CBSE Class 10 English A Letter to God Assignment Set 01

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. How far would you agree that one’s positivity can bring in a spark of brightness even in adverse circumstances?
Answer: Positivity has the strength to brighten up even the most difficult situations. By keeping a hopeful mindset, people can discover optimism, strength, and ways to handle difficult times. It not only enhances a person's view on life but also encourages others, spreading joy to those around them.
In simple words: Staying hopeful in tough times helps you and the people around you find ways to get through it.

Exam Tip: Focus on keywords like 'hope', 'resilience', and 'optimism' to show how a positive mind helps solve problems.

Question. Lencho did not bother exploring any other means to resolve his situation but just turned to God. Do you feel that his approach was justified? Why/Why not?
Answer: Lencho's decision is not correct because we understand that God assists people who make an effort. Asking for assistance is reasonable, but doing absolutely nothing while relying entirely on luck or other people is not practical.
In simple words: Lencho was wrong to just pray and do nothing else, because we should always try to help ourselves first.

Exam Tip: Mention the proverb 'God helps those who help themselves' to argue against Lencho's complete dependency.

Question. Who read the letter sent by Lencho? What did he do then?
Answer: The postmaster read the letter that Lencho wrote. After seeing the farmer's deep trust in God, the postmaster decided to gather money from others to assist him and keep his beliefs strong.
In simple words: The postmaster read the letter and collected money to keep Lencho's faith in God alive.

Exam Tip: Clearly state that the postmaster read the letter and took immediate action to gather money.

Question. Explain how the description of the devastation caused by the hailstorm reflects the sadness within Lencho, in ‘A Letter to God’? Refer to the given lines, from the text - Not a leaf remained on the trees. The corn was Totally destroyed. The flowers were gone from the plants. Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness.
Answer: The destruction from the storm shows the deep grief inside Lencho. Phrases like "not a single leaf was left on the trees" and "flowers had fallen off the plants" show the great sorrow and empty feeling in Lencho's heart after his loss. His crops were completely ruined, which made him feel extremely miserable and lost.
In simple words: The ruined crops, empty trees, and fallen flowers represent how empty and sad Lencho felt inside after the storm.

Exam Tip: Use quotes from the prompt like "not a leaf remained" to link the physical damage to Lencho's internal emotions.

Question. Who read the letter sent by Lencho? What did he do then?
Answer: The postmaster read the letter sent by Lencho. In this message, Lencho had begged God for assistance. After witnessing the farmer's strong trust, the postmaster started gathering money to support him and preserve his belief.
In simple words: The postmaster read the letter and immediately worked on collecting funds so Lencho's faith wouldn't be broken.

Exam Tip: Mention the postmaster's dual action: reading the letter and raising money from employees and friends.

Question. People get support from family and friends during bad times. How does Lencho’s family behave after the harvest is ruined?
Answer: Lencho received great support and inner strength from his household. After the storm destroyed all his crops, his family comforted him and urged him to remain hopeful. They told him that nobody ever dies of starvation in God's world, as they all believed God would help them.
In simple words: Lencho's family comforted him, told him not to lose hope, and reminded him that God would not let them starve.

Exam Tip: Highlight the key phrase used by the family: "no one dies of hunger" to emphasize their shared faith.

Question. ‘Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the fields, but still, he knew how to write.’ What does this line tell us about the norm amongst such farmers, then?
Answer: This sentence shows that, back then, most field farmers were very industrious but lacked formal education. While they worked as hard as animals, Lencho was different because he could read and write. He was able to draft a message to God after the storm ruined his crops.
In simple words: This line shows that while most farmers in those days could not read or write, Lencho was educated enough to write a letter.

Exam Tip: Explain the metaphor "ox of a man" as hardworking, and contrast it with his ability to write.

Question. Lencho waited eagerly for a reply to his letter to God. Do you think the postmaster was also very keen to know Lencho’s reaction upon receiving the ‘reply’?
Answer: The postmaster was extremely curious to see how Lencho would react. The moment Lencho walked away, the postmaster tore open the letter to see what he wrote. He fully expected to find a message thanking God for the assistance.
In simple words: The postmaster really wanted to see Lencho's reaction because he expected Lencho to write a happy thank-you note to God.

