3) He was Russian and an influential figure in world history. As the founder of the Bolshevik political party, he was a successful revolutionary leader who presided over Russia’s transformation from a country ruled by Czars (emperors) to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), the name of the communist Russian state from 1922 to 1991.Ans. _________________________________________________________________________4) He was an African-American leader. He inaugurated the use of non-violence within the civil rights movement. He has received the Nobel Peace Prize.Ans. _________________________________________________________________________5) He was a Chinese statesman and a revolutionary. More than anyone else, he helped reshape the social and political structures of his ancient and heavily populated country.Ans. _________________________________________________________________________Fun Martin Luther King Jr. entered college at the age of 15Fact! because he was a gifted student. He is the only American except George Washington with a national holiday in his honour.Do The first speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha was Ganeshyou Vasudev Mavalankar.know? 49
About Polity RBI Governor • The Governor of the Reserve Bank of India is the chief executive of India’s central bank and the ex officio chairperson of its central board of Directors. • The Indian currency notes bear the Governor’s signature. • The RBI was established by the British in 1935. • The first Indian Governor of the RBI was CD Deshmukh. • Manmohan Singh was the 13th Indian Governor of the RBI.1) Who is the current RBI governor? Also, find a picture of him or her.Ans. _________________________________________________________________________2) Were there any female RBI governors? If yes, name her or them.Ans. _________________________________________________________________________ The Speaker • The Speaker is the presiding officer of the Lok Sabha. • He or she conducts the business of the House. • The Speaker is elected in the very first meeting of the Lok Sabha following the general elections. • He or she holds office for a term of five years. • By convention, he or she is a member of the ruling party or alliance. • He or she cannot vote or talk on behalf of the ruling party. 50
3) Who is the current Speaker of the parliament?Ans. _________________________________________________________________________4) Name the female speakers of the parliament till date.Ans. _________________________________________________________________________ Chief Election Commissioner • The Chief Election Commissioner heads the Election Commission of India. This body ensures that free and fair elections are being conducted. • He or she is a member of the Indian Civil Services and most often, from the Indian Administrative Services. • He or she is appointed by the President.5) Name the current Chief Election Commissioner of India.Ans. _________________________________________________________________________ 51
LESSON 11 GLOBE TRAVELLERSIt’s Time for Germany, Turkey, Russia, Brazil and ItalyGuess the name of the country from the hints given below.• This country lies in South America, with Brasilia as its capital.• It is the 5th largest country in terms of area and population.• The official language of the country is Portuguese and the currency used is the Brazilian Real.• Other important cities in this country are Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador.• The national dish of this country is Feijoada. The Carnival is the most famous festival, celebrated in most parts of the country. Samba is among the most famous music genres and the Bahiana dress is one of the traditional dresses of women.• Pele, one of the most renowned football players in the world, was born in this country. He has been a World Cup champion in football three times. 52
• It is the largest producer of coffee in the world.Ans. __________________________________• This is a boot-shaped country situated in Europe.• The capital of this country is Rome and some of the important cities include Milan, Naples and Turin.• The official language of this place is Italian and the currency used is Euro.• It is a country with a rich heritage of literature, art and culture. It has 51 UNESCO identified heritage sites such as the Leaning tower of Pisa, the Castel del Monte, the Royal palace at Caserta, etc.• This country is known for elaborate styles of clothing and some of this country’s brands like Armani, Gucci, Brioni are considered the top brands in the world.• Some of the popular Italian dishes include pizza, pasta, espresso and gelato.• Epiphany and Befana are two of the most celebrated festivals of this country and are celebrated with much pomp and show.• One of the oldest and most influential civilisations of the world originated in the city of Rome.Ans. _______________________________________• This country is located in the centre of Europe and shares borders with nine other countries: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland.• The capital of this country is Berlin, which is also the largest city in the country and has the world’s largest railway station. 53
• Other major cities include Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Stuttgart and Frankfurt.• This country is the fifth largest country in Europe and second most populous after Russia, with more than 82 million people. This country is sometimes known as ‘the land of poets and thinkers’ because some of the world’s most famous scientists, like Albert Einstein, are from this country.• It was the first country in the world to adopt Daylight Saving Time.• The official language of the country is German, with over 95% of the population speaking German as their first language.• The first airline in the world was founded in this place. Ans. _______________________________________• It is the largest country in the world. Because of its huge size this place has a very diverse environment.• This country is located in northeastern Europe and northern Asia.• The capital of this country is Moscow and the currency used here is the Ruble.• Other major cities in this country include Saint Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk.• This place has many lakes. Lake Baikal in Siberia is the largest freshwater lake in the world.• The country is home to the largest McDonald’s restaurant in the world. 54
• One of the most well-known traditional foods that may seem strange to an outsider is borshch, also spelled borscht. This is a beet soup that is full of vegetables and meat and is typically served with a dollop of sour cream, a staple of many dishes.• Ballet is a popular notable art form that is found in this place. Ans. _______________________________________• A very interesting fact about this country is that a part of it lies in Asia and a part of it in Europe.• This country is surrounded on three sides by the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Aegean Sea.• Istanbul is the largest city in this country and is the third most populous urban area in Europe. But, it is not the capital. Ankara is in fact the capital of this country.• The currency used in the country is called the Turkish Lira.• Many famous ethnic dishes come from this place, such as manti, kebab, Lokum (Turkish delight), baklava, kadayif and more.• One more interesting fact is that Santa Claus originated in this country. He was born in the town of Patara and was known as St Nicholas during his lifetime.• It is a popular tourist destination and home to over ten World Heritage Sites.Ans. _______________________________________ 55
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