Chapter 1.3: The Call of the Soil Balbharati solutions for English Yuvakbharati 11th Standard Maharashtra State Board
1.3 The Call of the Soil
A Scent of Rice
Ice Breakers
Activity:- Discuss the following with your partner and complete the following sentences. One is done for you.
(a) Before eating apples brought from the market, I wash and peel them off.
(b) In a farmers’ market, we find vegetables and fruits.
(c) Food adulteration means adding a small quantity of non – nutritious substances intentionally to improve the appearance, texture or storage properties of the food.
(d) Organic food is grown by using natural materials, methods and conditions.
(e) Organic fertilizer means the fertilizers derived from animal matter or wastes, human excreta, vegetable matter (e.g.compost and crop residues)
Activity:- Complete the following web diagram :
Rice varieties available at my Grocer’s shop
Complete the following web diagram:
Complete the following web diagram.
Solution
Activity:- Find out from your grandparents or parents the names of vegetables and fruits they had eaten in their childhood and mention how the vegetables and fruits are different from the ones today.
Name of the vegetables or fruit | Shape | Colour | Taste |
Mango | Oval, heart shaped | Green – yellow | Sweet |
Banana | C - shape | Green - yellow | Sweet |
Lady’s finger | Oblong | Green | Crunchy |
Activity:- You might have learnt about organic farming. Make groups and discuss the difference between conventional farming and organic farming and write it down.
Sr. No. | Conventional Farming | Organic Farming |
1 | Produce larger quantities of food | Produce lesser quantities of food |
2 | Less manual labour | More manual labour |
3 | Extra use of chemicals and pesticides may affect eco system | More ecological and good for health |
Activity :- 1) Guess the meaning of the word ‘lush’ in this context.
Answer:- Meaning of the word ‘lush’:- rich, prolific or luxuriant
Activity :-2) Find words related to agriculture.
Answer:- Words related to agriculture:- green pods, crop, farmer, sowing, seeds, plough, farming, tractor, yield, chemical sprays, fertilizers, hybrid and desi variety, rice, moong etc.
Activity :-3) The write disagreed with Moru Dada because-------
Answer:- He did not want to spray some pesticides on the plants to give a higher yield. He did not think that it was essential to use such chemicals.
Activity :-4) The writer wanted to grow the traditional variety of rice because----1)------2)-----
Answer:-
1) The traditional varieties were quite strong and resisted pests.
2) They did not need very high inputs of fertilizers.
Activity :-5) The writer almost gave up hope of finding the desi variety of rice because----
Answer:- Most of the farmers in and around the village of Peth had switched over to hybrids. The younger generation of farmers considered planting desi variety as crazy thing. Writer’s visits to the villages around searching for a good traditional variety also did not give any results so the he almost gave up hope of finding the desi variety of rice.
Activity :-6) Mention the varieties of rice from the passage.
Answer:- 1) Kasbai 2) Basmati
Activity :-7) List ways in which the Government officer cooperated with the author.
1)----------------2)-----------3)--------------
Answer:-
1) Gave the names of a number of latest hybrid varieties.
2) Offered to give the writer some of the latest varieties free of cost for a trial.
3) Asked not to believe on the words of the villagers.
Activity :- 8) Find synonyms for ‘insipid’.
Answer:- tasteless or flavourless.
Brainstorming
(A1) (i) Read the extract and state whether the following statements are true or false. Correct the false statements.
(a) Growing in abundance is more important than the quality of the crop.
Answer:- False : Quality should be given more important.
(b) The author wanted to grow the desi variety of rice.
Answer:- True
(c) The author did not succeed in finding Kasbai.
Answer:- False : The author finally succeeded in finding Kasbai at Asarvari village.
(d) The aroma of the ‘desi’ rice would spread around the village.
Answer:- True
(e) Newer hybrid crops have a great appetite for chemicals.
Answer:- True
(f) The author is an example of ‘reverse migration’.
Answer:- True
Activity:- Complete the flowchart. Consider this as an example of
Note-Making.
Discovery of Kasbai rice.
Activity :- Read the text and fill in the blanks. One is done for you.
(a) The author wanted to grow organic moong.
(b) Moru Dada wanted to spray pesticides on the moong crop.
(c) Baban’s father and some elders mentioned the name of Kasbai, the desi rice variety.
(d) “Hybrids need more water, fertilizers and pesticides”, said Devu Handa.
(e) The author bought 10 kilos of rice from an Adivasi woman who lived in remote hills.
Chapter 1.3: The Call of the Soil
Balbharati solutions for English Yuvakbharati 11th Standard Maharashtra State Board
Discuss the following with your partner and complete the following sentence.
Before eating apples brought from the market, I wash and peel them off ____________________.
Solution
Before eating apples brought from the market, I wash and peel them off because the outer layer of the apple contains wax coating.
