Parts of Speech Definition:

In English grammar, words are generally divided into eight

different classes or Parts of Speech according to the work they
do in a sentence. These eight classes are called Parts of Speech.

Types of Parts of Speech:

In short, there are eight different types of parts of speech is
there, and those are:

 Noun
 Pronoun
 Verb
 Adverb
 Adjective
 Preposition
 Conjunction
 Interjection

 Noun
A ‘noun’ is denoted as the name of the person, thing, place,
idea, and quality of the person.
There are five kinds of nouns:

1. Proper Noun
2. Common Noun 
3. Material Noun
4. Abstract Noun
5. Collective Noun 
6. Countable noun.
7. Uncountable noun.
8. Compound noun.
Proper Noun:
A proper noun is the name of a particular place or person. For
example, Dubai is the richest city, here Dubai refers to the name of
a place so it is a proper noun.

For example:

  Delhi is a busy city.

 William Shakespeare was an English poet.

Common Noun:
A common noun is specified as the name given in common to every person or thing. For
example, The girl in my class.

Material Noun:
A material noun denotes the matter of the substance of the
thing. For example, the house is built of wood.

For example:

 This jewelry is made of gold.

 The chair is built of wood.

Abstract Noun:
It is the name of a quality, action or state belonging to an
object. For example, Darkness, movement, music, philosophy.

Collective Noun:
A collective noun is the name of a group of the collection of persons
or things are taken together. For example, army, group, team,
class, crowd.

 A fleet of ships.
  A crowd of people.
 A mob of angry people.

Countable Noun Definition:

It is for something that can be counted.

For example, house, apple, tree, girl, etc.

Uncountable Noun Definition:

It stands for something that cannot be count, it only can be
measured.

For example, Sand, grass, water, etc.

Compound Noun Definition:

When two or more words create a noun then this type of nouns
are called a Compound noun.

For example, credit card, daughter-in-law, etc.

Rules of Noun:
 Rule 1.

‘The’ is used before a Proper noun. 

For example, The pluto is the smallest planet.

 Rule 2.

But in the case of the name of a person or place ‘the’ is not used.

For example, Sourav lives in Kolkata.

 Rule 3.

When ‘the’ is used before the name of a person, it becomes

a common noun.
For example, He is the Sachin of our team.

 Rule 4.

In the case of a common noun, ‘the’ is not used.

For example, Man is mortal.

 Rule 5.

When ‘the’ is used before a common noun, it becomes a proper

noun.

For example, I know the man.

 Rule 6.

‘The’ is not used before an abstract noun.

For example, Honesty is the best policy.

 Rule 7.

When ‘a’ ‘an’ ‘the’ is used before abstract noun, it is turned into

a common noun.

For example, I was pleased at the honesty of the poor man.

 Rule 8.

When an abstract noun is personified, its first letter is in the capital

and it is turned into a proper noun.

For example, Death comes to all. He is a child of Destiny.

 Rule 9.

A material noun is always used in singular form.

For example, The house is made of brick (Not bricks).

 Rule 10.
The number of + plural noun + singular verb.

Let me show the example,

The number of boys is 1000.

 Rule 11.

There are some pair nouns- spectacles, glasses, scissors, shoes,

these nouns take a plural verb.
For example, My spectacles have been lost.

 Rule 12.

A pair of + Pair noun + Singular Verb.

For example, A pair of spectacles has been found.

 Rule 13.

When a noun is used as an adjective, it takes a singular form.

For example,

1. Five-year plan.
2. Five-year-old boy.

 Rule 14.

If ‘the’ is used before ‘poor’ ‘rich’, the verb will be plural.

For example, The rich are not always happy.

Exercise on None:
Classify the Nouns in the following sentences

1. Justice is a noble quality.

2. He is a justice of the peace.
3. I teach them grammar.
4. Rice is the principal food of the Bengals.
5. The Jury consists of four men.
6. The crowd were dispersed.
 7. He is live in water.
8. She is a beauty.
9. The iron of this pillar is good.
10. The cleverness of the boy is admirable.

Classify the underlined Nouns in the following sentences.

1. We know the chopras of Delhi.

2. She is a child of destiny.
3. They were put in irons.
4. This wall is built of stone.
5. A mob of Angry people protested against them.
6. She praised the honesty of the boy.
7. Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system.
8. The father in him could not bear the sight.
9. Valmiki is the homer of India.
10. He committed a mistake.

Pronoun
A word that replace, relates or emphasizes a noun or equivalent is called pronoun.
Pronouns are classified into ten types:

1. Personal pronoun
2. Impersonal pronoun
3. Demonstrative pronoun
4. Distributive Pronoun
5. Indefinite pronoun
6. Reciprocal pronoun
7. Reflexive and Emphatic pronoun
8. Relative pronoun
9. Interrogative pronoun
10. Possessive pronoun

1.Personal Pronoun:
It indicates any person while acting as a subject or an object. For
example, I, we, they, you, he, she, him, her, our.

2.Impersonal Pronoun:
It indicates mainly non-living things. For example, it.

3.Demonstrative Pronoun:
It demonstrates any particular sense. For example, this, that,
these, those, it, so, such.

 This is my book.
 That is Joe’s house.

4.Distributive Pronoun:
It distributes the sense of the subject or object. For example, each,
every, either, neither.

 You can take either room.

 You can talk to each boy.
 Neither of his legs is defective.
5.Indefinite Pronoun:
It signifies the sense of the subject or object. For example, any, all,
many, some, few, someone, anyone, none, anybody, nobody,
everybody.

6.Reciprocal Pronoun:
It reciprocates between two or among more than two subjects and
makes a complementary sense. For example, each other, one
another.

 Both of the sisters love each other.

 Indians should not fight with one another.

7.Reflexive and Emphatic Pronoun:

It makes an extra emphasis on the main subject and is constructed
with s ‘self’ word. For example, my self, herself, himself,
themselves, yourself.

8.Relative Pronoun:
It relates the subject or object with another clause or part of the
sentence. For example, who, which, what, that, whose, whom,
anyone, none, anybody.

 The man who has just entered my room.

 The mobile that I bought is very costly.

9.Interrogative pronoun:
It makes the sense of interrogation. For example, who, which,
what, whom, whose.

 Who took my mobile?

 Whose shirt is this?
 What are you doing here?

10.Possessive pronoun:
It signifies a possession over any other person. For example, mine,
ours, yours, his, its, theirs.
Exercise on Pronoun:
Put correct pronouns in the blank.

1. He is older than _ (me, I).

2. The boy is known to him and _ (I, me).
3. All the girls except _ were present there (her, she).
4. It was _ that did it (I, me).
5. He came here to see you and _ (me, I).

Fill up the blanks with demonstrative pronouns.

1. The boys taller than _.

2. _ is a lame excuse.
3. He said _.
4. His works are like _ of his brother.
5. His house is bigger than _ of John.

Join the following sentences with relative pronouns.

