📘 Kaveri – Unit 2: The Pot Maker
Complete Question-Answer Solution
📄 PDF Page 1 | Textbook Page 33
Reflect and Respond
Q I. Look at the pictures and identify the vocations. List at least five more vocations.
Answer: The pictures show — basket weaving, pottery making, cloth weaving on a loom, carpentry.
Five more vocations: farming, tailoring, blacksmithing, painting, shoemaking (cobbling).
Q II. Work in pairs and discuss:
Q 1. What is common among these pictures?
Answer: All the pictures show people doing skill-based manual/craft work using their hands and traditional tools. These are all vocations passed down through generations.
Q 2. We refer to such skill-based work as v__ __ a __ __ o __ s.
Answer: vocations
Q 3. Mention a few differences between handmade and machine-made products.
Answer:
| Handmade | Machine-made |
|---|---|
| Unique, no two are exactly alike | Identical/uniform products |
| Takes more time and effort | Produced quickly |
| Shows the maker’s personal skill | No personal touch |
| May cost more | Usually cheaper |
| Has slight natural imperfections | Perfect finish every time |
📄 PDF Page 5 | Textbook Page 37
Check Your Understanding (Part I)
Q I. Do you think pot making is easy? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Answer: No, pot making is not easy at all. The clay has to be fetched from a riverbank 16 km away. It must be carried uphill, pounded inside bamboo cylinders to soften it, carefully shaped on a wheel using both hands, dried in the sun for days, and then fired in a kiln. Even a small mistake can ruin the entire batch. All this hard work earns very little money.
Q II. Would Sentila be able to fulfil her dream of becoming a pot maker? Explain.
Answer: Yes, Sentila would fulfil her dream. She had been passionate about pottery since childhood. She secretly watched expert potters, learned from Onula, carefully observed every detail of her mother’s technique, and on one crucial day, she made a full row of pots almost equal to her mother’s count. This shows she was destined to become a pot maker.
Q III. Do you think Mesoba and Arenla would support Sentila? Give a reason.
Answer: Yes, both would eventually support Sentila. Mesoba told the village council that Arenla never refused to teach Sentila and that they were waiting for her health to improve. Arenla herself took Sentila to the riverbank the following year and began teaching her, which shows she finally came around and supported her daughter’s dream.
📄 PDF Page 9 | Textbook Page 41
Check Your Understanding (Part II)
Q I. Do you think Onula’s support helped Sentila? If yes, why? If no, why not?
Answer: Yes, Onula’s support greatly helped Sentila. She noticed that Sentila was too tense while working, which prevented the clay from taking proper shape. Onula encouraged her, demonstrated how to make a pot, and gave her the confidence she had never felt before. After Onula’s help, Sentila successfully made a beautiful pot for the first time.
Q II. Sentila observes her mother making pots. What does this tell us about her?
Answer: Sentila’s careful observation tells us that she was a dedicated, determined, and keen learner. She paid close attention to every detail — how her mother held the spatula, how she slowed her rhythm while shaping the mouth of the pot, and how she added a strip of clay to make the rim. This shows her deep passion and her willingness to learn even without being formally taught.
📄 PDF Page 10 | Textbook Page 42
Arrange Events in Correct Sequence
Q III. Arrange the following events in correct sequence:
Answer: The correct order is:
| Order | Event No. | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 4 | Sentila was passionate about pottery but did not share it with her mother. |
| 2nd | 6 | Sentila overheard her mother saying pot making was tiring and poorly paid. |
| 3rd | 3 | Sentila observed how expert potters crafted beautiful pots. |
| 4th | 1 | The village council called Mesoba to know about Arenla’s unwillingness. |
| 5th | 8 | Sentila learnt pot making for a year from her mother but was unsuccessful. |
| 6th | 5 | Onula guided Sentila in the art of pot making. |
| 7th | 2 | Arenla made a batch and asked Sentila to continue as she was unwell. |
| 8th | 9 | Sentila made pots quickly and skillfully — just one less than her mother’s. |
| 9th | 7 | Onula observed two rows of pots, which she felt was the work of two people. |
📄 PDF Pages 10–12 | Textbook Pages 42–44
Critical Reflection
Extract 1 Questions (Pounding the stubborn clay…)
Q (i). Choose the correct reason for the assertion — “The effort in making pots is far greater than the returns.”
Answer: A — The process of pot making is quite tiresome and long, and one hardly earns much.
Q (ii). Why does Arenla want Sentila to learn weaving?
Answer: Arenla wants Sentila to learn weaving because:
- Weaving earns much more money than pot making.
- It can be done indoors in all seasons — it is not messy.
- It also provides cloth for the family.
- One shawl takes less time to make than a batch of pots, and the return is handsome.
Q (iii). State one advantage that weaving has over pot making, as per the extract.
