cbse, class 10, english language and literature, term 1 ... · written as per the syllabus...

ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

TERM I

Written as per the syllabus prescribed by the Central Board of Secondary Education.

CBSECLASS X

Printed at: Repro Knowledgecast Ltd., Mumbai

10290_10460_JUP

P.O. No. 13390

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, C.D. ROM/Audio Video Cassettes or electronic, mechanical including photocopying; recording or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the Publisher.

Salient Features

• Extensive coverage of the syllabus for Term I in an effortless and easy to grasp format

• In alignment with the latest paper pattern of Central Board of Secondary Education

• Methodical Practice for Reading and Writing Skills

• Solutions for the prescribed Textbook: First Flight and Supplementary Reader: Footprints

Without Feet

• Variety of additional questions important for the Assessment

• Systematic analysis of the prescribed Novels

• Answers for important Board Questions

• Model Question Papers in accordance with the latest paper pattern

First Edition: March 2016

PREFACE In the case of good books, the point is not how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.

“Class X: English Language and Literature” is a complete and thorough guide critically analyzed and extensively drafted to foster the student’s confidence. The book ensures extensive coverage of the syllabus for Term I in an effortless and easy to grasp format. The book is divided in five sections to facilitate easy learning for the student. The first section – Reading Skills provides ample Factual and Discursive Passages with numerous Solved and Practice Questions. The second section – Writing Skills includes copious Practice Exercises to enable thorough preparation. The third and fourth section of the book includes solutions for the prescribed Textbook: First Flight and Supplementary Reader: Footprints without Feet. This section also offers a plethora of Questions important from assessment perspective. A Glossary explaining difficult or unusual words and expressions used in the text is incorporated. Summaries of lessons and Paraphrases of poems are provided to communicate the original meaning of the text in an explicit manner. The fifth section covers both the Novels which have been systematically analysed. Solved questions have been provided to enable the student in preparing for the assessment. Additionally answers for all the important Board Questions have been included in all the sections. The book also includes two Model Question Papers as per the latest paper pattern of Central Board of Secondary Education. The journey to create a complete book is strewn with triumphs, failures and near misses. If you think we’ve nearly missed something or want to applaud us for our triumphs, we’d love to hear from you. Please write to us on : [email protected]

A book affects eternity; one can never tell where its influence stops.

Best of luck to all the aspirants! Yours faithfully, Publisher

Section Wise Weightage In English Language and Literature Section Total Weightage 90

A Reading Skills 20 B Writing Skills with Grammar 25 C Literature Textbook and Long Reading Text 25 D Assessment of Speaking and Listening (ASL) 20 Total 90

Note: It is a division of marks assigned to all the four skills of language. The distribution of marks for

Formative Assessments carrying 40% weightage may be done by the schools themselves. A variety of activities to assess all the skills of language may be used for Formative Assessments.

The Summative Assessments Question Papers, if developed by the schools themselves, may be for 70 marks to which 20 marks may be added for Assessment of Speaking and Listening skills making the paper of 90 marks. The one third of the 90 marks i.e. 30 should be added each in both Summative Assessments.

Assessment of Speaking and Listening skills (ASL) will be done formally at the term end examination in Summative – II. Schools can conduct ASL for Summative – I themselves as per the guidelines provided by the CBSE. However assessment of these skills may also be done under the Formative activities spread over two terms.

There will be one written paper of English at the end of each term carrying 70 marks. The time limit will be three hours.

QUESTION PAPER PATTERN Section A: Reading 20 Marks 50 Periods Qs 1-2. This section will have two unseen passages of a total length of 700-750 words. The

arrangement within the reading section is as follows: Q.1. A Factual passage 300-350 words with eight very short answer type questions. 8 marks Q.2. A Discursive passage of 350-400 words with four short answer type questions to test

inference, evaluation and analysis and four MCQs to test vocabulary. 12 marks Section B: Writing and Grammar 25 Marks 60 Periods Q.3. Letter to the Editor/Article in about 100-120 words will make use of any visual/verbal

stimulus and the question will be thematically based on MCB. 5 marks Q.4. Writing a short story based on a given outline or cue/s in about 150-200 words. 10 marks The Grammar syllabus will include the following areas in classes IX and X. 1. Tenses 2. Modals (have to/had to, must, should, need, ought to and their negative forms) 3. Use of passive voice 4. Subject-verb concord 5. Reporting i. Commands and requests ii. Statements iii. Questions 6. Clauses: i. Noun clauses ii. Adverb clauses of condition and time iii. Relative clauses 7. Determiners, and 8. Prepositions The above items may be tested through test types as given below: Q.5. Gap filling with one or two words to test Prepositions, Articles, Conjunctions and Tenses. 3 marks Q.6. Editing or Omission 4 marks Q.7. Sentence reordering or Sentence Transformation in context. 3 marks Section C: Literature Textbook and Long Reading Text 25 Marks 60 Periods Q.8. One out of two extracts from prose/poetry/ play for reference to context. Three very short

answer questions. 3 marks One mark in each extract will be for vocabulary. One question will be used for testing local

and global comprehension and one question will be on interpretation. Q.9. Four short answer type questions from First Flight and Footprints without Feet to test local

and global comprehension of theme and ideas (30-40 words each) 2 4 = 8 marks Q.10. One out of two long answer type questions to assess how the values inherent in the text

have been brought out (First Flight and Footprints without Feet). Creativity, imagination and extrapolation beyond the text and across the texts will be assessed. (80-100 words).

Q.11. One out of two very long answer question on theme or plot involving interpretation, inference and character in about 150-200 words based on prescribed novel. 10 marks

Prescribed Books: Published by NCERT, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi First Flight – Textbook for Class X Footprints without Feet Supplementary Reader for Class X Novel (either one) The Diary of a Young Girl – 1947 By Anne Frank (unabridged edition) The Story of My Life – 1903 By Helen Keller (unabridged edition) Note: Teachers are advised to: i. encourage classroom interaction among peers, students and teachers through activities such

as role play, group work etc.

ii. reduce teacher-talking time and keep it to the minimum, iii. take up questions for discussion to encourage pupils to participate and to marshal their

ideas and express and defend their views, and iv. use the performance descriptors, scale for conversation skills to test the students for

continuous assessment. Besides measuring attainment, texts serve the dual purpose of diagnosing mistakes and areas of non-learning. To make evaluation a true index of learners’ attainment, each language skill is to be assessed through a judicious mixture of different types of questions. In addition to the summative tests, formative assessment is essential to measure the level of attainment in the four language skills and the learners’ communicative competence. Formative assessment should be done through ‘in class’ activities throughout the year. Reading Section: Reading for comprehension, critical evaluation, inference and analysis is a skill to be tested in Formative as well as Summative Assessments. Writing Section: All types of short and extended writing tasks will be dealt with in both I and II Terms in both Formative as well as in Summative Assessments. Grammar: Grammar items mentioned in the syllabus will be taught and assessed formatively over a period of time. There will be no division of syllabus for Grammar in the summative Assessment for the two terms. Speaking and Listening Skills: 50 Periods Since the introduction of Assessment of Speaking and Listening Skills (ASL) in classes IX and X, it has become imperative to carry out speaking and listening activities in regular classroom teaching. Sufficient practice should be given to students in order to prepare them for ASL. Performance descriptors should be shared with students from time to time.

English Language and Literature Course Summative Assessment (2015-16) Class X

Textbooks

Literature Reader Summative Assessment – I Summative Assessment – II

Prose (First Flight) 1. A Letter to God 1. Glimpses of India 2. Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom 2. Mijbil the Otter 3. Two Stories about Flying 3. Madam Rides the Bus 4. From the Diary of Anne Frank 4. The Sermon at Benares 5. The Hundred Dresses - I 5. The Proposal 6. The Hundred Dresses - II Poetry 1. Dust of Snow 1. Animals 2. Fire and Ice 2. The Trees 3. A Tiger in the Zoo 3. Fog 4. How to Tell Wild Animals 4. The Tale of Custard the Dragon 5. The Ball Poem 5. For Anne Gregory 6. Amanda! Supplementary Reader (Footprints without Feet) 1. A Triumph of Surgery 1. The Making of a Scientist 2. The Thief’s Story 2. The Necklace 3. The Midnight Visitor 3. The Hack Driver 4. A Question of Trust 4. Bholi 5. Footprints without Feet 5. The Book that Saved the Earth Long Reading Text-Novels (either one) The Diary of a Young Girl- 1947 June 12, 1942 to March 14, 1944 by Anne Frank (unabridged edition) The Story of My Life- 1903 Chapters 1-14 by Helen Keller (unabridged edition)

The Diary of a Young Girl-1947 March 16, 1944 to August 04, 1944 by Anne Frank (unabridged edition) The Story of My Life-1903 Chapters 15-23 by Helen Keller (unabridged edition)

Class X

English Language and Literature 2015-16 (Code No.184)

Typology Testing

competencies/learning outcomes

VSAQ 1 mark

SAQ 30-40 words

2 marks

LAQ-I 80-100 words

4 marks

LAQ-II 100-120 words

5 marks

VLAQ 150-200 words

(HOTS) 10 marks

Marks

Reading Skills

Conceptual understanding, decoding, analyzing, inferring, interpreting and vocabulary

12 04 --- --- --- 20

Creative Writing

Skills and Grammar

Expressing an opinion, reasoning, justifying, illustrating, appropriacy of style and tone, using appropriate format and fluency. Applying conventions, using integrated structures with accuracy and fluency.

10 --- --- 01 01 25

Literature and

Textbooks

Recalling, reasoning, appreciating, applying literary conventions, extrapolating, illustrating and justifying etc. Extracting relevant information, identifying the central theme and sub themes, understanding the writer’s message and writing fluently.

03 04 01 --- 01 25

Total

2501 = 25 marks

0802 = 16 marks

0104 = 04 marks

01 05 = 05 marks

0210 = 20 marks

70 marks

Assessment of Speaking

and Listening

Skills

Interaction, reasoning, diction, articulation, clarity, pronunciation and overall fluency

20 marks

Total 90 marks

Contents No. Topic Name Page No.

