The chapter is divided into three parts—A Baker from Goa, Coorg, and Tea from Assam—each presenting a unique cultural and geographical snapshot of India.
Through well-explained answers, Glimpses of India Class 10 Question Answer sections help students grasp themes like India’s diversity, rich traditions, local occupations, and natural beauty.
The solutions simplify literary elements, factual details, and descriptive writing style, making them highly useful for concept clarity, exam preparation, and quick revision.
Glimpses of India Class 10 Summary
Glimpses of India presents vivid snapshots of India’s cultural diversity through three short descriptions. The first part, A Baker from Goa, highlights the traditional Goan baker and the enduring Portuguese influence on local customs and food habits. It shows how baking remains an important part of Goan life and celebrations.
The second part, Coorg, describes the natural beauty, wildlife, and brave people of this small hill region in Karnataka. Known for its coffee plantations and adventurous spirit, Coorg reflects harmony between humans and nature.
The final part, Tea from Assam, traces the origin and popularity of tea in India while focusing on Assam’s vast tea gardens. Together, this Glimpses of India Class 10 Summary celebrate India’s unity in diversity through its landscapes, traditions, and history.
Glimpse of India Class 10 Question Answer
Glimpse of India Class 10 NCERT Solutions help students understand the chapter clearly by providing simple, exam-oriented answers. These solutions explain key themes, culture, and facts from the lesson, making revision easier and more effective for board exams.
Glimpses of India I. A Baker from Goa
Oral Comprehension Check (Page 86)
Question 1: What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?
Answer:
In Goa, the older generation cherishes fond memories of the past when Portuguese influence was strong, particularly their appreciation for the famous bread loaves. Despite the disappearance of those who used to enjoy these loaves, the tradition of making them still persists among bread makers in the region.
Question 2: Is bread-making still popular in Goa? How do you know?
Answer:
Bread-making continues to popular in Goa, as evidenced by the presence of bread makers who have upheld this tradition. Despite the absence of the once-avid consumers of bread loaves, the artisans responsible for mixing, molding, and baking the loaves, as well as the enduring furnaces used in the process, serve as a testament to the continued existence of this cherished practice.
Question 3: What is the baker called?
Answer:
A baker is popularly known as a pader in Goa.
Question 4: When would the baker come every day? Why did the children run to meet him?
Answer:
Every day, the baker would make two rounds in the neighborhood. In the morning, he would set out with a full basket of bread, and later, he would return after selling all his loaves. Excited children eagerly awaited his arrival, running to meet him as he approached. They delighted in selecting their favorite bread and sometimes even chose sweet bread or special varieties. Among their favorites were the bread-bangles, which they carefully picked out from the baker's offerings.
Oral Comprehension Check (Page 87)
Question 1: Match the following. What is a must
(i) as marriage gifts? – cakes and bolinhas
(ii) for a party or a feast? – sweet bread called bol
(iii) for a daughter’s engagement? – bread
(iv) for Christmas? – sandwiches
Answer:
(i) as marriage gifts? – sweet bread called bol (ii) for a party or a feast? – bread (iii) for a daughter’s engagement? – sandwiches (iv) for Christmas? – cakes and bolinhas
Question 2: What did the bakers wear: (i) in the Portuguese days? (ii) when the author was young?
Answer:
(i) In the Portuguese days, the bakers were usually dressed up in a peculiar dress known as the kabai. It was a single-piece long frock reaching down to the knees. (ii) During the author’s childhood days, he saw the bakers wearing a shirt and trousers that were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants.
Question 3: Who invites the comment — “he is dressed like a pader”? Why?
Answer:
In Goa, it's common for people to affectionately refer to anyone wearing shorts that reach just below the knees as "dressed like a pader." This nickname stems from the attire of the bakers, who are fondly called "paders" in the region. These bakers traditionally sported shorts of a similar length, hence the association with their attire.
Question 4: Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?
