A Nice Cup of Tea | Prose | By George Orwell - Questions Answers | 12th English : UNIT 2 : Prose : A Nice Cup of Tea

Chapter: 12th English : UNIT 2 : Prose : A Nice Cup of Tea

Questions Answers

English : Prose : A Nice Cup of Tea By George Orwell : Questions Answers (English Book back answers and solution for Exercise questions)

1. Based on your understanding of the text, answer each of the following questions in one or two sentences.

a) What seems ‘curious’ to the author?

The best manner of making tea is the subject of violent disputes. It seems ‘curious’ to the author.

b) Why does the author say that it is important to include a tea recipe in cookery books?

The best manner of making tea is the subject of violent disputes. So the author says that if is important to include a tea recipe in cookery books.

c) Mention the countries in which tea is a part of civilization.

Tea is a part of civilization in Eire (Ireland), Australia, New Zealand, China, Ceylon and India.

d) Which tea does the author prefer– China tea or Indian tea?

The author prefers Indian tea.

e) According to the author, what does the phrase ‘a nice cup of tea’ refer to?

According to the author, the phrase ‘a nice cup of tea’ refers to Indian tea.

f) What is the second golden rule in the preparation of tea?

Tea should be made in small quantities in a teapot: The teapot should be made of china or earthenware. This is the second golden rule in the preparation of tea.

g) How does army tea taste?

Army tea is made in a cauldron. So it gives taste of grease and whitewash.

h) Do tea lovers generally like strong tea or weak tea?

Tea lovers generally like strong tea.

i) Why should tea be directly added to the pot?

If the tea (tea powder) is not loose in the pot directly, it never infuses with water properly. If it so, they are supposed to be harmful. So tea should be directly added to the pot.

j) Why does the author prefer the cylindrical cup to a flat cup?

The author prefers the cylindrical cup to a flat cup because it holds more tea and keeps it hot before one has well started on it.

k) What should be poured into the cup first–tea or milk?

Tea should be poured into the cup first.

l) Why does the author advise removing cream from the milk?

Milk that is too creamy always gives tea a sickly taste. So the author advises removing cream from the milk.

m) Does the author like drinking tea with sugar? Give reasons.

No, the author does not like drinking tea with sugar. If we sweeten tea, we won’t taste tea. We are merely tasting the sugar.

n) Why does the author refer to himself as being in ‘a minority’?

Majority of the people add sweetener to tea. But the author drinks tea without sugar. So he refers to himself as being in ‘a minority’.

o) Whom does the author call ‘misguided people’? What is his advice to them?

One who add sweetener to tea, the author calls them ‘misguided people’. He advised them to try drinking tea without sugar for a fortnight. They never want to ruin their tea by sweetening it again.

2. Based on your understanding of the text, answer each of the following questions in four or five sentences

a) What are the author’s views on China tea?

China tea has qualities which are not to be disliked nowadays. It is economical. One can drink it without milk. But there is not much stimulation in it. One does not feel wiser, braver or more optimistic after drinking it.

b) How does adding sugar affect the taste of tea?

If we sweeten tea, we won’t taste the tea. We are merely tasting the sugar. We could make a very similar drink by dissolving sugar in plain hot water. Thus adding sugar affects the taste of tea.

c) Elucidate the author’s ideas about teapots.

Tea should be made in small quantities in a teapot. Tea out of an urn is always tasteless. But Army tea is made in a cauldron. It gives taste of grease and whitewash. The author feels that the teapot should be made of China or earthenware. Silver or Britannia ware teapots produce inferior tea. Enamel pots are worse. But a pewter teapot is not so bad.

3. Answer each of the following questions in a paragraph of 100–150 words.

a) Summarise George Orwell’s distinctive ideas in “A Nice Cup of Tea”.

Prose : A NICE CUP OF TEA

Author : George Orwell

Theme : Distinctive features of preparing a nice cup of tea

Character : George Orwell (The narrator)

Outline : suggests eleven points - Indian or Ceylonese tea - small quantities - china or earthenware teapot - pot be warmed beforehand - Strong tea - tea powder put straight into pot - add hot water with tea powder - Stir or shake it - use breakfast cup - pour the cream off the milk - tea first milk next - drunk without sugar

George Orwell suggests eleven points to prepare a nice cup of tea. First of all, one should use Indian or Ceylonese tea. Secondly, tea should be made in small quantities in a teapot. The teapot should be made of china or earthenware. Thirdly, the pot should be warmed beforehand. Fourthly, the tea should be strong. The author feels that six teaspoons would be enough for this. Fifthly, the tea powder should be put straight into the pot. Otherwise it never infuses properly. Sixthly, one should add water with tea powder, while it boils in the kettle. Seventhly, after making the tea, one should stir it, or give the pot a good shake. Eighthly one should use a good breakfast cup which holds more tea. Ninthly, one should pour the cream off the milk before using it for tea. Milk that is too creamy always gives tea a sickly taste. Tenthly, the author suggests that one should pour tea into the cup first and then add milk in the tea. Lastly, tea should be drunk without sugar. If we sweeten it, we won’t taste the tea. We are merely tasting the sugar. These are the eleven golden points suggested by Gorge Orwell.

b) Discuss how the essay reveals the factual points and the author’s personal opinions on the preparation of tea.

