NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 5 Glimpses of India - 2025-26

I. A Baker from Goa

Oral Comprehension Check

1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

Ans: Remembering the good old Portuguese days and their famous bread made the Portuguese nostalgic.

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

Ans: Yes, it is still popular in Goa. The author talks about the existence of time-old furnaces and the people still having moulders and bakers.

3. What is the baker called?

Ans: The bakers are known as pader.

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

Ans:  The baker paid a visit to the home twice, every day. He would leave in the morning and then return his huge basket was empty. The children used to run after him because they loved the bread-bangles. They chose their favourite carefully and it was sweet in taste.

Oral Comprehension Check

1. Match the following. What is a must

Ans:

2. What did the bakers wear: 

(i) in the Portuguese days? 

Ans: In Portuguese days, a long, single-piece frock was worn by the bakers. It was known as kabai.

(ii) when the author was young?

Ans: The bakers wore shirts and trousers that were till their knees when the author was young.

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

Ans: Wearing half pants, till knees and shirt is an appearance typical for the peder. Anyone who wears similar clothing gets a comment that they are dressed like pader.

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

Ans: The bakers recorded their monthly accounts on walls, with a pencil.

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

Ans: It means a plump, healthy physical appearance. The bakers never starved in Goa and hence this kind of appearance is linked to them. It was a profitable business and everyone involved in it had a jackfruit appearance.

Thinking About Text

1. Which of these statements are correct?

(i) The pader was an important person in the village in old times.

Ans: Correct

(ii) Pagers still exist in Goan villages.

Ans: Correct

(iii) The paders went away with the Portuguese.

Ans: Incorrect. The paders still exist in Goan villages.

(iv) The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock.

Ans: Incorrect. The padres wear shirts and trousers that are shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants

(v) Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.

Ans: Incorrect. Bread and cakes are still an integral part of Goan life.

(vi) Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business.

Ans: Correct

(vii) Padres and their families starve in the present times.

Ans: Incorrect. Baking is still a very profitable business in Goa.

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

Ans: Goa has a majority of Portuguese settlers and they have an intense love for bread. It is even a part of gifts exchanged during matrimonial ceremonies. Sweetbread known as bol is used for that purpose. For a party, bread is a must and sandwiches must be prepared by the lady of the house on her daughter’s engagement. The elders are served loaves while the kids are given bread bangles.

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)

Ans: Nostalgic

(ii) Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession. (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)

Ans: Nostalgic

(iii) I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves. (nostalgic, hopeful, naughty)

Ans: Nostalgic

(iv) The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all. (naughty, angry, funny)

Ans: Funny

(v) Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. (sad, hopeful, matter-of-fact)

Ans: Matter-of-fact

(vi) The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous. (matter-of-fact, hopeful, sad)

Ans: Matter-of-fact

Writing

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. 

Ans:

II. 

1. Compare the piece from the text (on the left below) 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?

Ans: The topic described in both the passages is the same. Both talk about the art of bread making and padres in Goa. But in the first passage, the elderly recollect their memory about the past while on the other side it describes Goa, post-liberation and talks about the Portuguese bread baking tradition that’s faded now.

II. Coorg

Thinking about the Text

1. Where is Coorg?

Ans: It is the smallest district of Karnataka. It is located halfway between Mysore and Mangalore.

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

Ans: It is believed that they are of Arabic descent because they wear a traditional garment, that has an embroidered belt and is called kuppia, similar to the kuffia worn by Arabs and the Kurds.

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

(i) the people of Coorg?

Ans: The people of Coorg are fiercely independent and have possibly Greek or Arab descent. They settled in the southern coastline and married the local women. They are very hospitable and recount numerous tales of valour of their deceased ancestors. They own firearms without a licence.

(ii) the main crop of Coorg?

Ans: The main crop of Coorg is coffee and there are various coffee plantations along with coffee estates and colonial bungalows.

(iii) the sports it offers to tourists?

Ans: Sports like river rafting, rappelling, canoeing, rock climbing, trekking and mountain biking are some of the sports offered at Coorg.

(iv) the animals you are likely to see in Coorg?

Ans: There are a wide variety of birds, bees, macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs and elephants found in the rainforests of Coorg.

