A. TEXTUAL QUESTION AND ANSWERS :
1. Briefly describe the scene observed by the author from the veranda of his bungalow on the bank of the Brahmaputra ?
Ans - The author , John Rowntree live in a bungalow on the bank of Brahmaputra and from there he had a splendid view of the beautiful river and its shipping with the Himalayas in the background. There was a peacock island with the done of a Hindu Temple which was just visible through the tree. All these beautiful scenes were observed by him from the Veranda of his bungalow on the bank of the Brahmaputra .
2. What is the belief about the dividing channel between Peacock Island and mainland of Guwahati that the author mentioned ?
Ans - The belief that if the dividing channel between the peacock island and the main land of Guwahati ever dried up completely it would mean the end of British Raj .
3. What does the author say about the importance of Guwahati ? Is the statement tree in our time today also ?
Ans - According to the author Guwahati was the port of entry into Assam . It was a gateway of the North - East . The most of the travellers passed through on their way between Calcutta and Shillong or to other districts of the valley .
The statement is true in our time today also as Guwahati is the gate way to Assam and many states of the North - East .
4. What character of the North Bank of the Brahmaputra does the author refer to ?
Ans - According to the author the North Bank of the Brahmaputra had a unique characteristics . It was a vast and remote stretch of flat, ageless land between the sand banks of the Brahmaputra and Himalayan foot hills . It was a strange place where rivers dried up in the hot weather or suddenly disappeared underground .
5. Describe the author's experience of crossing a flooded river on horse- back on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra ?
Ans - Once , the author tried to cross a flooded river on the bank of river Brahmaputra on a horse back . He persuaded his mount to plunge into water with much difficulty . At that moment he slipped over his croup and hung to his tail , which he was able to use as a rudder . When he pushed it to the right the horse went to the left and eventually he was able to cross the river .
6. Relate the author's experience of the road accident during the monsoon on the North Bank ?
Ans - The author had dangerous experience of driving a motor car during the monsoon on the road of the North Bank of Assam . He was returning from his tour with family in a motor car . During those days, most of the main road were built on the top of embankment to save them from the flood water . Moreover road were narrow single track and greasy . One skid led to another and finally they slithered over the edge into a paddy field some six feet below the road . They had to experience a bumpy ride through the paddy field until they found a way back on the road .
7. Relate the author's reminiscence of the forest bungalow at Kulsi ?
Ans - Kulsi was the favourite place of the author in Assam . Here , the Bungalow was situated on the wooden spur above the river . It was his favourite bungalow surrounded by leak plantation , planted some sixty years before and at that time they were almost matured .
B. UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT :
1. Give the account of the author's experience of the floods on the North Bank of the Brahmaputra during Monsoon ?
Ans - There were many rivers on the bank of the Brahmaputra . During monsoon these river passed many problems in communication as they were in flood . The bamboo bridges erected at the start of the cold weather were washed away by the flood water . Once the author had to cross a flooded river on hroseback . He almost slipped over his croup , but somehow was able to hang on his tail . The best means of communication during monsoon was 'Mar' a kind of boat through which one could cross a flooded river . The roads were built on to of embankments to raise them well above the normal flood level .
2. Relate the author's observation of on the use of 'Mar' boats as a mode of river transport in Assam ?
Ans - The author observed that the 'Mar ' boat was only means of transport in the rivers of Assam. This type of boat was frequently use to make crossing . These 'Mar ' boats consisted of a plank platform covering two open boats placed along side one another . These boats were either paddled across the river or connected by a running cable stretched across the river , were propelled from one side to other by the force of the current . A whole service of ghat had to constructed at different levels on the river bank for landing . Through journey by ' Mar ' was tedious , there was no other way of crossing the rivers.
3. Give the author's description of a sal forest ?
Ans - The sal forest described by the author was situated on the south bank of the Brahmaputra . The tree of this forest interspersed with villages and cultivation . The sal forest had more of character there was no other way of crossing the rivers .
4. Describe the author's experience with the bats in the Rajapara forest bungalow ?
Ans - Rajapara forest bungalow would have been as charming as that of Kulsi if it had not been for the bats . The bats loved in the roof of the forest bungalow at Rajapara . Their dropping were a constant reminder of their presence . The fusty smell of the bats never left the place . The fruit eating bats were still larger . But they were less smelly . The huge fruit - eating bats had a wing span of five feet . They lived in a tree outside the bungalow . They flew out at dusk in search of food. They were a strange group of ghosty shapes gliding through the air on silent wings . Their presence only added mystery and awe to the place .
5. Today Guwahati is highlighted as the " Gateway to the North East " What was the status of Guwahati like in the period of around 1947?
Ans - Guwahati has maintained its strategic importance . Even today it is called ' the Gateway to the North- east . Actually , it was the commercial capital of all the region that lay in the united Assam . The people going top the North - East , Calcutta and the upper districts used Guwahati as a transit place staying there overnight .
6. The author mentioned a rubber plantation near Kulsi . Why had no rubber tapping taken place for some years then ?
Ans - The author mentioned a rubber plantation near Kulsi . Actually it was quite near to his forest bungalow at Kulsi . It was rubber plantation Ficus elastica . No tapping had taken for years. The reason was quite obvious . The plantation was more commercially viable . The Assam rubber was no longer able to complete with para rubber commercially .
C. Additional Questions and Answers (1 Marks )
1. Who is the author of the lesson 'Memories of a Chota Sahib '?
Ans - John Rowntree .
2. What was the author John Rowntree ?
Ans - John Rowntree was the last British Senior Conservator of Forests of Assam .
3. Who had given the walls of the bungalow a coat of limewash ?
Ans - The Public Works Department had given the walls of the bungalow a coat o fresh limewash and had painted the wood work with earth at.
4. Which served as a carport infront of the author's bungalow ?
Ans - In front of the bungalow , ther is raised portico which served as a carpet .
5. What was found in the Peacock Island ?
Ans - Only monkeys were found in the peacock island .