1. I know the boy. he did it.

2. I helped the man. their house was burnt down.
3. A boy came to me. his name I do not know.
4. Our headmaster is respected by all. there he goes.
5. This is a nice pen. I bought it yesterday.

Fill in the blanks with interrogative pronouns.

1. _ do you see there?

2. _ of these pens is yours?
3. With_ did you go there?
4. _ will he vote for?
5. _ is to be blamed for this?

Some Important Points to Remember about

Pronoun:
 They are some verbs which do not allow any reflexive
pronoun. Such verbs are kept, turn, qualify, move, hide.
 If a sentence consists of a pronoun or a noun that takes “to
be” as the main verb then we use nominative case of
a pronoun. For example, it was I who called you last night.
 In case of comparative degree, after the word ‘than’ we use
the nominative case of a pronoun. For example, she
performed better than I was.
 We use objective case of pronoun after the word ‘let’. For
example, let him and I do the work together.
 If we use ‘each’ or ‘every’ in a sentence, then the auxiliary
verb [External Link] should be in a singular form. For
example, every man, woman, and child is now aware of this.
 When an action is reflected that towards the subject itself,
then reflexive pronouns are used. Some verbs which allow
reflexive pronouns are- avail, adapt, enjoy, resign, etc. For
example, We should adapt our self to every circumstance in
our lives.
 If a sentence expresses positivity or good sense and all
the personal pronouns are used in the same sentence
in a singular form, then the order of those personal
pronouns will be the second person, third person and first
person (231).
For example, You, he and I have attended the meeting today.
 If a sentence expresses negativity or flaw, all the
three personal pronouns are used in the same sentence
in a singular form, then the order of those personal
pronouns will be the first, second and third person (123). For
example, I, you and he did not help the poor man.
 Shortcuts:
Positive + Singular: 231.
Negative + singular: 123.
Positive + Plural: 123.
Negative + Plural: 123.
 ‘Either-or’ and ‘neither-nor’ are used only to refer two things or
person.
 ‘Everyone, everybody’ is used with the singular form of the
third-person possessive pronoun.
For example, Everyone received his prize on the second of
the month.
  ‘Each’, ‘Every’ is followed by any noun then the auxiliary
verb will be used in a singular form.
For example, Every man, woman, and child is now aware of
this.
 After the word ‘let’ objective case of a pronoun is used.
For example, let him and me do the work together.
 ‘When’ is used for objective case and ‘who’ is used for
the subjective case.

 Verb
A verb is a part of speech which denotes the action of a
subject or an agent and used to tell something about a person
or a thing.

For example, John plays football.

Here the underlined word is a verb because the person ‘John’

performs an action i.e., ‘play’

There are seven types of verb:

1. Finite verb
2. Principal verb [External Link]
3. Transitive verb
4. Intransitive verb [External Link]
5. Auxiliary verb
6. Non-Finite verb [External Link]
7. Infinite verb

Finite Verb
These types of verb are restricted to the number and also to the
persons. For example, I am a good boy.

1. I am in the blues

Principal Verb
Principle verbs are the main verb of a sentence, it carries the
sense, action, or state of a sentence. For
example, I played football yesterday. In this sentence "Play" sate
an action that I performed yesterday.

1. He wrote a poem

Transitive Verb
These types of verb are often used alone, with one or more objects
in a sentence. For example, Ram played cricket.

1. You killed a bird (Here killed is a Transitive verb and bird is the
object)

Intransitive Verb
These types of verb do not allow with a direct object, that means
you can not use this type of verb where an object is clearly
mentioned. Example of this type of verb is 'River flows'

1. Birds flew away (Intransitive Verb)

Auxiliary Verb
These types of verbs are used to form tense, mood, aspect,
modality, voice, etc. For example, Ram taking a shower.

1. You have done a good job (Here ‘have’ is used as aux(v) and

done is used as a principal verb.)

These are two types:

1. Primary auxiliary and

2. Modal auxiliaries

 Primary auxiliary:

These are ‘To be’, ‘To have’ and ‘To do’

Be: Present- is/ am/ are       Past- was/ were        Future- Shall be /
will be

Have: Present- have/has      past- had                    Future- Shall

have/will have

Do: Present- do/does            Past- did                     Future- Shall/will

Sometimes it uses with or without the help of principle verb.

For example,

1.  I have a car.
2.  I have done an excellent job.

Similarly, they are directly governed by the number and person of

the subject

 Modal auxiliaries:

These are should, shall, will, would, may, might, used to, ought to
need etc.

Features of modal auxiliaries are they are always used

with principle verbs [External Link] (except ‘Dare’ and ‘Need’)

And remain unchanged in their form according to the person and

the number of the subject (except ‘Have to’ and ‘Has to’)

Non-Finite Verb
By its name we can say these type of verb is not finite, that means
these types of verb is not show their tense.

This is three kinds-

 1. Infinite
2. Gerund
3. Participle

For example:

1. She comes here to study.

2. we saw them waiting for the bus.

Gerund:
A gerund is called a type or kind of verbal noun which has double
force both of a verb and an adjective.

For example,

1. Walking is good for health.

Participle:
A participle [External Link] is called verbal adjective for it has the
combined force both of a verb and an adjective.

For example,

1. I saw the man swimming in the pool.

Infinite Verb:
It is formed with ‘to’ or without ‘to’ with the base form of the verb.

For example,

1. To err is human
2. I saw him to go. (without ‘to’)

Rules of Verb:
Rule 1

If only one article on possessive pronoun is used before the

first noun when there are two nouns connected with ‘and’ it means
that the two nouns are used for the same person or thing and
the verb becomes singular.
For example,

1. The principal and warden has come.
2. My friend and adviser has come

Rule 2

If two article or possessive pronouns are used for both the subjects

the verb becomes plural because it means that they are two
different people.

For example,

1. The principal and the warden have come

2. My friend and my adviser have come

Rule 3

If two subjects (Nouns) convey a singular concept,

the verb becomes singular.

For example,

1. Rice and curry is a good meal for Bengalies.

2. Honesty and Hard work is needed for success

Rule 4

If two subjects are joined with- ‘with’, ‘together with’, ‘as well as’, ‘in
addition to’, ‘along with’, ‘no less than’, the verb follows the first
subject (S1).

For example,

1. The father (N1 S1) along with all his children (S2

N2) is going to see a movie.
2. The five brothers (S1) along with their
old father (S2) are moving to the new house.

Rule 5
If two subjects are joined with ‘either-or, neither-nor, or, not-only
but-also’ the verb follows the second subject (S2)

For example,

1. Either Ram or his brothers have done this.

2. Not only he but also I am to do the work.

Rule 6

The verb after the relative pronoun follows the noun or pronoun just

before the relative pronoun.

For example,

1. I who am your brother should be love

Rule 7

‘None but’ and ‘nothing but’ always take singular verbs and the verb
will follow ‘none’ or ‘nothing’.

For example,

1. None but me is to blame.

2. Nothing but students is there.

Rule 8

The verb is the following cases is used in singular form.