(v) its distance from Bengaluru, and how to get there?

Ans: There is about 260km of distance. There are two routes and more frequently used is via Mysore and the other is via Nelamangala and Channarayapatna.

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)

Ans: keep many visitors away

(ii) Some people say that Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled there. (para 3)

Ans: as one story goes

(iii) The Coorg people are always ready to tell stories of their sons’ and fathers’ valour. (para 4)

Ans: are more than willing to recount

(iv) Even people who normally lead an easy and slow life get smitten by the high-energy adventure sports of Coorg. (para 6)

Ans: the most laidback individuals become converts to

(v) The theory of the Arab origin is supported by the long coat with embroidered waist-belt they wear. (para 3)

Ans: draws support from

(vi) Macaques, Malabar squirrels observe you from the tree canopy. (para 7)

Ans: keep a watchful eye

Thinking About the Language

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. The first one has been done for you.

unique   terrible unforgettable serious   ancient wide sudden

(i) Culture:    unique culture, ancient culture 

(ii) Monks: 

Ans: serious monks

(iii) Surprise: 

Ans: unique surprise, terrible surprise, unforgettable surprise

(iv) Experience: 

Ans: unique experience, terrible experience, unforgettable experience

(v) Weather: 

Ans: terrible weather

(vi) tradition: 

Ans: unique tradition, ancient 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 _____________

Ans: tales of valour

(ii) coastal ____________

Ans: coastal town

(iii) a piece of ___________

Ans: a piece of heaven

(iv) evergreen ___________

Ans: evergreen rainforests

(v) ____________ plantations

Ans: coffee plantations

(vi) ____________ bridge

Ans: rope bridge

(vii) wild ___________

Ans: wild elephants

You may add your examples to this list.

Ans: 

Other examples:

(i) tales of sacrifice 

(ii) coastal cities

(iii) a slice of cake 

(iv) evergreen song 

(v) rubber plantations 

(vi) sturdy foundation 

(vii) wild animal

III. Tea From Assam

Thinking about the Language

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. You may consult a dictionary.

(i) A heavy _______________has been forecast due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.

Ans: A heavy downpour has been forecast due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.

(ii) Rakesh will _______________major surgery tomorrow morning.

Ans: Rakesh will undergo major surgery tomorrow morning.

(iii) My brother is responsible for the _______________of our family property.

Ans: My brother is responsible for the upkeep of our family property.

(iv) The________________ The rate for this accountancy course is very high.

Ans: The dropout rate for this accountancy course is very high.

(v) She went to the Enterprise Company to attend a ______________interview.

Ans: She went to the Enterprise Company to attend a walk-in interview.

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

(i) The Army attempted unsuccessfully to_______________the government. (throw)

Ans: The Army attempted unsuccessfully to overthrow the Government.

(ii) Scientists are on the brink of a major_________________in cancer research. (break)

Ans: Scientists are on the brink of a major breakthrough in cancer research.

(iii) The State Government plans to build a_________________for Bhubaneswar to speed up traffic on the main highway. (pass)

Ans: The State Government plans to build a by-pass for Bhubaneswar to speed up traffic on the main highway.

(iv) Gautama’s ___________on life changed when he realised that the world is full of sorrow. (look)

Ans: Gautama’s outlook on life changed when he realized that the world is full of sorrow.

(v) Rakesh seemed unusually________________on life changed when he realised that the world is full after the game. (cast)

 Ans: Rakesh seemed unusually downcast after the game.

II. 

1. Think of suitable −ing or −ed adjectives to answer the following questions. How would you describe

(i) a good detective serial on television? 

Ans: Interesting

(ii) a debate on your favourite topic ‘Homework Should Be Banned?

Ans: Exciting

(iii) How do you feel when you stay indoors due to incessant rain? 

Ans: Bored

(iv) How do you feel when you open a present? 

Ans: Excited

(v) How do you feel when you watch your favourite programme on television?

Ans: Interested

(vi) the look on your mother’s face as you waited in a queue?

Ans: Tired

(vii) How do you feel when tracking a tiger in a tiger reserve forest?

Ans: Thrilled

(viii) the story you have recently read, or a film you have seen?