Answer:
The bakers in Goa had a unique way of managing their finances. Instead of collecting payments daily, they would gather their bills at the end of each month. These bills were then recorded on a wall inside the house using a pencil. This simple yet effective method allowed the bakers to keep track of their monthly accounts and ensure that all transactions were properly documented.
Question 5: What does a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ mean?
A ‘jackfruit-like appearance’ refers to a well-built and healthy body. The baker was described this way because his profession ensured regular food and a stable income. As baking was a profitable occupation, the baker and his family were never short of food, which was reflected in their cheerful and prosperous appearance.
Thinking about the Text (Page 88)
Question 1: Which of these statements are correct?
(i) The pader was an important person in the village in old times.
(ii) Paders still exist in Goan villages.
(iii) The paders went away with the Portuguese.
(iv) The paders continue to wear a single-piece long frock.
(v) Bread and cakes were an integral part of Goan life in the old days.
(vi) Traditional bread-baking is still a very profitable business.
(vii) Paders and their families starve in the present times.
Answer:
- Correct
- Correct
- Incorrect. The paders still exist in Goan villages.
- Incorrect. The bakers wear a shirt and trousers that are shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants.
- Correct
- Correct
- Incorrect. Baking happens to be a profitable business in Goa.
Question 2: Is bread an important part of Goan life? How do you know this?
Answer:
Bread holds significant cultural importance in Goan life, serving as more than just a staple food. It plays a central role in various customs and celebrations, such as being offered as marriage gifts and served during feasts. Mothers even use bread to prepare sandwiches for their daughters' engagements. The aroma of freshly baked loaves is cherished by everyone in Goa, with elders enjoying traditional loaves and youngsters eagerly seeking out bread-bangles. As a result, having bread on hand for all occasions is considered essential in every household. Given this cultural affinity for tasty bread since the days of Portuguese influence, baking remains a lucrative and respected business in Goa.
Question 3: Tick the right answer. What is the tone of the author when he says the following?
(i) The thud and the jingle of the traditional baker’s bamboo can still be heard in some places. (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)
(ii) Maybe the father is not alive but the son still carries on the family profession. (nostalgic, hopeful, sad)
(iii) I still recall the typical fragrance of those loaves. (nostalgic, hopeful, naughty)
(iv) The tiger never brushed his teeth. Hot tea could wash and clean up everything so nicely, after all. (naughty, angry, funny)
(v) Cakes and bolinhas are a must for Christmas as well as other festivals. (sad, hopeful, matter-of-fact)
(vi) The baker and his family never starved. They always looked happy and prosperous. (matter-of-fact, hopeful, sad)
Answer:
(i) nostalgic (ii) hopeful (iii) nostalgic (iv) funny (v) matter-of-fact (vi) matter-of-fact
Writing (Page 88-89)
Question I: In this extract, the author talks about traditional bread-baking during his childhood days. Complete the following table with the help of the clues on the left. Then write a paragraph about the author’s childhood days.
| Clues |
Author’s childhood days |
| the way bread was baked |
|
| the way the pader sold bread |
|
| what the pader wore |
|
| when the pader was paid |
|
| how the pader looked |
|
Answer:
| Clues |
Author’s childhood days |
| the way bread was baked |
The bakers used to bake loaves in the mixers and moulders on age-old, time-tested furnaces that were never extinguished. |
| the way the pader sold bread |
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. |
| what the pader wore |
The baker or bread-seller of those days had a peculiar dress known as the kabai . It was a single-piece long frock reaching down to the knees. In his childhood, he saw bakers wearing a shirt and trousers which were shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants. |
| when the pader was paid |
The baker usually collected his bills at the end of the month. Monthly accounts used to be recorded on some wall in pencil. |
| how the pader looked |
The baker used to have a plump physique with a jackfruit-like physical appearance. |
Question II: Compare the piece from the text (on the left below) with the other piece on Goan bakers (on the right). What makes the two texts so different? Are the facts the same? Do both writers give you a picture of the baker?