When two singular nouns after to the same person denoted by one

article.

In certain phrases or idiomatic pair of words suggesting the same

meaning, though not synonyms.

For example,

1. The collector and District Magistrate are on a visit to the

Jhargram today. (used ‘is’ place of ‘are’)
2. What is the aim and object of his costly plan? (correct)
 3. The sum and substance of the passage is given below.
(correct)
4. Bread and butter are sold here. (correct)
5. Bread and butter are difficult to earn. (correct)

Rule 9

 A number – Plural Verb

 The number – Singular Verb
 A majority – Singular Verb
 The majority – Plural Verb

Rule 10

When a plural noun conveys a singular concept, the verb becomes

singular.

For example,

1. 60 rupees is to divided among the boys.

2. 60 miles is a long distance

Exercise on Verb:
Choose the most suitable alternative to make the sentence
logical in sense

 The bridge _ up by the terrorist only last week

a. blowed b. was blowed c. was blown

 During the rainy season, this stream was _

a. overflowed b. overflow c. overflown

 _ our freedom fighter is in danger

a. Arise b. Rise c. Raise

 One is _ in duty to help the aging parents

a. Bound b. bounded c. binding

  The mother asked me _ the table for the guests

a. to lie b. to lay c. laid

In the following examples, pick out the verbs, complements,

and object

 I saw John go home

 They found him guilty
 They laughed at me
 He is flying a kite
 I have no time

Adverb
An adverb is a word used to add something to the meaning of
a verb, another adverb, and, an adjective. It is used to modify
adjectives, verbs, and adverb. When you are talking about a
situation or an event, sometimes you want to say something
about it which has not been indicted by the subject, object or
complement, verb. You can do this by using an adjunct.

1. She laughed quietly.
2. jack is walking slowly.
3.  He is walking very slowly.
4. She was tremendously beautiful.

Types of Adverb:
There are 9-types of Adverb and those are:

1. Adverb of time (Before, ago, lately, yet, soon, yesterday)

2. Adverb of Manner (Slowly, so, soundly)
3. Adverb of Place (Everywhere, down, near, away, etc.)
4. Adverb of frequency (Once, seldom, rarely, usually)
 5. Adverb of affirmation and negation (Certainly, apparently,
undoubtedly)
6. Interrogative Adverb (Where, when, how, why, how often,
how long)
7. Relative Adverb (When, why, how)
8. Adverb of degree (Almost, fully, very, enough, rather, really)
9. Adverb of sentence (Surely, luckily)

Adverb of time:
These types of adverbs are basically denoting time i.e. tomorrow,
yesterday, etc.

For example: Eventually, he came/he came eventually.

Adverb of manner:
This type of adverb denotes the way of doing things, i.e. slowly,
fastly, lately, etc.

For example, Lilly dance beautifully.

Adverb of place:
This type of adverb defines where the action of the verb
happens, i.e. far, everywhere, etc.

 For example, He lives abroad.

Adverb of frequency:
These types of adverb define how often a thing happens, i.e. rarely,
frequently, etc.

Adverb of affirmation and negation:

This type of adverb denotes a sentence that is true or in a negative
sense or judgment, i.e. undoubtedly, certainly, etc.

For example:

1. I will certainly go to school.

2.  I have never seen him.
Interrogative Adverb:
This type of adverb is used when the sense of the statement is an
interrogation, i.e. where, why, how, etc.

For example:

1. How did you do this?

2. Why are you sorry?

Relative Adverb:
These types of adverb join sentences and clauses and also tell
about the noun, i.e. why, which, etc.

For example, Adrian does not like to stay at the hotel where they
are staying.

Adverb of degree:
These types of adverb are denoting the sense or intensity of a thing
that is happening, i.e. fully, almost, etc.

For example, you are absolutely right.

Adverb of sentence:
These types of adverb modify the sentences, i.e. surely, luckily, etc.

Rules of Adverb:
Rule 1

Adverb of manner (Slowly, quickly), adverb of place (here, there),

and adverb of time (now, then, today, yesterday, tomorrow) are
used after a verb.

For example,

1. He came here yesterday.

Rule 2

MPT rule:
 1. Adverb of Manner.
2. Adverb of Place.
3. Adverb of Time.

For example,

1. She sang a song sweetly (M) there (P) yesterday (T).

Rule 3

PMT rule:

In case of an action verb (come, go, reach, arrive) this rule is

followed.

For example,

1. They went there (P) happily (M) yesterday (T).

Rule 4

Adverb of frequency (often, seldom, ever, never, always) is used

before a verb.

For example,

1. Always speak the truth.

Rule 5

Use of else and other, ‘Else’ should be followed by ‘but’.

‘Other’ and ‘otherwise’ are followed by ‘then’.

For example,

1. It is nothing else than sheer madness. (use ‘but’ in place of

‘then’).
2. She had no other alternative but stay here. (use ‘then’ in place
of ‘ but’).
3. She has no one else to look after her expect me. (use ‘but’ in
place of ‘ except’).
Rule 6

Both ‘never’ and ‘not’ the adverbs. The use of ‘never’ for ‘not’ is
incorrect.

For example,

1. I never want to sooty last year (use ‘did not’ go in place of

‘never’).
2. I remember never to have said so (correct).
3. I never allow my son to go out in dark (correct habitual action).

Rule 7

‘Enough’ is an adverb and it is used after an adjective or another

adverb.

For example,

1. He is brave enough to do this.

Rule 8

Both direct and directly are adverbs. Direct is used after a verb and
directly is used before a verb.

For example,

1. The train directly goes to Delhi.

2. The train goes to Delhi direct.

Rule 9

Both hard and hardly are an adverb. Hard is used in a positive

sense and hardly is used in a negative sense.

For example,

1. Save your hard earned money.

2. Hardly had he reached when they left.

Rule 10
Enough is an adverb and it is used after an adjective or another
adverb.

For example,

1. He is brave enough to do this.

Rule 11

More firstly and more highly are incorrect. Faster and higher are
used in place of them.

For example,

1. He runs faster than I.

Rule 12

‘Very’ is used with the present participle (V1 + Ing).

For example,

1. His speech was very inspiring.

Rule 13

‘Ago’ is used with definite time and ‘before’ is used with indefinite
time.

For example,

1. I saw him five years ago.

2. They had come before I came.

Rule 14

Noun + ly = Adjective.

For example,

1. Love + ly = Lovely.
2. Friend + ly = Friendly.
Adjective + ly = Adverb.

For example,

1. Slow + ly = Slowly.
2. Swift + ly = Swiftly.

Rule 15

‘Yet’ means ’till now’ when it is used as adverb.

For example,

1. The criminal has not been found yet.

2. The criminal is yet to be found.

Exercise on Adverb:
Put the words in the brackets at the proper place

1. I go there (never, seldom).

2. She has left the place (already).
3. He supports me(always).
4. The boy has done his part (well).
5. I have seen him (often).
6. She has gone home (already).
7. He talks too much (sometimes).
8. He is active (very).
9. She comes in time (always).
10. He has examined the case (already).

