Question

In this extract, the author talks about traditional bread-baking during his childhood days. Complete the following table with the help of the clues on the left. Then write a paragraph about the author’s childhood days.

Clues	Author’s childhood days
the way bread was baked
the way the pader sold bread
what the pader wore
when the pader was paid
how the pader looked

Answer 1

Clues	Author’s childhood days
the way bread was baked	The bakers used old, traditional, and reliable furnaces that were kept burning constantly to bake their bread.
the way the pader sold bread	The baker announced his arrival with the rhythmic ‘jhang, jhang’ sound of his handcrafted bamboo staff. He balanced his basket of bread on his head with one hand while using the other to strike his staff against the ground.
what the pader wore	In the olden days, the baker wore a distinctive dress called the kabai, a long, single-piece frock that reached the knees. Later, during the author’s childhood, he saw the bakers wearing shirts and trousers that were shorter than full-length pants but longer than half-pants.
when the pader was paid	The baker would keep track of the bread sold by writing the accounts in pencil on a wall, and he would collect the total payment from his customers at the end of every month.
how the pader looked	The baker used to have a plump physique with a jackfruit-like physical appearance.

The Author’s Childhood Memories

During the author's childhood in Goa, the village baker, or pader, was a beloved and essential part of daily life. The author vividly remembers waking up to the rhythmic “thud and jingle” of the baker’s bamboo staff, which signalled his arrival. Without waiting to brush their teeth or wash their faces, the author and his friends would run excitedly to meet him, eagerly waiting for the delicious, freshly baked bread-bangles. The baker was a friendly, well-fed man who visited twice a day, and his monthly accounts were simply recorded on a wall in pencil. These memories highlight a time of simplicity and community, where the baker’s presence was a cherished daily ritual.