| 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 had not yet been extinguished. The thud and the 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. |
After Goa’s liberation, people used to say nostalgically that the Portuguese bread vanished with the paders. But the paders have managed to survive because they have perfected the art of door-to-door delivery service. The paders pick up the knowledge of bread-making from traditions in the family. The leavened, oven-baked bread is a gift of the Portuguese to India. [Adapted from Nandakumar Kamat’s ‘The Unsung Lives of Goan Paders’] |
Answer:
Both texts are more or less similar, with the context that knowledge of bread-making flows down in the family like a tradition. Both the writers give a brief overview of a baker’s work. They have also mentioned how successive generations of bakers work hard and follow the footsteps of their parents to keep the family profession alive.
2. Now find a travel brochure about a place you have visited. Look at the description in the brochure. Then write your own account, adding details from your own experience, to give the reader a picture of the place, rather than an impersonal, factual description.
Answer:
Activity to be done by yourself. ( Note: Students can write about their personal experiences for this question.)
Group Discussion (Page 89)
Question 1: In groups, collect information on how bakeries bake bread now and how the process has changed over time.
Answer:
Activity to be done by yourself.
Question 2: There are a number of craft-based professions that are dying out. Pick one of the crafts below. Make a group presentation to the class about the skills required, and the possible reasons for the decline of the craft. Can you think of ways to revive these crafts?
(i) Pottery (v) Carpentry (ii) Batik work (vi) Bamboo weaving (iii) Dhurri (rug) weaving (vii) Making jute products (iv) Embroidery (viii) Handloom
Answer:
Activity to be done by yourself. ( Note: Students can write this answer as per their personal preferences.)
I. Coorg
Thinking about the Text (Page 92-93)
Question 1: Where is Coorg?
Answer:
Coorg, also known as Kodagu, is the smallest district of Karnataka, situated roughly between Mysore and Mangalore.
Question 2: What is the story about the Kodavu people’s descent?
Answer:
The strongly independent people of Coorg are believed to have descended from Greek or Arabic settlers. According to popular belief, a part of Alexander’s army travelled south along the coast and settled in the region when they were unable to return home. Over time, they married the local population, and traces of their heritage can be seen in their unique martial practices, marriage customs, and religious traditions, which differ from the Hindu mainstream. This legend beautifully explains the origin of the Kodava people.
Question 3: What are some of the things you now know about
(i) the people of Coorg?
(ii) the main crop of Coorg?
(iii) the sports it offers to tourists?
(iv) the animals you are likely to see in Coorg?
(v) its distance from Bangalore, and how to get there?
Answer:
(i) The Coorgi or Kodagu people are known for their fierce independence and comprise brave warriors and graceful women. They are believed to have roots in Greek or Arab ancestry. Hospitality is deeply ingrained in their culture, and they gladly share stories of courage associated with the men of their land. Notably, the Kodavus are the only community in India allowed to carry firearms without a licence.
(ii) Coffee forms the backbone of Coorg’s agriculture, and the region is filled with the refreshing aroma of coffee. Lush coffee plantations and old colonial bungalows lie nestled beneath dense tree cover in scenic parts of the town.
(iii) Coorg is a hub for thrilling adventure activities such as river rafting, canoeing, rappelling, rock climbing, mountain biking, and trekking, attracting adventure enthusiasts from across the country.
(iv) In Coorg, one may come across wildlife like macaques, Malabar squirrels, langurs, slender lorises, and wild elephants. The surroundings are also alive with birds, bees, and butterflies that enhance the natural charm of the region.
(v) Coorg is situated about 250–260 kilometres from Bengaluru by road, and it can be reached through two main routes. The most commonly used route passes through Mysore, while the other goes via Nelamangala, Kunigal, and Channarayapatna.