Adjective
An adjective is a word that qualifies or describes
a noun or pronoun or equivalent.

For example, let I take a sentence – She is a kind lady. here ‘kind’
represent the quality of the lady, so here kind is used as an
adjective. Similarly, take another one- Sam is an honest boy, here
also ‘honest’ describe the quality of the boy. I think now you clear to
spot out an adjective.

Types of Adjective:
Adjectives are classified into eight types:

1. Proper adjective.
2. Adjective of quality.
3. Adjective of quantity.
4. Numerical adjective.
5. Demonstrative adjective.
6. Distributive adjective.
7. Interrogative adjective.
8. Possessive adjective.

PROPER ADJECTIVE:

This is made from proper nouns. For example– The Asian style,

Punjabi dish.
 ADJECTIVE OF QUALITY:

It indicates the quality of a noun or pronoun/equivalent. For example, A good proposal, A

great idea, etc.

 ADJECTIVE OF QUANTITY:

This indicates the quantity of a noun or pronoun or equivalent.

For example, Much advise, A little water, etc.

 NUMBER (Numeral adjective):

Adjectives of a number indicate the number of nouns/pronoun/equivalents. For example,

Five boys, Two girls, several things, etc.

 DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVE:

This demonstrates indicates a noun/pronoun or equivalent.

For example, This boy, that girl, these books, etc.

 DISTRIBUTIVE ADJECTIVE:

To particularize or indicates every member of a group individually it

is used. For example, each boy, every book, any man, etc.

 INTERROGATIVE ADJECTIVE:

The ‘wh’ word used before a noun is called Interrogative

adjective.

For example, Which book? Whose book?

 POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVE:

This indicates relation or possession with a specific noun.

For example, My father, your friend, his books, etc.

SOME OF THE ADJECTIVES THAT WE USE IN

DAILY LIFE:
 Quality- Ugly, heavy, dry, good, red.
 Demonstrative – This, that, these, those.
 Quantitative- Some, any, no, little.
 Numerical – Few, many all, several, one, first.
 Interrogative- Which, what, when, who, whose.
 Possessive- My, our, your, her, his, its, their.
 Present/past participle- A moving car, a burnt man, tiring
journey.
 Relative- Who, which, that.
 Emphatic- Own, very, such, same.
 Proper- American, Asian, Indian.
 Exclamatory – What, which, How.

Rules of Adjectives:
Rule 1
Use of little, a little, the little: There are used to denote the little
amount of quality.

 Little is used in a negative sense.

 A little is used in a positive sense.
 The little denoted the definite amount or quality.

For example,

1. A little knowledge is dangerous.

2. I have given him a little water.

Rule 2

There are some objectives which have no comparative or

superlative form– Unique, chief, main, prime, absolute, empty,
complete, circular, square, etc.

For example,

1. The park is more circular in shape.

Rule 3

We know ‘the’ is not used before a comparative degree.

Rule 4

When ‘then’ is not used with a comparative degree, ‘the’ is used

before it.

For example,

1. He is better than I.
2. Ram is the better of the two boys.

Rule 5

In the case of two comparatives ‘the’ is used before them.

For example,
 1. The higher we go, the cooler it becomes.

Rule 6

Senior, junior, superior, prior, posterior, etc.

These Latin adjectives are followed by ‘to’.

For example,

1. My elder brother is senior to me by 4 years.

Rule 7

If positive and comparative degree is used in a sentence, they are

joined by ‘if’.

For example,

1. He is as good as it not better than Shayam..

Adjective Exercises:
Point out the adjectives in the following sentences and state
which class is of them belongs to –

1. Most boys are fond of sweets.

2. The wise old man supported by the young boy.
3. The good boy obeys his parents.
4. I give the poor man some rice and a cloth.
5. Few men can raise such a heavy load.
6. Which boy did it?
7. The cruel King caused great suffering to his people.
8. I told the whole story to my aged mother.
9. She is the first girl in the class.
10. She has a soft heart and cannot stand such a painful
sight.

On Killing a Tree Introduction to the lesson

The poet sensitizes the reader and highlights the fact that trees are living things. He equates
trees with humans to convey that trees should not be cut because destroying trees is just like
killing a human being.
A tree does not die by merely cutting because it regrows from where it is cut. If it has to be
destroyed, then it has to be uprooted.
On Killing a Tree Poem Explanation
It takes much time to kill a tree,
Not a simple jab of the knife
Will do it. It has grown
Slowly consuming the earth,
Rising out of it, feeding
Upon its crust, absorbing
Years of sunlight, air, water,
And out of its leprous hide
Sprouting leaves.
Jab: sudden rough blow
Leprous hide: discolored bark
A simple cut does not destroy a tree. A tree grows gradually, it is rooted in the soil. A plant takes
nutrition from the soil to grow into a big tree. The tree is firmly bound with the soil. It takes in
sunlight, water and air to grow into a strong trunk and have numerous leaves.
So hack and chop
But this alone won’t do it.
Not so much pain will do it.
The bleeding bark will heal
And from close to the ground
Will rise curled green twigs,
Miniature boughs
Which if unchecked will expand again
To former size.
Hack: cut roughly by striking heavy blows
Humans cut and chop the bark of trees into many pieces but that is not sufficient to destroy the
tree. The point of the tree which gets cut gives out sap just like a human being bleeds. Gradually,
this would heals and from there new branches start growing again.
No,
The root is to be pulled out —
Out of the anchoring earth;
It is to be roped, tied,
And pulled out-snapped out
Or pulled out entirely,
Out from the earth-cave,
And the strength of the tree exposed
The source, white and wet,
The most sensitive, hidden
For years inside the earth.
 Top
Anchoring earth: trees are held securely with the help of the roots in the earth
Snapped out: chopped out
The poet says that in order to kill the tree, it has to be uprooted. One has to separate the tree
from the Earth which supports it. The roots of the tree bind the tree with the soil in the pit of the
Earth. From there, the most sensitive and hidden part of the tree – the roots have to be
detached. The roots are white in colour and are damp.
Then the matter
Of scorching and choking
In sun and air,
Browning, hardening,
Twisting, withering,
And then it is done.
Scorching and choking: the drying up of the tree after being uprooted
Once the tree has been uprooted, then gradually it withers and dries up with the action of heat
and wind. The trunk will become brown, twist and will harden. Finally, the tree will die this way.
On Killing a Tree Question and Answers
1. Can a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree? Why not?
A. No, a simple jab of the knife cannot kill a tree. The place from where the tree is cut will give
out sap and once the wound heals, new branches and leaves will grow from it which will develop
into trees.
2. How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity.
A. The tree has grown by consuming nutrients from the Earth, absorbing sunlight, air and water.
The words suggestive of its life and activity are – consuming the earth, Rising out of it, feeding
Upon its crust, absorbing years of sunlight, air, water.
3. What is the meaning of “bleeding bark”? What makes it bleed?
A. Bleeding bark refers to the sap which flows out of the tree’s bark where it is cut. The tree
bleeds when it is cut with a knife.
4. The poet says “No” in the beginning of the third stanza. What does he mean by this?
A. ’No’ means that the tree will not die by cutting or chopping the trunk.
5. What is the meaning of “anchoring earth” and “earth cave”?
A. “Anchoring Earth” means that the Earth supports the tree firmly. “Earth cave” refers to the pit
in the Earth where the roots of the tree bind it firmly to the Earth.
6. What does he mean by “the strength of the tree exposed”?
A. “the strength of the tree exposed” means that upon being uprooted, the most sensitive and
important part of the tree i.e. the roots will no longer remain hidden in the Earth.
7. What finally kills the tree?
A. The tree dies when it is uprooted. When it is detached from the Earth, it withers, hardens
twists and finally dies.

