The Maghs build their house on high platforms

The Maghs build their house on high platforms, about six to eight feet above the ground so that their houses do not become damp. The reason to build houses on high platforms is also to protect them from the different types of insects and animals. Moreover they can use the empty space below their house to keep things such as agricultural tools and looms. Timber or bamboo posts support the platform. The walls are made of bamboo slates and the roof is thatched. The main food of the `Marmas’ and `Rakhaines’ is boiled rice with vegetables.

A kind of soup made from boiled green leaves seasoned with chillies and salt is one of their most favourite items. Another popular food item is tender bamboo shoots. The shoots are first cut into small pieces and then dried in the sun. Different types of foods are then prepared from these. The bamboo shoots are crushed and then put inside a bamboo tube and kept for eight to ten days till fermentation takes  place. The Maghs have two major meals a day, one in the early morning and the other before sunset. On festivals they prepare different types of cakes using rice, flour, coconut, suger, milk and other ingredents. The most popular of all is sticky rice.

1. Choose the best answer from the alternatives:                                                   1  5 = 5

a. The Maghs may keep agricultural tools and looms__________.

    i) under the roof        ii) below the house       iii) on the floor      iv) on the high lands

b. The most popular and favourite food of the Maghs is__________.

    i) boiled rice        ii) bamboo shoots           iii) sticky rice        iv) boiled green leaves

c. Houses on high platforms help the Maghs__________.

    i) to remain comfortable                                                  ii) to hunt the animals easily     

    iii) to save themselves from flood                                        iv) to remain safe

d. The most popular items of food prepared by the Maghs is__________.

    i) babboo shoots                  ii) sticky rice            iii) boiled rice                 iv) chillies

e. TheMaghs do the  work of__________.

    i) cultivation and weaving           ii) fishing            iii) hunting      iv) rearing animals

2. Write whether the statements are true or false.If false, give the correct answer:                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                     1 5 = 5

a. The houses of the Maghs become damp for high platforms.

b. The Maghs support themeselves by cultivation only.

c. The roof of their house is in tin-shed.

d. Cakes are prepared on the festivals of the Maghs.

e. The Maghs prepare bambo shoots through fermentation.

3. Fill in each gap in the following passage with a suitable word from the box. There are more words than necessary :                                                                    

  

thatch	used	various	looms	built	below
supported	easily	empty	high	dried	first

The Maghs construct their houses on (a)------ platforms. As the houses are on high platforms, the people (b)------ keep themselves alooffrom the attack of (c)------ insects and animals. Moreover, the empty places (d)------ the houses are (e)------ to keepagricultural tools, (f)------ etc. The platforms are (g)------ by timber or babboo posts. The walls of the houses are (h)------ of bamboo slates. The bamboo shoots are (i)------ cut into small pieces and then (j)------ in the sun.

4. Write a paragraph based on the information about the way of the life of the Maghs. Use the clues in the box below. Write the information in a logical sequence as it appears in the text. The paragraph should not exceed 70 words.                                                      5

house-----tools----food----making food----bamboo----meals----festivals----cakes

5. Answer the following questions :                                                                          1  5 = 5

a. What types of houses do the Maghs live in ?

b. How do the Maghs prepare their food from tender bamboo shoots ?

c. When do the Maghs prepare different types of cakes ?

d. How is the soup made ?

e. When do the Maghs take their major meals ?

6. Fill in each gap with a suitable word from the text :                                       

The Maghs lead a different (a)------ of life from (b)------. They build the houses (c)----- high platforms (d)------is about six to eight feet high (e)------ the ground. They feel (f)------,

living on the high platform because insects and wild animals can not do any (g)------ to them. The other advantage is that they can use the (h)------ space below their house as a (i)------ room keeping (j)------ tools and looms.

7. Imagine you are a member of a Magh family.. Now, write a paragraph in about 70-40 words about the way of living of the maghs.                                                                         5

8. Read the passage again and write the main idea of the passage in not more than five sentences.                                                                                                                                  5