Class 10 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - First Flight

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English Class 10 Chapter "Glimpses of India" includes three short stories. The last part of this chapter is "Tea from Assam" by Arup Kumar Datta. This story is about two friends exploring the tea gardens of Assam and also learning the legends behind them. Let's see some Long Answer Questions of the chapter: 

Q1: What are the legends related to the discovery of tea?
Ans: There are many popular legends about the discovery of tea. Two of them are as follows —
A Chinse emperor was used to drinking boiled water. One day a twig from the fire fell into the pot in which water was being boiled. It gave a delicious flavour to the drink. It is said that those were tea leaves. An Indian legend goes like this. Once there was a Buddhist ascetic who used to feel sleepy during meditations. So he cut off his eyelids. Ten tea plants grew out of the eyelids. When the leaves from these plants were put in hot water and drunk they banished sleep.

Q2: What details do you gather about tea from the lesson, ‘Tea from Assam’?
Or
What information do you gather about the history of tea after reading the lesson, ‘Tea from Assam’?
Ans: Tea was first drunk in China. Even the words `chai’ and ‘chini are from Chinese. It goes back to 2700 B.C. In the 16th century, tea came to Europe and was drunk more as a medicine than as a beverage. Assam has the largest concentration of tea plantations in the world. There are large groups of women with bamboo baskets on their backs. They pluck the newly sprouted tea leaves from the plants and store them in the baskets.

Q3: What landscape did Rajvir notice while sitting in the train?
Ans: Rajvir was fascinated by the scenic beauty of the place. There were vast green tea gardens on both sides of the road. The tall trees at the back of the gardens in the forest on the rolling hills looked beautiful. The women plucking tea leaves looked like dolls. On the way, he saw people drinking tea. He also saw an ugly building with smoke coming out of its chimneys. Rajvir was received by Mrs and Mr Barua and was taken towards Dhekiabari Tea Estate. On both sides of the gravel road were acres and acres of neatly pruned tea bushes. It was the second sprouting period. Women were wearing plastic aprons and plucking new tea leaves and putting them in the bamboo baskets on their backs.

Q4. What excited Rajvir? Why did Pranjol not share his excitement?
OR
Why was Rajvir excited to see the tea gardens? (CBSE 2014)
OR
What made Rajvir amazed in the way? (CBSE 2012)
Ans. Rajvir was extremely excited to see the tea gardens because he had never visited one before. He had heard a lot about tea plantations and had read about them in books, but seeing a tea estate in person left him fascinated. The sight of endless rows of tea bushes stretching as far as the eye could see was a new and thrilling experience for him. He was amazed by the beauty and vastness of the tea gardens and the workers plucking the leaves, which made the scene even more lively.
On the other hand, Pranjol, who had been born and brought up in the tea plantations, had already seen the tea gardens countless times. To him, it was a familiar sight, and he did not find it as exciting as Rajvir did. Pranjol had grown used to the scenery and was not as thrilled by it. While Rajvir was filled with wonder and curiosity, Pranjol felt that it was just a normal part of his everyday life and did not share Rajvir’s excitement.

Q5: Pranjol was born and brought up on a tea estate in Assam but he was Rajvir who knew much about tea leaves and the legends associated with tea. Base your answer on their visit to Dhekiabari Tea Estate in Assam.
Ans: It is true that Pranjol was born and brought up on a tea plantation. His father managed the Dhekiabari Tea Estate in Assam. However, his friend Rajvir’s knowledge about tea and its history was more profound than his. The reason was simple. Rajvir had done a lot of reading about tea and its history. He even surprised Pranjol’s father with his in-depth knowledge of the subject. Rajvir’s visit to Dhekiabari was an opportunity for him to connect his reading and knowledge to the real existing tea plantation. He was fascinated by the magnificent sea of tea bushes stretching as far as his eyes could go. He saw with his own eyes the groups of tea pluckers, with bamboo baskets on their backs, plucking the newly sprouted leaves. His studies helped him to recognize that the trailer-load of tea leaves was the second flush or the sprouting period that gave the best tea.

Q6: Pranjol and Rajvir discuss their next vacation destination. They shortlist Coorg and Goa. Rajvir is keen on Coorg and tries to convince Pranjol. Develop a conversation between the two, based on your understanding of Glimpses of India. (CBSE SQP 2020-21)
You may begin like this:
Pranjol: I gave you the opportunity to explore a tea plantation last year, in Assam; I want to…
Ans: 
Rajvir: Hi Pranjol. We ought to go to Coorg, in my opinion. The area has lovely coffee farms. The aroma is already in the air!
Pranjol: We went to a tea farm in Assam last year; this time, I want to do something different.
Rajvir: The destination is Coorg then! There is more to Coorg than just the aroma of coffee. Rainforests, plants, and fauna are abundant. It would be a sight to remember. It would be extremely wonderful to relax along Kaveri’s coast.
Pranjol: That certainly sounds intriguing.
Rajvir: Furthermore, I believe that everyone deserves some time away from the pandemic’s chaos. Adventure sports like mountain biking, rappelling, and river rafting sound like fun.
Pranjol: I enjoy some sports, but I was looking for a quiet and collected exercise.
Rajvir: A bell is ringing. Coorg is the solution once more! The Brahmagiri hills provide a panoramic view, and there are lovely natural walking trails there. According to what I’ve read, the area is home to the largest Tibetan colony, thus the atmosphere will be serene and spiritual. I’m certain.
Pranjol: Are you serious?
Rajvir: Coorg has a diverse culture, brave people, and excellent hospitality. Just a select few persons in Coorg are permitted to possess weapons without a permit. It will be exciting to meet such brave people.
Pranjol: I have to admit that you do make a strong argument for Coorg. Let’s arrange to depart on Wednesday.

Q7: Based on your reading of the chapter “Tea From Assam”, write a paragraph on the topic- importance of Tea in India.
OR
You know that everybody drinks tea everyday in India. It banishes our sleep and makes us feel fresh. Describe the importance of tea in India.
Ans:  Today all people drink tea every day in India. But the quantity of tea differs from person to person. Life in an Indian house starts with a refreshing cup of tea, India has now surpassed China in tea production. India is one of the largest tea producers in the world 70 per cent of its tea is consumed within India. Assam and Darjeeling produced world renowned tea. Tea became widely popular in India during the 1950s. Tea industry is the second largest employer in the country. It is grown in many states in India. Tea plants need shade to grow besides the humid climate. It is a labour oriented industry. Tea has a number of medical and therapeutic properties.

Also Check at EduRev:

• Detailed Summary: Glimpses of India (Part- III) Tea from Assam
• Video Summary: Glimpses of India (Part- III) Tea from Assam