Growing Up in Agartala
by Bishweshwar Nandi, Digvijay Singh Deo and Vimal Mohan
(An extract adapted from Dipa Karmakar: The Small Wonder) (Roots)
Comprehension
Read and answer
1. There is one incorrect fact in each of these statements. Underline it and write the correct information in the space given.
a. Dipa started training for gymnastics at the age of eight.
= Dipa started training for gymnastics at the age of eight.
= six;
b. Dipa practiced in the gym with her teacher Puja madam.
= Dipa practiced in the gym with her teacher Puja madam.
= byamagar; coach Soma madam;
c. The prize of completing a challenge was a pencil.
= The prize of completing a challenge was a pencil.
= piece of chewing gum;
d. Dipa went to byamagar every morning.
= Dipa went to byamagar every morning.
= after school;
e. Her mother scolded her and Puja for putting stickers on the almirah.
= Her mother scolded her and Puja for putting stickers on the almirah.
= father;
2. The following paragraph describes Dipa's time at byamagar. Fill in the blanks using the options in the brackets.
= Dipa spent a few hours (hours/minutes/days) at byamagar completing exercises (dances/exercises/games) before going home. One day Soma madam gave three (one/two/three) of her students a challenge to complete. They had to mount (jump over/mount/go under) uneven bars. Since then, Soma madam continued giving her students more challenges. These little challenges motivated (motivated/saddened/angered) Dipa.
Reference to context
3. "I was determined to win Soma madam's challenge that day."
a. Who is speaker here and who is Soma madam?
= Dipa Karmakar is the speaker here and Soma madam is her coach in the byamagar.
b. What did Soma madam challenge her to do?
= Soma madam challenged her to mount the uneven bars using the Upstart technique.
c. Did the speaker win the challenge? Did anyone else win too?
= The speaker won the challenge.
No, anyone else did not win the challenge. Dipa Karmakar was the only student to do so.
4. "While it may not have been a gold medal, but back then it was all that mattered."
a. What is the speaker talking about here?
= The speaker is talking about a piece of chewing gum.
b. Why did the speaker receive it?
= The speaker won it from her Soma madam after winning a challenge.
c. Why does it matter so much to the speaker?
= It matters so much to the speaker because she used to save it till she reached home and show it off to Puja, her sister.
5. "Soon, the number of chewing gums at home begin increasing."
a. Why did the number of chewing gums increase at home?
= The number of chewing gums increased at home because Dipa started to win several little challenges one by one given by her Soma madam.
b. Why did Dipa bring these chewing gums home?
= Dipa brought these chewing gums home for her sister Puja.
c. What did she like the most about these chewing gums?
= She liked the most about these chewing gums that each piece of gum came with a small sticker inside the packet.
6. "It really caused my father to flare-up one day when he discovered what we were up to."
a. Who is 'we' in this sentence?
=In this sentence, 'we' are Dipa and her sister Puja.
b. What do you think 'flare-up' means? Why did their father flare-up?
= "flare-up' means becoming angry suddenly.
Their father flared-up because they had covered the entire steel almirah sticking the stickers of the chewing gums.
c. What did he do?
= He scolded both of his daughters massively.
Reflect and answer
7. Why was Dipa fascinated by the equipment at byamagar?
= Dipa was fascinated by the equipment at byamagar because she was keep to master all of them. Despite her size, she would look for a chance to secretly spend a minute or two on the uneven bars or the vaulting table.
8. Why do you think Dipa still remembers the chewing gums she won?
= I think Dipa still remembers the chewing gums she won because it was her childhood memory. She won them by learning new skills. She faced new challenges to win them. She used to bring them to her home to share with her sister. They were excited about the stickers inside the packet. They used to stick the stickers on their steel almirah. Then their father got angry and scolded them. All these memory of childhood are very special for a grown-up.
9. Many people motivated Dipa in this story. Has anyone motivated you to do something too? Who are these persons and how did they motivate you?
= Many people motivated Dipa in this story.
Yes, my grandfather motivated me a lot for learning swimming.
My grandfather was a great swimmer. He used to take part in local swimming championship competitions. He had won several medals and trophies. I use to get scared while thinking of learning swimming. I feel that I will drown. But my grandfather motivated me and sent me to the swimming school. Now I can swim without fear.