The chapter “Tea from Assam” is a travelogue about two boys — Pranjol and Rajvir — who are going to Assam during the summer holidays.
While traveling by train, Rajvir shares interesting facts about the origin of tea:
When they reach Assam, they are welcomed by a beautiful scene of lush green tea gardens spread like a carpet.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sturdy | Strong and solid |
| Vegetation | Plants collectively |
| Crammed | Completely filled |
| Billowing | Swelling with air |
| Legend | Traditional story sometimes believed as history |
| Plantation | A large area where crops are grown |
| Sprinkled | Scattered or spread around |
| Surging | Moving forcefully or suddenly |
Answer:
Rajvir and Pranjol were going to Assam to spend their summer vacation at Pranjol’s home. Pranjol’s father was the manager of a tea estate there.
Answer:
According to Chinese legend, tea was discovered accidentally by Emperor Shen Nong when some leaves of the twigs burning under his pot of water fell into it, giving a delicious flavor.
There is also an Indian legend about Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist monk, who cut off his eyelids to avoid sleeping during meditation. Tea plants are believed to have grown out of his eyelids.
Answer:
The text mentions that tea was first drunk in China as early as 2700 BC. It spread to Europe much later, where it was initially used more as a medicine than as a beverage.
Answer:
During the train journey, Rajvir saw vast stretches of tea gardens with neatly trimmed tea bushes. He also saw groups of tea-pluckers with bamboo baskets on their backs plucking tea leaves, moving among the bushes. The entire view looked like a sea of tea plants.
Answer:
Rajvir told Pranjol that tea was discovered in China in 2700 BC and was originally used as a medicinal drink. He also mentioned the Indian legend related to Bodhidharma and said that tea reached Europe in the 16th century, where it was also used as a medicine.
Answer:
Rajvir saw a magnificent view of a vast expanse of tea bushes stretching as far as the eye could see. Groups of tea-pluckers, dressed in plastic aprons and carrying bamboo baskets, were busy plucking the newly sprouted tea leaves. The landscape was lush green, and the tea gardens looked like neatly trimmed hedges.
Answer:
Rajvir was excited because he had never seen a tea garden before. He had read a lot about tea and Assam’s tea estates and was eager to experience them personally during his visit.
Answer:
Rajvir found the scenery mesmerizing because he saw vast stretches of neatly arranged tea bushes, appearing like a green sea, with groups of tea-pluckers wearing aprons and carrying bamboo baskets. The entire landscape was fresh, lush, and beautiful, something he had never experienced before.
Answer:
Pranjol was not interested because he had grown up in Assam and tea plantations were a common sight for him. For him, the tea gardens were nothing new or exciting, unlike for Rajvir who was seeing them for the first time.
Answer:
Answer:
Tea plays a vital role in Assam’s economy. The state has the world’s largest concentration of tea plantations. Tea production provides employment to thousands and significantly contributes to Assam’s exports and income.
Answer:
The tea pluckers were mostly women, wearing plastic aprons and carrying bamboo baskets on their backs. They moved among the tea bushes, skillfully plucking the newly sprouted leaves and filling their baskets with fresh tea leaves.
Answer:
Rajvir said that tea reached Europe in the sixteenth century. At that time, Europeans mainly considered it as a medicinal drink rather than a recreational beverage.
Answer:
The phrase suggests the breathtaking and grand sight of endless stretches of tea gardens with lush green bushes, rolling over the hills and valleys, creating a sea of greenery that looked both beautiful and serene.
1. In which season were Rajvir and Pranjol traveling to Assam?
A) Summer
B) Winter
C) Rainy
D) Spring
✅ Answer: A) Summer
2. What was Pranjol doing during the train journey?
A) Looking outside
B) Reading a detective book
C) Talking to Rajvir
D) Sleeping
✅ Answer: B) Reading a detective book
3. How old is the Chinese legend about tea?
A) 2000 years
B) 2700 years
C) 4000 years
D) 5000 years
✅ Answer: B) 2700 years
4. The first Indian state famous for tea is:
A) West Bengal
B) Assam
C) Sikkim
D) Kerala
✅ Answer: B) Assam
5. Who was Bodhidharma?
A) Chinese emperor
B) Buddhist monk
C) Indian prince
D) Tea trader
✅ Answer: B) Buddhist monk
6. What did the train pass through before reaching Assam?
Answer:
The train passed through green fields with tea bushes and groups of tea pluckers working in the plantations.