Section A : Reading Skills 1 Factual Passages 2 2 Discursive Passages 12 Section B: Writing Skills

1 Letter Writing 22 2 E-mail Writing 34 3 News Report Writing 39 4 Writing Articles 45 5 Story Writing 52 6 Speech Writing 57 7 Notice Board Writing 61 8 Paragraph Writing 65 9 Debate Writing 68

10 Dialogue Writing 74 Section C: First Flight

Prose: 1 A Letter to God 78 2 Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom 90 3 Two Stories About Flying I. His First Flight 107 II. Black Aeroplane 115

4 From the Diary of Anne Frank 122 5 The Hundred Dresses-I 136 6 The Hundred Dresses-II 148

Poetry: 1 Dust of Snow 161 2 Fire and Ice 165 3 A Tiger in the Zoo 168 4 How to Tell Wild Animals 173 5 The Ball Poem 177 6 Amanda! 182 Section D: Footprints without Feet

1 A Triumph of Surgery 188 2 The Thief’s Story 193 3 The Midnight Visitor 199 4 A Question of Trust 204 5 Footprints without Feet 208 Section E: Novel/Long Reading Texts

1 The Diary of a Young Girl 213 2 The Story of My Life 227 Model Question Paper

1 Model Question Paper – I 249 2 Model Question Paper – II 252

Note: All the Textual questions are represented by * mark

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Reading SkillsSection A

Factual Passages

Discursive Passages

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Class X: English Language and Literature

Solved Passages Passage 1 With the introduction of the mobile-app based model in the taxi market, the business is experiencing a vast difference. The earnings of the cab drivers are skyrocketing with many of them earning anywhere between ` 75,000 to ` 1,00,000 per month. Citing one example of a cab driver, Mr. Lokesh R. from Bengaluru earns around ` 80,000 per month and sometimes earns more than ` 1,00,000 per month if he gets more rides. He adds that prior to this, he was making a meager amount of ` 15,000 to ` 20,000 per month. Mr. Arvind Singhal, CEO of TaxiforSure said that with such changes in the taxi business, many educated professionals have approached him to become cab drivers. They are looking at it as an entrepreneurial venture against a 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. IT job. The online taxi market is driven by mobile-app technology. Also, the highly competitive rates is giving a tough competition to the local cab drivers. The taxi companies blooming in India are Ola, Uber and TaxiforSure. Ola, which is currently valued at $ 2.5 billion, started its operations four years ago and is currently present in over 100 cities. Uber, being globally successful and valued above $ 50 billion started business in India in August 2013 and is currently present in 11 cities. Uber across the world runs only on credit card payment system, wherein the customer fills in the credit card details while booking the cab. But, looking at the cash payment demand in Indian market, the global giant has made a shift in the payment method to make a place in the taxi market. The taxi market is growing leaps and bounds and currently estimated to be around ` 11,000 crore and is growing in double digits. The drivers are making hay while the sun shines by earning more than the regular cab drivers. In case of Uber, for every trip made, the drivers are paid 80% of the fare, which is credited to their bank account. Also, a bonus of ` 150 is paid for every trip during the peak hours and ` 50 during non-peak hours. Ola, provides the bonus to drivers if they do six trips in a day, while TaxiForSure charges the drivers with only 8-12% of the ride fare. With such schemes introduced, the drivers are encouraged to serve the customers. At the same time, the customers also get a cab when in need. Hence, it appears to be a win-win situation for both the parties. Citing one more example, Mr. Basavaraj from Bengaluru who was under heavy family debts bought

a taxi under Ola financing scheme. Under this scheme, Mr. Basavaraj purchased a cab, the financing for which was done by Ola. Here, the cab/vehicle for initial few years is attached to the company. Later, he was able to clear all his debts. Nevertheless, the job has its associated pressures. The cab drivers can never keep their mobiles away, as they can’t ascertain when they will get their next call. It’s an ongoing process as the demand keeps coming in. In certain cases, even the wives of certain cab drivers have taken a leap into the business, by tracking the cab movement on GoogleMaps and co-ordinating with the drivers. The drivers have become mini-entrepreneurs. Questions: 1. How has the mobile-app based taxi business

model brought a revolution among the masses?

Ans: Customer can book a cab on a single click. Post booking, the cab driver receives the customer from his doorstep. This makes the customer’s ride easier as opposed to arguments with regular cab drivers and this is how the mobile-app based taxi business model has brought a revolution among the masses.

2. In what way have the cab drivers benefited after the shift to mobile-app based taxi hailing service?

Ans: The cab drivers are not only paid well but also receive bonus for their efforts put in. Moreover, they have a systemized process in order to take the booking from a customer and to receive payments.

3. Why are professionals now opting to become cab drivers over their 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. IT job?

Ans: From the app-based taxi model, the cab drivers can now make anywhere between ` 80,000 to ` 1,00,000 a month. Moreover, it is not a 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. job. Professionals see it as an entrepreneurial venture and hence opt it for both, its flexibility as well as the good pay.

4. What are the various payment benefits given to the cab drivers by the companies?

Ans: In case of Uber, the drivers are paid 80% of the fare for every trip made, which is directly credited to their bank account. Also, a bonus of ` 150 is paid for every trip during the peak hours and ` 50 during non-peak hours. Ola, provides the bonus to drivers if they do six trips in a day. TaxiForSure charges the drivers with only 8-12% of the ride fare.

01. Factual Passages

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Reading Skills 01: Factual Passages

5. The cab drivers working under mobile-app based taxi model are benefited. Cite an example of happy cab drivers from the passage.

Ans: Mr. Lokesh R. from Bengaluru, working under the mobile-app based taxi model business earns anywhere between ` 80,000 to ` 1,00,000 per month. He can be surely called a Happy cab driver as prior to this change, he was making a meager amount of ` 15,000 to ` 20,000 a month.

6. How are families joining hands with the cab drivers to support them?

Ans: Work pressure is a part and parcel of the cab driver’s job. The cab drivers can never keep their mobiles away, as they can’t ascertain when they will get their next call. At such times, wives of cab drivers help them track the cab movements through Google Maps and co-ordinate with them.

7. How the companies help the drivers in new purchase of the cabs?

Ans: There are companies who offer cab purchasing schemes. Under this scheme, the drivers can purchase a cab, the financing for which is done by the companies. Here, the cab/vehicle for initial few years is attached to the company.

8. Have the mobile-app based cabs affected the regular cabs, if yes, explain?

Ans: The mobile-app cabs have affected the regular cab drivers severely. This is because regular cab drivers are difficult to track and they have their choices for a place. Very few regular cabs are air-conditioned and in a good state.

Passage 2 As a student, when one decides to step out of the country for studies, it means planning to push oneself beyond the comfort zone. It also means to live life in an independent way. At the same time, learning to manage own finances, accommodation along with academics. As per the research conducted by the Guardian Professional Networks, the Indian students strive for exposure on a global platform and the best way to do it is through a quality education. 61% of the students consider it to be the biggest reason for moving abroad. The other reasons being the institution, its reputation, the program, its professors, etc. This in all, could help build a student’s career. The range of subjects offered with various streams and the top-notch facilities provided are a way ahead then that provided in one’s native country. Popular options among Indian students at the graduate level are business and STEM-related (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields.

They learn to socialize with students from a different background. They meet native students as well as international students; which facilitates building up a global network of friends.

At the same time, the student is introduced to different cultures and languages. It brings about an overall change and the student adapts to a new culture.

As per the ASSOCHAM (The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India) Report of June 2013, “Although the fall in the rupee seems to have shaken the aspiration of (Indian) students willing to study abroad, it has not shattered their dreams altogether.” It may result in a higher cost by a few lakh of rupees, but the higher studies should be seen as a long term investment rather than an expense. Post securing a reputable job, one can get the return on investment. If the student needs to send money home, with the current rupee value, his/her family would gain abundantly.

Currently, banks have duly introduced top-up schemes for the educational loans to fill the gap caused by the exchange rate fluctuation. If a student has a family member or a relative in his/her destination country, he can find out how to make arrangements to acquire a loan from a local bank. Also, these banks provide loans at a lower rate of interest. This would probably provide an opportunity to repay the educational loan in the same foreign currency as and when he gains employment in the country.

Not only this, the Universities also help the students by providing assistance while searching a job. The help is provided on making resume, interviewing skills and job search through career fairs. During the course, the students are groomed with relevant skills as per the industrial requirement. The universities are associated with the industry and help students find a job. The universities also help in getting an internship during studies for added experience.

Post completion of the studies, students become available to employers. Students experience will be an added value as much as their academic grades and qualification. They can get the desired job, if they convince the employers that the skills and knowledge acquired are transferrable into the working world. The experience once added to their resume can do wonders to their career path. Questions:

1. What helps in making the decision to study abroad?

Ans: Students strive for exposure on a global platform and the best way to do it is through a quality education. They look for a quality education to prosper in their career. This urge to prosper helps in the decision to study abroad.

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2. How does the bank help the students, in case of devaluation of rupee?

Ans: The devaluation of rupee causes a rise in the fees to be paid. To avoid such a situation, the banks have introduced top-up schemes for the educational loans to fill the gap caused due to the exchange rate fluctuation. This is how the bank helps the students, in case of devaluation of rupee.

3. How do courses abroad provide an edge over while looking for a suitable job?

Ans: The universities help the students by providing assistance in various ways like making resume, interviewing skills, job search through career fairs etc. The students are also groomed with relevant skills as per the industry requirement. This is how courses abroad provide an edge over while looking for a suitable job.

4. Discuss the benefits of getting a degree from an offshore university.

Ans: By procuring a degree from an offshore university, he/she gets an opportunity to learn and interact with students from various cultural background. This helps to build a global network.

5. How does it bring an overall development in the student?

Ans: The overall development of students occur as they learn to move out of their comfort zone and start living life independently. They learn to manage their finances and accommodation along with academics. They learn to socialize, meet and interact with people from different cultures.

6. Is it a wise decision to make a huge investment for education abroad?

Ans: The exorbitant amount of fees to be paid can be viewed as a long term investment. Once the student successfully completes the course, he/she can seek a job; through which he earns a desirable salary and the amount could be sent to the family. Hence, it is a wise decision to make a huge investment for education abroad.

7. The level of some Indian Universities fail to match with those in abroad. Explain.

Ans: The Indian universities fail to compete with the universities abroad due to their poor infrastructure, lack of efficient professors, outdated content quality, etc. On the other hand, the universities abroad provide world class quality content, highly skilled and experienced faculty, proper infrastructure, various streams that can be offered to students, etc.

8. In the era of globalization, how does higher education from abroad benefit the students in their career path?

Ans: After completing the studies, students become available to employers. They get the desired job, if they convince the employers that the skills and knowledge acquired while studying abroad are transferrable into the working world. The experience once added to the resume can do wonders to their career path. In this way, higher education from abroad benefits the students in their career path, in the the era of globalization.

