NIOS Class 10 English Chapter 21 Question Answer
INTEXT QUESTIONS 21.1
1. Answer the following questions:
1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate words from the text
a. Neema was studying in the __________ standard.
Ans: VIII
b. Her father was a ————— by profession.
Ans: doctor/paediatrician
c. Neema came home with a ————————— in her hand.
Ans: neem sapling
d. The fire accident took place in —————— in Tamil Nadu.
Ans: Kumbakonam
e. Neema’s ———— were visiting her family from the village.
Ans: grandparents
2. Circle the correct meaning of the underlined phrases in the following sentences from among the options given below each sentence.
a. The country is paying homage to the dead soldiers today.
1. showing respect
2. passing a comment
3. giving a prize
4. celebrating
Ans: 1. showing respect
b. Sometimes we have to face some tragic circumstances in life.
1. surprising events
2. sad events
3. cause to be angry
4. occasions.
Ans: 2. sad events
c. Her plans to start a business of her own were nipped in the bud when the bank, as well as her friends and relatives refused to give her a loan.
1. changed
2. postponed
3. plucked the flower while it was a bud
4. destroyed at an early stage
Ans: 4. destroyed at an early stage
d. When a person dies we pray for the peace of the departed soul.
1. a missing person
2. a person who has left home
3. a person who has died
4. a person who is alive
Ans: 3. a person who has died
3. What do you think about the idea of paying homage to loved ones by planting a tree in their memory? Would you plant a tree in memory of a loved one? Why? Answer in about 30 words.
Ans: Yes it is a good idea .When we grow a tree in someone’s memory, it always reminds us of that person. It also helps in growing more trees, which is useful for us and for the environment.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 21.2
Answer the following questions:
1. Answer in one or two words only.
(a) How old was Neema’s grandfather?
Ans: Eighty years
(b) What was about to happen in Neema’s school the following week?
Ans: Science exhibition
(c) How did Neema’s grandfather brush his teeth?
Ans: Neem twigs
(d)What did Neema’s grandfather apply on his face ?
Ans: Neem paste
2. How did Neema’s father get motivated to become a doctor?
Ans: He saw his grandfather preparing medicines from various parts of neem tree. This made him interested in medicine.
3. Why did the villagers call the neem tree ‘the village pharmacy’?
Ans: The neem tree is a store house of useful qualities. Every part of it can be used to cure so many diseases.
4. In India medicines have traditionally been prepared from plants, herbs, spices and everyday kitchen ingredients. Our mothers and grandmothers know how to prepare some of these medicines at home. They often use such home remedies to cure small health problems and ailments.
Find out at least 2 such home-remedies and record in the table below. One example has been provided.
| Remedy | Condition it believes | Whether tried (Y/N) | Whether found effective (Y/N) |
| 1. Honey and ginger Juice | Cough and cold | Yes | Yes |
| 2. | |||
| 3. |
Ans: 4. Individual responses.
INTEXT QUESTIONS 21.3
I. Answer the following questions:
1. Say whether the following statements are true or false:
a) The neem tree can fight many diseases.
Ans: True
b) A neem tree takes very long to grow.
Ans: False
c) The neem tree provides a very cool shade.
Ans: True
d) Neem leaf chutney was part of Gandhiji’s diet.
Ans: True
e) The neem tree reduces the fertility of the soil.
Ans: False
f) Neem is an evergreen, perennial tree.
Ans: True
2. The lesson says that the neem tree and its leaves are effective as an insecticide and fertilizer. Why is this important? Why do you think it is important to use plant-based products as insecticides and fertilizers. Answer in around 50 words.
Ans: Chemical-based fertilizers leave traces of harmful substances on the fruits, vegetables and crops that we eat. They even harm the soil, groundwater, and environment. Plant-based products do not have harmful chemicals. They have very little or no side effects. Fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides made from neem are therefore safe for us to use.
3. Neema says, “How blessed I am to be named after the neem tree”. Why do you think Neema said that?
Ans: Neema’s name comes from the word neem, which is the name of a tree with wonderful qualities. These qualities of the neem tree make it very useful, healthy and beneficial for all of us. Neema thinks that she is fortunate that her name is similar to this wonderful tree.
LET US DO 21.3
Given below is a simple crossword which has to be filled with the names of 8 common trees you often see in India. The first letter of each tree has already been filled in for you. Some clues are also given below to help you in finding out the name of each tree.
1. M _ _ _ _ – This is a tree on which a delicious, yellow, summer fruit grows. The fruit that grows on this tree is a favourite in India, where it is sometimes called the King of Fruits.
