A VISIT TO KAZIRANGA AND SIVASAGAR

Thinking about the Text

I. Choose the right answer:

1. When something is conserved, it is preserved / destroyed.

Answer: Preserved.

2. Herbivorous animals eat flesh / grass.

Answer: Grass.

3. When you excavate, you dig out / cover up something.

Answer: Dig out.

4. When you visit a historical site, you see new / old monuments.

Answer: old.

5. When you play an indigenous game, it is a foreign/local game.

Answer: Local.

II. Answer these questions in one or two short sentences:

1. Why did the children wake up early in the morning?

Answer: The children woke up early in the morning because they were excited about their trip to Sivasagar. Usually, they loved to sleep late when there was no school, but that day they couldn’t sleep any longer as they were eagerly waiting for their journey.

2. Why is Assam unique?

Answer: Assam is unique because it is a land of tea gardens, ancient temples, national parks, and historical monuments. It has a rich cultural and natural heritage, making it a special place to explore and learn about. The state's diverse attractions make it truly remarkable.

3. What is a national park?

Answer: A national park is a park that is used for conservation purposes. It is an area where wildlife, especially rare animals like the one-horned rhinoceros in Kaziranga, is protected to ensure their safety and survival.

4. When was Kaziranga designated a National Park?

Answer: Kaziranga was designated a National Park in 1974.

5. What is the full form of UNESCO?

Answer: The full form of UNESCO is United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

6. Why was Kaziranga Game Sanctuary renamed Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary?

Answer: Kaziranga Game Sanctuary was renamed Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary in 1950 by P. D. Stracey, the forest conservationist of that time. The word 'game' also means animals hunted for sport and food, which was not appropriate for a place meant to conserve wildlife.

7. What does the rhinoceros eat?

Answer: The rhinoceros is herbivorous. It eats grasses, leaves, fruits, water plants, and branches of shrubs.

8. "On their way to Sivasagar, they crossed a stone bridge." What is the name of this bridge? Also, write about the significance of this bridge.

Answer: The name of the bridge is Namdang Stone Bridge.

The Namdang Stone Bridge is significant because it was built entirely from a single stone. It is about 60 metres in length and was constructed using only human resources at a time when modern technology was not available. This remarkable structure was built by the Ahom king Rudra Singha in 1703.

9. Name the three temples on the bank of the Sivasagar tank.

Answer: The three temples on the bank of the Sivasagar tank are:

a) Shiva Dol (dedicated to Lord Shiva)

b) Vishnu Dol (dedicated to Lord Vishnu)

c) Devi Dol (dedicated to Goddess Durga)

10. Who built the Rang-ghar?

Answer: The Rang-ghar was built by King Pramatta Singha.

III. Fill in the blanks:

1. Well, in 1904 _______ visited Kaziranga.

Answer: Mary Curson.

2. The Namdang Stone Bridge was built by the Ahom king ________.

Answer: Rudra Singha.

3. Siu-Ka-Pha made _______ his first capital.

Answer: charaideo.

IV. Answer these questions in a short paragraph:

1. Write briefly the history of Kaziranga as a protected area.

Answer: The history of Kaziranga as a protected area dates back to 1904 when Mary Curzon, the wife of Lord Curzon, visited Kaziranga. After hearing that Kaziranga was famous for rhinos but failing to see any, she requested her husband to take measures to protect the rhinos. As a result, in 1905, the Kaziranga Proposed Reserve Forest was created. Later, in 1916, it was renamed Kaziranga Game Sanctuary. Since the term 'game' referred to animals hunted for sport, the name was changed in 1950 to Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary by P. D. Stracey. Finally, in 1974, Kaziranga was designated a National Park.

2. Write a short note on Talatal Ghar.

Answer: The Talatal Ghar is a historical monument in Assam. It originally had four storeys above the ground and three storeys underground. The underground floors included two secret tunnels, one leading to the Gargaon Palace (16 km long) and the other to the Dikhow River (3 km long). These tunnels were used as escape routes during emergencies. Although the structure is now in ruins, it remains an important symbol of Assam's rich history.