Prose : A Nice Cup of Tea

Author : George Orwell

Theme : Author’s personal opinions on the preparation of tea.

Characters : George Orwell (The narrator)

Outline : author’s personal opinions - include tea recipe in cookery books - making best tea - subject of violent disputes - a nice cup of tea ‘Indian tea’ - army tea - tastes of grease - China tea - economical - not feel optimistic - breakfast cup - pour tea first, add milk next - drink tea without sugar

We can find the essay reveals the factual points and the author’s personal opinions on the preparation of tea. The author suggests that it is important to include a tea recipe in cookery books. Because he feels that the best manner of making tea is the subject of violent disputes. According to him, the phrase ‘a nice cup of tea’ refers to Indian tea. He comments that army tea, made in a cauldron, tastes of grease and whitewash. He says that China tea has qualities which are not to be disliked nowadays. It is economical. One can drink it without milk. But there is not much stimulation in it. One does not feel wiser, braver or more optimistic after drinking it. He suggests that one should use a good breakfast cup since it holds more. While adding milk with tea, he supports that one should pour tea into the cup first and then add milk in it. Majority of the people add sweetener to tea. But the author suggests to drink tea without sugar. He says that if we sweeten tea, we won’t taste the tea, we are merely tasting the sugar. We could make a very similar drink by dissolving sugar in plain hot water.

c) What are the aspects that contribute to humour in the essay?

Prose : A Nice Cup of Tea

Author : George Orwell

Theme : Aspects of humour

Characters : George Orwell (The narrator)

Outline : humour - making tea - subject of violent disputes - mocks Chinese tea - comments army tea - “imprison the tea” - two schools - milk-first and tea-first - disapproval towards adding sugar - put pepper or salt - subsidiary uses of tea leaves

We can witness the author’s sense of humour in the essay ‘A nice cup of tea’. The disputes regarding making tea are convincible. George Orwell humorously says that the best manner of making tea is the subject of violent disputes. He humourously mocks that one does not feel wiser, braver or more optimistic after drinking the Chinese tea. And also he comments that the army tea, made in a cauldron, tastes of grease and whitewash. He wittingly uses the term “imprison the tea” which means the tea powder should not be separated with strainers, muslin bags or other devices . He funnily introduces that the two schools of thought on the subject which are milk-first school and tea-first school. He humorously compares when he expresses his disapproval towards adding sugar to tea by comparing it to be “equally reasonable to put in pepper or salt”. He funnily mentions the subsidiary uses of tea leaves, such as telling fortunes, predicting the arrival of visitors, feeding rabbits, healing bums and sweeping the carpet. Thus we come across humour here and there in the essay.

4. Based on your understanding of the text, complete the chart given below by choosing the appropriate words or phrases given in brackets.

Golden Rules of Tea Preparation

(add sugar, shaken, milk, infused properly, strainers, without cream, taken to the kettle, small quantities, China or earthenware, stirred, warmed)

Essay

Introduction

Nice cup of tea

Tea pot

Tea powder

Making of tea

Adding milk

Conclusion

Introduction

The essay ‘a nice cup of tea’ reveals the factual points, the author George Orwell’s personal opinions and his sense of humour on the prepararion of tea.

Nice cup of tea:

George Orwell funnily says that the best manner of making tea is the subject of violent disputes. He suggests eleven points to prepare a nice cup of tea. First of all, he suggests that one should use Indian or Ceylonese tea. According to him, ‘a nice cup of tea’ means Indian tea. He humourously comments that one does not feel wiser, braver or more optimistic after drinking the Chinese tea.

Tea pot:

Secondly, tea should be made in small quantities in a teapot. He recommends that the tea pot should be made of China or earthenware. Thirdly, the pot should be warmed beforehand.

Tea powder:

Fourthly, the tea should be strong. For this he suggests six heaped teaspoons of tea powder. Fifthly, the tea powder should be put straight into the teapot to infuse properly. He wittingly uses the term “imprison the tea” which means the tea powder should not be separated with strainers, muslin bags or other devices .

Making of tea:

Sixthly, one should add water with tea powder, while it boils in the kettle. Seventhly, after making the tea, one should stir it. Eighthly, one should use a good breakfast cup which holds more tea. •

Adding milk:

Ninthly, one should pour the cream off the milk before using it for tea. Tenthly, While adding milk with tea, he supports that one should pour tea into the cup first and then add milk in it. He funnily introduces that the two schools of thought on this subject which are milk-first school and tea-first school. Lastly, the author suggests to drink tea without sugar.

Conclusion:

Thus the author recommends that tea should be stronger and tasty.While drinking tea, it should be harmless. We never ruin the taste of tea by adding sugar.

Nothing goes better with tea than more tea

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12th English : UNIT 2 : Prose : A Nice Cup of Tea : Questions Answers | A Nice Cup of Tea | Prose | By George Orwell