This Unseen Passage gives you an idea about how to find answers from unseen passages that are not directly given in the passage. Some of the questions are so general that you may consider them straightforward. But, while answering may not get words and/or points to write in that particular answer.
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Unseen Passage Questions –
- Why would the author refer to cookbooks as a ‘treasure trove’?
- Which of the options displays the MOST LIKELY reason the first cookbooks were from royal households?
- Cookbooks are a guiding light… (Paragraph 2). Which of these options uses the same literary device as the line above?
- The author says “Cookbooks are a source of information to understand gender-specific roles.” (Paragraph 2). State one of the ways cookbooks could reveal information on gender-specific roles.
- Provide one example of how cookbooks can be a source of information about trade and networks.
- Vocabulary based question
- Vocabulary based question
- Based on the passage, state any two reasons why more Indians are exploring the art of cooking.
- In the passage, which of these is NOT suggested as a reason for people posting on social media about the food they cooked?
- Write an appropriate title for this passage.
Now, Read the Passage
Unseen Passage with Answers
1 History in general remains an endeavour to search for the truth about the past in a contemporary light. The search is done by examining the treasure trove of a documented past. This also holds true for the history of food. Cookbooks have always played an instrumental role in researching the history of any community. The roots of recording the history of food are nearly as old as the history of writing itself. In the East, Meng Shen of the T’ang dynasty recorded the origin and usage of every food consumed in the court. In India, mythology mentions that the oldest and first-ever book on cookery is Pakadarpanam (The Mirror of Culinary Skills), written by King Nala.
2 Cookbooks are a guiding light that can take one on a journey of understanding traditions and culture. Scholars in the past also believed that cookbooks are a source of information not only to understand social or gender-specific roles but also material factors such as trade and network.
3 So what could be considered a cookbook in our modern society? It has been noted recently that there is a surge in the number of infotainment and documentary programs about food. Recipes are no longer just about cookbooks. In fact, a new breed of Indian culinary experts is cooking their way to celebrity status. And they are achieving this via social media. As they demystify Indian cuisine and offer step-by-step guidance to creating mouthwatering Indian dishes, these talented men and women are inspiring a lot of Indians to pick up their ladles and try out various recipes in their own kitchens.
4 The social media chefs are here to stay. No longer does an amateur home chef have to struggle with trying to understand what exactly the recipe instruction means when it says things like, “The batter should be of pouring consistency”. Now one can see the chef demonstrate on video what exactly ‘pouring consistency’ ought to be like.
5 A lot of people used these recipes that were easily available on social media to get through the COVID-19 pandemic. Cooking, which was considered a necessity at the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown days, turned into a recreational activity over time. It also functioned as a tool to improve people’s psychological well-being. This gave them a goal-oriented behaviour to engage in, while also being a way to connect with others by sharing recipes or posting pictures of their creations on social media.
Thus, documenting recipes online is the modern version of authoring a cookbook.
Glossary:
contemporary – occurring in the present
(415 words)
Adapted —
https://journalofethnicfoods.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42779-021-00108-1
https://globalvoices.org/2014/02/18/youtube-chefs-are-cooking-up-a-storm-inindiankitchens/comment-page-2/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.635957/full
Source: CBSE Additional Practice Paper
Level: Medium High
Smart Trick to Score Full Marks in Unseen Passage
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below. 1 x 10
i The search is done by examining the treasure trove of a documented past. This also holds true for the history of food. (Paragraph 1). Why would the author refer to cookbooks as a ‘treasure trove’?
A. because they contain recipes for rich foods
B. because writing them requires a lot of time and money
C. because they hold a wealth of information about the past
D. because writing recipes is considered a rewarding experience
ANS: C. because they hold a wealth of information about the past
ii Refer to the following from Paragraph 1:
Meng Shen: records of food consumed in court
King Nala: Pakadarpanam, the oldest book on cookery (Paragraph 1)
Which of the options displays the MOST LIKELY reason the first cookbooks were from royal households?
A. The royalty was involved in the planning of all their meals.
B. The royalty wanted ordinary folk to know how to eat like kings.
C. The royalty had to be ready to serve special food to foreign visitors.
D. The royalty had the resources to create complex dishes and document them.
ANS: D. The royalty had the resources to create complex dishes and document them.
iii Cookbooks are a guiding light… (Paragraph 2). Which of these options uses the same literary device as the line above?
A. This cake is the heaven of taste!
B. These grapes are as sweet as candy.
C. These biscuits are delicious. They’re the best!
D. This recipe was so interesting. It jumped right off the page.
ANS: A. This cake is the heaven of taste!
iv The author says “Cookbooks are a source of information to understand gender-specific roles.” (Paragraph 2). State one of the ways how cookbooks could reveal information on gender-specific roles.
ANS: The language used in the cookbook, such as gendered language in recipe instructions and titles, can provide insight into societal views about cooks and their gender.
OR
ANS: By analysing the cookbooks, we can get to know who performed the cooking tasks in the past – men or women of the house.
v Provide one example of how cookbooks can be a source of information about trade and networks.
ANS: One way cookbooks can reveal information about trade and networks is by examining the ingredients and recipes used. The presence of ingredients from different regions or cultures in a cookbook can indicate a wide network of trade and commerce.
vi Complete the following with a phrase from paragraph 3.
| Phrase | Meaning |
| _____________ | gradually progresses from one stage to the next. |
ANS: Step by Step
vii The social media chefs are here to stay. (Paragraph 4) Which of these best describes the tone in the above line?
A. curious
B. hopeful
C. confident
D. argumentative
ANS: C. confident
viii Based on the passage, state any two reasons why more Indians are exploring the art of cooking.
__ 1
__ 2
ANS: 1. Because of the ease of social media and access to recipes.
2. Because of the rise in the number of shows and documentaries about food.
3. Because following a video is easier than trying to understand text in a cookbook.
4. Because there are a lot of chefs on social media providing easy, step-by-step cooking instructions.
(choose any 2)
ix In the passage, which of these is NOT suggested as a reason for people posting on social media about the food they cooked?
A. to share that they have completed a task
B. to maintain a record of all that they have cooked
C. to explain the steps they used for making the dish
D. to create a sense of competition among their followers
ANS: D. to create a sense of competition among their followers
x Write an appropriate title for this passage.
ANS: Role of Cookbooks or Importance of Cookbooks
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