Passage 3

Food delivery is a segment with innumerable market opportunities and is considered as a profitable segment to invest at the moment. Zomato, an online restaurant directory and food ordering company, has decided to spruce up its delivery process by seizing the opportunity of the growing food delivery segment. It has made strategic investments in Gurgaon-based Pickingo, and Mumbai-based Grab.

Grab, a food logistics firm, was founded by Jignesh Patel, Nishant Vora and Pratish Sanghvi in 2012. Oliphans Capital has invested $1 million in the company along with an independent investor Haresh Chawla. Pickingo is a B-2-B on-demand hyperlocal start up. It raised $1.3 million from Orios Venture partners headed by Rehan Yar Khan.

Both these companies are providers of hyper local delivery service. Zomato’s investment will enable restaurants to provide last-mile delivery including dine-in-only restaurant that don’t otherwise deliver. Apart from these companies, Zomato has also partnered with digital commerce focused logistics venture, Delhivery. The partnership with Zomato has enabled Delhivery to enter the hyperlocal delivery segment.

Deepinder Goyal, Founder and CEO of Zomato, says, “We have unequivocally the largest restaurant base in India and we will work closely with Pickingo, Grab, and Delhivery to improve the last-mile delivery experience for users placing orders online on Zomato. So far, restaurants have been delivering on their own, but with this partnership, we will also be able to target restaurants across the country that doesn’t otherwise deliver. We are also launching our online ordering service in Dubai, Australia, and South Africa. Along similar lines, we are also in conversation with hyper local logistics firms in other countries to ensure that we are able to provide a seamless and quality experience to our users there.”

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Rahul Gill, Co-founder and CEO of Pickingo, says “This investment will not just infuse funds into the company but will also allow us to scale rapidly with Zomato’s online ordering business, while also leveraging Zomato’s strong relationship with restaurants across the country. We have already started working together to deliver from selected restaurants in New Delhi, and we look forward to taking this partnership further.” According to Pratish Sanghvi, Co-founder and Director of Grab, “last-mile logistics is a challenge for most merchants across India, especially restaurants, and the company views this investment as a great opportunity to solve this problem using technology along with Zomato. Zomato is making strides to move from being a search and discovery portal to a platform offering technology that helps merchants connect more effectively with customers with the launch of online ordering, cashless payments, soon to be launched table reservations, and a point of sale system.” Sahil Barua, Founder & CEO of Delhivery, says “The food-tech space in India is heating up, and we’re excited about this partnership with Zomato. Delivery logistics for restaurants have always been a challenge, and we believe the technology-first approach will help simplify operations for them, as well as enrich customer experiences.” Over the past years, Zomato has expanded its reach into global markets. It has acquired nine more companies with the aim of expanding its market in the restaurant search space. One such company is Urbanspoon, which has helped Zomato to occupy a dominant position in overseas market in Australia, Canada and the United States. Questions: 1. Which are the investments made by

Zomato in the food delivery segments? Ans: Zomato has made strategic investments in

Pickingo, a B-2-B on-demand hyper local venture and Grab, a food logistics firm. It has also entered into a partnership with Delhivery.

2. Give details about the company ‘Grab’. Ans: Grab is a food logistics firm based in

Mumbai. It was founded by Jignesh Patel, Nishant Vora and Pratish Sanghvi in 2002.

3. Give details about ‘Pickingo’ venture. Ans: Pickingo is a Gurgoan based firm. It is a

B-2-B on-demand hyperlocal start up. They provide hyper local delivery service.

4. What does Zomato aim to achieve by making the investments in delivery service?

Ans: By investing in the delivery service companies, Zomato aims to improve the last-mile delivery experience for users placing orders online on Zomato and target restaurants across the country that don’t deliver.

5. How Pickingo has benefited from Zomato’s investment in it?

Ans: Zomato’s investment in Pickingo will infuse funds into the company and also help it to increase its business rapidly.

6. What problem do most restaurants face and how can it be solved?

Ans: Most restaurants face the challenge of last mile logistics; which could be solved with the help of technology that would connect the merchants more effectively with customers.

7. How does Zomato plan to expand its reach in global markets?

Ans: Zomato plans to expand its reach in the global markets by acquiring more companies such as Urbanspoon which has helped to occupy a dominant position in the overseas market in Australia, Canada and the United States.

8. Do you think Zomato is right in investing in the food delivery segments?

Ans: Yes, Zomato is right in investing in food delivery segments as it offers innumerable market opportunities. The food-tech space in India is heating up and with the help of technology; Zomato can offer a big platform to spruce up food delivery services.

Passage 4 ‘Ganges River Dolphins’ are found in the Ganges-Brahmaputra river system mainly in India and Bangladesh. They are listed as endangered by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) due to a probable population decline of approximately 50% over the last five decades and projected a future population decline too. Many dolphins died in the upper reaches of rivers, mainly due to irrigation barrages and dry season habitat. When compared, the level of deaths is lesser in the Brahmaputra River than the Ganges. Therefore, the Brahmaputra River is of great importance for survival of the subspecies. For ensuring the survival of dolphins, a recent proposal by Oil India Ltd. was rejected. The proposal was to find oil reserves by initiating seismic exploration using explosives and air guns along the bed of the Brahmaputra River. Moreover, the behavioral studies on dive time, surfacing interval and acoustic investigations were carried out in two dolphin hotspots.

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Dolphins spent on an average 107.3 seconds under water and 1.26 seconds above water. Mortality through fisheries by-catch was observed as one of the major threats to Ganges dolphins in the Brahmaputra. On the basis of high abundance, potential for protection and possibilities for dolphin eco-tourism, eight river sections were identified as potential protected areas and community-based conservation areas. Questions: 1. Where are ‘Ganges River Dolphins’ found? Ans: ‘Ganges River Dolphins’ are found in the

Ganges-Brahmaputra river system primarily in India and Bangladesh.

2. Why are the dolphins listed as endangered

species? Ans: Dolphins are listed as an endangered species

by the IUCN due to a probable population decline of 50% (approximately) over the last five decades and projected future population decline too.

3. What is the behavioral pattern of dolphins? Ans: Dolphins spend on an average 107.3 seconds

under water and 1.26 seconds above water. Behavioral studies on dive time, surfacing interval and acoustic investigations were observed in two dolphin hotspots.

4. On what basis have the potential protection

area been identified? Ans: It is based on high abundance, potential for

protection and possibilities for dolphin eco-tourism. Moreover, the eight river sections were identified as potential protected areas and community-based conservation areas.

5. Why was the oil exploration in

Brahmaputra rejected? Ans: The proposal by Oil India Ltd. to initiate

seismic exploration using explosives and air guns along the bed of the Brahmaputra River to prospect for oil was rejected as it would have resulted in disastrous implications for ‘Ganges River Dolphins’.

6. How have the upper reaches of rivers been

polluted? Ans: The upper reaches of the rivers have been

polluted due to irrigation barrages and dry season habitat.

7. How can the survival of dolphins be

ensured? Ans: The government to a greater extent can ensure

the survival of dolphins by taking appropriate measures. Also, by making the upper reaches of rivers less polluted, the life of said species can be enhanced.

8. How has the aqua life been affected due to the industrial development?

Ans: The industrial developments have forgotten to take into consideration the nature’s gift i.e. water. They pollute the water by disposing wastes into rivers and lakes, etc. This makes the survival of fishes difficult, thus forcing them to come towards the shore in search of fresh water and are often found on shores i.e. thrown out of the water.

Passage 5 The free style wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt’s story is a story of passion and determination. The Olympic bronze medalist’s passion and perseverance helped him realize his dreams in spite of unfavorable circumstances. He faced the danger of losing his leg due to a knee injury. That was a difficult period for him. The Mittal Champions Trust helped him when his knee was injured after the Beijing Olympics. He even had problems with his eyesight due to the injury. Yogeshwar hails from Bhainswal Kalan, a village some 20 km away from Sonepat, in Haryana. The village has become famous because of him. Yogeshwar displays all the qualities of a champion. He is a humble person who always respects others and is ready to help the needy. These qualities have made him endearing to all. Due to the injuries, he could not fulfill his dream of winning an Olympic Medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. However, his intense desire to win a medal overshadowed his injuries. His sole aim was to win a medal in the 2012 Olympics and he trained himself hard for it. God heard his prayers. He aimed at participating in more competitions. But, he faced drawbacks when he was injured again in 2009. This injury robbed his one entire year. He could not reduce his weight after the injury. Even when he was injured, he never gave up his dream of winning an Olympic medal. He got over his back injury. He also got immense support from his family and friends who shared his responsibilities allowing him to focus on wrestling with free mind. Questions: 1. Where does Yogeshwar Dutt hail from? Ans: Yogeshwar Dutt hails from Bhainswal Kalan,

a village some 20 km away from Sonepat, Haryana.

2. What qualities of Yogeshwar made him

endearing to all? Ans: Yogeshwar was very humble in nature and he

respected everyone. He was always ready to help the needy. These qualities made him endearing to all.

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3. Who helped Yogeshwar to recover from his knee injury?

Ans: The Mittals Champion Trust helped Yogeshwar to recover from his knee injury.

4. What was the sole aim of Yogeshwar Dutt? Ans: The sole aim of Yogeshwar Dutt was to win

an Olympic medal. 5. What drawbacks Yogeshwar had to face

towards fulfilling his dreams? Ans: Yogeshwar was injured during 2008 Olympics

and was further injured in 2009. He had to face these drawbacks towards fulfilling his dreams.

6. What helped Yogeshwar achieve his dreams?

Ans: Yogeshwar’s passion for the sport along with his perseverance and determination helped him achieve his dreams.

7. What stopped Yogeshwar from winning a medal in the 2008 Olympics?

Ans: A knee injury stopped Yogeshwar from winning the 2008 Olympics.

8. What lesson can be learnt from the success story of Yogeshwar?

Ans: We learn the lesson of being passionate and determined. In this way, we can achieve our dreams despite of any hardships.

