Class 10th English Chapter-2 A Letter To God

Detailed Text :

E. Let’s Understand The Text:

Q1. Where did Lencho live?
Ans: Lencho lived in a solitary house that sat on the top of a low hill in the valley.

Q2. What did he hope for?
Ans: He hoped for a downpour or at least a good shower of rain which was the only thing the earth needed for a good harvest.

Q3.What did he say about the raindrops?
Ans: Lencho remarked with excitement that the raindrops falling from the sky were new coins. The big drops were ten-cent pieces and the little ones were five-cent pieces.

Q4. How did the rain change?
Ans: The rain changed into a hailstorm and along with the rain very large hailstones began to fall.

Q5. What happened to Lencho’s corn Heads?
Ans: As a strong wind began to blow and along with the rain, large hailstones began to fall, Lencho’s corn fields looked white as if it was covered with salt. His corn fields were completely destroyed.

Q6. Who did Lencho have faith in?
Ans: Lencho had deep faith in God.

Q7. Who did he write a letter to?
Ans: Lencho wrote a letter to God.

Q8. Who read the letter?
Ans: The postman and then the postmaster read the letter.

Q9. What did the postmaster do?
Ans: The postmaster thought of writing a letter in order not to shake Lencho’s faith in God. But after opening the letter he knew that Lencho asked for hundred pesos from God. So he collected some money from his employees and several friends and contributed a part of his salary. Then he sent the money in an envelope addressed to Lencho. He was able to send only a little more than half.

Q10.Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it?
Ans: No, Lencho was not surprised to find a letter for him with money in it.

Q11.What was Lencho’s reaction after getting the letter?
Ans: After getting the letter Lencho did not show the slightest surprise upon seeing the money in it. But he became angry while he counted the money because he got seventy pesos only whereas he asked for 100 pesos. He knew it well that neither God could have made a mistake nor could have denied what he had asked for. He began to suspect the integrity of the post office employees. In his next letter, he requested God to send him the rest money not through mail as the post office employees were a bunch of crooks.

F. Let’s Read Between The Lines:

(a)(i) Why did Lencho keep on looking at the sky throughout the morning?
Ans: There was no rain for some days and the earth needed a downpour or at least a shower for a good harvest. So Lencho kept on looking towards the northeast sky and waited for rain throughout the morning and waited for rain.

(ii) Why was the field white after the storm?
Ans: Due to a hailstorm for an hour, large hailstones fell on the field along with rain. So after the storm, the field was white as if it was covered with salt.

(iii) Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’?
Ans: Just as Lencho predicted big raindrops began to fall from the sky. Seeing it Lencho became extremely happy having a hope of a good harvest. So he. said the raindrops were as valuable as new silver coins.

(iv) Why did Lencho prefer locusts to the storm?
Ans: The crops of Lencho were completely destroyed by hailstorms. He thought that his family would go without food that year. He knew that a plague of locusts would have left more than that. The hail had left nothing. So he preferred locusts to the storm.

(v) Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/Why not?
Ans: Lencho didn’t try to find out who had sent the money to him. It was because he had firm faith in God and thought that God had listened to his prayer and had sent him the money.

(vi) What would be the reaction of the post office employees when they read the second letter.
Ans: When the post office employees read the second letter, the postmaster showed his curiosity to read the letter as what Lencho had written.

(b) Read the passage from the text and answer the questions that follow :
All through the night _______________________ act of charity.
(Five paragraphs)

(i) Who does Lencho have complete faith in?
Ans: Lencho has complete faith in God.

(ii) ‘Lencho was an ox of a man’ – What does the line mean?
Ans: The line ‘Lencho was an ox of a man’ means though Lencho was a man, he had to work hard in the field like an ox. The writer uses such a metaphor.

(iii) What was the postmaster like?
Ans: The postmaster was a fat man and had a friendly and pleasant personality. He was very kind and helpful also. As he was a charitable person he came forward to help Lencho by collecting and contributing money from his salary.

(iv) Why did the postmaster send money to Lencho?
Ans: When the postmaster saw the letter addressed to God, he was greatly surprised to think about the writer’s firm faith in God. In order not to shake the writer’s faith in God, he decided to answer the letter. He did not want Lencho to face the unfortunate results of his crop loss. He managed to send him seventy pesos to let him overcome his loss of crops.

(v) What does the expression ‘an act of charity’ mean?
Ans: The expression ‘an act of charity’ means an act of showing kindness and generosity towards people who are in distress.

G. Let’s Learn Some New Words:

(i) Look at the following sentence from the story.
But suddenly a strong wind began to blow and along with the rain very large hailstones began to fall.

· What are hailstones?