Exam Tip: Mention that the postmaster's curiosity came from a good place—he expected a letter of gratitude.

Question. ‘The field was white as if covered with salt.’ This is how the field is described after the hailstorm. The pelting hailstones could have been easily seen as sugar cubes. Do you think comparing it with sugar would have been more appropriate? Why/Why not?
Answer: Even though hail looks like small white objects, comparing it to salt is far better than comparing it to sugar. Sugar represents sweetness and joy, while too much salt stands for ruin and bitterness. The storm completely ruined Lencho's crops, making the salt metaphor perfect.
In simple words: Salt represents ruin and bitterness, while sugar represents sweetness, so comparing the ruined field to salt is much more fitting.

Exam Tip: Contrast the symbolic meanings of salt (destruction/ruin) and sugar (happiness/sweetness) to justify the author's choice.

Question. Lencho and his family knew the implications the hailstorm would have on their lives. Write a conversation between Lencho and his wife as they watched the downpour turn into a hailstorm.
Answer:
Wife: If this storm does not end quickly, we are going to starve.
Lencho: Yes, all our hard work will be completely ruined. It has to end now.
Wife: We won't have any food left for the year.
Lencho: Have faith, God observes everything and He won't let us starve.
Wife: Let's pray that is true. They always say nobody dies of starvation.
In simple words: This is a sad talk between Lencho and his wife as they worry about starving because the storm is destroying their food.

Exam Tip: Keep the tone of the dialogue anxious but hopeful, reflecting the characters' deep faith despite their fear.

Question. Lencho did not bother exploring any other means to resolve his situation but just turned to God. Do you feel that his approach was justified? Why/Why not?
Answer: I do not agree with his decision to depend only on divine aid. It was not very practical. Joy and sadness are natural parts of life that we must all be ready to deal with. He should have prayed for peace of mind, but also reached out to family for assistance and started working hard once more.
In simple words: Relying only on prayers without trying other ways, like asking family for help or working, is not a practical way to solve life's problems.

Exam Tip: Argue that while faith is good, practical action like seeking community support and hard work are also necessary.

Question. What, according to you would have been the likely reaction of Lencho’s wife upon knowing about him writing an actual letter to God?
Answer: In my view, she would have felt pleased to hear that Lencho shared their troubles with God and expected relief shortly. She shared his strong devotion and firmly trusted that God looks after everyone's daily needs so that nobody starves.
In simple words: She would have been happy and relieved, believing that God would hear their plea and send help.

Exam Tip: Justify her reaction based on her shared belief in the phrase "no one dies of hunger."

Question. Lencho had faith in God but lacked faith in humanity. Elaborate with reference to ‘A Letter to God’.
Answer: Lencho possessed great trust in God, which led him to send a message asking for a hundred pesos to cover his crop losses. However, getting only seventy pesos made him angry. He did not trust human beings at all, believing the postal workers took the missing thirty pesos. So, he wrote another letter to complain about them.
In simple words: Lencho trusted God completely but suspected the post office workers of stealing his money, showing he had zero trust in other people.

Exam Tip: Highlight the irony that the very people who helped him were the ones he accused of being thieves.

Question. Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho ? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’ ?
Answer: The postmaster was a gentle, giving, and deeply religious person. After reading the letter requesting one hundred pesos, he felt very sorry for Lencho. Because of this, he chose to assist the farmer by donating a portion of his own wages and asking his coworkers to join in. He signed it as 'God' to keep the farmer's trust unbroken.
In simple words: The postmaster was kind and wanted to help Lencho, signing the letter as 'God' so Lencho would keep believing in Him.

Exam Tip: Focus on the postmaster's pure desire to "preserve Lencho's faith" as his primary motivation for signing the letter as 'God'.

Question. How far would you agree that one’s positivity can bring in a spark of brightness even in adverse circumstances. ?
Answer: It is completely true that a hopeful outlook can bring joy during tough times. Lencho's simple belief was what eventually brought him seventy pesos. His positive attitude after the storm is what inspired him to write to God in the first place, and his hope was ultimately rewarded.
In simple words: Being positive helps you find hope and solutions, just like Lencho's hope brought him help when he needed it most.

Exam Tip: Show how Lencho's hope led to a practical outcome (receiving 70 pesos) to prove that positivity brings results.