Unsolved Passages Passage 1: The concept of Disneyland began when Walt Disney was visiting Griffith Park in Los Angeles with his daughters Diane and Sharon. While watching them ride the merry-go-round, he came up with the idea of a place where adults and their children could go and have fun together. He may have also been influenced by his father’s memories of the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago (his father worked at the Exposition). The Midway Plaisance included a set of attractions representing various countries from around the world and others representing various periods of man; it also included many rides including the first Ferris wheel, a “sky” ride, a passenger train that circled the perimeter, and a Wild West Show. Another likely influence was Benton Harbor, Michigan’s nationally famous House of David’s Eden Springs Park. Disney visited the park and ultimately bought one of the older miniature trains originally used there; the colony had the largest miniature railway setup in the world at the time. The earliest documented draft of Disney’s plans was sent as a memo to studio production designer Dick Kelsey on August 31, 1948, where it was referred to as a ‘Mickey Mouse Park’. Based on notes, Walt made during his and Ward Kimball’s trip to Chicago

Railroad Fair the same month, with a two-day stop in Henry Ford’s Museum and Greenfield Village, a place with attractions like a Main Street and steamboat rides, which he had visited eight years earlier. Disneyland Park, originally Disneyland, is the first of two theme parks built at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, opened on July 17, 1955. It is the only theme park designed and built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. It was originally the only attraction on the property; its name was changed to Disneyland Park to distinguish it from the expanding complex in the 1990s. Walt Disney came up with the concept of Disneyland after visiting various amusement parks with his daughters in the 1930s and 1940s. He initially envisioned building a tourist attraction adjacent to his studios in Burbank to entertain fans who wished to visit; however, he soon realized that the proposed site was too small. After hiring a consultant to help him determine an appropriate site for his project, Walt bought a 160-acre site near Anaheim in 1953. Construction began in 1954 and the park was unveiled during a special televised press event on the ABC Television Network on July 17, 1955. Since its opening, Disneyland has undergone a number of expansions and major renovations, including the addition of New Orleans Square in 1966, Bear Country (now Critter Country) in 1972, and Mickey's Toontown in 1993. Opened in 2001, Disney California Adventure Park was built on the site of Disneyland’s original parking lot. Disneyland has a larger cumulative attendance than any other theme park in the world, with over 650 million guests since it opened. In 2013, the park hosted approximately 16.2 million guests, making it the third most visited park in the world that calendar year. According to March 2005 Disney Company Report, 65,700 jobs are supported by the Disneyland Resort, including about 20,000 direct Disney employees and 3,800 third-party employees (independent contractors or their employees). Questions: 1. How was the idea of Disneyland conceived? 2. How was Mr. Walt influenced about the theme

park? 3. Where and how was the Disneyland built? 4. What expansions took place after the making

of the Disneyland? 5. How and when was the park unveiled? 6. How has the Disneyland been the host of

highest number of guests in 2013? 7. What is the number of employees supported

by the Disney Company? 8. What is the distinguishing factor of

Disneyland?

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Passage 2 Chihuahua, also known as the pocket dog, is the world’s smallest dog weighing barely 1 kg or 2 kg as an adult. It is a popular breed amongst the dog lovers and its popularity has increased over the years. Even though its roots have been traced back to China, it is actually named after a Mexican State. This breed of dogs doesn’t require much exercise. Just small walks inside the house are sufficient for them. With a mere glance, one would imagine them to be dull dogs. However, they surprise everyone with their sharp and alert nature. They have strong characteristics and are very curious in nature. Therefore, they make good guard dogs. For participating in shows, the maximum permissible weight for these dogs is 0.9 kg to 1.8 kg. There are two types of Chihuahuas. First is the long coated ones who have a flat or slightly wavy coat and the second is the smooth coated ones who are soft textured and glossy in appearance. Chihuahuas vary in color. They have apple dome-shaped heads. In some dogs, the frontal areas of the skull do not fuse. They have short nose and their ears are at an angle of 45 degrees to their head. Their body is longer than their tails and is compact. Their tail is carried like a sickle and barely touches their backs. They have a very graceful appearance. As compared to other pups, they do not require much care except the long hair which needs grooming. They don’t go outside most of the times and tend to exercise within the confines of the house. Because of this, they are prone to overgrown nails which need to be clipped regularly. They are fussy and choosy eaters. People do not possess much awareness about this dog. They are surprised when they know more about Chihuahuas. These small dogs are intelligent, energetic and good with children. They make good watch dogs and hence literally can be called as burglar alarms. There is just one hurdle in keeping this pocket dog as a pet and that is a pinch in the pockets. Questions: 1. Chihuahua’s roots can be traced to which

place? 2. Describe the physical features of Chihuahuas. 3. What are the different types of Chihuahuas? 4. Why people are surprised to know more about

the Chihuahuas? 5. Why are Chihuahuas prone to overgrown

nails? 6. Why can Chihuahuas be called as burglar

alarms? 7. Why do you think Chihuahuas create an

impression of being dull dogs? 8. Why are Chihuahuas popular as pet dogs?

Passage 3 It talked about how being caught napping shouldn’t be seen in the negative way, always. On the contrary, “Six hours sleep for a man, seven for a woman and eight for a fool”, advocated Napoleon Bonaparte, who preferred regular 10-minute naps to relax in bed. Amongst the famed, Leonardo da Vinci, Margaret Thatcher, Thomas Edison, are known to having enjoyed 40 winks a day. Siestas have always been considered as a relaxation technique since our history of being. It is known to relax us by encouraging better learning abilities along with improved alertness, productivity and mood. Mid-day naps have been a part of many cultures in the world. However, due to the current trend of workplaces, there is a decline in day time naps. As per a study, a day-time siesta of 60-90 minutes brings in an improvement in the person as long as the napper experiences both slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement. These are sleep stages associated with deep sleep. Also an afternoon nap helps in reducing the risk of death due to heart disease, particularly in young healthy men, as it reduces the stress levels (as per the Greece research). Dr. M. S. Kanwar, a senior consultant, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi says that, “Any person who has a good 7-8 hours (depending upon individuals) of night sleep does not biologically require an afternoon nap. But, of course, a siesta can be very refreshing and re-energizing for the people in active professions. It’s a different matter, however, that in today’s hectic life and demanding workplaces, a nap is an absolute luxury. However, for those who can afford this luxury, say for instance self-employed, retired or housewives, it can be a great stress-buster.” He also adds that the benefits cannot be generalized and the effect of daytime naps varies from person to person. According to some, the body clock is set for two sleeps a day, the main one at night and another in the afternoon. Researchers also point out that the body prefers a nap during 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., when the body temperature dips slightly. At the same time, it is not a compulsion as some people cover their entire requirement of sleep in a single cycle. It is generally accepted that digestion process is a major cause of afternoon nap (Heavier the lunch, the greater is the sleepiness). The concept of ‘power napping’ siestas have brought changes in certain companies. They have started providing power nap rooms, which has further led to reduction in people thronging to coffee and tea breaks. Some of them are: US Architectural Firm, Gould Evans Goodman Associates, California-based computer consultancy 42 IS Consulting, etc.

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Questions: 1. How important is it to have a siesta? 2. Name the famous people having a routine of

taking an afternoon nap. 3. How does a deep sleep in the afternoon,

proves to be beneficial? 4. How has the power nap, brought a change in

companies? 5. What does Dr. Kanwar have to say about

having an afternoon nap? 6. What is the preferred amount of siesta

recommended for the day? 7. Why is an afternoon nap taken negatively? 8. Who all have the privilege of taking a nap? Passage 4 Every time you pick up a glass of milk, pause and think how it made its way to your kitchen. So, where is the milk coming from? Most states have village level dairy co-operatives and the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) guides and helps develop them. The NDDB website has an interesting fact: The dairy co-operative network in India, as on March 2007, was owned by around 12.96 million farmer members, of whom 3.4 million were women. When people become members of an organization on equal terms and use their resources towards achieving common goals, it is called a co-operative. Suppose a person with a cow has surplus milk, he or she might want to sell it and make some money. In villages, the local trader or the middleman would buy this surplus milk at a price which suited him. Then he would add water and sell it at a higher price. Thus, the seller made no profit, the end buyer got diluted milk, but the trader minted money. This is where a co-operative steps in. The milk sellers form a co-operative. They organize for the milk to be collected at village level and transport it to a plant where it can be pasteurized. Then this milk is packed in pouches and transported to distributors of various towns and cities. Here good quality milk is sold to the end buyer. Co-operatives have a reputation for selling unadulterated goods and do not emphasize on maximizing profit. Because every seller of milk is an equal member of the co-operative; they run a transparent organization and work towards its growth. This avoids traders and money lenders, increases ownership and accountability, ensures better voice of dairy farmers in management, gets them timely payments and provides them access to useful technical guidance and information. The reason of the stupendous success of co-operatives in India can be summed up in one word - empowerment. The sheer hard work of ordinary and marginalized dairy farmers, their unstinting co-operation with one another, an

indomitable will to achieve a common goal, together with the visions of people like V. Kurien, the father of Indian dairy farming, milk co-operatives have scripted success stories like Amul, Verka and Operation Flood. Today milk is country’s number one agricultural commodity. Thus both, milk producers, mostly marginal, small and landless farmers and consumers, who get value for their money and healthy milk, are mutually benefitted. Questions: 1. What is a co-operative? 2. How does NDDB help villages? 3. Why do most people trust dairy co-operatives? 4. Give a reason why milk co-operatives are

successful. 5. How do co-operatives help the dairy farmers? 6. How has the dairy farming scripted success

stories? 7. How have small farmers and consumers

benefitted mutually? 8. How do the traders earn big profits? Passage 5 Working women in India face many challenges both, at workplace and at home. Many working women do not enjoy the same promotions and growth opportunities at workplaces as the men. A majority of them do not even get equal pay, under the Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 and are paid less as compared to their male counterparts. Such cases are mainly found in factories and labour-oriented industries. Women in India also have to deal with the orthodox mindset that the society has about working women. They have stereotyped working women as someone who cannot balance their domestic environment because of the professional responsibilities. Many families do not approve of women working late in the office. Even if they agree they are plagued by anxiety about her safety. Working woman is closely protected and monitored by her family. Many families do not expect their daughter-in-laws to work as they don’t want them to give their domestic responsibilities a backseat. This view can be supported by a survey conducted by ASSOCHAM, on 1000 working women. According to it, around 80% of the households expect daughters-in-laws to give priority to the household work over professional commitments. Many women are abused both physically and psychologically by their in-laws and husbands but they choose to maintain silence as they do not want it to effect their family especially children. Laws have been passed to provide women the financial security, in case of separation from husband. A woman’s legal right to claim maintenance from her husband is recognized under