Question 4: Here are six sentences with some words in italics. Find phrases from the text that have the same meaning. (Look in the paragraphs indicated)
(i) During monsoons, it rains so heavily that tourists do not visit Coorg. (para 2)
(ii) Some people say that Alexander’s army moved south along the coast and settled there. (para 3)
(iii) The Coorg people are always ready to tell stories of their sons’ and fathers’ valour. (para 4)
(iv) Even people who normally lead an easy and slow life get smitten by the high-energy adventure sports of Coorg. (para 6)
(v) The theory of the Arab origin is supported by the long coat with embroidered waist-belt they wear. (para 3)
(vi) Macaques, Malabar squirrels observe you carefully from the tree canopy. (para 7)
Answer:
(i) to keep many visitors away
(ii) As one story goes
(iii) are more than willing to recount
(iv) The most laidback individuals become converts to
(v) draws support from
(vi) keep a watchful eye
Thinking about Language (Page 93-94)
Collocations
Certain words ‘go together’. Such ‘word friends’ are called collocations. The collocation of a word is ‘the company it keeps’.
For example, look at the paired sentences and phrases below. Which is a common collocation, and which one is odd? Strike out the odd sentence or phrase.
(a) • ‘How old are you?’ (b) • a pleasant person
• ‘How young are you?’ • a pleasant pillow
Question 1: Here are some nouns from the text.
| culture |
monks |
surprise |
experience |
weather |
tradition |
Work with a partner and discuss which of the nouns can collocate with which of the adjectives given below. The first one has been done for you.
| unique |
terrible |
unforgettable |
serious |
ancient |
wide |
sudden |
(i) culture: unique culture, ancient culture
(ii) monks: ___________________________________________________________
(iii) surprise: __________________________________________________________
(iv) experience: _________________________________________________________
(v) weather: ___________________________________________________________
(vi) tradition: ___________________________________________________________
Answer:
(i) culture: unique culture, ancient culture
(ii) monks: unique monks, serious monks
(iii) surprise: unforgettable surprise, terrible surprise, unique surprise
(iv) experience: unique experience, unforgettable experience, terrible experience
(v) weather: terrible weather, unique weather
(vi) tradition: unique tradition, ancient tradition
Question 2:
Complete the following phrases from the text. For each phrase, can you find at least one other word that would fit into the blank?
(i) tales of ______________________ (ii) coastal _____________________________
(iii) a piece of ____________________ (iv) evergreen ___________________________
(v) ___________________ plantations (vi) _____________________________ bridge
(vii) wild _______________________
You may add your own examples to this list.
Answer:
- tales of valour
- coastal town
- a piece of heaven
- evergreen rainforests
- coffee plantations
- rope bridge
- wild creatures
Here are the alternative words that could fit the blank:
- tales of bravery
- coastal village/belt
- a piece of cake
- evergreen forest/jungle
- banana/tea plantations
- concrete bridge
- wild animals
III. Tea from Assam
Thinking about the Text (Page 96-97)
Question I: 1. Look at these words: upkeep, downpour, undergo, dropout, walk-in. They are built up from a verb (keep, pour, go, drop, walk) and an adverb or a particle (up, down, under, out, in).
Use these words appropriately in the sentences below. You may consult a dictionary.
(i) A heavy ____________________ has been forecast due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.
(ii) Rakesh will __________________________________ major surgery tomorrow morning.
(iii) My brother is responsible for the ____________________________of our family property.
(iv) The ________________________________ rate for this accountancy course is very high.
(v) She went to the Enterprise Company to attend a __________________________ interview.
Answer:
(i) A heavy downpour has been forecast due to low pressure in the Bay of Bengal.
(ii) Rakesh will undergo major surgery tomorrow morning.
(iii) My brother is responsible for the upkeep of our family property.
(iv) The dropout rate for this accountancy course is very high.
(v) She went to the Enterprise Company to attend a walk-in interview.
2. Now fill in the blanks in the sentences given below by combining the verb given in brackets with one of the words from the box as appropriate.
| over |
by |
through |
out |
up |
down |
(i) The Army attempted unsuccessfully to ______________________ the Government. (throw)
(ii) Scientists are on the brink of a major _____________________ in cancer research. (break)
(iii) The State Government plans to build a ________________ for Bhubaneswar to speed up traffic on the main highway. (pass)
(iv) Gautama’s ________________ on life changed when he realised that the world is full of sorrow. (look)
(v) Rakesh seemed unusually _________________________ after the game. (cast)
Answer:
(i) The Army attempted unsuccessfully to overthrow the Government.
