A Baker from Goa

Comprehension – I

 Question: 1:

1.    What are the elders in Goa nostalgic about?

2.    Is bread-ma king still popular r in Goa? How do you know?

3.    What is the baker called?

4.    When would the baker come every day? Why did the children run to meet him?

Answer: 1:

1.    The elders in Goa were heard reminiscing nostalgically about the good Old Portuguese days and their famous loaves of bread.

2.    The author mentioned that the eaters of the famous bread loaves might have vanished but the makers were still there. He mentions the age-old time-tested furnaces existed and their fire had still not extinguished. Hence we can say that bread-making is still popular in Goa.

3.    The bakers are known as padre in Goa.

4.    The author said that baker used to be their friend, companion and guide. The baker came at least twice a day. Once when he set out in the morning on his selling round, and then again, when he returned after emptying his huge basket. The jingling thud of his bamboo worked as an alarm for the children. They ran to meet him and greet him not because of their love of the loaf, which was bought by the maid-servant of the house. They actually longed for the bread -bangles, which they chose carefully. Sometimes, it was a sweet bread of special make.

Comprehension –   II

 Question: 1 :

1.    Match the following. What is a must?

(I)   as marriage gifts?                             – Cakes and Bolinas

(ii)  For a party or a feast?                       – Sweet bread called bot

(iii) For a daughter’s engagement?          – Bread

(iv) For Christmas?                                  – Sandwiches

 

2.    What did the bakers wear:

(I) in the Portuguese days?

(ii) When the author was young?

3.    Who invites the comment -“he is dressed like a padre”? Why?

4.    Where were the monthly accounts of the baker recorded?

5.    What does a ‘jackfruit -like appearance’ mean?

 

Answer: 1:

(1) As Marriage gift ? (2) for a party of a feast ? (3) for a daughter engagement ? (4) for a christmas ?

Sweet bread called ball bread sandwics Cake and bolinas

 2.

 (I)  In the Portuguese days, the bakers had a peculiar dress known as the kabai. I t was a single-piece long frock reaching down to the knees.

(ii)  When the author was young, he saw the bakers wearing a shirt and trousers, which were shorter

Than full-length ones and longer than half pants.

3.    Anyone who wears a half-pant which reaches just below the knees invites the comment that “he is dressed like a padre”. This was so because the bakers were known as padre and they wore such half pants.

4.    The bakers usually collected the bills at the end of the month. The monthly accounts of the baker were recorded on some wall in pencil. It was profitable profession in the old days.

5.    The plump physique was referred as a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’. This physique was linked to the bakers because they never starved. Baking was a profitable profession back then. The baker, his family, and his servants always looked happy and prosperous and had a ‘jackfruit-like appearance’.