Ans: Boring

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

Ans: Coorg is the smallest district of Karnataka and has several spices and coffee plantations. It also has around thirty per cent of its region under evergreen forests. The prime corners of this region are dotted with coffee estates and colonial bungalows. The residents of Coorg are independent people of Greek or Arabic descent. As the story goes, they are a part of Alexander’s army that settled and married amongst the people living along with south India. They wear long, black coats with embroidery, known as kuppia, also worn by Arabs which points towards their Arabic ascendance. These households are warm, welcoming and have a tradition of hospitality. 

Reading and Writing

1. Read the following passage about tea. India and tea are so intertwined together that life without the brew is unimaginable. Tea entered our life only in the mid-nineteenth century when the British started plantations in Assam and Darjeeling! In the beginning, though, Indians shunned the drink as they thought it was a poison that led to umpteen diseases. Ironically, tea colonised Britain where it became a part of their social diary and also led to the establishment of numerous tea houses

Today, scientific research across the world has attempted to establish the beneficial qualities of tea — a fact the Japanese and the Chinese knew anyway from ancient times, attributing to its that arean  numerous medicinal properties. (Source: ‘History: Tea Anytime’ by Ranjit Biswas from Literary Review, The Hindu, 1 October 2006) Collect information about tea, e.g. its evolution as a drink, its beneficial qualities. You can consult an encyclopaedia 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 in the group has to put forward his/her views about tea. You may use the following words and phrases. 

I feel ... 

It is important to know ... 

I disagree with you ... 

I think that tea ... 

I would like you to know ... 

I agree with ... 

It is my feeling ... 

I suggest ... 

May I know why you ... 

I am afraid ...

Ans: History of Tea

Tea is one of the most popular beverages on the planet. This aromatic drink is prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over freshly prepared tea leaves. This drink is native to China and East Asia. It has a stimulating and calming effect on the brain due to the caffeine in it. Its history traces back to a text written by Hua Tuo in the 3rd century and was popular during the Tang dynasty. It was the Portuguese merchants who introduced tea to the Western world. They gradually picked up the tea-drinking culture and it became a fashionable activity in social settings. Over the years it has become the most popularly manufactured drink and consumed equally as coffee and alcohol. Most of the plantations are in hilly areas of India and Sri Lanka.

Conversation

Tea Lover: I drink tea as soon as I get out of bed. It's so simple to make and refreshes you for the day.

Tea Planter: I know it's an amazing plant. But it might be simple for you to make it in the morning but for us, it takes months and lots of toiling and labour.

Sales Agent: Yes! I visit Darjeeling almost twice a year to get stock for my shop. The plantations are so beautiful but the process is intensive.

Tea-shop owner: I never thought for getting tea you would have to travel so much. But the quality we get is so worth it.

Physician: Tea apart from its refreshing properties also have many antioxidants that's good for your skin but excessive consumption of it is harmful.

Tea Lover: Totally agree with that but it's just so hard to resist.

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.

Benefits of Learning with NCERT English Coorg Class 10 Questions and Answers

• A Baker From Goa Questions And Answers provide detailed explanations of the text, helping students grasp the cultural significance of Goan baking traditions and the role of the baker in the community.

• The Chapter highlights the traditional methods of baking and the importance of bread in Goan culture, enriching students' knowledge about regional customs.

• Coorg Question Answer offers a thorough exploration of Coorg's natural beauty and cultural heritage, helping students appreciate the unique features of this region.

• Coorg Question Answer provides detailed explanations of local festivals and traditional attire to help you understand Coorg's cultural practices better.

• The chapter Tea From Assam Question Answer explains the significance of tea cultivation in Assam, highlighting its role in the local and national economy.

• Glimpses Of India Class 10 provides detailed answers and explanations to help students prepare effectively for exams, ensuring they can answer questions confidently and accurately.

Conclusion 

Vedantu’s NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 5 - Glimpses Of India are important resources for students to grasp the essence of Indian culture and diversity. provide clear explanations and insights into each story, emphasising important themes and cultural nuances. Students should focus on understanding the narratives deeply and relating them to real-life experiences. By utilising Coorg Class 10 Questions And Answers, students can enhance their literary understanding, hone their analytical skills, and excel in their English examinations.

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