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Sec. 125 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Sec. 24 of Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956, which entitles a woman to claim maintenance extendable to her minor children, from her estranged husband. The husband is liable to pay the maintenance even prior to the divorce; when they are separated. Earlier it was maintained that a working women cannot claim for maintenance from her estranged husband as she is earning an income. However, in a significant decision in Bhagwan vs. Kamla Devi case, (1975) 2 SCC 386 any confusion regarding the maintenance to be paid to a working women was cleared. The Supreme Court held that a working woman can claim maintenance from her estranged husband, if her monthly income is not enough for her maintenance. The Court further clarified that ‘unable to maintain herself’ does not mean that she has to be destitute. She can claim for maintenance as long as she does not remarry or changes her religion. There have been instances where the Court has ordered working women with substantial earnings to give maintenance to her husband. However, the legal right of a woman to claim equal pay still remains unaddressed as majority of the women are not confident enough to stand up and complain. Even technological advancement results in women being displaced as upgrading the skills of women is not given much thought. Even granting maternity leave is a problem in many workplaces as they feel it is much easier to hire someone else. Trade unions too don’t give importance to address issues of women as it is not a priority for them. The major reason for these problems faced by working women is the widely accepted social perspective regarding a women’s position. Traditionally men were seen as the bread-winners of the family and women were type casted as the house-keepers and child-bearers. Hence, this perception creates obstacles for women who decide to go against it. All these problems cannot be solved unless there is a change in the attitude of the employers, colleagues, policy makers, family members, relatives and the public at large. Questions: 1. What are the challenges faced by women in

their workplaces? 2. What social mindset does the working women

has to face? 3. What legal framework is there to protect the

right of women to claim their maintenance from their separated husband?

4. What does a working women need to fight against?

5. Why the legal right of a woman to claim equal pay still remains unaddressed?

6. What measures can be taken to ensure equal rights to women?

7. What family pressures do working women have to deal with?

8. What is the root cause of the problems faced by working women and how do you think it can be solved?

Passage 6 Mother Teresa was a humanitarian. This means she did things to help out other people. Her entire life was devoted to helping the poor, the sick, the needy, and the helpless. Mother Teresa was born in Uskub, Ottoman Empire on August 26, 1910. This city is now called Skopje and is the capital of the Republic of Macedonia. Her birth name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. Her father died when she was eight and she was raised by her mother. She was raised as a Roman Catholic and decided at a young age to devote her life to God. She joined the Sisters of Loreto at the age of 18 to become a missionary in India. She first had to learn English. So she went to Ireland to learn English at the Loreto Abby. A year later she started her missionary work in Darjeeling, India. She learned the local language, Bengali, and taught at the local school. She soon took her first vows as a nun and took the name, Teresa. She taught for many years in India, becoming the headmistress at a school in eastern Calcutta. When she was 36 years old, she felt the call from God to help the poor of India. She received some basic medical training and then set out to help the sick and needy. This wasn’t an easy task in 1948 India. She had very little support and, while trying to feed and help the poorest of the poor, she herself was constantly hungry and even had to beg for food. Soon other women joined her and she formed the Missionaries of Charity. Mother Teresa described the purpose of the Missionaries of Charity as an organization to take care of ‘the hungry, the naked, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved and uncared for throughout society’. It wasn’t an easy task to build such an organization and to keep the focus on the poorest people. In 1979, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitutes a threat to peace. She was beatified in 2003, the first step on the path to sainthood, within the Catholic Church. She worked almost up until her death on September 5, 1997. Questions: 1. Why was Mother Teresa called a

‘humanitarian’? 2. When and where was Mother Teresa born? 3. Why did she go to Ireland?

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4. When did Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu change her name to ‘Teresa’?

5. When did she decide to help the poor in India? 6. What hardships did she face while helping the

poor? 7. What is the purpose of the Missionaries of

Charity according to Mother Teresa? 8. Why was Mother Teresa honored with the

Nobel Peace Prize? Passage 7 Popcorn, also known as popping corn, is a special variety of corn. Each kernel contains a tiny drop of water. When it is heated, the water expands causing the kernel to explode and flip inside out. Most US popcorn is grown in Nebraska and Indiana, and increasingly in Texas. Native Americans first discovered popcorn thousands of years ago in Guatemala or Mexico. It was popped in China during the Song Dynasty (960-279) as well as in Sumatra and India long before Columbus reached America. In 1519, when he invaded Mexico, Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortes first saw popcorn when he met the Aztecs. Popcorn was important to the Aztecs as food, as decoration for ceremonial headdresses and necklaces, and as ornaments on statues of their gods. Around 1612, French explorers around the Great Lakes met Iroquois who used heated sand in a pottery vessel to make popcorn. There is an unproven theory that an Indian named Quadequina brought a deerskin bag of popped corn for first Thanksgiving feast on October 15, 162(a). In 1948 and 1950, anthropologist Herbert Dick and botanist Earle Smith discovered ears of popcorn in the Bat Cave of west central New Mexico. The ears measured from smaller than a penny to about 2 inches. They were determined to be about 5,600 years old. Colonial housewives served popcorn with sugar and cream for breakfast. Some colonists used a cylinder of thin sheet-iron that revolved on an axle in front of the fireplace to make popped corn. In 1885, Charles Cretors of Chicago, Illinois, invented the first popcorn machine. Street vendors were soon pushing steam or gas-powered poppers through fairs, parks, and public exhibitions. Today much of the popcorn you buy at movies and fairs is popped in machines manufactured by the Cretors family. Americans eat more than 17 billion quarts of popcorn a year, an average of 60 quarts per person per year. As the result of an elementary school project, popcorn became the official state snack food of Illinois. January 19 is National Popcorn Day, and October is National Popcorn Month.

Questions: 1. Where are the most popcorns grown? 2. Who discovered popcorn? 3. When is National Popcorn Day celebrated? 4. When did Hernando Cortes first see popcorn? 5. With what did colonial housewives serve

popcorn for breakfast? 6. Who invented first popcorn machine? 7. Which is the National Popcorn month? 8. Find a word from the passage which means ‘of

indigenous origin of growth’.

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01. A Letter to God 02. Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom 03. Two Stories About Flying I. His First Flight II. Black Aeroplane 04. From the Diary of Anne Frank 05. The Hundred Dresses-I 06. The Hundred Dresses-II 01. Dust of Snow 02 Fire and Ice 03. A Tiger in the Zoo 04. How to Tell Wild Animals 05. The Ball Poem 06. Amanda!

First FlightSection C

Prose

Poetry

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Class X: English Language and Literature Glossary

Words Meanings Affixed (v) Stick, Attach, Fasten Amiable (adj) Having a friendly and pleasant

mannerism An ox of a man (phrase)

Someone who is as hardworking as an ox

Conscience (n) A person’s moral sense of right and wrong

Contentment (n) A state of happiness and satisfaction

Correspondence (n)

Communication by exchanging letters

Crest (n) The top of a mountain or a hill Crooks (n) A dishonest person Denied (v) Refuse to give Destroyed (v) End of existence Downpour (n) Heavy rainfall Draped (v) Cover or wrap loosely with

folds of cloth Goodwill (n) Friendly, helpful and co-

operative feelings or attitude Hailstones (n) A small, hard ball of ice that

falls from sky like rain Obliged (v) Do as someone asks or desires Pesos (n) Monetary unit of certain Latin

American countries Plague of locusts (n)

A devastating natural disaster where a grasshopper like insect infests the crops in the fields.

Predicted (v) Say or estimate that (a specified thing) will happen in the future or will be a consequence of something

Solitary (adj) Existing alone, Single, Lonely Sorrowful ( adj) Feeling or showing grief Wrinkling (v) Make or cause lines or folds on

the skin Pre-Reading Activities [Note: The first part needs to be done by students only] *1. Complete the following sentences: i. In addition to the sender, the form has to be

signed by the paying official and the payee or the receiver.

ii. The ‘Acknowledgement’ section of the form is sent back by the post office to the sender after the payee signs it.

iii. The ‘Space for communication’ section is used for writing

comments /notes by the sender to the receiver or the payee.

iv. The form has six sections. The sender needs to fill out first, fourth,

and sixth sections and the receiver third and fifth.

Summary This story is about a hardworking farmer named Lencho who has an unshakable faith in God. His house is on the crest of a low hill that overlooks a river and a farm filled with ripe corn laden with flowers. Only thing the fertile land needs is rainfall. Lencho eagerly waits for the rain that day. He predicts that it would rain and by dinner time his predictions come true. The sky sends a downpour of big rain drops. He runs outside to enjoy the falling rain. A cluster of thick clouds are seen approaching towards the north east. He is overjoyed by the big rain drops and tells his wife that they are coins of five and ten cents. But his happiness does not last long as strong winds begin to blow and large hailstones fall from the sky along with the rains. It rains over the entire valley and the whole field is covered with snow. The cornfields are completely destroyed. Lencho’s heart fills with sadness. Lencho fears that he and his family will go hungry that year. His thinks his hard work reaped no benefit. The family’s last hope is God. Lencho believes that only the help from God would save his family from hunger. So he decides to write a letter to God. On the following Sunday he writes a letter to God recounting his misfortune. He asks Him for help of a hundred pesos to sow his field again and sustain his family until the crop grows. He puts the letter in the envelope and writes ‘To God’ on it. With all his faith he places a stamp on the envelope and puts it in the mailbox. Upon seeing this unusual address, the postman laughs and shares the letter with his boss---- the postmaster. The postmaster laughs too, but almost immediately he regains his composure and expresses his astonishment on the writer’s unfathomable faith. The postmaster decides to help Lencho so that Lencho’s faith remains intact. He decides to send some money to Lencho. After collecting money from his employees, friends and giving a part from his own salary, he puts the money in an envelope along with a letter containing only a signature: God. The following Sunday Lencho comes to the post office expecting a letter for him. The postmaster feeling satisfied of having performed a good deed looks with contentment as the postman hands over the letter to Lencho.

01. A Letter to God - G.L.Fuentes

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c

First Flight 01: A Letter to God

On receiving less than what he had asked for, Lencho writes another letter to God. His confidence in God does not allow him to think that God can make a mistake or deny him what he had asked for. This time Lencho writes the letter in anger. As Lencho puts the letter in the mailbox, the post master opens it and reads it. In the letter Lencho expresses his disappointment on receiving less money, only seventy pesos and asks God to send him the remaining money; but this time through other means as he feels the post employees are a bunch of cheats. Textual Exercises Oral comprehension check *1. What did Lencho hope for? Ans: Lencho hoped for a good rainfall for his cornfields. *2. Why did Lencho say the raindrops were

like ‘new coins’? [CBSE 2012] Ans: Lencho said that the raindrops were like new

coins because they were big and also because a good rainfall would make his corn grow well. He would earn god money by selling that corn.