Question. Was Lencho surprised to find a letter with money in it ? Why/ Why not ?
Answer: Lencho felt no surprise when he opened the envelope containing the money because his belief in God was absolute. This deep trust gave him complete certainty that help would arrive.
In simple words: Lencho wasn't surprised at all because he was 100% sure that God would answer his prayer.

Exam Tip: Use strong words like "unshakeable faith" or "absolute certainty" to describe Lencho's state of mind.

Question. What did postmaster need to answer Lencho’s letter ?
Answer: The postmaster was amazed to see a letter written to God. Once he read it, he realized that replying would require far more than just kind feelings, a pen, and paper. He needed to find a large sum of money to send to the farmer.
In simple words: To answer the letter, the postmaster didn't just need paper and ink; he actually needed to collect a lot of money.

Exam Tip: Mention the phrase "goodwill, paper, and ink" to show what is normally needed versus what was actually required (money).

Question. Lencho said, “These aren’t rain drops - they are ‘new coins’.” Why did he say so ? How did these new coins ultimately bring disaster to his corn field ? Or Why does Lencho compre rain drops with the new coins?
Answer: Lencho desperately required a bountiful harvest. The rain was a sign of a great crop yield, which would bring in a lot of money when sold. This is why he compared the rain to new coins. However, the gentle rain suddenly turned into a violent hailstorm that destroyed everything, leaving not a single leaf behind.
In simple words: Lencho called the rain "new coins" because it would help his crops grow and earn him money, but the rain turned into hail and ruined everything.

Exam Tip: Divide your answer into two parts: first explain the positive comparison (rain = money), then explain the sudden disaster (hail = ruin).

Question. What impression do you form of the postmaster after reading the story ‘A Letter to God’ ?
Answer: The postmaster was a gentle, giving, supportive, friendly, and deeply religious individual. His generosity shone through when he collected seventy pesos for Lencho. He also replied to the message so that the farmer's trust in the Almighty would remain strong.
In simple words: The postmaster was a kind and friendly man who went out of his way to help a stranger keep his faith.

Exam Tip: List positive traits like "kindness," "generosity," and "empathy" to describe the postmaster.

Question. What were Lencho’s feelings when he found the letter with money in it ? What did he do after opening the letter ?
Answer: Lencho showed no surprise upon seeing the money because he felt completely sure that God would help him. Once he opened the envelope, he discovered only seventy pesos instead of the hundred he requested. Consequently, he drafted a second letter begging for the remaining cash, but asked God not to send it by post since he believed the workers were thieves.
In simple words: Lencho wasn't surprised to get the money, but he got angry when he found some was missing and wrote back asking God to send the rest through another way.

Exam Tip: Emphasize both his complete lack of surprise and his immediate suspicion of the postal workers.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. Explain the irony in the chapter, “A Letter to God”.
Answer: The great irony in this story is that Lencho suspects the very people who came to his rescue. He believes the postal workers stole his money, when they were actually the ones who raised it for him. He labels his helpers as a group of thieves, despite their selfless efforts to keep his faith strong.
In simple words: The irony is that Lencho called the post office workers thieves, even though they were the ones who secretly collected money to help him.

Exam Tip: Define situational irony clearly by contrasting the post office workers' real helpfulness with Lencho's view of them as crooks.

Question. What idea does the Postmaster come up with ? What did he do to stick to his resolution ?
Answer: To protect the farmer's belief, the postmaster decided to reply to the letter. However, upon opening it, he realized that a reply would require much more than just kind thoughts, paper, and ink. To keep his promise, he collected donations from his staff, contributed part of his own salary, and asked friends for help. Since raising the full hundred pesos was impossible, he sent slightly more than half.
In simple words: The postmaster decided to reply to the letter, but since it asked for money, he collected donations from his friends and staff, sending over half the amount.

Exam Tip: Clearly explain the postmaster's resolution (to answer the letter) and the steps he took to raise the seventy pesos.