The Road Not Taken Poem Introduction

In the poem – ‘The Road Not Taken’, the road symbolizes our life. The poet says that the path
that we don’t choose in our life is the road not taken. He describes his feelings about that choice
that he had left in the past. The path which we have chosen, decides our future, our destination.
The important message that the poet wants to give is that the choice that we make has an impact
on our future and if we make a wrong choice, we regret it but cannot go back on it. So, we must
be wise while making choices.
The Road Not Taken Poem Explanation
Stanza 1
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
diverged: separated and took a different direction
yellow wood: a forest with decomposing leaves
undergrowth: dense growth of plants and bushes means the forest)
Once the poet was walking down a road and then there was a diversion, there were two different
paths and he had to choose one out them. The poet says that as he was one person, he could
travel on one road only. He had to choose one out of these two roads Yellow wood means a
forest with leaves which are wearing out and they have turned yellow in colour – the season of
autumn. It represents a world which is full of people, where people have been living for many
years. They represent people who are older than the poet. The poet kept standing there and
looked at the path very carefully as far as he could see it. Before taking the path, he wanted to
know how it was. Was it suitable for him or no. He was able to see the path till from where it
curved after which it was covered with trees and was hidden. It happens in our life also when we
have choices, we have alternatives, but we have to choose only one out of them, we take time to
think about the pros and cons, whether it is suitable for us or not and only then, we take a
decision on what path we should choose.
tanza 2
Then took the other, just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
fair: As good as the other one,
claim: Better option
grassy: unused
wanted wear: had not been used
The poet kept on looking at one path for a long time to check if it is the right path for him or not
and them he decided and started walking on another path because he felt that both paths were
equally good. He says just as fair, so, he felt that both paths were equally good and started
walking on one of them. He adds that maybe he felt that the path was better for him so he
chooses it as it had grass on it which means that it was unused. Not many people had walked on
this path earlier that is why this path was grassy. ‘And wanted wear’ means that it was not
walked over by many people. After he walked on the path for some distance, he realized that
both the paths had been worm out the same way. Both the paths were similar and worn out.
Even in our life, we take any path or option but all of them have the same benefits,
disadvantages, problems, challenges and we must face them. We think that we are choosing a
better option, but it is not that way.
Stanza 3
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves, no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
trodden means walked over.
The poet says that both the paths were similar that morning. Both had leaves on them and no
one had stepped on them as they were still green in colour. He decided that that day he would
take one path and keep the other path for another day, although he knew that one way leads on
to another way. He knew that he could not go back on the choice that he had made. Similarly,
even in our life once we choose an option, we must keep on moving ahead with that option and
we never get a chance to come back and take the other option that we had left earlier.
Stanza 4
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence;
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I —
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.
sigh: deep breath
hence: here, in the future
He says that in the future, he will take a deep breath and say that once upon a time, he had
reached such a point in life that there were two options for him and he travelled on that road
which had been travelled upon by lesser number of people. That decision of his decided his
future. Similarly, in future, when you grow up, then you will say that once upon a time, when you
were young, you had two options. The choice that you made, made you what you became of it.
This is a very strong message for all the students – that you should be wise and be careful while
making choices out of the options that you have in your life because your future depends on the
choice that you make today.
The Road Not Taken Question Answers
1. Where does the traveller find himself? What problem does he face?
A. The traveller finds himself standing on a fork in the path. He is in a problem as he must
choose one path and is unable to decide which one to choose.
2. Discuss what these phrases mean to you.
(i) a yellow wood
A. ‘Yellow wood’ refers to the forest which has withering leaves as in the season of autumn. It
represents a world full of aging people.
(ii) it was grassy and wanted wear
A. It means that the path had a lot of grass on it. This means that it had not been walked over by
many people. It had to be worn out by the steps of the people who walked on it.
(iii) the passing there
A. It means that when he walked over the path that he had chosen.
(iv) leaves no step had trodden black
A. It means that no one had walked over the leaves as they were still green. If they had been
walked over, they would have turned black.
(v) how way leads on to way
A. It means that as we walk on a path, we come across more options and make choices further.
We keep on walking ahead on that way.
3. Is there any difference between the two roads as the poet describes them
(i) in stanzas two and three?
A. The two paths were similar. In the beginning, the poet felt that one of them was grassy and
had not been walked over by many people, but when he walked on it for some distance, he
realized that it was like the other road.
(ii) in the last two lines of the poem?
A. Here, again the poet talks of his initial decision when he thought that the roads were different
and chose the one that had been walked over by a lesser number of people.

Class 10 English Chapter 3

Two Stories about Flying
His First Flight by Liam O’ Flaherty
His First Flight – Introduction
The story by “Liam O’ Flaherty” is an account of a young bird that is afraid to fly for the first time.
He believes that his wings would not support him. Despite his younger siblings flying fearlessly
with much shorter wings, he could not gather the courage to do the same. He was punished to
stay hungry if he did not try. Thus, it was his mother that compelled him to fly by using food as a
trap. The lesson reflects how one hesitates to take the first step and that fear is all in the mind.
One should trust one’s abilities because “the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself”.
His First Flight Summary
The story “His First Flight” by “Liam O’ Flaherty” is about a young seagull who is afraid to fly. All
his younger siblings despite their much shorter wings flew fearlessly while he could not gather
the courage to trust his own wings. The young seagull became sad when he saw his parents
perfecting his younger siblings in the art of flying. His parents scold and taunt him for not even
trying. They even call him a “coward”. They tell him a lot to at least try and also threaten him to
leave him alone and hungry if he does not. The following day, he is left in isolation and upon
feeling hungry; he tries to seek the attention of his family members. Only his mother, who is
withering a fish in an attempt to eat it, notices his son. The young seagull cries out of starvation
hoping his mother would help. On seeing his mother come to him with the fish, he gets excited.
But on noticing that his mother stopped mid-way, he gets maddened out of hunger and takes a
dive at the fish, forgetting for a moment that he is afraid to fly. Finally, he took his first flight. All
the family members celebrate his victory by cheering and dancing around him. He also attempts
at floating in the sea that he was once afraid of. Thus, he overcomes his fear and realizes that it
is all in the mind.
His First Flight Lesson Explanation
THE young seagull was alone on his ledge. His two brothers and his sister had already flown
away the day before. He had been afraid to fly with them. Somehow when he had taken a little
run forward to the brink of the ledge and attempted to flap his wings he became afraid. The great
expanse of sea stretched down beneath, and it was such a long way down — miles down. He felt
certain that his wings would never support him; so he bent his head and ran away back to the
little hole under the ledge where he slept at night.
Seagull- a bird that lives near the sea and has short legs, long wings, and white and grey
feathers
Ledge- a narrow horizontal shelf projecting from a wall (or here) a cliff
Brink- the extreme edge of land before a steep slope or a body or water
Expanse- a wide continuous area of something
The story is about a young seagull who is at that stage of life where he has to learn to fly. Unlike
his younger brothers and sisters, he is too afraid to fly. When all of them went for flying for the
first time near the edge of the sea, all of them except him, succeeded. He could not trust his
wings. He got terrified by the vast sea and got convinced that he could never fly. As a result, he
was ashamed and disheartened and thus, went inside the ledge where usually he slept.

