The Mohwa is one of the most important of Indian forest trees, not for its timber
but for its delicious flowers. To the people of Central India it provides the most
important article of food as the flowers can be stored almost indefinitely.
The Mohwa tree has a large, thick grey bark. Most of the leaves fall from
February to April and during that time the scented flowers appear hanging in close
bunches of a dozen or so. It is at night that the tree blooms and at dawn each short lived
flower falls to the ground. A couple of months after the flowering period the fruit opens.
They are fleshy green berries. They are quite large and contain from one to four shiny,
brown seeds.
The gathering of the edible Mohwa flowers is an important business to the
country people. Below the tree the ground is cleared and swept and at dawn blooms are
collected and allowed to dry out on the earth. The flowers taste something like pressed
figs. Sugar puddings and other sweetmeats are made from them. All parts of the fruits,
both ripe and unripe are used. A thick oil is extracted from the kernels, which being
yellowish, gives it the name of ‘Butter Tree’. The oil is used for cooking, making soaps
and candles.
Full Time : 3 Hrs. Marks : 90
Questions :
9. Mohwa provides the most important article of food to the people of …….. 1
a) South India b) North India c) Central India d) None of them
Complete the following :
10. The Mohwa tree has a large ………… 1
11. A couple of ……… after the flowering period, the fruit opens. 1
12. The flowers taste something like ………. 1
13. The oil is used for cooking, making …………….. 1
14. How do the fruits of Mohwa look? How many seeds does each fruit have? 2
15. What is the other name of Mohwa ? 2
16. Find words from the passage which mean the following : 2
a) gives b) taken out
17. Make sentence with the following words. 2
a) delicious b) large
Answers
The Mohwa is one of the most important of Indian forest trees, not for its timber
but for its delicious flowers. To the people of Central India it provides the most
important article of food as the flowers can be stored almost indefinitely.
The Mohwa tree has a large, thick grey bark. Most of the leaves fall from
February to April and during that time the scented flowers appear hanging in close
bunches of a dozen or so. It is at night that the tree blooms and at dawn each short lived
flower falls to the ground. A couple of months after the flowering period the fruit opens.
They are fleshy green berries. They are quite large and contain from one to four shiny,
brown seeds.
The gathering of the edible Mohwa flowers is an important business to the
country people. Below the tree the ground is cleared and swept and at dawn blooms are
collected and allowed to dry out on the earth. The flowers taste something like pressed
figs. Sugar puddings and other sweetmeats are made from them. All parts of the fruits,
both ripe and unripe are used. A thick oil is extracted from the kernels, which being
yellowish, gives it the name of ‘Butter Tree’. The oil is used for cooking, making soaps
and candles.
Full Time : 3 Hrs. Marks : 90
Questions :
9. Mohwa provides the most important article of food to the people of …….. 1
a) South India b) North India c) Central India d) None of them
Complete the following :
10. The Mohwa tree has a large ………… 1
11. A couple of ……… after the flowering period, the fruit opens. 1
12. The flowers taste something like ………. 1
13. The oil is used for cooking, making …………….. 1
14. How do the fruits of Mohwa look? How many seeds does each fruit have? 2
15. What is the other name of Mohwa ? 2
16. Find words from the passage which mean the following : 2
a) gives b) taken out
17. Make sentence with the following words. 2
a) delicious b) large
find words from the passage which mean the gives