Etymology of Months and March Weather in India
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Questions and Answers

Describe a common weather pattern observed in March according to the text.

March can experience drastic temperature changes, shifting from cold winter days to warm spring ones.

What Roman god is March named after, and what does this deity represent?

March is named after Janus, the two-headed Roman god of doorways and new beginnings.

What phenomenon causes hailstones to form, and why are they more common in March?

Hailstones form due to strong winds that push clouds to freezing heights, and they are more common in March because of erratic weather patterns.

What does the saying 'Never cast a clout till March be out' imply?

<p>The saying means not to store away winter clothes until March is over due to the unpredictable weather.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What changes occur in the sun's behavior during March?

<p>In March, the sun rises earlier by more minutes than it sets in the evenings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How did the older Roman calendar differ from our current calendar regarding the months?

<p>The older Roman calendar originally had ten months, and eventually, all twelve months were given names.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain why the weather in March can lead to confusion regarding clothing choices.

<p>The fluctuating weather conditions in March can require switching between winter and summer clothing repeatedly.</p> Signup and view all the answers

List two characteristics of hailstones as described in the passage.

<p>Hailstones are milky-white in color and consist of layers of ice, resembling the skins of an onion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What two types of shrikes can generally be spotted in the Lodi Gardens?

<p>Bay-backed shrikes and rufous shrikes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is the shrike colloquially known as the butcherbird?

<p>Because of its habit of impaling live insects on thorns.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What spring vegetables and fruits are mentioned as flooding the market?

<p>Cucumbers, kakrees, watermelons, muskmelons, and mulberries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the Alfonso mango from other varieties mentioned?

<p>It is a much-fancied variety that comes from the Konkan coast.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Khushwant Singh best known for besides his journalism?

<p>His novel 'Train to Pakistan' and translations of Urdu poetry.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What tree do the white-backed vultures choose for nesting in Delhi?

<p>Ailanthus excelsa.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the Hindi name for Ailanthus excelsa?

<p>Mahavriksh.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon does the phrase 'their throats open up' refer to in the text?

<p>The clearer song of the koel as spring approaches.</p> Signup and view all the answers

When does the magpie robin typically sing?

<p>In the early hours of the morning or at twilight and evening.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What birds are mentioned alongside the koel and papeeha in the narrative?

<p>Crows, tree pies, golden orioles, and coppersmiths.</p> Signup and view all the answers

During which season does the flowering of Ailanthus excelsa occur?

<p>Late February.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What activity is suggested as a good time to visit parks in Delhi?

<p>In the afternoon of Holi after festivities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of wood is obtained from the Ailanthus excelsa tree?

<p>Soft wood for making packing cases and matchsticks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What experiment does the author suggest for guessing the temperature based on cricket chirps?

<p>Count the number of chirps per minute, divide by four, and add forty.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the weather impact insects like mosquitoes, flies, and moths?

<p>They can be fooled by the weather and may emerge only to be caught in sudden inclement conditions, leading to their deaths.</p> Signup and view all the answers

During which period does the festival of Holi usually take place?

<p>Between the latter part of February and the end of March.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which tree is mentioned as having flowers and leaves by mid-March?

<p>The mulberry tree (shahtoot).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the author suggest you can press as a bookmark from nature?

<p>The delicate new leaves of peepals and banyans.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What do vultures and kites do in March according to the passage?

<p>They are busy making nests.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe a typical scene during Holi as indicated in the passage.

<p>Young people engage in mock battles with colored water and powders while yelling 'Holi Hai!'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How can the cricket's chirp serve as a thermometer?

<p>The rate of chirping increases with temperature.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Etymology of Months

  • March named after Janus, Roman god of doorways and new beginnings
  • March was the first month of the older Roman calendar
  • July named after Mars, Roman god of war
  • April, August, September, December signify their numerical positions in the older Roman calendar
  • January named after Julius Caesar
  • February named after Juno, Roman queen of gods
  • May named after Augustus Caesar
  • June named after Februa, a festival of purification

March Weather in India

  • March unpredictable weather ranging from cold to warm, dry to wet
  • Fresh snowfall in mountains brings chilly winds to the capital
  • Strong winds create hail
  • Hailstone is an onion-shaped object with layers of ice
  • Weather often deceptive; can be warm enough to wear summer clothes but turn cold unexpectedly
  • Saying 'Never cast a clout till March be out' applies to March in India

Insects and Temperature

  • Insects suffer due to erratic weather changes
  • Cricket chirping can be used as a substitute for a thermometer
  • Faster chirping indicates higher temperature
  • Experiment: count chirps per minute, divide by four, add forty to determine temperature in Fahrenheit

Festivals and Seasonal Changes

  • Holi, the festival of colours, is a chancy event due to varied weather
  • Mulberry tree has flowers and leaves by mid-March
  • Bauhinia still in bloom but now with leaves
  • Mango trees covered with blossoms
  • Birth and death apparent in nature
  • Grapevine and Madhumalati plant new leaves daily
  • Neem, Mahua, Jamun, Peepal, Banyan trees shedding foliage
  • Peepal and Banyan have delicate pale pink new leaves
  • Author recommends using Peepal and Banyan leaves as bookmarks for their beauty

Birds and Habitats

  • Birds nesting in March
  • Vultures and Kites build nests
  • White-backed vultures choose the same cleft in Ailanthus tree
  • Ailanthus tree is common in Delhi, known for its soft wood
  • Neophrons occupy a niche in the Bara Gumbad
  • Koel's full-throated cry marks the start of nesting season
  • Coppersmith birds' sounds similar to flour mills

Bird Song in March

  • Crow pheasants, tree pies, golden orioles can be heard in the mornings
  • Magpie robin sings in early morning and evening
  • tuk-tuk-tuk-tuk of coppersmiths heard in the afternoons

Flowers in March

  • Buddha Jayanti Park known for planting masses of the same flower
  • Lodi Gardens have flowering trees and beds of pansies, phlox, salvias, violets
  • Purple Bougainvilleas bloom in Lodi gardens

Animals and Vegetables

  • Owlets and shriekes can be seen in parks
  • Shrike known as butcherbird for impaling insects on thorns
  • Last week of March sees spring vegetables and fruits in market
  • Watermelons, cucumbers, kakrees available
  • Mulberries, both white and purple varieties available
  • Mangoes from the south and Konkan coast available

Author

  • Khushwant Singh (1915-2014), a novelist, journalist, historian, and columnist
  • Known for his novel "Train to Pakistan" and translations of Urdu poetry and Sikh texts

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