Question. The people at the post office contribute to putting together whatever they can manage, for Lencho. (a) What do you think was the main reason behind their help? Would you have done the same if you were one of the employees? (b) As an employee, write about your perspective and reason(s) for contributing to the fund. The fact that you don’t want to say ‘no’ to a cause initiated by your boss, can also be an equally compelling reason!
Answer:
(a) The primary motivation for their support was likely deep empathy. Had I been working there, I would have certainly donated some money to help Lencho. Small contributions from many people can quickly add up to a significant amount without burdening any single donor, yet providing massive relief to the recipient.
(b) While it is hard for a worker to decline a project started by their supervisor, I would have contributed out of a genuine desire to assist someone in distress. Helping those in need is a basic human duty, and we should support others because we might need help ourselves one day. Charity, after all, starts close to home.
In simple words: The workers helped out of kindness and respect for their boss, showing that small donations from everyone can make a huge difference to a family in need.

Exam Tip: Structure your answer clearly with separate headings for part (a) and part (b), addressing both empathy and professional influence.

Question. Read the given anecdote and analyse the similarities and differences with reference to ‘A Letter to God’. A very poor woman called a radio station asking for help from God. A non-believer in God, also listening to this radio program, decided to make fun of the woman. He got her address, called his secretary and ordered her to buy food and take it to the woman. However, the instruction was: “When the woman asks who sent the food, tell her that it’s from the devil.” When the secretary arrived at the woman’s house, the woman was very happy and grateful for the help. The Secretary then asked her, ”Don’t you want to know who sent the food?” The woman replied, ”No, I don’t even care because when God orders, even the devil obeys!
Answer: This story shares several key features with 'A Letter to God.' Both characters possessed absolute faith in God and waited patiently for divine aid instead of seeking other options. Both tales demonstrate that help arrives for those who place their trust in God, regardless of the source. However, the two stories differ significantly in their details. The woman received help from someone who wanted to mock her, while the postmaster assisted Lencho out of pure kindness to support his faith. Additionally, the woman was deeply grateful for the food, whereas Lencho reacted with anger toward his helpers. The intentions were also opposite: the rich man tried to weaken the woman's belief by invoking the devil, while the postmaster sought to strengthen Lencho's trust in God.
In simple words: Both stories show people getting help because of their strong faith, but the woman was grateful even when mocked, while Lencho was ungrateful to the kind postmaster.

Exam Tip: Compare and contrast the characters' reactions (gratitude vs. anger) and the helpers' motivations (mockery vs. preservation of faith).

Question. The postmaster was a representative of God. Evaluate this statement in the context of your understanding of “A Letter to God”.
Answer: The postmaster can be viewed as an earthly messenger of God because he secured financial aid for a helpless farmer. Since the Almighty does not appear in physical form, He often works through kind-hearted people to answer prayers and ease suffering. By organizing the collection and replying in God's name, the postmaster ensured that Lencho's prayers did not go unanswered, making his actions truly divine.
In simple words: The postmaster acted like God's helper on Earth by collecting money and replying to Lencho's prayer so his faith wouldn't be broken.

Exam Tip: Discuss the theme of human agency in divine help—how God works through human kindness to answer prayers.

Question. Read the extracts given below and comment on the difference in the nature of help both the characters, of these two stories, received. (i) Suddenly I came out of the clouds and saw two straight lines of lights in front of me. It was a runway! An airport! I was safe! I turned to look for my friend in the black aeroplane but the sky was empty. [The Black Aeroplane] (ii) All through the night Lencho thought only of his one hope: the help of God.. .The following Sunday, at daybreak he began to write a letter.. .It was nothing less than a letter to God… The following Sunday Lencho came a bit earlier than usual to ask if there was a letter for him…. Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money, such was his confidence. [A Letter to God]
Answer:
1. In both stories, the main characters find themselves in desperate need of assistance.
2. In 'The Black Aeroplane,' the pilot is rescued by a mysterious stranger flying a dark aircraft through a severe storm.
3. This guide leads him safely through the heavy clouds, even though radar reports show no other planes in the sky.
4. The identity of the helper remains completely unknown and mysterious to the pilot.
5. The source of this rescue is left open to the reader's own explanation.
6. Interestingly, the pilot never asked for assistance but received it when he needed it most.
7. He feels deeply grateful and relieved for this unexpected rescue.
8. On the other hand, the assistance Lencho receives in 'A Letter to God' is very different.
9. Lencho actively writes a letter requesting funds, and his pure belief deeply touches the local postmaster.
10. The postmaster coordinates a collection to send him seventy pesos.
11. Thus, Lencho explicitly demands assistance rather than receiving it unprompted.
12. The origin of the money is clearly a group of kind human beings, even though Lencho believes it is from God.
13. Unlike the grateful pilot, Lencho feels angry and deeply disappointed with the amount he received.
In simple words: The pilot received mysterious help without asking and was very grateful, while Lencho wrote a letter demanding help and ended up angry and ungrateful.

