Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the main reason the man does not want Usha to pluck the flower?
What is the main reason the man does not want Usha to pluck the flower?
Which season does the story suggest it still feels like in the Himalayas?
Which season does the story suggest it still feels like in the Himalayas?
What natural event did Usha predict would affect the flower?
What natural event did Usha predict would affect the flower?
What characteristic is used to describe Usha in the passage?
What characteristic is used to describe Usha in the passage?
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How did the weather change after it rained during the night?
How did the weather change after it rained during the night?
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Which geographical location is mentioned in the passage?
Which geographical location is mentioned in the passage?
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What was Usha's reaction when she found the flower?
What was Usha's reaction when she found the flower?
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What does the term 'botanical' relate to according to the glossary?
What does the term 'botanical' relate to according to the glossary?
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Study Notes
The First Day of Spring in the Himalayas
- The story takes place on the first day of spring according to the Hindu calendar, but the weather still feels like mid-winter in the Himalayas.
- The weather is cold and windy, with dark rain clouds being blown by the west wind and thrust back by the east wind.
Meeting Usha
- The narrator meets 9-year-old Usha on their way to their cottage, who is hurrying back from school.
- Usha has tied a scarf around her head to keep her hair from blowing, and her dark hair, black eyes, and pink cheeks are visible despite the snow patches on the hillside.
The Discovery of a New Flower
- Usha points out a single, butter-yellow flower growing on the hillside, which stands out against the drab winter grass.
- The narrator has never seen the flower before and doesn't know its name, but decides to leave it untouched to see if it seeds.
Observing the Flower
- The narrator and Usha examine the flower more closely, noting its delicate and soft-petalled appearance.
- Usha predicts that the flower might not survive if it rains, which proves to be true that night with a mix of rain, sleet, and hail.
The Next Morning
- Despite the harsh weather, the sun comes out the next morning.
Did You Know?
- The Hindu calendar is based on the position of both the sun and the moon, whereas the Western calendar is based only on the position of the sun.
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Description
A descriptive passage about the first day of spring in the Himalayas, with a cold wind and dark rain clouds, and a brief encounter with a 9-year-old girl named Usha.