*3. How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s fields?

Ans: Along with the raindrops very large hailstones began to fall. The fresh and sweet air turned into a strong wind. The hail covered the entire valley including Lencho’s field. The field looked as white as salt. There wasn’t a single leaf on the trees and the flowers had fallen from the plants. The hailstorm completely destroyed Lencho’s cornfield.

*4. What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped? [CBSE 2012]

Ans: Lencho was filled with sorrow and sadness. All his hard work amounted to nothing. He lost hope as he knew nobody could help him in this tough time. He feared his family would go hungry that year as he lost his only source of earning--- the cornfield.

*5. Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do?

Ans: Lencho rested his faith in God and decided to write a letter to Him. In the letter he asked for one hundred pesos to grow new crop and sustain his family till the next one.

*6. Who read the letter? Ans: The postman and the postmaster read the

letter. The postman was amused that the letter was addressed to God and shared it with the postmaster.

*7. What did the postmaster do then? Ans: The postmaster collected money from his

employees and friends who were obliged to

contribute for the sake of charity. He too gave a part of his salary and put all the money in an envelope addressing it to Lencho with a letter that contained nothing except one word: God.

*8. Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it?

Ans: Lencho was not surprised to see the letter because he was confident that God would reply and would certainly give him the money he had requested. He was rather disappointed on reading the letter.

*9. What made him angry? Ans: Lencho never thought that God would send

him less money. He was angry on receiving lesser amount than what he had asked for. He thought that the post officials had robbed the remaining amount of thirty pesos.

Thinking about the text *10. Who does Lencho have complete faith in?

Which sentences in the story tell you this? Ans: Lencho had complete faith in God. The

sentences which tell us about this faith are as follows:

i. But in the hearts of all who lived in that solitary house in the middle of the valley, there was a single hope: help from God.

ii. All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience.

iii. “God,” he wrote, “If you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year.

iv. Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence.

v. “God: Of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached me. Send me the rest, since I need it very much. But don’t send it to me through the mail because the post office employees are a bunch of crooks. Lencho.”

*11. Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’?

[CBSE 2012] Ans: After reading the letter the postmaster sends

money to Lencho because he realizes that Lencho is in desperate need of money to feed his family. It was evident that God would not reply to Lencho’s letter. Therefore, the postmaster signs the letter ‘God’ so that Lencho does not lose faith in God and believe that God has really listened to his request and helped him.

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*12. Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/Why not?

Ans: No, Lencho did not try to find out who really sent him the money because he had complete faith in God. He truly believed that God sent the money to help him.

*13. Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of

the money? What is the irony in the situation? (Remember that the irony of a situation is an unexpected aspect of it. An ironic situation is strange or amusing because it is the opposite of what is expected.)

Ans: Lencho feels that the rest of the money has been taken by the employees of the post office. Hence, in his next letter he asked God not to send the balance amount through mail as he feels the employees are a bunch of crooks. The irony in the situation is that the employees of the post office had in fact contributed the money and sent it to him and not God.

However, Lencho believed otherwise. The situation is ironical because the ones who had helped him were labeled as crooks by Lencho.

*14. Are there people like Lencho in the real

world? What kind of a person would you say he is? You may select appropriate word from the box to answer the question.

Ans: There are people in the real world who have an

unshakable belief in God but not the kind of unquestionable faith Lencho had. I think Lencho was naïve, ungrateful and unquestioning.

*15. There are two kinds of conflict in the story:

between humans and nature and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated?

Ans: The conflict between humans and nature is illustrated by the hailstones destroying the entire crop. Nature proved unpredictable and sent hailstones instead of rain. The conflict between humans themselves is seen in Lencho’s mistrust over the post office employees. They helped him with the money but he called them crooks.

Thinking about language *16. Look at the following sentence from the story. Suddenly a strong wind began to blow and

along with the rain very large hailstones began to fall.

‘Hailstones’ are small balls of ice that fall like rain. A storm in which hailstones fall

is a ‘Hailstorm’. You know that a storm is bad weather with strong winds, rain, thunder and lightning.

There are different names in different

names parts of the world for storms, depending on their nature. Can you match the names in the box with their descriptions below, and fill in the blanks? You may use a dictionary to help you.

i. A violent tropical storm in which strong

winds move in a circle: _ _c_ _ _ _ ii. An extremely strong wind: _a_ _ iii. A violent tropical storm with very strong

winds: _ _p _ _ _ _ _ _ _______ iv. A violent storm whose centre is a cloud in

the shape of a funnel: _______n_______ v. A violent storm with very strong winds,

especially in the western Atlantic Ocean: _______r_______

vi. A very strong wind that moves very fast in a spinning movement and causes a lot of damage: _______i_______

Ans: i. Cyclone ii. Gale iii. Typhoon iv. Tornado v. Hurricane vi. Whirlwind *17. Notice how the word ‘hope’ is used in

these sentences from the story: i. I hope it (the hailstorm) passes quickly. ii. There was a single hope: help from God. In the first example, ‘hope’ is a verb

which means you wish for something to happen. In the second example it is a noun meaning a chance for something to happen.

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

A B

1. Will you get the subjects you want to study in college? I hope so.

a. 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 we are arguing.

b. Thinking that this would happen (It may or may not have happened.)

3. This discovery will give new hope to HIV/AIDS sufferers.

c. Stopped believing that this good thing would happen

greedy naïve

selfish

stupid ungrateful

unquestioningcomical

gale whirlwind

hurricane

cyclone

typhoontornado

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4. We were hoping against hope that the judges would not notice our mistakes.

d. 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.

e. Showing concern that what you say should not offend or disturb 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.

f. Wishing for something to happen, although this is very unlikely

Ans: (1 – d), (2 – e), (3 – a), (4 – b), (5 – f), (6 – c) *18. Relative Clauses

Look at these sentences

i. All morning Lencho – who knew his fields intimately – looked at the sky.

ii. The woman, who was preparing supper, replied, “Yes, God willing.”

The italicized parts of the sentences give us more information about Lencho and the woman. We call them relative clauses. Notice that they begin with a relative pronoun who. Other common relative pronouns are whom, whose, and which.

The relative clauses in A and B above are called non-defining, because we already know the identity of the person they describe. Lencho is a particular person, and there is a particular woman he speaks to. We don’t need the information in the relative clause to pick these people out from a larger set.

A non-defining relative clause usually has

a comma in front of it and a comma after 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.

Join the sentences given below using who, whom, whose, which, as suggested.

1. I often go to Mumbai. Mumbai is the commercial capital of India. (which)

2. My mother is going to host a TV show on cooking. She cooks very well. (who)

3. These sportspersons are going meet the President. Their performance has been excellent. (whose)

4. Lencho prayed to God. His eyes see into our minds. (whose)

5. This man cheated me. I trusted him. (whom)

Ans: 1. I often go to Mumbai, which is the commercial capital of India.

2. My mother, who cooks very well, is going to host a TV show on cooking.

3. These sportspersons, whose performance has been excellent, are going to meet the President.

4. Lencho prayed to God, whose eyes see into our minds.

5. This man, whom I trusted cheated me.

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 this sentence as: (b) The house, which was the only one in the entire valley, sat on the crest of a low hill. In (a), the relative pronoun which and the verb was are not present.

*19. 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:

i. This year we will have no corn. (Corn will be absent)

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

iii. 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 just to emphasize an idea. Look at these sentences from the story: iv. Lencho…had done nothing else but see

the sky towards the north-east. (He had done only this)

v. 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)

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

Now look back at example iii. notice that the contradiction in fact serves to emphasize the value or usefulness of the rain to the farmer.

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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 career. 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. *20. Metaphors The word metaphor comes from a Greek

word meaning ‘transfer’. Metaphors compare two things or ideas: a quality or feature of one thing is transferred to another thing. Some common metaphors are

• the leg of the table.: The leg supports our body. So the object that supports a table is described as a leg.

• the heart of the city: The heart is an important organ in the centre of our body. So this word is used to describe the central area of a city.

In pairs, find metaphors from the story to complete the table below. Try to say what qualities are being compared. One has been done for you.

Object Metaphor Quality or Feature

compared

Cloud Huge mountains of cloud

The mass or hugeness of mountains

Raindrops Coins Money that will be earned because of a good crop

Hailstones Frozen Pearls Appearance of pearls

Locusts A plague of locusts

An epidemic (a disease) that spreads very rapidly and leaves many people dead

Lencho An ox of a man

Hardworking

Speaking *21. Have you ever been in great difficulty, and

felt that only a miracle could help you? How was your problem solved? Speak about this in class with your teacher.

Ans: In the ninth grade I was troubled with a few problems of physics. The next morning was the exam paper and I couldn’t understand a few concepts and problems related to that. My friends were busy with their studies and my

mother had taken ill. I was nervous and tensed; for I knew if I didn’t score in this paper, my combined marks for science subject would come down. In the night, one of my father’s friends visited our home and my father told him I was encountering problems in the subject and requested him to solve my queries. Surprisingly, he was a professor in a college, who taught science. I was overjoyed with this revelation. He answered my doubts patiently and helped me solve the problems.

The next day I took the exam and it went very well. I think this was nothing less than a miracle and God came to my rescue in the nick of time.

Listening *22. Listen to the letter (given under ‘In This

Lesson’) read out by your teacher/on the audio tape. As you listen fill in the table given below.

The writer apologies (says sorry) because

The writer has sent this to the reader

The writer sent it in the month of

The reason for not writing earlier

Sarah goes to

Who is writing to whom?

Where and when were they last together?

Ans:

The writer apologies (says sorry) because

He was writing after a long time

The writer has sent this to the reader

A birthday card

The writer sent it in the month of

September 2005

The reason for not writing earlier

The writer was busy shifting home and attending to her child.

Sarah goes to A school named ‘Little Feet’

Who is writing to whom? Jaya to Arti

Where and when were they last together?