Answer: Weaving can be done indoors in all seasons, while pot making is messy and depends on outdoor conditions.
Q (iv). Choose the sentence that uses the word ‘handsome’ in the same way as in the extract.
Answer: B — “They will make a handsome profit selling this property.” (Here ‘handsome’ means large/considerable, just as in the extract — “the return is handsome.”)
Q (v). ‘And the reward?’ What is the author’s purpose of using a question mark here?
Answer: The author uses a question mark to create a rhetorical effect. It highlights Arenla’s frustration and irony — despite months of back-breaking labour, the pot maker earns only a few rupees. The question mark makes the reader pause and feel the unfairness of the situation. It emphasizes how little value society places on this skilled work.
Extract 2 Questions (Onula saw her taking out some clay…)
Q (i). Onula feels Sentila’s effort at making a pot is clumsy because ________.
Answer: Onula feels Sentila’s effort is clumsy because she was too tense while working, which made the clay unable to yield the right shape.
Q (ii). ‘Don’t worry, little one, I shall teach you how to make a perfect pot.’ This shows that Onula was ________.
Answer: C — thoughtful and generous
Q (iii). Which among the following is the effect of a cause?
Answer: A — “As a result, the clay seemed unable or unwilling to yield the right shape.” (This is the effect of Sentila being too tense while working.)
Q (iv). ‘Onula fashioned a beautiful pot.’ Here, the word ‘fashioned’ means ________.
Answer: created
Q (v). How might Sentila have felt when she saw ‘the misshapen lump fall flat on the ground’?
Answer: Sentila must have felt very disappointed, frustrated, and disheartened. She had tried hard but still failed. She probably felt ashamed and hopeless, wondering if she would ever master the skill she loved so much.
📄 PDF Page 12 | Textbook Page 44
Answer the Following Questions
Q 1. Describe the process of pot making followed by expert pot makers, as observed by Sentila.
Answer:
- Clay was mixed with water and pounded inside bamboo cylinders to soften it.
- The potter pushed the left hand into a lump of softened clay.
- The lump was rotated while a spatula in the right hand shaped it.
- The regular tap of the spatula slowly gave the clay its pot shape.
- After 2–3 days, the pots were given a final touch-up for shape and consistency.
- The pots were then dried in the sun.
- Finally, they were loaded onto a kiln on a bed of hay and dried bamboo and carefully fired.
Q 2. What warning was given to Mesoba by the village council?
Answer: The village council warned Mesoba that:
- It was Arenla’s duty to teach her daughter the skill of pot making, handed down from generation to generation.
- Skills like pot making did not belong to any individual — they belonged to the community.
- Expert artisans were obliged to pass on their skills not only to their children but to anyone who wished to learn.
Q 3. How did Sentila feel when she failed at pot making even after a year of training with her mother?
Answer: Sentila felt very sad, ashamed, and frustrated. She could not even hold the lump of dough properly, while her mother effortlessly shaped it into a beautiful pot. She hung her head in shame. Despite her deep passion and hard work for an entire year, she was unable to learn anything, which must have made her feel very helpless and disheartened.
Q 4. ‘Onula stood there for a long time as if trying to absorb a new phenomenon.’ Explain.
Answer: When Onula looked into the work shed after Arenla’s death, she found two neat rows of newly-made pots standing side by side, and she could find no difference between the two batches. She realized this could not be the work of just one person. She understood that Sentila had finally mastered the craft and her pots matched her mother’s quality perfectly. This astonishing realization — that the student had equalled the master — was the “new phenomenon” she was trying to absorb. It was a moment of wonder for her.
Q 5. ‘The tradition and history of the people did not belong to any individual.’ What does this symbolise?
Answer: This statement symbolises that traditional skills and crafts are the collective heritage of a community, not the personal property of one person. Skills like pot making represent the culture, history, and identity of the people. If one person refuses to pass on the skill, the craft may die out forever. Therefore, every skilled artisan has a duty to the community to teach their craft to whoever wants to learn, so it can survive for future generations.
Q 6. What is the significance of the concluding line ‘A new pot maker was born’?
Answer: This line is deeply significant because:
- It marks the moment Sentila finally mastered the art of pot making — achieving her childhood dream despite all obstacles.
- It shows that passion and perseverance always win in the end.
- It is also poignant because it coincides with Arenla’s death — the old master is gone, but the craft lives on through her daughter.
- It symbolizes the continuation of tradition — one generation passes the torch to the next.
Q 7. What is the role of perseverance in pursuing one’s dreams? Elaborate with reference to Sentila.
Answer: Perseverance means never giving up despite difficulties. Sentila’s story is a perfect example:
- Despite her mother’s disapproval, she secretly watched expert potters.
- Even after failing for a whole year with her mother, she did not lose hope.
- She accepted Onula’s guidance with humility and continued practicing.
