Question: Who comprise the large farmers?
Answer: These rich farmers use their money to buy modern machines and tools to increase agricultural production.
Question: Who is a landless peasent?
Answer: Group of people who work on the land that belongs to other people are the landless peasants.
Question: What is a cottage industry?
Answer: People work in agro-based industries in people’s homes known as cottage industries.
Question: What is the main crop of Kalpattu village?
Answer: The main crop of Kalpattu village is paddy.
Question: How is Ramalingam different from others according to Thulasi?
Answer: Unlike others, Ramalingam does not go looking for cheaper labour from other villages. Whenever there is work, he calls Thulasi.
Question: What does Thulasi’s husband do when he finds no work on the farm?
Answer: In such situation he finds work outside either loading sand from the river or stone from the quarry nearby.
Question: Why did Thulasi borrow from Ramalingam?
Answer: She did so for her daughter’s treatment.
Question: How did she pay back the loan to Ramalingam.
Answer: She paid back her loan to Ramalingam by selling her cow.
Question: Name some other activities which poor families in rural areas often do for the household apart from farming.
Answer: Collecting firewood, getting water and grazing cattle.
Question: Why do people migrate?
Answer: People migrate from rural to urban areas to find job. .
Question: How much land does Sekar own?
Answer: Sekar owns two acres of land.
Question: How does he pay back the loan to trader?
Answer: He pays back the loan to trader by selling his paddy to him at a lower price.
Question: Why does Sekar need to earn some extra money?
Answer: Whatever he produces last only eight months. So, he needs to earn some extra money.
Question: What work does Sekar do at Ramalingam’s rice mill?
Answer: He helps Ramalingam collect paddy from other farmers in the neighbouring villager.
Question: Why do farmers like Sekar need to borrow money?
Answer: They need to borrow money to purchase basic things like seeds, fertilizers and pesticides.
Question: Why do fishermen go far into the sea?
Answer: They go far into the sea to get a better catch.
Question: During which period do fish breed?
Answer: They breed during the monsoon.
Question: How do fishermen manage during the monsoon period?
Answer: During the monsoon period fishermen survive by borrowing from the trader.
Question: Why do farmers who have small landholdings take loan from money lenders?
Answer: They borrow money from them to buy seeds, fertilizers and pesticides and also when their crops fail due to scanty rainfall.