lasts from May to July and yields the best quality tea, when the newly sprouted leaves are plucked.

Long answer

6. How does ‘A Baker from Goa’ show that the baker was an important figure in Goan society?

ANSWERThe baker, or pader, was central to Goan life. He came twice a day and was a friend, companion and guide to children. His bread was essential for every important occasion – the sweet bol as a marriage gift, sandwiches for engagements, and cakes and bolinhas for Christmas and festivals; no feast was complete without bread. His furnace was therefore considered absolutely essential to the village. Baking was a profitable, respected profession that kept his family happy and prosperous, and his very dress and appearance became part of local identity, with people even today being compared to a pader. All this shows the baker held a vital social and cultural place in Goan society.

7. Coorg is described as ‘a piece of heaven that must have drifted from the kingdom of god’. Justify this description.

ANSWERCoorg richly deserves this description. It is a land of rolling hills with evergreen rainforests covering thirty per cent of the district, perfumed by the smell of invigorating coffee. Its weather from September to March is perfect, with gentle showers, coffee estates and colonial bungalows tucked under tree canopies. The proud, hospitable people, the river Kaveri with its Mahaseer fish, kingfishers, elephants and langurs, the thrilling adventure sports, the panoramic view from the Brahmagiri hills, and the peaceful Tibetan monks in their colourful robes all combine to make Coorg a heavenly, almost magical place – truly a piece of paradise on earth.

8. Why is ‘Glimpses of India’ an appropriate title for this chapter?

ANSWERThe title is apt because the chapter offers brief, vivid ‘glimpses’ of three very different regions of India through three short pieces. A Baker from Goa shows the Portuguese-influenced culture and food of Goa; Coorg reveals the misty, coffee-growing hills and martial people of Karnataka; and Tea from Assam introduces the vast tea gardens and tea legends of the north-east. Each gives only a small but colourful picture, and together they capture how varied, charming and beautiful our country is – exactly what a set of ‘glimpses’ should do.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. In Goa, the traditional baker is known as the:

(a) pader   (b) bol   (c) kabai   (d) bolinha

2. The single-piece long frock worn by old Goan bakers was called the:

(a) kuppia   (b) kabai   (c) kuffia   (d) bol

3. Coorg, or Kodagu, is the smallest district of which state?

(a) Kerala   (b) Tamil Nadu   (c) Karnataka   (d) Assam

4. The people of Coorg are believed to be of which descent?

(a) Greek or Arab   (b) Mongol   (c) Persian   (d) Roman

5. Which river obtains its water from the hills and forests of Coorg?

(a) Godavari   (b) Krishna   (c) Kaveri   (d) Tungabhadra

6. The first Chief of the Indian Army, General Cariappa, was a:

(a) Goan   (b) Coorgi   (c) Assamese   (d) Tibetan

7. According to one legend, tea plants grew out of the eyelids of the Buddhist ascetic:

(a) Bodhidharma   (b) Cariappa   (c) Alexander   (d) Rajvir

8. Tea was first drunk in China as far back as:

(a) 1600 A.D.   (b) 2700 B.C.   (c) 700 A.D.   (d) 1857 A.D.

9. The ‘second-flush’ period, which yields the best tea, lasts from:

(a) January to March   (b) May to July   (c) September to November   (d) October to December

10. The tea garden managed by Pranjol’s father was called:

(a) Mariani Estate   (b) Bylakuppe Estate   (c) Dhekiabari Tea Estate   (d) Madikeri Estate

Answer key: 1-(a), 2-(b), 3-(c), 4-(a), 5-(c), 6-(b), 7-(a), 8-(b), 9-(b), 10-(c).

Assertion–Reason – choose: (a) A and R true, R explains A; (b) A and R true, R does not explain A; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true.

1. Assertion (A): The paders have survived in Goa even after the Portuguese left.

Reason (R): The sons still carry on the family profession of bread-making.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

2. Assertion (A): The Kodavus are permitted to carry firearms without a licence.

Reason (R): They are a proud martial race with a strong tradition of valour.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

3. Assertion (A): Pranjol did not share Rajvir’s excitement on seeing the tea garden.

Reason (R): Pranjol had been born and brought up on a tea plantation.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A – the everyday sight was nothing new for Pranjol.

4. Assertion (A): During the monsoons, many visitors stay away from Coorg.

Reason (R): It pours so heavily during the monsoons that travel becomes difficult.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

5. Assertion (A): Tea came to Europe only in the sixteenth century.

Reason (R): In Europe it was at first drunk more as a medicine than as a beverage.

ANSWER(b) Both statements are true, but R does not explain why tea came to Europe late; it only describes how it was first used there.

Exam tips

Score full marks on ‘Glimpses of India’

Remember the chapter is three separate pieces with three authors – A Baker from Goa (Lucio Rodrigues), Coorg (Lokesh Abrol) and Tea from Assam (Arup Kumar Datta). Keep their key facts separate. Learn the special terms exactly: pader, kabai, bol, bolinhas (Goa); Kodavu, kuppia, Mahaseer, Brahmagiri, Bylakuppe (Coorg); Bodhidharma, second-flush, Dhekiabari, Mariani (Assam). In tone-based questions support your answer with a short reason. For value/long answers, always link back to the theme – the diversity and beauty of India.

FAQs

Who are the authors of the three pieces in ‘Glimpses of India’?

‘A Baker from Goa’ is by Lucio Rodrigues, ‘Coorg’ is by Lokesh Abrol, and ‘Tea from Assam’ is by Arup Kumar Datta.

What is a pader?

A pader is the traditional Goan village baker who still bakes and sells bread door-to-door, carrying on a profession brought to Goa by the Portuguese.

Why is Coorg called coffee country?

Coorg is famous for its large coffee plantations, evergreen rainforests and spices; coffee is its main crop and the air is said to breathe of invigorating coffee.

What are the two legends about the discovery of tea?

One is about a Chinese emperor whose boiled water was flavoured by stray burning leaves; the other is the Indian legend of Bodhidharma, whose cut-off eyelids grew into tea plants that banished sleep.

Questions are taken verbatim from the NCERT First Flight textbook; summaries and answers are written originally by ClearStudy.

Scroll to Top