Exam Tip: Contrast the two stories across key points: whether help was requested, who the helper was, and how the main character reacted afterward.

Question. In the lesson ‘A Letter to God’, what moral values does the postmaster display in his behaviour? Or The postmaster represents such people who still believe in helping others. Mention those values of the postmaster which you would like to emulate in yourself. Write in 100-120 words.
Answer: The postmaster displays outstanding moral values, including deep empathy, kindness, and respect for others' beliefs. He was so moved by the farmer's simple trust in God that he decided to help rather than mock him. His determination is clear in how he stuck to his plan, donating part of his own salary and encouraging his friends to do the same. His leadership and friendly nature made others happy to support his charitable effort. These qualities of kindness and positive thinking are traits we should all try to follow.
In simple words: The postmaster shows great kindness, empathy, and determination by donating his own money and leading others to help keep a poor man's faith alive.

Exam Tip: Focus on key moral terms such as "empathy," "benevolence," "leadership," and "determination" to score high marks.

Question. Oh “God”, wrote Lencho, “If you do not help me, my family and I will go hungry this year.” Did God help him and how?
Answer: Lencho was a simple farmer whose survival depended entirely on his crops. Although his fields looked promising, they desperately needed a good rain. Unfortunately, the gentle shower quickly turned into a violent hailstorm that wiped out his entire crop, leaving him completely heartbroken. With no neighbors to turn to, he placed all his trust in God's help. He wrote a desperate letter begging for one hundred pesos to save his family from starvation. Ultimately, God helped him not directly, but through the kind postmaster who raised seventy pesos as an act of charity.
In simple words: Lencho's crops were ruined by hail, so he wrote to God for 100 Rs. He received help indirectly through a kind postmaster who collected 70 Rs. for him.

Exam Tip: Clearly explain that "God's help" arrived in an indirect, human form through the generosity of the postmaster.

Question. “If you don’t help me, my family and I will go hungry this year.” Lencho had faith in God but he didn’t manage to solve the problem by himself. Did he lack the courage to resolve his matter himself ? What values did he lack ? Explain it in 100-120 words.
Answer: Writing a letter to God does not mean Lencho lacked the courage to face his problems. He was an extremely hard-working farmer who put all his energy into his fields, but the sudden storm left him with absolutely nothing. Since his house was completely isolated in the valley, he had no neighbors to ask for help during this crisis. Turning to God was not an act of cowardice, but rather his only remaining option. He had the physical strength to work but simply lacked the money to buy seeds and start over.
In simple words: Lencho didn't lack courage; he was just completely isolated and broke after the storm, so asking God for help was his only option to survive.

Exam Tip: Defend Lencho's character by distinguishing between a lack of courage and a complete lack of physical resources.

Question. Apart from his blind faith in God was Lencho a wise person ? Was he justified in called post office employees a bunch of crooks ? Prove your point by giving examples from the text ‘A Letter to God’.
Answer: Lencho was a very simple farmer who had spent his life isolated from society, making him highly naive about the real world. His faith in God was so absolute that he could not believe God would ever make a mistake or ignore his request. When he received only seventy pesos, he automatically assumed that the postal workers must have stolen the rest. His reaction was not driven by anger or greed, but rather by his total lack of common sense and practical life experience, which made him fail to see the human kindness behind the gift.
In simple words: Lencho was not very worldly-wise; his extreme innocence and lack of common sense made him suspect the post office workers of stealing his money.

Exam Tip: Use terms like "naive," "simpleton," and "lack of worldly awareness" to explain why Lencho made such an unjust accusation.