Even when each of his brothers and his little sister, whose wings were far shorter than his own,
ran to the brink, flapped their wings, and flew away, he failed to muster up courage to take that
plunge which appeared to him so desperate. His father and mother had come around calling to
him shrilly, upbraiding him, threatening to let him starve on his ledge unless he flew away. But for
the life of him he could not move.
Flapped- (of a bird) move (its wings) up and down when flying or preparing to fly
Muster- gather
Plunge- jump or dive
Shrilly- with a high pitched and piercing voice or sound
Upbraiding- scold
His younger siblings managed to take their first flight despite their wings being shorter than his,
but he could not summon the courage though he tried so desperately. He was scolded by his
parents for not trying again but he was so afraid, that he could not even move.
That was twenty-four hours ago. Since then nobody had come near him. The day before, all day
long, he had watched his parents flying about with his brothers and sister, perfecting them in the
art of flight, teaching them how to skim the waves and how to dive for fish. He had, in fact, seen
his older brother catch his first herring and devour it, standing on a rock, while his parents circled
around raising a proud cackle. And all the morning the whole family had walked about on the big
plateau midway down the opposite cliff taunting him with his cowardice.
Herring- a soft-finned sea fish
Devour- eat quickly
Cackle- laugh in a loud, harsh way
Cowardice- lack of bravery
Now, he had been alone for a day after he tried because his parents were busy focussing on his
siblings. They helped his siblings master the art of flying and diving for food (fish). His older
sibling even caught his first fish which he proudly ate at a rock while his parents celebrated it.
That morning, his parents taunted him all the way for being a coward.
The sun was now ascending the sky, blazing on his ledge that faced the south. He felt the heat
because he had not eaten since the previous nightfall. He stepped slowly out to the brink of the
ledge, and standing on one leg with the other leg hidden under his wing, he closed one eye, then
the other, and pretended to be falling asleep. Still they took no notice of him. He saw his two
brothers and his sister lying on the plateau dozing with their heads sunk into their necks. His
father was preening the feathers on his white back. Only his mother was looking at him. She was
standing on a little high hump on the plateau, her white breast thrust forward. Now and again,
she tore at a piece of fish that lay at her feet and then scrapped each side of her beak on the
rock. The sight of the food maddened him. How he loved to tear food that way, scrapping his
beak now and again to whet it.
Ascending the sky- the act of rising up through the air
Preening-to tidy and clean its feathers
Hump- a rounded raised mass of earth or land
Scrapped- discard
The sun had now risen and he was feeling the heat more than ever because he was empty-
stomach since the night before. He stepped out of his ledge and pretended to sleep on one leg
to gain the attention of his family. Still, no one noticed him. His siblings were sleeping, his father
was cleaning his feathers with his beak and his mother was standing on another plateau eating
fish while she noticed him. The seagull got mad on seeing the fish because he was very hungry.
He loved to tear away fish and scrape his beak now and then.
“Ga, ga, ga,” he cried begging her to bring him some food. “Gaw-col-ah,” she screamed back
derisively. But he kept calling plaintively, and after a minute or so he uttered a joyful scream. His
mother had picked up a piece of the fish and was flying across to him with it. He leaned out
eagerly, tapping the rock with his feet, trying to get nearer to her as she flew across. But when
she was just opposite to him, she halted, her wings motionless, the piece of fish in her beak
almost within reach of his beak. He waited a moment in surprise, wondering why she did not
come nearer, and then, maddened by hunger, he dived at the fish.
Derisively- in a manner expressing contempt or ridicule.
Plaintively- sad
Uttered- make a sound with one’s voice
Halted- stopped
He cried in hunger to his mom while his mother screamed back angrily but he kept crying which
soon turned into a joyful scream at the sight of his mother flying towards him with the piece of
fish. He got excited as she came nearer and thus, leaned forward. Suddenly, she stopped not
too far from him. Out of excitement and hunger, he dived at the fish without realising for a
moment, that he was afraid to fly.
With a loud scream he fell outwards and downwards into space. Then a monstrous terror seized
him and his heart stood still. He could hear nothing. But it only lasted a minute. The next moment
he felt his wings spread outwards. The wind rushed against his breast feathers, then under his
stomach, and against his wings. He could feel the tips of his wings cutting through the air. He
was not falling headlong now. He was soaring gradually downwards and outwards. He was no
longer afraid. He just felt a bit dizzy. Then he flapped his wings once and he soared upwards.
“Ga, ga, ga, Ga, ga, ga, Gaw-col-ah,” his mother swooped past him, her wings making a loud
noise. He answered her with another scream. Then his father flew over him screaming. He saw
his two brothers and his sister flying around him curveting and banking and soaring and diving.
Monstrous- horrible
Seized- grab
Headlong- with the head foremost
Soaring- flying or rising high in the air
Swooped- (especially of a bird) move rapidly downwards through the air
Curvetting- perform a series of jumps on the hind legs
He got so excited that he fell as soon as he tried. For a moment, he was in shock and stood still
out of terror.  All this lasted only for a moment and soon, his feathers opened as he flied. He
could feel the wind against his breast feathers, stomach and his wings. He could feel himself
cutting through the air. He was not afraid anymore. He was just a bit nervous but then his mother
accompanied him. The whole family screamed out of excitement, thus, celebrating his victory
over fear.
Then he completely forgot that he had not always been able to fly, and commended himself to
dive and soar and curve, shrieking shrilly. He was near the sea now, flying straight over it, facing
straight out over the ocean. He saw a vast green sea beneath him, with little ridges moving over
it and he turned his beak sideways and cawed amusedly.
Shrieking- making a high-pitched piercing cry or sound
Shrilly- loudly and forcefully
Ridges- a long, narrow hilltop, mountain range, or watershed
Cawed- utter a caw
Once he overcame his fear, he forgot that he was once afraid of it. He did all those things he
once feared. He flied straight over the sea and could see the greenery and the mountains
beneath him. He screamed out of joy as he enjoyed the victory.
His parents and his brothers and sister had landed on this green flooring ahead of him. They
were beckoning to him, calling shrilly. He dropped his legs to stand on the green sea. His legs
sank into it. He screamed with fright and attempted to rise again flapping his wings. But he was
tired and weak with hunger and he could not rise, exhausted by the strange exercise. His feet
sank into the green sea, and then his belly touched it and he sank no farther. He was floating on
it, and around him his family was screaming, praising him and their beaks were offering him
scraps of dog-fish. He had made his first flight.
Beckoning- gesture
When he landed, his family landed along with him as a gesture that they were proud. They were
screaming and shouting in excitement in their high pitched voices. He then went into the sea
where at first, he got scared and thus, panicked. He tried escaping but got tired and weak
because of hunger. Thus, when he calmed down, he started floating in the sea he was once
afraid of. His family was celebrating in excitement and offered him food as praise. Finally, he had
overcome his fear and had made his first flight.
His First Flight Questions and Answers
Q1. Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? Do you think all young birds are afraid to
make their first flight, or are some birds more timid than others? Do you think a human
baby also finds it a challenge to take its first steps?
A. The young seagull was afraid to fly because it was his first flight. He doubted that his wings
would not be able to support him. We are well aware that “Journey to a thousand miles begins
with a single step” and it is very difficult to take that first step. Thus, I think all birds must be
hesitating before taking their first flight, some more than others. Yes, just like young birds, human
babies also hesitate while taking their first step.
Q2. “The sight of the food maddened him.” What does this suggest? What compelled the
young seagull to finally fly?
A. On not being able to gather courage to fly and acting like a coward, the young seagull’s family
left him alone. As a result, he was starving since he could not fly to get his own food. When he
saw his mother coming near him with fish, he got excited and dived straight at the fish, forgetting
for a moment that he was afraid of flying. Thus, he got so maddened by the sight of food
because he was starving, which compelled him to take his first flight.
Q3. “They were beckoning to him, calling shrilly.” Why did the seagull’s father and mother
threaten him and cajole him to fly?
A. Unlike his younger siblings, the poor seagull could not gather enough courage to take his first
flight. Thus, his parents taunted him for being a coward. They even threatened it to let it starve if
he did not try. They thought hunger would make him fly looking for his food. They did all of this
because they wanted him to fly.