Ans: Mango
2. J _ _ _ _ – This tree bears a sweet, purple, oval-shaped fruit.
Ans: Jamun
3. P _ _ _ _ _ – This tree is also called the Bodhi tree. It is the tree under which the Buddha became enlightened.
Ans: Peepal
4. P _ _ _ – Dates and coconuts grow on this kind of tree.
Ans: Palm
5. N _ _ _ – The lesson “The Village Pharmacy” is about this tree.
Ans: Neem
6. B _ _ _ _ _ – This tree is called the Vat or Bargad in India. Its roots grow down from its branches into the soil to form additional trunks.
Ans: Banyan
7. G_ _ -_ _ _ _ _ – This tree has bright orange-red flowers. It blooms in April-May all over India.
Ans: Gul Mohar
8. A _ _ _ _ – This tree has the same name as a very famous emperor. This emperor became a Buddhist after the Battle of Kalinga and helped to spread Buddhism in India and abroad.
Ans: Ashok
Ans:
Exercise 1
Change the following sentences from the active voice to the passive voice.
a. The teacher gave a neem sapling to Neema.
Ans: A neem sapling was given to Neema by the teacher.
b. Her grandmother opened the door.
Ans: The door was opened by her grandmother.
c. Neema showed the sapling to everybody.
Ans: The sapling was shown to everybody by Neema.
d. She planted it in her garden.
Ans: It was planted by her in her garden.
e. She waters it every day.
Ans: It is watered everyday.
f. Neema uses its twigs to clean her teeth.
Ans: Its twigs are used by Neema to clean her teeth.
g. Her grandfather makes manure from its fallen leaves.
Ans: Manure is made from the fallen leaves by her grandfather.
h. Neema is taking care of the tree.
Ans: The tree is being taken care of by Neema.
Exercise 2
Fill in the blanks with suitable options from the words given below. Do not forget to capitalize the first letter of every sentence.
enough, any, some, no, half, all
(a) _________the trees in my garden have been planted by my grandfather, and the other half by my grandmother.
Ans: Half
(b) ______________of my friends don’t like to eat fruits, but I love them.
Ans: Some
(c) There has not been ____________rain this year.
Ans: any
(d) There are ________________mistakes in your maths paper. You scored 100% in maths.
Ans: no
(e) ————— the apples I bought at that shop were rotten. I will never go there again to buy anything.
Ans: All
(f) These days we don’t eat ———— healthy food.
Ans: enough
TERMINAL QUESTIONS
1. This lesson is titled ‘The Village Pharmacy’. Do you think this is an appropriate title? Why?
Ans: It is an appropriate title because a pharmacy is a place where one gets medicines of various kinds. In the same way the neem tree provides cures for several kinds of diseases. For the village people, it is the safe and easy answer to several of their common health problems.
2. Neema’s grandfather had a lot of knowledge about the neem tree. List at least 10 things that he told Neema about the neem tree.
Ans: It is a medicine for several diseases. It has been used since ancient times for several purposes .It is used to purify the blood and clear the skin. It purifies the air around it. Its wood is termite-resistant. It is an insect repellent; it is eco-friendly as well. It is being used to make soaps, shampoos, and oils.
3. You have read about the many uses of Neem. Would you like to start using neem products? Are you inspired to use more natural products like neem? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans: Individual responses.
4. Do you know that besides neem, there are many other trees around us which are very useful? Find out about two more such trees and write at least 3 ways in which each of them can be used.
Ans: Individual responses.
5. Match the parts of a neem tree with their uses given below.
| Parts of a neem tree | Uses |
| bark, seeds, leaves | organic manures |
| twigs | medicines |
| fallen leaves/ litter | blood purifier |
| neem wood/timber | to clean the teeth |
| neem juice | carpentry |
Ans:
bark, seeds, leaves – medicines
twigs – to clean teeth
fallen leaves/litter – organic manure
neem wood/timber – carpentry
neem juice – blood purifier
6. Choose the correct word/ phrase from the given options to fill in the blanks.
agro friendly, eco friendly, organic content, termite resistant, air cooler, insect repellent
a) If you mix neem oil in paint, the wood becomes………………… .
Ans: termite resistant
b) In the summers, wet khus curtains or blinds serve as an …………… .
Ans: air cooler
c) These days, there are several …………………products available in the market.
Ans: eco-friendly
d) Decayed vegetable matter increases the fertility and ………………… of the soil.
Ans: organic content
e) Cow dung, ash are all ……………….. products and can be safely used for protecting plants from pests.
Ans: agro-friendly
f) Rubbing mustard oil mixed with neem oil on the body works like an…………….
Ans: insect repellent
Additional Study Materials
- Chapter 14: Stealing And Atonement Textbook Solutions
- Chapter 15: My Vision For India Textbook Solutions
- Chapter 16: My Only Cry Textbook Solutions
- Chapter 17: Caring For Other Textbook Solutions
- Chapter 18: The Little Girl Textbook Solutions
- Chapter 19: A Prayer For Healing Textbook Solutions