Bangalore in January 2005

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Very Short Answer Type Questions (3 Marks) 1. The house-the only one in the entire valley-

sat on the crest of a low hill. From this height one could see the river and field of ripe corn dotted with the flowers that always promised a good harvest. The only thing the earth needed was a downpour or at least a shower. Throughout the morning Lencho-who knew his fields intimately-had done nothing else but see the sky towards the north-east.

“Now we’re going to get some water, woman.”

i. Which crop grew on the fields? ii. What was peculiar about Lencho’s house? iii. Find a word from the passage which means

‘closely’. Ans: i. Corn crop grew on the fields. ii. It was a solitary house in the entire

valley situated on top of a low hill. iii. The word which means ‘closely’ is

intimately. 2. The man went out for no other reason than

to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body and when he returned he exclaimed, “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins.”

i. How did the speaker’s predictions come true?

ii. Why are the raindrops being referred to as new coins?

iii. Which word from the passage means cried out/call out?

Ans: i. The Speaker, Lencho had predicted in the morning that it would rain that following day by looking at the sky in the north-east direction. It did rain that day and that is how the speaker’s predictions came true.

ii. The raindrops are being referred to as new coins metaphorically because good rainfall would result in a good crop. He would sell the crop in the market and earn money.

iii. The word ‘exclaimed’ means cried out/call out.

3. These truly did resemble new silver coins.

The boys, exposing themselves to the rain, ran out to collect the frozen pearls.

i. Who is the speaker? ii. What resembled silver coins? iii. What is the meaning of the word

‘resemble?’

Ans: i. The narrator/author is the speaker. ii. The hailstones resembled silver coins. iii. The meaning of ‘resemble’ is ‘look

like.’ 4. “A plague of locusts would have left more

than this. The hail has left nothing. This year we will have no corn.’’

i. Who is the speaker and who is he/she speaking to?

ii. What emotions/feelings of the speaker are depicted in the passage?

iii. What does the phrase ‘plague of locusts’ mean?

Ans: i. Lencho is speaking to his sons. ii. Feelings of sadness and hopelessness of

the speaker are depicted in the passage as the entire cornfield has been destroyed by the hailstones.

iii. The phrase ‘plague of locusts’ means infestation/invasion of plants or crops by an insect which looks like a grasshopper. Locusts are insects that fly in swarms or groups and destroy crops.

5. That night was a sorrowful one. “All our work, for nothing.” “There’s no one who can help us.” “We’ll all go hungry this year.” But in the hearts of all who lived in that

solitary house in the middle of the valley, there was a single hope: help from God.

“Don’t be so upset, even though this seems like a total loss. Remember, no one dies of hunger.”

“That’s what they say: no one dies of hunger.”

All through the night, Lencho thought only

of his one hope: the help of God, whose eyes, as he had been instructed, see everything, even what is deep in one’s conscience.

i. Why was Lencho’s family full of sorrow? ii. What has been taught to Lencho? iii. Find a word from the passage which

means ‘lonely’. Ans: i. Lencho’s family was full of sorrow

because the hailstones had destroyed the entire crop.

ii. Lencho has been taught that God sees everything, even our deepest feelings and thoughts.

iii. The word which means lonely is ‘solitary’.

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6. Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the fields, but still he knew how to write.

i. Why is Lencho compared to an ox? ii. What does it mean when the author says,

‘but he still knew how to write’? iii. What does the phrase ‘an ox of a man’

means? Ans: i. Lencho worked untiringly like an ox

in his field. He was as hardworking as an ox.

ii. Although Lencho worked very hard in the fields and by profession was a farmer, he had learned to read and write.

iii. The phrase ‘an ox of a man’ means a well built and a hardworking man.

7. He wrote ‘To God’ on the envelope, put

the letter inside and still troubled, went to town. At the post office, he placed a stamp on the letter and dropped it into the mailbox.

i. Who wrote the letter and why? ii. What does this act convey about the

writer? iii. Give the antonym of ‘dropped’. Ans: i. Lencho wrote a letter to God narrating

his misfortunes and asking God to give him a hundred pesos so that he could sow his fields again and live on the money until the next crop came.

ii. Writing a letter to God sounds funny and naïve but it also conveys that Lencho had unshakable faith in God.

iii. The antonym of ‘dropped’ is lift. 8. Never in his career as a postman had he

known that address. The postmaster – a fat, amiable fellow – also broke out laughing.

i. Why did the postman and the postmaster laugh?

ii. After a hearty laugh, what was the postmaster’s comment?

iii. What are the synonyms of ‘amiable’? Ans: i. The postman and the postmaster

laughed because they had never seen a letter addressed to God. ii. After a hearty laugh, the post master

became serious and said that he wished to have faith in God just as the writer of the letter.

iii. The synonyms of ‘amiable’ are pleasant and friendly.

9. Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence – but he became angry when he counted the money. God could not have made a mistake, nor could he have denied Lencho what he had requested. Immediately, Lencho went up to the window to ask for paper and ink.

i. Why did Lencho get angry on counting the money?

ii. Why did he ask for paper and ink? iii. What is the antonym of ‘denied’? Ans: i. Lencho got angry on counting the

money because the money was less than what he had asked for. The envelope contained only seventy pesos. He felt that the employees of the post office had removed the balance amount from the envelope.

ii. He asked for paper and ink because he wanted to write another letter to God complaining that he had received only seventy pesos and the remaining amount had been removed by the post office employees.

iii. The antonym of ‘denied’ is agreed. 10. On the public writing-table, he started to

write, with much wrinkling of his brow, caused by the effort he had to make to express his ideas. When he finished, he went to the window to buy a stamp which he licked and then affixed to the envelope with a blow of his fist. The moment the letter fell into the mailbox the postmaster went to open it.

i. Which emotion did Lencho experience while writing the letter? How did he display his emotion?

ii. Why did the postmaster immediately go to the mailbox? What did he expect?

iii. Explain the meaning of ‘wrinkling’? Ans: i. Lencho experienced emotions of anger.

Due to anger he had difficulty in expressing his ideas, which showed by the wrinkling of his eyebrow. Also, he affixed the stamp with a blow of his fist, and did not use his fingers to paste it.

ii. The postmaster was satisfied that he had done a good deed by sending money to Lencho. Therefore, he was waiting eagerly for Lencho to arrive. He expected Lencho to be happy on receiving the money and thought that Lencho wrote a thank you note in his second letter.

iii. ‘Wrinkling’ means creasing. In this context it means creasing of the skin.

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Short Answer Type Questions (2 Marks) 1. Why did Lencho keep looking at the sky

throughout the morning? Ans: Lencho kept looking at the sky hoping for

rainfall which would help his corn grow. His fields always promised a good harvest as they were fertile. The only thing required was a good rainfall or at least a shower.

2. What happened when Lencho and his

family were having their meal? Ans: It began to rain when Lencho and his family

were having their meal. Big drops of rain poured from the sky and huge clouds were seen approaching from the north-east direction.

3. What did Lencho compare the raindrops to

and why? Ans: Lencho compared the rain drops to new coins.

He said that the big drops were ten cent pieces and the little ones were fives. These new coins were a metaphor for raindrops because the rainfall would help his corn grow. He would then be able to sell the ripe corn in the market and make money of it.

4. “These are not rain drops falling from the

sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are five.” Why did Lencho use this statement?

[CBSE 2012] Ans: Lencho used this statement because he

compared the raindrops to coins as the raindrops were big in size. These new coins were a metaphor for raindrops because the rainfall would help his corn grow. He would then be able to sell the ripe corn in the market and fetch money after their sale.

5. Which events illustrate the unpredictable

characteristic of nature? How did it affect the crop in Lencho’s field?

Ans: The unpredictable characteristic of nature was evident when it rained. It had started to rain as expected, but suddenly strong winds began to blow and hailstones fell from the sky along with the rain. It destroyed the entire cornfield. Neither a leaf nor a flower remained in the field.

6. Why did Lencho say that a plague of locusts

would have been better? Ans: Lencho said that a plague of locusts, which

means an invasion by insects, is better because the insects leave behind at least something. But the hailstones destroyed the field completely and not a leaf was saved.

7. What was the only hope of the family after the hailstorm?

Ans: After the hailstorm, the family’s only hope was the help of God. They believed that God doesn’t let anybody go hungry. And even though everything seemed over, they knew that they will not die of hunger.

8. How did Lencho perceive God? Ans: Lencho had a firm belief in God. He had

learned in the process of growing up that God can see everything; what humans cannot. He can look into a person’s soul and know the things buried in one’s conscience. Lencho believed that only God could help him through his crisis.

9. What did Lencho write to God in his letter? Ans: Lencho wrote to God that if he did not help

him, he and his family would have to stay hungry that year. He also requested for a hundred pesos to sow his field again and to survive until the next crop.

10. What was the reaction of the employees at the post office when they saw the letter addressed to God?

Ans: The postman who found the letter laughed heartily and shared the letter with his boss, the post master. The postmaster too broke out laughing but immediately turned serious and wished that he had the same trust in God just as the writer. He then decided to help the writer.

11. How did the postmaster help Lencho? [CBSE 2012]

Ans: The postmaster donated some amount from his salary. He also took the effort of collecting money from his employees and his friends for an ‘act of charity’. Hundred pesos was a big amount for him to gather. Nevertheless, he was able to collect seventy pesos to give Lencho. After collecting the money he addressed the envelope to Lencho with the money in it along with a letter signed as: God. This is how the postmaster helped Lencho.

12. Why was Lencho not surprised to see the money in the envelope?

Ans: Lencho was not surprised to see the money in the envelope because of his firm belief in God. He was confident that God would help him.

13. Why was Lencho angry after opening the envelope?

Ans: Lencho was angry after opening the envelope because there were only seventy pesos instead of hundred which he had requested from God. He thought that the remaining money was taken by the post office employees as he believed that God could never make a mistake nor turn down his request.

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14. What did he write in his second letter to God?

Ans: In his second letter to God, Lencho wrote that he had received only seventy pesos. He requested God to send him the rest of the money as he needed it very much. He also requested God not to send the money through mail because he thought that the post office employees were crooks and had removed some of the money from the envelope.

Long Answer Type Questions (4 Marks) 1 Why did Lencho call the post office

employees crooks? Was he right in calling them so? Give reasons.