Class 10 English (Footprints without Feet) Chapter 7 –

Glimpses of India (Part 1) A Baker from Goa
By Lucio Rodrigues
Glimpses of India A Baker from Goa Introduction
‘A Baker from Goa’ revolves around the relevance of a baker in the Goan culture which dates
back to the time when Portuguese ruled over the city of Goa. The Portuguese may have left but
the bread-makers continue to have an inevitable stature. In this story, the author recalls his
childhood days and their excitement on seeing the baker. They were enthusiastic to the point that
they would run to him as soon as they woke up without even brushing their teeth.
Glimpses of India A Baker from Goa Summary
The lesson begins with how narrator’s elders often recall the time when Goa was under the rule
of the Portuguese. They talk how the importance of bakers is still maintained in their villages
even after the Portuguese have left. They are known as ‘Paders’ in Goa. The mixers, moulders
and their time-tested furnaces continue to serve the people of Goa with their famous bread
loaves. It is possible that the original ones may not exist, but their profession is being continued
by their sons. The thud of their bamboo stick can still be heard in some parts of the village. The
same jingling thud would wake the narrator and his friends during their childhood days who
would go running to him without brushing or washing their mouth properly.  It was the maid-
servant of the house who collected the loaves while children sorted out the bread bangles for
themselves. Bakery products have importance in the culture and traditions of Goa. Bol or sweet
bread is a part of marriage gifts, cakes and Bolinhas or coconut cookies are eaten at every
festival and the lady of the house prepares sandwiches at her daughter’s engagement. Earlier
bakers wore a unique frock of knee-length known as ‘kabai’ but during the narrator’s childhood
days, they wore a shirt and trousers of length slightly shorter than the usual ones. They generally
collected their bills at the end of every month. Bakery has continued to be a profitable profession,
managing to keep their families joyous and prosperous.
Glimpses of India A Baker from Goa Lesson & Explanation
OUR elders are often heard reminiscing nostalgically about those good old Portuguese days, the
Portuguese and their famous loaves of bread. Those eaters of loaves might have vanished but
the makers are still there. We still have amongst us the mixers, the moulders and those who
bake the loaves. Those age-old, time-tested furnaces still exist. The fire in the furnaces has not
yet been extinguished. The thud and jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo, heralding his arrival
in the morning, can still be heard in some places. Maybe the father is not alive but the son still
carries on the family profession. These bakers are, even today, known as pader in Goa.
Glimpses of India MCQ Questions
Reminiscing nostalgically- thinking fondly of the past
Loaves- (plural form of loaf) bread that is shaped and baked in a single piece and can be sliced
for eating
Vanished- disappear suddenly and completely
Moulders- a person who moulds dough into a shape
Furnaces- an enclosed structure in which materials can be heated to very high temperatures
Extinguished- cause a fire to cease to burn
Heralding- announcing
Pader- word for baker in Portuguese language
The story takes us back to the time when Portuguese ruled Goa. They were immensely famous
for their breads. The narrator often finds his elders thinking about ‘those good old days’ and
telling them that the famous breads date back to the time when Portuguese ruled over Goa.
They ponder over the past and tell them that though the Portuguese have left Goa but the bakers
of bread still exist, if not the original ones, their legacy is being continued by their sons. The
bakers are still being referred to as ‘Paders’. Everything about baking is still the same; ranging
from those who mould the bread loaves, to the furnaces which have survived the ravages of
time. The sound of their arrival and the thud of their bamboo stick can still be heard just like the
olden times.

During our childhood in Goa, the baker used to be our friend, companion and guide. He used to
come at least twice a day. Once, when he set out in the morning on his selling round, and then
again, when he returned after emptying his huge basket. The jingling thud of his bamboo woke
us up from sleep and we ran to meet and greet him. Why was it so? Was it for the love of the
loaf? Not at all. The loaves were bought by some Paskine or Bastine, the maid-servant of the
house! What we longed for were those bread-bangles which we chose carefully. Sometimes it
was sweet bread of special make.
Companion- a person with whom one spends a lot of time
Jingling- make or cause to make a light metallic ringing sound
 
The narrator recalls that the baker acted as their friend and companion during their childhood
days in Goa. The baker used to visit twice a day; once, while he was on the round to sell his
loaves and the other time, while returning back with his empty basket, having sold all the loaves.
It was the sound of his bamboo stick that woke the children up. The children were so excited to
meet him and choose from the bread bangles or Kankon he made especially for them. While the
bangles were for children, loaves were for the adults that were generally collected by the maid-
servant of the household.
 