‘Hailstones’ are small balls of ice that fall like rain.What is a hailstorm?
A storm in which hailstones fall is a ‘hailstorm’. We know that a storm is bad weather with strong winds, rain, thunder and lightning. There are different names in different parts of the world for storms, depending on their nature. . Try to match the names in the box with their descriptions below, and fill in the blanks.

gale, whirlwind, cyclone, hurricane, tornado, typhoon

1. A violent tropical storm in which strong winds move in a circle: __ __c __ __ __
2. An extremely strong wind: __ a __ __
3. A violent tropical storm with very strong winds: __ __ p __ __ __
4. A violent storm with strong winds, especially in the Western Atlantic Ocean: __ __ r __ __ __ __ __ __
5. A violent storm whose centre is a cloud in the shape of a funnel: __ __ __ n __ __ __
6. A very strong wind that moves very fast in a spinning movement and causes a lot of damage: __ __ __ __ l __ __ __ __

Ans:
1. cyclone
2. gale
3. typhoon
4. hurricane
5. tornado
6. whirlwind

ii) Mark how the word ‘hope’ is used in these sentences from the story.
(a) I hope it (the hailstorm) passes quickly. (b) There was a single hope : help from God.

In sentence ‘a’, hope is used as a verb which means you wish for something to happen. In sentence ‘b’ it is a noun meaning a chance for something to happen. Difference between Noun and Verb
NOUN VERB
(i) a naming word (i) an action word
(ii) used as a subject or object (ii) used as tense
Example:
The book is our best friend. Did you book for Angul
They drink water . They water plants.
I write on a paper . We paper walls.
This is my little finger . Don’t finger the mobile
Where is the bottle ? Mother bottled the pickle.

Match the sentences in Column A with the meanings of ‘hope’ in Column B.
Question:

Column – A	Column – B
1. Will you get the subjects you want to study in college? I hope so.	a feeling that something good will probably happen
2. I hope you don’t mind my saying this, but I don’t like the way you are arguing.	thinking that this would happen (It may or may not have happened)
3. This discovery will give new hope to HIV/AIDS sufferers.	stopped believing that this good thing would happen
4. We are hoping against hope that the judges would not notice our mistakes.	wanting something to happen (and thinking it quite possible)
5. I called early in the hope of speaking to her before she went to school.	showing concern that what you say should not offend disturb or the other person : a way of being polite
6. Just when everybody had given up hope, the fisherman came back seven days after the cyclone.	wishing for something to happen, although this is very unlikely.

Ans:

Column – A	Column – B
1. Will you get the subjects you want to study in college? I hope (verb) so.	wanting something to happen (and thinking it quite possible)
2. I hope (verb) you don’t mind my saying this, but I don’t like the way you are arguing.	showing concern that what you say should not offend or disturb the other person: a way of being polite.
3. This discovery will give new hope to Hl V/AIDS sufferers.	a feeling that something good will probably happen.
4. We are hoping against hope (noun) that the judges would not notice our mistakes.	wishing for something to happen although this is very unlikely.
5. I called early in the hope (noun) of speaking to her before she went to school.	thinking that this would happen (It may or may not have happened)
6. Just when everybody had given up hope (noun) the fisherman came back seven days after the cyclone.	stopped believing that this good thing would happen.

Now read the story and make a list of words used as verbs and nouns. Make sentences of your own using them as verbs and nouns in your words.
Ans:
The list of words used as verbs and nouns in the story: are need, water, reply, work, drop, return, rain, help, place, and comment.

need(N)

(V)

We take money from the bank as the need arises.

I need a rented house to stay in in Bhubaneswar.

water(N)

(V)

Water is a basic need for human beings.

We should water our plants in the afternoon.

reply(N)

(V)

He did not give reply to my letter.

He is able to reply to all letters.

work(N)

(V)

Work is worship.

He works in a private company

drop(N)

(V)

Every drop of water is useful for us.

He dropped the glass which he hold in his hand

return(N)

(V)

He has already submitted his income tax return.

He returned home after his work was over.

rain(N)

(V)

The rain continued for two hours.

It rained heavily yesterday.

help(N)

(V)

I need your help.

He helps me whenever I am in need.

place(N)

(V)

Cuttack is a suitable place to live in.

He placed the telephone on a table.

comment(N)

(V)

No unfavorable comment should be made about others.

The minister refused to comment on the rumor of his resignation

H. Let’s Listen And Speak:

Dad: It’s quite late. Go to bed.
Son: I’ve got the final examination tomorrow.
Dad: It’s almost 12.30 at the night. No more argument. Off to bed.
Son: I have a lot to learn yet.
Dad: It’s essential to get your concepts clear.
Son: But I need to make sure that I know everything that’s required.
Dad: Isn’t it necessary to read the books to get the concepts clear?
Son: All right, father.

Read the text and prepare a dialogue like the one given above and play the roles.