(ii) Scientists are on the brink of a major breakthrough in cancer research.
(iii) The State Government plans to build a bypass for Bhubaneswar to speed up traffic on the main highway. (pass)
(iv) Gautama’s outlook on life changed when he realised that the world is full of sorrow.
(v) Rakesh seemed unusually downcast after the game.
Question II:
Notice how these -ing and -ed adjectives are used.
| (a) Chess is an interesting game. |
I am very interested in chess. |
| (b) Going trekking in the Himalayas this summer is an exciting idea. |
We are very excited about the trek. |
| (c) Are all your school books this boring? |
He was bored as he had no friends there. |
The -ing adjectives show the qualities that chess, trekking, or these books have: they cause interest, excitement, or boredom in you. The —ed/—en adjectives show your mental state, or your physical state: how you feel in response to ideas, events or things.
1. Think of suitable -ing or -ed adjectives to answer the following questions. You may also use words from those given above.
How would you describe
(i) a good detective serial on television? _________________________________________
(ii) a debate on your favourite topic ‘Homework Should Be Banned’? ______________________
(iii) how you feel when you stay indoors due to incessant rain? __________________________
(iv) how you feel when you open a present? _______________________________________
(v) how you feel when you watch your favourite programme on television? __________________
(vi) the look on your mother’s face as you waited in a queue? ____________________________
(vii) how you feel when tracking a tiger in a tiger reserve forest? __________________________
(viii) the story you have recently read, or a film you have seen? ___________________________
Answer:
(i) a good detective serial on television? Interesting
(ii) a debate on your favourite topic ‘Homework Should Be Banned’? Exciting
(iii) how you feel when you stay indoors due to incessant rain? Bored
(iv) how you feel when you open a present? Excited
(v) how you feel when you watch your favourite programme on television? Interested
(vi) the look on your mother’s face as you waited in a queue? Fatigued
(vii) how you feel when tracking a tiger in a tiger reserve forest? Thrilled
(viii) the story you have recently read, or a film you have seen? Interesting
2. Now use the adjectives in the exercise above, as appropriate, to write a paragraph about Coorg.
Answer:
Activity to be done by yourself.
Speaking and Writing (Page 97-98)
Question 1:
Read the following passage about tea.
India and tea are so intertwined together that life without the brew is unimaginable. Tea entered our life only in the mid-nineteenth century when the British started plantations in Assam and Darjeeling! In the beginning though, Indians shunned the drink as they thought it was a poison that led to umpteen diseases. Ironically, tea colonised Britain where it became a part of their social diary and also led to the establishment of numerous tea houses.
Today, scientific research across the world has attempted to establish the beneficial qualities of tea — a fact the Japanese and the Chinese knew anyway from ancient times, attributing to it numerous medicinal properties.
[Source: ‘History: Tea Anytime’ by Ranjit Biswas from Literary Review, The Hindu, 1 October 2006]
Collect information about tea, e.g. its evolution as a drink, its beneficial qualities. You can consult an encyclopedia or visit Internet websites. Then form groups of five and play the following roles: Imagine a meeting of a tea planter, a sales agent, a tea lover (consumer), a physician and a tea-shop owner. Each person in the group has to put forward his/her views about tea. You may use the following words and phrases.
• I feel … • It is important to know …
• I disagree with you … • I think that tea …
• I would like you to know … • I agree with …
• It is my feeling … • I suggest …
• May I know why you … • I am afraid …
Answer:
Activity to be done by yourself.
Question 2:
You are the sales executive of a famous tea company and you have been asked to draft an advertisement for the product. Draft the advertisement using the information you collected for the role play. You can draw pictures or add photographs and make your advertisement colourful.
Answer:
Activity to be done by yourself.