 
The baker made his musical entry on the scene with the ‘jhang, jhang’ sound of his specially
made bamboo staff. One hand supported the basket on his head and the other banged the
bamboo on the ground. He would greet the lady of the house with “Good morning” and then
place his basket on the vertical bamboo. We kids would be pushed aside with a mild rebuke and
the loaves would be delivered to the servant. But we would not give up. We would climb a bench
or the parapet and peep into the basket, somehow. I can still recall the typical fragrance of those
loaves. Loaves for the elders and the bangles for the children. Then we did not even care to
brush our teeth or wash our mouths properly. And why should we? Who would take the trouble of
plucking the mango-leaf for the toothbrush? And why was it necessary at all? The tiger never
brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all!
staff – stick
Rebuke- an expression of disapproval; a scolding
Fragrance- a pleasant, sweet smell
Parapet- railing, a low protective wall
bangles- here, refers to the bread in the shape of a bangle called ‘Kankon’
The baker often made a musical entry with his bamboo stick. His one hand supported the basket
on his head while the other banged the bamboo on the ground. He would go house to house and
greet the ladies before handing them over the loaves. The parents would scold the children and
make them stand aside. But as eager as they were, they would climb a bench or the wall to peep
into the basket. They did not even bother to brush their teeth before having those bread bangles
because it seemed an unnecessary effort for them to pluck mango leaves from the branches to
use them for brushing the teeth. They considered brushing unnecessary because the hot tea
could effortlessly wash their mouth and they thought that animals like the tiger never brushed
their teeth.
Marriage gifts are meaningless without the sweet bread known as the bol, just as a party or a
feast loses its charm without bread. Not enough can be said to show how important a baker can
be for a village. The lady of the house must prepare sandwiches on the occasion of her
daughter’s engagement. Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals.
Thus, the presence of the baker’s furnace in the village is absolutely essential.
Feast- a large meal, typically a celebratory one
bolinhas – another name for coconut cookies
Bread is an important part of the Goan culture and it is evident from its presence at every
important occasion. From sweet breads at marriages to sandwiches at engagement parties and
cakes and coconut cookies at Christmas as well as other occasions, makes the presence of a
baker in every village, very essential.
The baker or bread-seller of those days had a peculiar dress known as the kabai. It was a
singlepiece long frock reaching down to the knees. In our childhood we saw bakers wearing a
shirt and trousers which were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants. Even
today, anyone who wears a half pant which reaches just below the knees invites the comment
that he is dressed like a pader!
Bakers were known to have worn unique knee-length frock dresses typically known as ‘kabai’. In
the narrator’s childhood days, he had seen them wearing shirts and pants whose length was
shorter than the usual ones. It was a part of their identity so much so that even if someone wears
that trouser length now, he is said to have dressed like a baker, or ‘pader’ as was said in olden
times.

The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month. Monthly accounts used to be
recorded on some wall in pencil. Baking was indeed a profitable profession in the old days. The
baker and his family never starved. He, his family and his servants always looked happy and
prosperous. Their plump physique was an open testimony to this. Even today any person with a
jackfruit-like physical appearance is easily compared to a baker.
Plump physique- pleasantly fat body
Open testimony- public statement about a character or quality
 The baker had a way of making a monthly record of bills on a wall using a pencil and then,
collecting the money at the end of the month. Baking has always been a profitable profession.
The baker’s family and workers have always been happy and joyous. The baker was usually fat
which was proof that he had a lot to eat and hence, was proof of his richness. Even to this day,
someone with a well-built body is compared to a baker.
Glimpses of India A Baker from Goa Question and Answers
Q1. What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?
A. The narrator often finds his elders thinking about ‘those good old days’ and telling them about
the famous breads that date back to the time when Portuguese ruled over Goa. They ponder
over the past and tell them that though the Portuguese have left Goa but the bakers still exist, if
not the original ones, their legacy is being continued by their sons.
Q2. Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?
A. Yes, bread-making is still popular in the city of Goa. It is evident from the existence of time-
tested furnaces, mixers and moulders. The legacy of bakers is being continued by their sons.
You will find a bakery in every Goan village as bread is an important part of the Goan culture.
Q3. What is the baker called?
A. The baker is referred to as ‘Pader’ in the city of Goa.
Q4. When would the baker come everyday? Why did the children run to meet him?
A. The baker would come twice every day during the narrator’s childhood days. Once in the
morning to deliver the loaves of bread and secondly, in the evening on his return after selling his
stock. The children would go running to him to take the special bread bangles he had made for
them.
Q5. Match the following. What is a must
1. as marriage gifts?                             – cakes and bolinhas
2. for a party or a feast?                      – sweet bread called bol
3. for a daughter’s engagement?       – bread
4. for Christmas?                                   – sandwiches
Answer:-
As marriage gifts Sweet bread called bol

For a party or a feast Bread

For daughter’s engagement Sandwiches

For Christmas Cakes and bolinhas

Q6. What did the bakers wear:

1. In the Portuguese days?
2. When the author was young?
A.
(i) In the Portuguese days, the bakers wore a unique knee-length frock dress typically known as
‘kabai’.
(ii) In the narrator’s childhood days, he had seen them wearing shirts and shorter than usual
pants.
Q7. Who invites the comment — “he is dressed like a pader”? Why?
A. During the narrator’s childhood days, the bakers had a peculiar dress. They wore shirts and
shorter than usual pants. Thus, if someone is seen wearing pants of this much length, they invite
the comment – “he is dressed like a pader”.
Q8. Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?
A. The monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall with a pencil.
 Q9. What does a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ mean?
A. ‘Jackfruit-like appearance’ means a well-built or plump physique, similar to a jackfruit. In those
days, bakers had plump physique because baking was a profitable profession. His family and
servants never starved and were prosperous.
Q. Which of these statements are correct?
1.
1. The pader was an important person in the village in old times. True
1.
1. Paders still exist in Goan villages. True
1.
1. The paders went away with the Portuguese. False, they still exist in Goan
villages.
1.
1. The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock. False, they wear shirts
and trousers that are shorter than the usual ones and longer than the half-pants.
1.
1. Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days. False, they
are still an integral part of Goan culture.
1.
1. Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business. True
1. Paders and their families starve in the present times. False, it is still a very profitable
business and their families are happy and prosperous.
Q. Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?
A. Bread is an important part of the Goan culture and it is evident from its presence at every
important occasion. From sweet breads at marriages to sandwiches at engagement parties and
cakes and Bolinhas at Christmas as well as other occasions, makes the presence of a baker in
every village, very essential.
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 and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous.
(matter-of-fact, hopeful, sad)
Answers-
1. Nostalgic
2. Nostalgic
3. Nostalgic
4. Funny
5. Matter-of-fact
6. Matter-of-fact

https://englishcompositions.com/parts-of-speech-in-english-grammar/