Ans:
Daughter: Mummy, I am going to bed because it is 11.30 p.m.
Mother: Have you finished your home task?
Daughter: Yes, Mum. There was little homework for today. Besides, I completed a part of it at school in my leisure hour.
Mother: Yesterday I met your English teacher at the market. He told that some of your grammar concepts are not clear. He advised giving emphasis on it.
Daughter: I am trying my best to get the concept clear with the help of my teacher.
Mother: All right. You can go now.
Daughter: Good night! Mummy.

I. Lets Learn Language:

(i) Relative Clauses (Adjective Clause) :
Look at the following sentence :

Throughout the morning Lencho – who knew his fields intimately looked at the sky.
This sentence may also be written as:All morning Lencho, who knew his fields intimately, looked at the sky.
The underlined parts of the sentences provide us with more information about Lencho and the woman. We call it a Relative Clause. Mark that they begin with a relative pronoun, who. Other common relative pronouns are whom, which, that, and whose.

The relative clause in the above sentence is called a non-defining relative clause because we already know the identity of the person described. We don’t need the information in the relative clause to pick the person out of a larger set.

A.NON-DEFINING RELATIVE CLAUSE
Non-defining Relative Clause usually has a comma preceding and following it. Some writers use a dash (-) instead (as in the story). If the relative clause comes at the end, we just put a full stop. Non-defining Relative clause 1 666 comma (,) comma dash (–) A Non-defining Relative clause does not identify its antecedent (noun phrase used before the relative pronoun). It (NDRC) only gives extra or additional information about its antecedent.

A clause is either a simple sentence or a part of a bigger sentence having subject and predicate.

Join the pairs of sentences given below using a relative pronoun.My mother is going to host a T.V. show on cooking.
She cooks very well.

1.Our institution is highly popular.
It works for public welfare.

2.Satish scored a goal at the last minute.
He was fortunate.

3.Mother Teresa is revered as a saint.
She served mankind.

4.I often go to Mumbai.
Mumbai is the commercial capital of India.

5.These sportspersons are going to meet the President.
Their performance has been excellent.

Ans:

1. My mother, who cooks very well, is going to host a T.V. show on cooking.

2. Our institution, which works for public welfare , is highly popular.

3. Satish, who was fortunate , scored a goal in the last minute.

4. Mother Teresa, who served mankind , is revered as a saint.

5. I often go to Mumbai, which is the commercial capital of India.

6. These sports-persons, whose performance has been excellent , are going to meet the President.

Sometimes the relative pronoun in a relative clause remains ‘hidden’. For example, look at the first sentence of the story.

a) The house — the only one in the entire valley — sat on the Crest of a low hill.
We can rewrite the sentence as (without any change in the meaning)

The house—which was the only one in the entire valley—sat on the crest of a low hill.
In the original sentence of the text (a) the relative pronoun ‘which’ and the verb ‘was’ are not present (hidden).

(ii) Using negatives for emphasis :
We know that sentences with words such as ‘no’, ‘not’, or ‘nothing’ show the absence of something, or contradict something. For example — (From the text) This year we will have no corn. (The crops have failed.)

· (b) The hail has left nothing. (Absence of a crop)

· (c) These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins.
(Contradicts the common idea of what the drops of water falling from the sky are.)
But sometimes negative words are used to emphasise an idea. Look at the sentences from story :

· (d) Lencho …. had donc nothing else but see the sky towards the north-east. (He had done only this.)

· (e) The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body. (He had only this reason.)

· (f) Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money. (He showed no surprise at all.)

Now look back at the example ‘c’. Mark that the contradiction in fact serves to emphasise the value or usefulness of the rain to the farmer.

Find sentences in the story with negative words, which express the following ideas emphatically :

(1) The trees lost all their Leaves.
(2) The letter was addressed to God himself.
(3) The postman saw this address for the first time in his life.
Ans:
(1) Not a leaf remained on the trees.
(2) It was nothing less than a letter to God.
(3) Never in his career as a postman had he known that address.

J. Let’s Write:
1) Now imagine that you are a reporter for ‘The Indian Express’. You have received the news about the recent cyclone that hit Odisha. Using the guidelines given in the box above, complete a similar report for the newspaper.

Ans:
The Super Cyclone brings about the unthinkable tragedy
The Indian Express,
Cuttack, 05 November
The super cyclone of the 29th of October in the district brought about an unthinkable tragedy to the people and their property. A large number of trees were uprooted. Thatched houses were blown away and the mud-built houses of the poor people collapsed. Crops were completely destroyed. Livestock died in numbers. Above all, it caused a great loss of lives and properties.
However, government and voluntary organisations geared up to provide relief commodities. Medicines were supplied to the affected people. Helps from all quarters flew continuously.

​Class 10th English Chapter-2 A Letter To God Question Answer

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Class 10th English Chapter-2 A Letter To God Question Answer