Lencho addresses the post office employees as a bunch of crooks. Why? Give reasons in support of your answer. [CBSE 2012]

Ans: When Lencho went to the post office expecting a reply from God, he received an envelope that had the money but only seventy pesos instead of hundred. He got very angry and thought that the employees had removed the remaining thirty pesos from the envelope. He believed that God could neither make a mistake nor could he have denied a request made to Him. If we think from Lencho’s point of view, he is not wrong in calling them crooks because Lencho’s faith was unwavering and under no circumstance he was going to doubt God. The envelope was in the post office, which meant that only the employees could have tampered with the envelope. Therefore, in his next letter, he addressed the post office employees as a bunch of crooks

2. In the story ‘A Letter to God’, when a

hailstorm destroys the crops, Lencho decides to write a letter to God asking for money. What would you do were you in Lencho’s place? What are the other available options instead of writing a letter to God?

Ans: In the story Lencho decides to write a letter to God. If I were in Lencho’s place I would certainly not write a letter to God. Instead I would look at other options which include:

i. I would find some other work in the village and collect some money to buy more seeds to sow in the field again.

ii. I would go up to the town’s municipal office and ask for compensation from the government.

iii. I would take loan from friends to sow seeds and extra money to pull my family through the drought until the crops grew again.

iv. I would migrate to a nearby city leaving my family in the village, to find some work at construction sites or factories until I had gathered enough money to survive.

Instead of writing a letter to God, Lencho could go to his church and put a petition in the box so that everyone would pray from him and his family. He could also talk to the priest if the church could offer him some money from their charity account.

3. Draw a character sketch of the farmer,

Lencho. Give instances from the stories that depict those traits. [CBSE 2012]

Ans: Character traits of Lencho: i. Firm believer of God – After the

destruction of his cornfield by the hailstorm he rested his hope only on God. Therefore, he decided to write a letter to God asking for his help. Another instance that validates our understanding of his strong faith is that he was not at all surprised to see the money in the envelope because he was sure that God will help him.

ii. Optimistic – His optimism can be seen when he wrote a letter to God and did not sit in the house and sulk. He wrote a letter to God asking for his help and went to the post office the following week to check whether there was any mail for him. This shows that he was optimistic that God would reply.

iii. Did not trust anyone/doubting – He did not really trust anyone with important tasks. When he wrote the letter to God, he himself took it to town to post it. He also did not trust the post office employees as he thought they could have removed the money. He didn’t even reason out that maybe God sent him less money, but jumped to a conclusion that the employees were crooks.

iv. Hardworking man with a good physical built – In the story it is mentioned that he was an ox of a man, which means he had a good physical built and was very hardworking because he worked like an animal in the fields.

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v. Determined – After the hailstones destroyed his field, he was sorrowful but did not give up. He was determined to sow the crops again.

vi. Naïve – He is naïve because no matter how much one believes in God he/she cannot be stupid enough to write a letter to God. He will rather pray and look for other means of earning at the same time. But Lencho out of his naiveness wrote a letter to God.

vii. Short-tempered Lencho loses his temper upon receiving the envelope, which contained only seventy pesos. He immediately sits down to write another letter asking God to send him the remaining amount and tells Him to send the letter through other means. He doesn’t bother to thank God for the money received.

4. How did the hailstones affect Lencho’s

fields? What was Lencho’s only hope? [CBSE 2012]

Ans: As Lencho had predicted, it rained that night. Huge clouds were seen approaching from the north-east direction. Lencho was very happy; just as he went out in the fields to enjoy the raindrops over his body, strong winds started to blow. Along with the raindrops, big hailstones fell from the sky. The hailstones looked like big silver coins. In an hour’s time the entire valley was covered with the hailstones. The field looked as white as salt. Neither a leaf remained on the trees nor a flower on the plants. The hailstorm destroyed the entire corn crop leaving Lencho in a state of misery and helplessness.

In this situation of crisis, his only hope was the help from God. He believed in God and was taught that God can see everything; even a person’s deepest desires. He was sure that God would not let him and his family be hungry.

5. Imagine that there was good rain instead of

a hailstorm in the village. Give a different ending to the story keeping in mind the character traits of the farmer, Lencho.

Ans: It was during the meal that, just as Lencho had predicted, big drops of rain began to fall. In the north-east huge mountains of clouds could be seen approaching. The air was fresh and sweet. The man went out to feel the rain on his body, and on his return he exclaimed, “These aren’t raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.”

With a satisfied expression he regarded the field of ripe corn with its flowers, draped in a curtain of rain. Lencho and his family were very happy to see the rain. They were rejoicing with happiness and dreams of leading a good life that year.

The next morning when Lencho woke up, the first thing he wanted to see was his corn field. It was the most delightful sight to see his corn swaying to and fro in the cool breeze. “In a few weeks the crop would be ready for harvesting” he thought to himself.

Lencho sold his crop at a good amount and decided to buy gifts for his family. Lencho wrote a letter to thank God and asked Him to continue to bless him and his family with another year of abundant crop. He then put the letter in an envelope and wrote ‘To God’ on it. He went to town the next day and personally put the letter in the mailbox.

The letter was received by a post man. When he saw the letter addressed to God, he immediately took it to the post master and the postman and postmaster laughed out heartily reading the letter and decided to write back to Lencho on behalf of God.

The following week, Lencho went to the post office. On opening the letter, he was overwhelmed to receive a letter from God. The letter said: Bless You. And underneath was a signature: God.

6. Imagine you are the farmer in the story, ‘A

Letter to God’. Write a diary entry about your feelings when the hailstorm struck and destroyed the crops. Also write about your possible future plans.

Ans: 17th August, 2015. It all began with the big raindrops pouring

from the sky as I had predicted. They appeared to me like new coins. I felt that my prayers were being answered. But, suddenly the monsoon breeze turned into a deadly storm with hailstones falling from the sky. Everything was covered with a white layer and neither a leaf nor a flower remained. My entire cornfield was destroyed. I think this year we may go hungry. But, I cannot let this happen to my family. I will visit the city for a few days and see if I can find some work.

I have to think of all the possible ways to earn money. I should go to factories and ask for some labor job; I could also attempt to find a job in big grocery stores or malls in the city. I am sure I will fit in somewhere. If nothing works I will take a loan from the bank and use it to sow seeds for a new crop. I hope God helps me in this troubled time.

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Class X: English Language and Literature Value Based Questions 1. The story, ‘A Letter to God’ illustrates

human values in different ways. In the context of the postmaster helping Lencho, write a brief paragraph depicting the values involved in the story in about 150-200 words.

Ans: When the postmaster receives the letter, he does not know Lencho. Only to retain Lencho’s faith in God, he decides to write to him. When he opens the letter he gets to know that Lencho doesn’t need just kind words, but also needs money. Nevertheless, the post master sticks to his decision of writing to Lencho and also sends him the money. The human values of generosity, kindness are depicted here. When the post master narrates the farmer’s misfortune to his employees and asks them to contribute in the name of charity, they honor his request. The values of respect for authority and concern are depicted here. The employees respect the postmaster and are concerned about the farmer’s problems. Hence, the story teaches us to be kind and helpful. Sometimes one has to go out of his/her way to help somebody. It also teaches us values of integrity, which is illustrated by the postmaster’s behavior. He could have very well ignored the mail after knowing that the writer needed money. But he wants to keep the resolution made to himself. Therefore, sends the letter along with the money.

2. From the story, ‘A Letter to God’, how are

the values of love and responsibility been brought out?

Ans: Lencho lives with his family on top of a hill. It is the only house in the entire valley. His elder sons help him in the fields. His wife cooks meals at home. When the hailstorm strikes, he is worried about his family. He fears that his family will go hungry that year. To find a solution to his problem, he writes a letter to God and the very next morning goes to post it. In the letter he requests Him to grant him some money to feed his family and sow his field again.

This illustrates human values of love and responsibility. The sons love their father;

therefore help him in the fields. The mother cooks meals because she cares about her family. She also performs her duties. Lencho is the bread winner of the family. He loves his family and feels responsible for them. Hence, writes to God to help him.

3. What sort of a person was the postmaster?

Which values of the postmaster are depicted in his behavior?

Ans: The postmaster was a fat amiable fellow. He broke out laughing upon seeing the envelope addressed to God. But, immediately calmed down and admired the writer’s firm faith in God. As he was a sympathetic person, he decided to write to Lencho in order to retain his faith in God.When he got to know that the writer needed monetary help and not just goodwill, he decided to help him. He gave a part of his salary and also collected money from his employees and friends.

From this behavior it can be understood that he was generous, sympathetic, kind and a soft-hearted person. He had an option of ignoring the letter and putting it in the bin, but he did not do so.

He had decided to answer the letter upon receiving the envelope. After realizing that the writer needed money, he did not change his stance. He decided to keep his promise and also give money to the writer. This shows that the postmaster also possessed the value of integrity.

Competitive Questions for Practice 1. Give instances from the story that tells you

about Lencho’s firm belief in God. 2. What is your opinion of God? With reference

to the story, explain how God helps us in different situations.

3. Imagine yourself to be Lencho. Now consider the situation where you received an envelope from God with seventy pesos in it instead of hundred. How would you react to the situation?

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Activity 1 Quiz Scope: Quiz Aim: Understanding the story and recollecting the details Skills developed: Teamwork; Knowledge and Understanding of the Text Method: Group Activity Divide the class into groups based on the strength of the class. Each group gets 15 seconds to answer a question. If they answer correctly, they get five marks for it. If not, they get a negative two and the question passes to another team. i. Where was the house of the farmer situated? ii. How was the farmer’s field? iii. What was the only thing required for the crops now? iv. What did Lencho do throughout the morning? v. What were his sons doing? vi. What did Lencho compare the raindrops to? vii. Just after it rained for a while, what happened? viii. After the hailstorm, what did the field look like? ix. What would have been better than hailstones? x. What was the only hope for Lencho? xi. Give the phrase which denotes that Lencho was hardworking man. xii. What did Lencho do after the crops got destroyed? xiii. What did the post man do when he saw Lencho’s letter addressed to God? xiv. What kind of man was the postmaster? xv. How did he collect the money? xvi. How much money was collected? xvii. What was Lencho’s reaction when he received the letter from God? xviii. Why was Lencho angry on seeing the money? xix. Why does he call the post office employees as crooks? Activity 2 Drama Scope: Drama and conversation Aim: To understand human reaction when truth is revealed Skills developed: Communication skills, Analytical Skills and Creative Thinking Method: Group Activity Develop a dialogue between Lencho and the postmaster when the postmaster receives the second letter written by Lencho to God where he calls the post office employees as crooks.

Formative Assessments

cbse, class 10, english language and literature, term 1 ... · written as per the syllabus...

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