7. Name two countries other than India where tea is famous.
Answer:
China and Japan.
8. How did Rajvir prepare for his trip to Assam?
Answer:
Rajvir had studied a lot about tea plantations and their history before coming to Assam.
9. What did Pranjol’s father do?
Answer:
Pranjol’s father was the manager of a tea garden.
10. How do tea pluckers collect tea leaves?
Answer:
Tea pluckers carry bamboo baskets on their backs and pluck the newly sprouted tea leaves carefully by hand.
11. Differentiate between Pranjol and Rajvir’s reaction to tea gardens.
Answer:
Rajvir was extremely excited to see the vast tea gardens as it was a new experience for him. Pranjol, having grown up among tea plantations, found them ordinary and was not very impressed.
12. Write about any two interesting facts Rajvir knew about tea.
Answer:
Rajvir knew that tea was discovered in China around 2700 BC. He also knew that in Europe, tea was initially used as a medicine before becoming a popular beverage.
13. What changes did Rajvir observe when their train entered Assam?
Answer:
When the train entered Assam, Rajvir observed that the landscape changed to beautiful tea gardens spread over vast areas, looking like neatly trimmed hedges.
14.
Describe Rajvir’s first experience and feelings when he visited Assam’s tea gardens.
Answer:
Rajvir was very excited about visiting Assam’s tea gardens. As the train moved into Assam, he was mesmerized by the breathtaking view of vast stretches of tea bushes spread over the hills. The landscape was lush green, and it seemed endless like a green sea. Rajvir observed groups of tea pluckers skillfully plucking the new leaves. He was amazed by the beauty of the gardens and shared interesting facts about tea’s history, including legends from China and India. It was a dream come true for Rajvir, as he had always been fascinated by the idea of visiting a real tea estate.
Answer:
Pranjol is Rajvir’s classmate and a native of Assam. His father is the manager of a tea garden in Assam.
Answer:
Rajvir is Pranjol’s friend and classmate. He is excited to visit Assam and learn about tea plantations for the first time.
Answer:
According to Chinese legend, tea was discovered by Emperor Bodhidharma who accidentally found tea leaves to stay awake during meditation.
An Indian legend speaks of a Buddhist monk who cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditation, and from his eyelids grew tea plants.
Answer:
Rajvir saw beautiful scenery of lush green tea bushes stretching endlessly, groups of tea-pluckers picking leaves, and trees shaded with tall, strong trees along the fields.
Answer:
Rajvir told Pranjol that tea was first discovered in China as early as 2700 BC. Initially, it was used as a medicinal drink. Later, it became a popular beverage all over the world.
Answer:
Rajvir had read a lot about tea. He knew that Assam is famous for its large tea estates, and it produces some of the finest tea in the world, making it the place with the highest concentration of tea plantations.
Answer:
According to Rajvir, the landscape of Assam looks like a vast sea of lush green tea bushes spread across the hills and valleys, with groups of tea-pluckers working among the plants.
Answer:
Tea is an important industry in Assam because of the vast area under tea cultivation, its excellent quality, and its major contribution to the economy by providing employment and exports.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Author | Arup Kumar Datta |
| Genre | Travelogue |
| Setting | Assam, tea gardens |
| Main Characters | Rajvir, Pranjol |
| Tea Discovery | China (2700 BC) |
| Importance of Assam | Largest tea production region |
1. Who is the author of “Tea from Assam”?
A) Arup Kumar Datta
B) Lokesh Abrol
C) Rabindranath Tagore
D) William Blake
✅ Answer: A) Arup Kumar Datta
2. Where were Pranjol and Rajvir travelling to?
A) Manipur
B) Nagaland
C) Assam
D) Meghalaya
✅ Answer: C) Assam
3. According to legend, tea was discovered in:
A) India
B) China
C) Japan
D) Korea
✅ Answer: B) China
4. How does the landscape of Assam appear?
A) A carpet of red roses
B) A sea of green tea bushes
C) Desert with dry plants
D) Rocky mountains
✅ Answer: B) A sea of green tea bushes
5. What did Rajvir read about tea?
A) It is found only in China
B) It was used as a medicine before
C) It grows only on mountains
D) It can only be drunk in winter
✅ Answer: B) It was used as a medicine before
1. Pranjol’s father was the manager of a ___________.
✅ Answer: tea garden
2. According to Rajvir, tea was first drunk in ___________.
✅ Answer: China
3. The beautiful landscape looked like a ___________ of tea bushes.
✅ Answer: sea
4. Rajvir had been reading books about ___________ before his visit.
✅ Answer: tea
5. Tea was first used as a ___________ drink.
✅ Answer: medicinal
1. Rajvir had seen tea gardens many times before.
✅ Answer: False
2. Tea is the most popular beverage in the world.
✅ Answer: True
3. Assam is famous for having small tea plantations.
✅ Answer: False
(👉 Assam is famous for large tea plantations.)
