Explanation

As Pranjol tells Rajvir on the train journey, Assam is globally celebrated as "tea country" because it possesses the largest concentration of tea plantations in the world, yielding enough tea to supply the entire globe for lifetimes.

Explanation

Historical records trace the origins of tea consumption back as far as 2700 B.C. in China. In fact, common tea-related words such as ‘chai’ and ‘chini’ are originally of Chinese etymology.

Explanation

Although historical documentation lacks exact proof of who first discovered the beverage, the lesson recounts two prominent traditional legends: the Chinese legend of Emperor Shennong and the Indian Buddhist legend of Bodhidharma.

Explanation

The idiomatic expression "to bury one's nose in a book" means to become completely absorbed, focused, and deeply engrossed in reading, paying no attention to the surrounding environment.

Explanation

• Statement 1 is False: Bodhidharma was an ancient, dedicated Buddhist ascetic who actually cut off his own eyelids because he hated feeling sleepy during meditation.
• Statement 2 is True: The legend relates to the origins of tea plants growing from his eyelids, a traditional story rooted in historical transmission narratives of Chinese and Indian folklore.

Explanation

As Rajvir knowledgeable points out to Mr. Barua, the second-flush or sprouting period lasts from May to July and is crucial because it yields the highest quality and best-flavoured tea of the entire year.

Explanation

In this dialogue from ‘A Letter to God’, Lencho looks toward the north-east sky and remarks to his wife (who was preparing supper) that they are finally going to receive much-needed rain showers for their parched cornfields.

Explanation

Mr. Barua (Pranjol's father) is genuinely impressed by Rajvir's detailed botanical and agricultural knowledge regarding the second-flush sprouting period. His tone is warm, surprised, and appreciative of the young guest's prior reading.

Explanation

Rajvir points out that although numerous fascinating legends exist, none have been factually verified or authenticated by conclusive historical evidence, leaving the true identity of the original discoverer shrouded in mystery.

Explanation

Unlike Rajvir, who had lived in Delhi and was seeing tea estates for the very first time, Pranjol had been born and brought up on a tea plantation. Because he was already completely familiar with the landscape, the sight was ordinary routine to him.

Explanation

Assam is globally acknowledged as the world's tea capital because it holds the largest concentration of tea plantations in the world, with sprawling lush green gardens stretching as far as the eye can see.

Explanation

The two classmates from a school in Delhi were travelling together by train to Upper Assam, sipping steaming cups of tea bought from a railway platform vendor as the compartment pulled out.

Explanation

• Assertion Analysis: Pranjol's father, Mr. Barua, served as a tea-garden manager in Upper Assam (True).
• Reasoning Analysis: He managed the specific plantation named Dhekiabari Tea Estate, which is why Pranjol took Rajvir there during the holidays (True, and explains A).

Explanation

After alighting from the train at Mariani Junction, the boys drove for an hour and crossed a cattle-guard onto Dhekiabari Tea Estate, the tea garden managed by Pranjol's father.

Explanation

• a – 2 (Daily global consumption): Rajvir shares the astonishing fact that over eighty crore cups of tea are drunk daily worldwide.
• b – 3 (First drunk in China): Earliest records place its beginnings in China as early as 2700 B.C.
• c – 1 (Tea arrived in Europe): The beverage was introduced to the European continent only in the sixteenth century.

Explanation

Rajvir astounds Pranjol by stating that over eighty crore cups of tea are drunk every day throughout the world, underscoring tea's unmatched universal popularity as a beverage.

Explanation

Tea was first drunk in China. Words related to the drink, like ‘chai’ and ‘chini’, originated from Chinese before spreading across Asian and world languages.

Explanation

Rajvir points out during their discussion that historical accounts mention tea drinking in China as far back as 2700 B.C., long before it reached western civilizations.

Explanation

The text explicitly notes: "Tea came to Europe only in the sixteenth century..." It was introduced centuries after it had become a staple daily brew throughout the East.

Explanation

• Assertion Analysis: In sixteenth-century Europe, tea was initially treated and drunk more as medicine than as a beverage (True).
• Reasoning Analysis: It was prescribed primarily by apothecaries for health benefits and physical rejuvenation before transforming into a casual household refreshment (True, and explains A).

Explanation

Rajvir impresses Pranjol's father by accurately identifying that the second-flush or sprouting season spans from May to July, during which the freshly sprouted tender leaves are plucked.

Explanation

The second-flush is of paramount agricultural importance because the new flush of leaves harvested during this window yields the best tea with the richest liquor, aroma, and flavour.

Explanation

The transition from city buildings to open countryside overwhelmed Rajvir: "It was green, green everywhere. Rajvir had never seen so much greenery before."

Explanation

Although both boys were ardent fans of detective novels, Pranjol chose to keep his nose buried in his detective book because tea gardens were a familiar, everyday sight to him.

Explanation

Rajvir marveled at how the sea of tea bushes was dotted with towering, orderly shade trees, which are planted systematically across plantations to protect delicate young tea leaves from scorching direct sunlight.

Explanation

Both statements are historically true to the legend: Bodhidharma, an ancient Buddhist monk, cut off his eyelids to prevent drowsiness during meditation; legend says ten tea plants sprouted from the discarded eyelids.