In a farmers’ market, we find _______________.
Solution
In a farmers’ market, we find seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.
Food adulteration means _________________.
Solution
Food adulteration means the addition of other substances that degrade the quality of food.
Organic food is grown by using __________________.
Solution
Organic food is grown by using organic seeds and traditional methods.
Organic fertilizer means ______________.
Solution
Organic fertilizer means manure/plant compost.
Complete the following web diagram.
Solution
Find out from your grandparents or parents the names of vegetables and fruits they had eaten in their childhood and mention how the vegetables and fruits are different from the one's today.
Solution
Name of the vegetable or fruit | Shape | Colour | Taste |
1. Mango | Round, Oval | Yellow | Sweet |
2. Banana | curved | Yellow | less sweet, depending on the variety |
3. Plum | Round or Oval | reddish-purple, yellow, Red | sweet to tart |
4. Amla | spherical | light-greenish yellow | sour and bitter |
You might have learned about organic farming. Make groups and discuss the difference between conventional farming and organic farming and write it down.
Solution
Sr.No. | Conventional Farming | Organic Farming |
1. | Pesticides may be used. | Strict restrictions on the use of pesticides. |
2. | Fertilizers are used for better yield. | Natural fertilizers are used. |
3. | Engineered methods for a quick harvest. | Natural growth is encouraged. |
4. | Gradually deteriorates the fertility of soil and crop yield. | Improves the fertility of the soil. |
Read the extract and state whether the following statement is true or false. Correct the false statement.
Growing in abundance is more important than the quality of the crop.
Options
True
False
Solution
Growing in abundance is more important than the quality of the crop - False.
Explanation:
According to the author, the quality of the crop is more important than its quantity.
The author wanted to grow the desi variety of rice.
Options
True
False
The author did not succeed in finding Kasbai.
Options
True
False
Solution
The author did not succeed in finding Kasbai - False.
Explanation:
The author succeeded in finding Kasbai but with great difficulty.
The aroma of the ‘desi’ rice would spread around the village.
Options
True
False
Newer hybrid crops have a great appetite for chemicals.
True
False
The author is an example of ‘reverse migration’.
True
False
Complete the flowchart. Consider this as an example of Note-Making.
Solution
Fill in the blank.
The author wanted to grow ______________.
Solution
The author wanted to grow organic moong.
Moru Dada wanted to spray __________ on the moong crop.
Solution
Moru Dada wanted to spray pesticides on the moong crop.
Baban’s father and some elders mentioned the name of __________.
Solution
Baban’s father and some elders mentioned the name of Kasbai.
“Hybrids need more _____________”, said Devu Handa.
Solution
“Hybrids need more water, fertilizers, and pesticides”, said Devu Handa.
The author bought _______________ kilos of rice from an Adivasi woman who lived in remote hills.
Solution
The author bought ten kilos of rice from an Adivasi woman who lived in remote hills.
List the reactions of the agricultural officer to the author’s inquiry about Kasbai rice seeds. One is done for you.
(a) He had not heard of Kasbai.
(b) ___________________________
(c) ___________________________
Solution
1. He had not heard of kasbai rice seeds.
2. He uttered the names of latest hybrids.
3. He also offered to give the author some hybrid seeds free of cost.
Go through the text once again and note down Devu Handa’s fond memories of Kasbai in your exercise book. One is done for you.
Devu Handa has fond memories of Kasbai. They are as follows!
(a) It needs ______________ rain.
(b) _________________
(c) _________________
Solution
It needs less rain.
It has an alluring aroma.
It is a long duration of rice.
The writer says he grew ‘an awful lot of moong’. Explain the word 'awful' in this sentence.
Solution
The word 'awful' in this context means 'a large amount.'
The word scent is different from its synonyms aroma, fragrance, or perfume. Explain how the word 'scent' in the subtitle ‘Scent of the Rice’, has a deeper meaning than ‘perfume’ or ‘fragrance’. Tick phrases having a similar meaning from the following:
In pursuit of
To smell a rat
To be keen
On the trail of
To feel under the weather
Solution
The word 'scent' in the title 'Scent of the Rice', carries a feeling within itself. It suggests a sense of belongingness. Also, it refers to the tracing of smell and hence, it is different from its synonyms 'perfume' and 'fragrance' in this context.
The phrases having a similar meaning are:
in pursuit of
on the trail of
Read the following sentence:
(i) She muttered in reply and we looked at Jeevan for a quick interpretation.
(ii) These are two complete sentences underlying the above sentence.
a. She muttered in reply.
b. We looked at Jeevan for a quick interpretation.
These two sentences are put together by using the coordinating conjunction ‘and’.
Such sentences are joined by coordinating conjunctions (and/ but/ either...or; neither...nor) are called compound sentences.
Sentence ‘a’ and ‘b’ are Simple Sentences.