3. Write a note on Charaideo Maidam.

Answer: Charaideo Maidam is an important historical site in Assam. It was the first capital of the Ahom dynasty, established by Siu-Ka-Pha. This site is known for its maidams, which are royal burial grounds similar to the pyramids of Egypt. The people of the Ahom dynasty believed that the hillock of Charaideo was the home of their ancestral gods. The maidams stand as a remarkable example of the rich cultural heritage of Assam.

Thinking about Language

I. Change the following sentences from direct to indirect speech:

1. "Do you know Kaziranga is a World Heritage Site?" their father said. (Interrogative Sentence)

Answer: Their father asked if they knew that Kaziranga is a World Heritage Site.

2. "On our way, we can stay for a night at Kaziranga," their mother suggested. (Assertive sentences)

Answer: Their mother suggested that they could stay for a night at Kaziranga on their way.

3. "Can we go to see the rhino now?" Lohit asked. (Interrogative sentence)

Answer: Lohit asked if they could go to see the rhino then.

4. "I wish there was really a sagar here!" Lohit said. (Optative Sentence)

Answer: Lohit said that he wished there was really a sagar there.

II. Here are some sentences from the piece. Choose the words from the brackets which can be substituted for the italicised words in the sentence:

1. They checked in at a hotel that had a large compound. (registered, corrected)

Answer: They registered at a hotel that had a large compound

2. She requested her husband to take measures immediately to protect the rhinos. (take steps, calculate)

Answer: She requested her husband to take steps immediately to protect the rhinos.

3. Further in, they spotted a deer. (dotted, saw)

Answer: Further in, they saw a deer.

4. In the heart of the town was the Sivasagar tank. (centre of, mind of)

Answer: In the centre of the town was the Sivasagar tank.

5. The maids have tomb vaults just like the pyramids in Egypt. (burial chambers, jumps)

Answer: The maidams have burial chambers just like the pyramids in Egypt.

III. Underline the verbs of reporting in the following sentences:

NOTE- The second type of answer is written to make the students aware of the type of narration used in all the questions.

1. Their father had explained to them, "This bridge is named after the Ahom General Kolia Bhomora Phukan."

Answer: Their father had explained to them, "This bridge is named after the Ahom General Kolia Bhomora Phukan."
➡️ Assertive Sentence (It is a statement providing information.)

2. "What's there to see in Sivasagar? Let's go to uncle's house in Tezpur instead." Lohit pleaded.

Answer: "What's there to see in Sivasagar? Let's go to uncle's house in Tezpur instead." Lohit pleaded.
➡️ Interrogative Sentence (The first part is a question) and Imperative Sentence (The second part is a suggestion/request.)

3. "On our way we can stay for a night at Kaziranga," their mother suggested.

Answer: "On our way we can stay for a night at Kaziranga," their mother suggested.
➡️ Assertive Sentence (It is a suggestion stated as a fact.)

4. "Can we go to see the rhino now?" Lohit asked.

Answer: "Can we go to see the rhino now?" Lohit asked.
➡️ Interrogative Sentence (It is a question)

5. "Look, look," Lohit shouted excitedly, "there's a rhino."

Answer: "Look, look," Lohit shouted excitedly, "there's a rhino."
➡️ Exclamatory Sentence (It expresses excitement.)

6. "Wow!" Trisha exclaimed, looking through the binocular. "There's another rhino in the water."

Answer: "Wow!" Trisha exclaimed, looking through the binocular. "There's another rhino in the water."
➡️ Exclamatory Sentence (It expresses surprise.)

7. "I will take you to Charaideo," said their father.

Answer: "I will take you to Charaideo," said their father.
➡️ Assertive Sentence (It is a statement.)