Spices That Heal Us Textbook Questions (NCERT Solutions)
Let us do these activities before we read.
1. A spice is any seed, fruit, root, bark, leaf or any other part of a plant used to give taste and colour to our food. Try to recall the names of three spices that are used for cooking in your home. Write them below and share your answers with your teacher.
(a) _______________ (b) _______________ (c) _______________
Ans.
(a) Star anise
(b) Ginger
(c) Bay leaf
2. Given below are pictures of some spices. Work in pairs and write what you call them in your language. Their names in English are given in the last column. Share your answers with your teacher.
Ans.
Let us think and reflect
1. Read the given lines and answer the following questions.
‘When I was a child, I learnt them from my grandmother. She used to find cures for most of the weather-related common illnesses in the kitchen.’
(a) Where exactly in the kitchen did her grandmother find the cures?
(b) Give one example of weather-related common illnesses.
(c) What kind of relationship did the speaker have with her grandmother?
Ans.
(a) In the cooking area where spices were stored.
(b) cold
(c) Her grandmother had taught her various home remedies for different treatments and the benefits of different spices.
2. Fill in the blanks to complete the sentence.
Daadi soaked methi seeds overnight and drank the water in the morning to manage _____________________ and _____________________.
Ans. blood sugar level and fat level
3. Circle the spice that is not useful for body pain according to Daadi’s letter.
(a) Turmeric
(b) Ginger
(c) Fennel seeds
(d) Black pepper
Ans. (c) Fennel seeds
4. Why did Daadi ask Vikram and Vaibhavi to share the natural cures with their friends?
Ans. She wanted them to share the cures with their friends so that more people could benefit from these cures.
5. What was Daadi’s final advice to Vikram and Vaibhavi?
Ans. Her final advice was to use the spice under the guidance of an elder.
6. How do we know that natural cures are passed from one generation to another?
Ans. The grandmother got the knowledge of these home remedies from her grandmother. Now she was passing it on to her grandchildren. So, we know that the cures were passed on from one generation to another.
7. Why do you think we should know about the healing properties of spices?
Ans. We should know about the healing properties of spices so that we can use them and get better health in time of illness.
Let us learn
1. You have read the uses of spices in the letter. Complete the following table with the help of your teacher. You may use the words from the box given below.
Part of the plant: root/bark/leaves/flower buds/fruit/seeds
Texture: rough/soft/silky
Taste: bitter/sweet/sour/salty/spicy
Ans.
CBSE Class 6 English Poorvi Book Unit 3 – Nurturing Nature Chapter 3 – Spices that Heal Us Extra Question and Answers
Answer the following questions
Q1. What precaution did the grandmother give to Vikram and Vaibhavi?
Ans. She cautioned them to take the herbal remedies after consulting an elder.
Q2. Mention the names of all the spices which grandmother mentions in the letter.
Ans. The grandmother mentions various spices like ginger, turmeric, carom seeds, fenugreek seeds, black pepper, asafoetida, cinnamon, cardamom and clove.
Q3. What is the aim of grandmother’s letter?
Ans. Through the letter, the grandmother shows her happiness that the natural remedies have helped cure Vikram and Vaibhavi. Then she informs them about other spices and their benefits. She also asks them to spread this awareness among their friends. However, she warns the siblings that they should use these remedies only after consulting an elder.
Q4. Which are the various methods of using the herbs as mentioned in the lesson?
Ans. A few seeds like fenugreek and cumin are soaked overnight and the water is consumed the next morning. Certain herbs like asafoetida are mixed in water and the solution is rubbed on the stomach. Some of the seeds of herbs are chewed as it is. While some spices are added to food or brewed in herbal tea.
Q5. Grandmother tells about the spice called Adrak that is used in Indian cooking. Do you know any other spice that is a popular ingredient in Indian cooking?
Ans. Yes, a few spices like Cumin seeds and turmeric are very popular in Indian cooking.