- She carefully observed every small detail of her mother’s technique.
- Finally, when given the chance alone in the shed, all her years of patience paid off — she made a full row of pots that matched her mother’s quality.
Sentila’s journey teaches us that no dream is too big if you pursue it with dedication and patience. Perseverance turns passion into skill.
📄 PDF Page 13 | Textbook Page 45
Vocabulary and Structures in Context
Q I. Classify the words/phrases in the table:
Answer:
| Tools/Implements | Raw Materials | Process |
|---|---|---|
| dao | dough | pounding |
| spatula | clay | rotating |
| basket | bamboo | shaping |
| cylinders | bed of hay | — |
| kiln | — | — |
Q II. Find meanings of economy-related words:
Answer:
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| bankrupt | Unable to pay debts; financially ruined |
| credit | Money available to borrow; trust in ability to pay back |
| currency | The system of money used in a country |
| debt | Money that is owed to someone |
| fiscal | Relating to government finances and taxes |
| inflation | A general rise in prices over a period of time |
| investment | Putting money into something to earn profit later |
| interest | Extra charge paid for borrowing money, or money earned on savings |
📄 PDF Page 14 | Textbook Page 46
Grammar – Noun Clauses
Q III.1. Complete the following sentences with suitable noun clauses:
Answer:
(i) The elders emphasised that it was Arenla’s duty to pass on the skill of pot making to her daughter and to anyone who wished to learn.
(ii) Mesoba explained why Arenla had not yet taught Sentila pot making, saying she had been ill and needed to grow stronger.
(iii) Onula’s promise was that she would teach Sentila how to make a perfect pot.
(iv) Sentila observed her mother carefully when she was shaping the mouth of the pot, which helped her learn the correct technique of adding the rim.
(v) The kiln, where the pots were arranged on a bed of hay and dried bamboo and then fired, required careful attention to prevent over-or-under firing.
📄 PDF Page 15 | Textbook Page 47
Grammar – Relative/Adjectival Clauses
Q III.2. Underline the main clause and circle the subordinate clause:
Answer:
(i) Arenla took Sentila to the riverbank (where the grey and red clay was found).
(ii) She started on the next one, and like a sprinter (who had suddenly found momentum)…
(iii) skills such as pot making, (which not only catered to the needs of the people)…
Q III.3. Complete the following sentences with suitable relative clauses:
Answer:
(i) Sentila, whose passion for pottery had been alive since childhood, practised the craft diligently.
(ii) The village council, where the elders gathered to resolve community matters, sought an explanation for Arenla’s reluctance.
(iii) The potter’s hands, which moved with great skill and precision, shaped the clay into beautiful creations.
(iv) Arenla, her mother, wanted her to learn weaving, which was less messy, could be done indoors, and earned more money.
(v) Mesoba went home and discussed the matter with Arenla, who then agreed to teach Sentila the art of pot making the following year.
📄 PDF Page 16 | Textbook Page 48
Determiners
Q III.4(i). Find more determiners from the text:
Answer: her, his, their, our, another, both, final, right, same, next, one, few, every, no
Q III.4(ii). Fill in the blanks with suitable determiners:
Answer:
A. The florist arranged five bouquets for her clients, that were displayed in an elegant floral shop.
B. The carpenter crafted some unique tables, and they became the centrepiece in his furniture collection.
C. Some of the apprentices in the culinary class demonstrated their knife skills during the intense cooking session.
D. Many of the sculptures were displayed at an art exhibition, showcasing their diverse artistic skills.
📄 PDF Page 19 | Textbook Page 51
Learning Beyond the Text – Pottery Styles
Q I.1. Match the pictures with the pottery style:
Answer (based on descriptions):
| Pottery Style | Region | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Khurja pottery | Uttar Pradesh | Colourful glazed ceramic/crockery |
| Blue pottery | Jaipur, Rajasthan | Distinctive blue dye, Persian-style |
| Terracotta | West Bengal | Red/brown unglazed clay figures |
| Andretta pottery | Himachal Pradesh | Simple, rustic hand-thrown pots |
| Karigari pottery | Tamil Nadu | Decorative, traditional South Indian style |
| Longpi Black pottery | Manipur | Made from stone powder, dark/black finish |
✅ Note on Pages 20–24 (Quality by John Galsworthy): These pages contain the story text itself. The task given is a writing/presentation task (Learning Beyond Text, Q II) — no comprehension questions are asked within pages 1–24 for this story. Students are asked to write a review of the story after reading it.
📌 Quick Revision Tips for Class 9 Students:
- Sentila = passionate, determined, a quick learner
- Arenla = worried about money, eventually supportive
- Onula = kind, encouraging mentor
- Mesoba = humble, diplomatic father
- Key theme = perseverance + preserving traditional crafts
- “A new pot maker was born” = Sentila’s dream comes true; tradition continues