Chapter 3 – The Call of the Soil

Chapter 3, The Call of the Soil, fyjc, 11th std, English, Maharashtra board,

Discuss the following with your partner and complete the following sentence.

1.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.

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2.In a farmers’ market, we find _______________.

SOLUTION

In a farmers’ market, we find seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.

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3.Food adulteration means _________________.

SOLUTION

Food adulteration means the addition of other substances that degrade the quality of food.

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4.Organic food is grown by using __________________.

SOLUTION

Organic food is grown by using organic seeds and traditional methods.

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5.Organic fertilizer means ______________.

SOLUTION

Organic fertilizer means manure/plant compost.

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Complete the following web diagram.

SOLUTION

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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.

Name of the vegetable or fruit	Shape	Colour	Taste
1.
2.
3.

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

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You might have learned 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.
2.
3.

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 so

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Read the extract and state whether the following statement is true or false. Correct the false statement.

1.Growing in abundance is more important than the quality of the crop.

1. True
2. False

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2.The author wanted to grow the desi variety of rice.

• True
• False

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3.The author did not succeed in finding Kasbai.

• True
• False

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4.The aroma of the ‘desi’ rice would spread around the village.

• True
• False

5.Newer hybrid crops have a great appetite for chemicals.

• True
• False

6.The author is an example of ‘reverse migration’.

1. True
2. False

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Complete the flow chart. Consider this as an example of Note-Making.

SOLUTION

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Fill in the blank.

1.The author wanted to grow ______________.

SOLUTION

The author wanted to grow organic moong.

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2.“Hybrids need more _____________”, said Devu Handa.

SOLUTION

“Hybrids need more water, fertilizers, and pesticides”, said Devu Handa.

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3.Moru Dada wanted to spray __________ on the moong crop.

SOLUTION

Moru Dada wanted to spray pesticides on the moong crop.

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4.Baban’s father and some elders mentioned the name of __________.

SOLUTION

Baban’s father and some elders mentioned the name of Kasbai.

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5.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.

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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.

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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:

1. In pursuit of
2. To smell a rat
3. To be keen
4. On the trail of
5. 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.

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The phrases having a similar meaning are:

1. in pursuit of
2. on the trail of

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

1. It needs less rain.
2. It has an alluring aroma.
3. It is a long duration of rice.

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