Explanation

Both statements are accurate: according to folklore, a Chinese emperor was boiling drinking water over a fire when a few leaves from the burning twigs accidentally drifted into the pot, creating a refreshing, aromatic brew later discovered to be tea.

Explanation

Pranjol could not match Rajvir’s novelty-driven thrill because he had spent his entire childhood living around estates: "Pranjol, who had been born and brought up on a plantation, didn’t share Rajvir’s excitement."

Explanation

Rajvir shares the linguistic history that words like ‘chai’ and ‘chini’ originated directly from the Chinese language, underscoring tea's ancient East Asian heritage.

Explanation

The train ground to a halt at Mariani Junction, where the boys gathered their luggage, navigated through the crowded platform, and were received by Pranjol’s parents.

Explanation

Both statements are true to the text: the bushes formed manicured, orderly green rows pruned to a uniform height, while women pluckers wore plastic aprons and carried bamboo baskets on their backs to collect tender newly-sprouted tea leaves.

Explanation

The text reveals that "Rajvir too was an ardent fan of detective stories," yet at that specific moment during the train ride, he preferred admiring the breathtaking verdant scenery outside over reading fiction.

Explanation

• Assertion Analysis: The view from the train window revealed a massive green carpet of tea bushes framed against densely wooded hills (True).
• Reasoning Analysis: The geographical topography of the region naturally places manicured plains right below forested highlands, providing both shade and drainage (True, and explains A).

Explanation

The author poetically describes the view: "Against the backdrop of densely wooded hills a sea of tea bushes stretched as far as the eye could see."

Explanation

Amidst the scenic greenery, an industrial structure stood out: "an ugly building with smoke billowing out of tall chimneys." It was a tea factory where freshly harvested green leaves are withered, rolled, fermented, and dried.

Explanation

• a – 2 (Plastic aprons): Protective waterproof aprons worn over clothes to stay dry amidst damp morning shrubs.
• b – 1 (Bamboo baskets): Traditional wicker baskets carried on backs to hold tender freshly plucked leaves.
• c – 3 (Pruned bushes): Tea plants kept trimmed to an even height to facilitate rapid manual plucking.

Explanation

The women working between the manicured rows were wearing plastic aprons to shield their clothing from wet foliage and tea sap as they deftly plucked the tender green shoots.

Explanation

As described in the estate scene, groups of women tea pluckers carried woven bamboo baskets on their backs, supported by forehead straps, into which they dropped freshly harvested buds.

Explanation

Pranjol invited his Delhi classmate Rajvir to travel home with him during their summer vacation, which coincided perfectly with the vital second-flush sprouting period.

Explanation

Pranjol, a native of Assam studying in Delhi alongside Rajvir, invited his friend to visit his home estate in Assam to experience life on a working plantation.

Explanation

• Statement 1 is False: Tea reached Europe only in the sixteenth century, millennia after it was popular in the East.
• Statement 2 is True: The earliest recorded consumption of tea occurred in China around 2700 B.C.

Explanation

• Statement 1 is False: Pranjol had grown up on an estate, so the tea bushes did not elicit any novelty or excitement from him.
• Statement 2 is True: For city-dweller Rajvir, seeing a boundless green tea garden was a thrilling and novel experience.

Explanation

The train stopped at Mariani Junction in the evening. The boys gathered their bags, pushed through crowded platforms, and met Pranjol's parents waiting near the exit.

Explanation

Rajvir mentions that while definitive historical records are absent, there are two legends: the accidental boiling of leaves by a Chinese emperor and the sprouting of tea plants from Bodhidharma’s eyelids.

Explanation

Bodhidharma is described as an ancient Buddhist ascetic who famously excised his eyelids so he would remain alert and awake while meditating.

Explanation

The Chinese emperor always boiled water before drinking. Twigs from the firewood under the vessel burned, and a few leaves drifted into the boiling water, producing an exquisite flavour that led to the discovery of tea.

Explanation

• Statement 1 is True: Tea was indeed introduced to the Western world during the sixteenth century.
• Statement 2 is False: Initially, Europeans consumed it more as a medicinal remedy than as a standard social beverage.

Explanation

Driving through the estate gates, the boys passed along a gravel path surrounded on both sides by acre upon acre of neatly pruned tea bushes, all kept to a uniform height.

Explanation

The discovery was an accident. Leaves from burning hearth twigs fell by chance into the emperor's boiling water pot, imparting a delicious taste that established tea drinking.

Explanation

Both statements are factual: Rajvir had studied tea facts prior to the trip, prompting Pranjol's father to warmly exclaim: "You seem to have done your homework before coming."

Explanation

The text notes that all the tea bushes were meticulously maintained: "all neatly pruned to the same height," allowing pluckers to harvest flush leaves comfortably by hand.

Explanation

Words such as ‘chai’ and ‘chini’ originated directly from the Chinese language, documenting how tea traveled along trade corridors from China into India.

Explanation

Although an avid fan of detective novels, Rajvir set his book aside because "the view outside was fascinating." He spent his journey absorbed in looking out at the magnificent green landscape of paddy fields giving way to tea estates.