FIRST LANGUAGE ENGLISH - KSEEB - CLASS 10 - COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - THE ELIXIR OF LIFE

 

Unit-2

THE ELIXIR OF LIFE

C.V. Raman

Comprehension Questions:

I. Answer briefly the following questions.

 

1) What is the imaginary elixir of life?

Ans: The divine amrita is the imaginary elixir of life.

 

2) What according to the writer is the real elixir of life?

Ans: Water is the real elixir of life according to the writer.

 

3) What is the ‘wonderful difference’ the writer talks about in paragraph 2?

Ans: The writer talks about the Libyan Desert and the Nile valley in Egypt. One side was a vast area of sand without a speck of greenery and on the other side the greenest, most populated area.

 

4) What brought about this wonderful difference?

Ans: The wonderful difference brought by water of the River Nile, which flows from its source, a few thousand miles away, on its course towards the Mediterranean Sea.

 

5) What is the ‘cheering sight’, mentioned in paragraph 5?

Ans: When the rain-fed tanks filled with water are a ‘cheering sight’ which are so common in South India.

 

6) a) What does the writer compare water in a landscape too?

b)  Why does he make this comparison?

Ans:  a) To a human face does the writer compare water in a landscape too.

b)  Water reflects the mood of the hour, happy and bright in the morning and dark and sad in the evening. So, he makes this comparison.

 

7) How does the water in rain-fed tanks get its color?

Ans: The water in rain-fed tanks gets its color from the color of the earth in the catchment area.

 

8) What is the main cause of soil erosion?

Ans: The main cause of soil erosion is heavy rain resulting in sudden flow of water.

 

9) What other factors add to the erosion of precious soil?

Ans: Slope of the land, removal of the top natural protective layer of earth, deep pits, absence of bunds are the other factors add to the erosion of precious soil.

 

10) How can soil erosion be prevented?

Ans: Terracing of the land, construction of bunds, practice of contour cultivation, and planting appropriate types of vegetation can prevent soil erosion.

 

11) How does the prevention of soil erosion serve a double purpose?

Ans: Modern techniques would prevent soil erosion and help to conserve and save water.

 

12) What are the two sources of water mentioned in paragraph 10?

Ans: Rain and snowfall are the two sources of water mentioned in paragraph 10.

 

13) The land formed of silt in alluvial areas is always fertile (Say whether the statement is True or False).

Ans: True.

 

14) _________ Takes place when water carrying silt mixes with the salt water of the sea. (Complete the sentence with the appropriate word)

Ans: Soil Erosion.

 

15) Planting of the appropriate type of vegetation will result in _________

a) the continuance of successful agriculture.

b) the terracing of the land.

c) preventing environmental pollution.

d) reducing the momentum of the flow of water.

Ans: (d) reducing the momentum of the flow of water.

 

16) What does the writer mean by “civilized forests”?

Ans: Systematic planting of suitable trees in both approachable and remote areas and their development is called civilized forests.

 

17) Mention any two advantages of civilized forests.

Ans: To check soil erosion and conservation of rain water from flowing away to waste are two advantages of civilized forests.

 

18) How will the development of hydro-electric power help to overcome the inadequacy of water supply?

Ans: The development of hydro-electric power would help to overcome the inadequacy of water supply by constructing dams for its purpose and it would conserve rainwater and ground water too.

 

19) Complete the following sentences with appropriate details:

a) The Nile Valley is the creation of river Nile.

b) Rain-fed tanks in South India when they are full are a ‘cheering sight’.

c) A remarkable feature of water is its power to carry silt.

d) It is the silt which gives color to the water in rain-fed tanks.

e) Soil the foundation of all agriculture.

f) Ruts are formed by cutting up and washing away of earth.

g) Terracing of lands helps in prevention of soil erosion.

h) Indian agriculture depends heavily on seasonal rainfall.

i) Farmyard manure should not be used as fuel.

j) Development of hydroelectric power would enable the overall development of the rural economy.

 

Close Study:

Read the following extracts carefully. Discuss in pairs and then write the answers to the questions given below them.

 

1) Much of the Indian agriculture depends on seasonal rainfall and is therefore very sensitive to any failure or irregularity of the same.

a) In what context does the writer say these words?

b) What does “same” refer to?

c) Why is Indian agriculture “very sensitive”?

 

Ans: a) To conserve water and prevent soil erosion does the writer say these words.

b)  “Same” refers to seasonal rainfall in India.

c) It depends on seasonal rainfall, if it fails, cultivation would not be possible by farmers.

 

2) They would check soil erosion and conserve the rainfall of the country from flowing away to waste and would provide the necessary supplies of cheap fuel, and thus render unnecessary the wasteful conversion of farmyard manure into a form of fuel.

a) What does “they” in the first line refer to?

b) What is the cheap fuel referred to in the passage?

c) How would cheap fuel help the farmer?

 

a) Civilized forests “they” are referred in the first line.

b) The wood and other stuff from forests are the cheap fuel referred to in the passage.

c) The farmer would not convert farmyard manure into a form of fuel, so that would be cheap fuel to help the farmer.

 

Paragraph Writing:

Discuss in pairs/groups of 4 each and answer the following questions. Note down the important points for each question and then develop the points into one paragraph answers.

 

1) How does C.V. Raman show that water is the real elixir of life?

Ans: C.V. Raman shows that water is the real elixir of life. As water is very essential fluid for human beings as well as all living creatures. C.V. Raman explains about separation of Libyan Desert and a fertile land due the river Nile in Egypt. Water plays very important role for beautifying the villages, it might be small stream or ponds. Water is responsible for shaping and destruction of rocks and soil, heavy rain fall would carry silt, water has played very important role for numerous civilization. Water is essential for hydro-electric power and generating lot of energy too. Water is real elixir of life, no life would sustain on earth without water.

 

2) What are the various causes of soil erosion? How can we prevent it?

Ans: The various causes of soil erosion are heavy rainfall, slope of land, absence of bunds, removal of the top natural protective layer, the absence of checks to flow water. It can be prevented by terracing of lands, constructing bunds, by the practice of contour cultivation and planting appropriate vegetation.

 

3) What does C.V. Raman say about rain-fed tanks?

Ans: Rain-fed tanks are so much popular and commonly seen in South India. But presently those tanks are poorly maintained, rain-fed tanks are a cheering sight when they are full during rainy seasons. These tanks differ when water flows in rain-fed tanks gets its color from the color of the earth in the catchment area. The main fact about water is its ability to carry silt, which is floating in the flowing water, provides the original color to water in rain-fed tanks. These rain-fed tanks play very important role in South Indian agriculture.

Click Here For Exercise Grammar