4. Bodhidharma was an ancient Buddhist monk related to tea legend.
✅ Answer: True
5. Pranjol and Rajvir were going to Assam during the winter holidays.
✅ Answer: False
(👉 They were traveling during the summer holidays.)
Class: 10 | Subject: English | Chapter: Tea from Assam
Board: SEBA | Marks: 20
Time: 45 minutes
Choose the correct answer:
Answer the following questions briefly:
Answer any two of the following in 30-40 words each:
Answer the following in about 100-120 words:
Describe the journey of Rajvir and Pranjol to Assam and what Rajvir experienced about the tea plantations.
(Include their conversation, Rajvir’s knowledge about tea, the description of tea gardens, and the importance of Assam.)
✅ Section A Answers:
✅ Section B Sample Answers:
6. Arup Kumar Datta.
7. Tea was first consumed in China around 2700 BC.
8. Tea pluckers wore plastic aprons and carried bamboo baskets on their backs.
9. Chinese legend and Indian legend (Bodhidharma).
10. Manager of a tea garden.
✅ Section C Sample Answers:
11. Rajvir was fascinated by the endless tea gardens and the groups of workers picking tea leaves.
12. Rajvir said tea was used as a medicine before it became a beverage and was discovered in China.
13. Rajvir was excited because he had read a lot about tea and was visiting tea gardens for the first time.
“‘Chai-garam… garam-chai,’ a vendor called out in a high-pitched voice. He came up to their window and asked, ‘Chai, sa’ab?’”
Questions:
✅ Sample Answers:
“It was a magnificent view. Against the backdrop of densely wooded hills, a sea of tea bushes stretched as far as the eye could see.”
Questions:
✅ Sample Answers:
“Tea was first drunk in China as far back as 2700 BC! In fact, words like tea, ‘chai’ and ‘chini’ are from Chinese.”
Questions:
✅ Sample Answers:
“This is a tea country now,” Rajvir said. “The legend goes that Bodhidharma cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditation.”
Questions:
✅ Sample Answers:
“An hour later, the train pulled out of the station. Pranjol buried his nose in his detective book again. Rajvir too continued to look out of the window.”
Questions:
✅ Sample Answers:
“‘Chai-garam… garam-chai,’ a vendor called out in a high-pitched voice. He came up to their window and asked, ‘Chai, sa’ab?’”
Fill in the blanks:
“It was a magnificent view. Against the backdrop of densely wooded hills, a sea of tea bushes stretched as far as the eye could see.”
Answer in brief:
4. What is meant by “a sea of tea bushes”?
→ ___________________________________
“Tea was first drunk in China as far back as 2700 BC! In fact, words like tea, ‘chai’ and ‘chini’ are from Chinese.”
True or False:
6. Tea was first drunk in India. _______
7. The words “chai” and “chini” come from the Chinese language. _______
“This is a tea country now,” Rajvir said. “The legend goes that Bodhidharma cut off his eyelids because he felt sleepy during meditation.”
Fill in the blanks:
8. Rajvir refers to ________ as a tea country.
9. ________ was a Buddhist monk who cut off his eyelids.
10. Tea plants are said to have grown where Bodhidharma’s ________ fell.
“An hour later, the train pulled out of the station. Pranjol buried his nose in his detective book again. Rajvir too continued to look out of the window.”
Answer in brief:
11. What was Pranjol doing during the journey?
→ ___________________________________
▶ Use: Present and Past tenses are mainly used.
▶ Use: Some parts of conversation are reported indirectly.
Example:
Notice:
▶ Use: Correct use of “a”, “an” and “the” with nouns.
Examples:
▶ Use: Showing time, place, and direction.
Examples:
▶ Use: Used for vivid descriptions (describing nouns).
Examples:
▶ Use: Joining two ideas or clauses together.
Examples:
▶ Use: Used to emphasize the action, not the doer.
Examples:
▶ Use: The verb agrees with the subject in number and person.
Examples:
▶ Use: Adding extra information about a noun.
Examples:
▶ Use: To make the description vivid.
Examples:
