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Questions and Answers
Describe a common weather pattern observed in March according to the text.
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?
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?
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?
What does the saying 'Never cast a clout till March be out' imply?
What changes occur in the sun's behavior during March?
What changes occur in the sun's behavior during March?
How did the older Roman calendar differ from our current calendar regarding the months?
How did the older Roman calendar differ from our current calendar regarding the months?
Explain why the weather in March can lead to confusion regarding clothing choices.
Explain why the weather in March can lead to confusion regarding clothing choices.
List two characteristics of hailstones as described in the passage.
List two characteristics of hailstones as described in the passage.
What two types of shrikes can generally be spotted in the Lodi Gardens?
What two types of shrikes can generally be spotted in the Lodi Gardens?
Why is the shrike colloquially known as the butcherbird?
Why is the shrike colloquially known as the butcherbird?
What spring vegetables and fruits are mentioned as flooding the market?
What spring vegetables and fruits are mentioned as flooding the market?
What distinguishes the Alfonso mango from other varieties mentioned?
What distinguishes the Alfonso mango from other varieties mentioned?
What is Khushwant Singh best known for besides his journalism?
What is Khushwant Singh best known for besides his journalism?
What tree do the white-backed vultures choose for nesting in Delhi?
What tree do the white-backed vultures choose for nesting in Delhi?
What is the Hindi name for Ailanthus excelsa?
What is the Hindi name for Ailanthus excelsa?
What phenomenon does the phrase 'their throats open up' refer to in the text?
What phenomenon does the phrase 'their throats open up' refer to in the text?
When does the magpie robin typically sing?
When does the magpie robin typically sing?
What birds are mentioned alongside the koel and papeeha in the narrative?
What birds are mentioned alongside the koel and papeeha in the narrative?
During which season does the flowering of Ailanthus excelsa occur?
During which season does the flowering of Ailanthus excelsa occur?
What activity is suggested as a good time to visit parks in Delhi?
What activity is suggested as a good time to visit parks in Delhi?
What type of wood is obtained from the Ailanthus excelsa tree?
What type of wood is obtained from the Ailanthus excelsa tree?
What experiment does the author suggest for guessing the temperature based on cricket chirps?
What experiment does the author suggest for guessing the temperature based on cricket chirps?
How does the weather impact insects like mosquitoes, flies, and moths?
How does the weather impact insects like mosquitoes, flies, and moths?
During which period does the festival of Holi usually take place?
During which period does the festival of Holi usually take place?
Which tree is mentioned as having flowers and leaves by mid-March?
Which tree is mentioned as having flowers and leaves by mid-March?
What does the author suggest you can press as a bookmark from nature?
What does the author suggest you can press as a bookmark from nature?
What do vultures and kites do in March according to the passage?
What do vultures and kites do in March according to the passage?
Describe a typical scene during Holi as indicated in the passage.
Describe a typical scene during Holi as indicated in the passage.
How can the cricket's chirp serve as a thermometer?
How can the cricket's chirp serve as a thermometer?
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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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