Today is our topic of discussion Reading descriptions 2
Reading descriptions 2
Look at the picture and write your answer to the question:
What can you see in the picture and where is it?
Fig : A homestead
Example I can see some banana trees on the west of the east-facing house.
Read the passage and answer the questions given after each paragraph.
A homestead is a home and the surrounding land occupied by a family. There is usually no space in a homestead for growing crops. However, the little space here and there, round or behind a house, at the back or on the corner of the yard.
around the edges or boundary of the homestead is used for the production of various crops, trees, plants, livestock and poultry. This production work is usually done by the women in the family.
Question:
Where can you find space in a homestead for growing crops?
Women generally grow vegetable crops like beans, pumpkins, snake gourds, sweet gourds, cucumber, puishak, etc and pan (betel) which are creepers and climb up roofs and trees. Sometimes a bamboo structure
Fig : Vegetables
is made in the yard or behind a house for these crops to climb up. Also vegetable crops like chilli, lalshak, lady’s finger, eggplants, etc. are grown here and there in the homestead.
Question:
Where do the creepers climb up?
A homestead forest is another example of homestead farming which every family, especially in the rural areas, is interested in. This includes planting or transplanting of trees which last much longer than the vegetable crops.
They also become large when fully grown. These are mango, jackfruit, coconut, lichi and similar other trees at various places on the homestead. They provide fuel, fodder, poles and fruits to the family.
Question:
Why are our rural people interested in homestead forestry?
Women also raise, and take care of, livestock and poultry in the homestead. They take special care of cows, goats, chickens, ducks and pigeons. They feed and vaccinate the animals and birds and often treat them like humans.
Question:
What role does a family play in raising livestock and poultry?
Study these words.
surrounding (adj) – adjoining; around and near by. There was a great circus at the thana headquarters. People were coming from the surrounding villages to see the show.
occupied (v-passive) – held; taken. A house/a bed/a seat is occupied……..
edge (n) – the outer limit of an area. Don’t stand on the edge of the table.
creeper (n) – a plant with long stems that wind themselves around trees, bamboos, etc.
forestry (n) – skill of growing and taking care of trees
fuel (n) – material used for producing heat or power by burning. Wood, bamboos, coal, oil and gas are different
kinds of fuel.
fodder (n) – rough food for cattle or horses
livestock (n) – animals like cattle and sheep
poultry (n) – chickens, ducks and other birds kept for their meat and eggs