Chang increased his pace as he walked along the river, Lo. He was far away from his native village. From here he could not see the great wall, which was 2,400 km long. It was built by the first Chinese Emperor, Chin Shih Huang Ti. The wall stretched along the fertile river Huang Ho.
He was walking beside the river towards the city of Loyang. It was New Year and everyone was in a holiday mood. The rich people in their silk dresses and shoes, the peasants in their straw sandals, and even the barefooted
barbarians were happy. Chang felt his own dress and thought about the silk –
the great invention of his forefathers.
The Emperor himself had taken part last week in ploughing a furrow to begin the week-long celebration – the Festival of Lanterns. By sunset, the whole town would be twinkling with little lamps lit inside a huge paper model of a dragon that would be carried along the street.
Why was everyone happy? Was Chang happy too?
Chang was now passing through the marketplace. Neat rows of stalls were selling all types of goods. The bronze utensils, iron tools, silk dresses, colourful paper toys, writing paper, wooden toys-so many things attracted him. The sound of music made him stop. Chang’s mind began to wander. So many wonderful things were happening. Ts’ai Lum had recently developed a new writing material called paper, using wood pulp and rags! It would be much cheaper than writing on silk. There were so many things Chang wanted to learn – mathematics, politics and calculations about the position of the stars. He wanted to be a mandarin. But it could be more exciting to be a trader, to travel along the silk road to Bactria or Persia one day, or even sail in a ship to foreign lands!
What do we see when we pass through the marketplace?
There were so many shows going on in the marketplace! There were jugglers, acrobats, wrestlers, weightlifters, dancers, musicians………… the whole place was buzzing with activity. Chang stood there and watched the wonderful sight. He felt a surge of pride and happiness. He was a part of this wonderful great civilization.
[A] Answer the following questions:
Q. 1. Write the names of two rivers mentioned in the lesson.
Ans. The names of the two rivers are Lo and Huang Ho.
Q.2. Where was Chang going?
Ans. Chang was going to his native village.
Q.3. What was happening in Loyang?
Ans. It was New Year and everyone in Loyang was in a holiday mood.
Q.4. What was carried along the street during. the festival?
Ans. A huge paper model of a dragon was carried along the street during the festival.
Q.5. What did the Emperor do at the beginning? ning of the festival?
Ans. At the beginning of the festival, the Emperor took part in ploughing a furrow to begin the week long celebration.
Q.6. What did Chang want to be?
Ans. Chang wanted to be a Mandarin
Q.7. What shows were going on at the fair?
Ans. There were many shows going on in the fair as jugglers, acrobats, wrestlers, weightlift- vers, dancers, musicians etc.
Q.8. Did Chang buy anything from the stalls?
Ans. No, Chang did not buy anything from the stalls.
Q.9. Why was Chang happy?
Ans. Chang was happy to be a part of the wonder- ful, great Chinese Civilization.
[B] Q.1. Tick the correct sentences.
(a) Chang lives in our age. (x)
((b) Chang lived before the invention of silk. (x)
(c) Chang lived before the invention of paper. (x)
(d) Chang lived during the range when the paper was invented.
Q.2. Write True or False against the statements.
(a) It was the festival of harvest. (False)
(b) It was the festival of lights. (False)
(c) It was the festival of lanterns. (True)
(d) It was the festival of New Year. (True)
(e) It was the festival of Kite flying. (False )
Q.3. Choose the correct answer :
1. The Great Wall of China is………….
(a) 2,500 km long
(b) 2,700 km long (c) 2,300 km long (d) 2,400 km long.