Each of them has only one subject and one predicate.
Sentence ‘a’ and ‘b’ can be written in another way.
As she muttered in reply, we looked at Jeevan for a quick interpretation.
This sentence begins with a subordinating conjunction ‘As’.
This is a complex sentence.
Two simple sentences joined by subordinate conjunctions are called complex sentences. The subordinate conjunction need not always be at the beginning of the sentence.
Make pairs and groups and find out some more simple, complex, and compound sentences from the text.
Solution
Simple – It was April 2004.
Compound – It was just before sunrise and the sky was turning a bright orange.
Complex – I stood watching the sunrise above the towering trees across the fence and slowly made my way back to the house, a white structure in the middle of this greenery.
Prepare a list of subordinating conjunctions.
Solution
but, and, than, that, which, when, who, as much as, etc.
Planting and growing more crops a year seems to be progressed by normal standards, but the chapter makes a case against it. Give reasons.
Solution
According to normal standards, growing more crops a year is indeed progressive but the chapter makes a case against it because, in the name of progress, we are being fed hybrid crops and adulterated food items. We are inching towards illnesses and poor health with pesticide infested products and artificial agricultural enhancers. This will only lead to health risks.
Describe in about 150 words your experience similar to the writer’s when you pursued something and reached your goal.
Solution
I wanted to pursue Warli painting classes, but could not find any professional artist near my residence to coach me. I looked for online classes but failed in that attempt too. I asked my friends to check near their residential areas in and around Mumbai, still I failed to gather any positive news. Finally, one fine morning, while I was travelling back from college, I met a middleaged lady who was carrying a handbag with Warli artwork on it. I was instantly drawn to that bag and she noticed my expression. She ended up asking me about my interest in her bag. I was embarrassed at first but then told her about my love for Warli painting. She had a smile on her face. She told me that she belonged to Palghar district and that her forefathers dealt in that art. My happiness knew no bounds when at last, I got to know that I could take classes from her, starting from the upcoming Sunday.
The writer goes in search of an invaluable indigenous variety of seeds. List three reasons for the importance of keeping records of our indigenous agricultural practices
Solution
The following are the reasons for keeping records of our indigenous agricultural practices:
to compare traditional farming practices with conventional farming.
to compare the fertility of land after each harvest that has been done using modern technology.
to maintain and safeguard agricultural productivity based on utility.
Write a blog in about 100 to 150 words on organic farming.
Solution
Write a short paragraph in about 120 words, to be used as Counter-View for the following topic. 'Buy a bigger cloth for your coat'.
View Section:
We cannot survive by the dictum 'Cut your cloth according to your coat' in today's world.
In the modern world, we should 'Think Big'.
Think of increasing your income instead of reducing your needs.
We can not deny ourselves, what the new world offers us.
Solution
We should always wear what fits our size, nothing more; nothing less. Thinking big is the need of the hour; not wearing bigger clothes! To think big doesn't just mean to live a king-size life and waste money on luxuries. Thinking big in rational terms means thinking for others too. Reducing your daily needs, cutting down on luxuries, and focusing on basic requirements will help take care of other‟s needs. Not just that, it will help to save resources for the use of future generations. The new world has a lot to offer, but we should know the limit and draw a line where our needs meet and our greed ends. This will only pave way for a happy and fulfilling life.
'Organic farming is the need of the time'. Write your views in favour of and against the statement.
Solution
Views | Counterviews | ||
1. | Organic farming uses natural methods of growing food and is hence safe. | 1. | Organic farming focuses on quality rather than quantity; which ensures a healthy lifestyle for the people. |
2. | Organic produce is free of any chemical/pesticide and is therefore healthy for us. | 2. | Organic farming is solely based on traditional methods whereas the seasonal changes and weather conditions nowadays require modern ways of farming for greater scale production. |
3. | Organic farm produce is grown using manure and plant compost rather than other chemical fertilisers and thereby reduces the risk of cancer. | 3. | Based on the ever-decreasing fertility of the soil, chemically enhanced fertilisers are required for better growth of the crops. |
4. | Organic farming helps improve the soil‟s fertility, which helps to grow other crops. | 4. | With an increase in the number of pest attacks and a constant rise in the consumption of food; protecting the crops against pests becomes crucial, which calls for the use of pesticides with upgraded strength. |
Appeal to your classmates to say 'No to Junk Food'. Write an appeal to prefer organic food over junk food.
Solution
Don't eat junk food because it can cause many health issues like:
Choose your health over convenience and go the organic way! |
Plant the seed of a flower or fruit of your choice in a pot or in your garden. Note its growth every day and maintain a diary recording its progress.
Solution
Students are expected to attempt the above activities on their own.
Find out more career opportunities in the field of agriculture, organic farming, sales, storage, distribution, and marketing research.
Solution:
Students are expected to attempt the above activities on their own.