Question. Suppose you are the postmaster. Explain your feelings when you received second letter of Lencho.
Answer: I opened the second envelope with great excitement, fully expecting to read a beautiful message of gratitude. Instead, I was deeply shocked and hurt to find complaints and curses. It felt terrible to see my hardworking staff, who had willingly given up their own money, being labeled as a gang of thieves. I was left confused about how to respond or how to show him the truth. I realized that sending him more money would only make him more convinced that we were dishonest.
In simple words: As the postmaster, I felt hurt and disappointed when Lencho called us thieves instead of thanking us for our secret charity.

Exam Tip: Write in the first-person narrative style ("I") and capture the complex emotions of disappointment, shock, and concern for your employees.

Extract Based Questions

Question. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows :
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. Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the fields, but still he knew how to write.
(i) Write down two things that you can infer from the extract about Lencho’s character.
(ii) Read the following descriptions (a)-(c) and identify which one correctly corresponds to the extract.
(a) A debate is a formal discussion on a particular topic, usually with two or more people presenting different viewpoints and arguments.
(b) A soliloquy is a speech given by a character alone on stage, which reveals their innermost thoughts and feelings to the audience.
(c) A narrative from the point of view of an omniscient narrator, who knows everything about the story and the character.
(iii) What was Lencho going to do?
(a) Go to bank for loan
(b) Write a letter to God
(c) Ask for help
(d) Have faith in God
(iv) What does the author mean by the statement ‘Lencho was an ox of a man..’?
Answer:
(i) We can see that Lencho was a deeply religious man with absolute trust in divine help. Additionally, he was an incredibly industrious laborer who also knew how to read and write.
(ii) (c) A narrative from the point of view of an omniscient narrator, who knows everything about the story and the character.
(iii) (b) Write a letter to God
(iv) This phrase means that Lencho was an extremely strong, dedicated, and hard-working farmer who put immense physical effort into his work.
In simple words: This passage tells us that Lencho was a very hard-working farmer with deep faith in God, who knew how to write letters and was planning to write to God for help.

Exam Tip: For extract questions, refer directly to the text (like "ox of a man" and "eyes see everything") to support your inferences.

Question. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows :
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 the 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.
(i) To whom does the house described in the extract belong to?
(ii) How has the author described the scene viewed from Lencho’s house?
(iii) Based on the detail of the house’s location, how can it best be described?
(a) Majestic
(b) Imposing
(c) Solitary
(d) Unique
(iv) Which word would correctly substitute ‘covered’ in the given sentence from the extract?
The hat was covered with small strings of different colours.
Answer:
(i) The home mentioned in the passage belongs to Lencho and his household.
(ii) The writer paints a beautiful picture of the view. From that spot, one could gaze out at the flowing river and the lovely fields of ripe corn dotted with blossoms.
(iii) (c) Solitary
(iv) dotted
In simple words: The passage describes Lencho's lonely house on a hill, showing a beautiful view of his cornfields that just needed some rain to yield a great harvest.

Exam Tip: Identify exact vocabulary matches from the passage, like "dotted" for "covered," to show precise reading.

Question. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows :
“Now we’re really going to get some water, woman.” The woman who was preparing supper, replied, “Yes, God willing”. The older boys were working in the field, while the smaller ones were playing near the house until the woman called to them all, “Come for dinner”. 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 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. The big drops are ten cent pieces and the little ones are fives.”
(i) “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.”
In which of the following examples has the same figure of speech been used to describe raindrops in the above lines?
(a) She looked as fresh as morning dew.
(b) Waves heaved heavily.
(c) Glow worms are tiny lights floating around in the forest.
(d) Break, break, break On thy cold gray stones, O Sea!
(ii) How does Lencho’s mood progress along with the progress of the rain? Answer in about 40 words.
(iii) In the statement made by Lencho “Now we’re really going to get some water, woman,” water denotes rainfall. Which of the following pairs does not denote the same relationship?
(a) earth - soil
(b) sun - sky
(c) fire - embers
(iv) In the statement, ‘The man went out for no other reason than to have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body’ use one word to replace the underlined part of the sentence.
Answer:
(i) (c) Glow worms are tiny lights floating around in the forest.
(ii) Lencho's feelings transition from hopeful anticipation to absolute joy as the rain starts. Finally, he becomes highly excited when he sees the large drops, comparing them to shiny new coins.
(iii) (b) sun - sky
(iv) only
In simple words: This section shows Lencho getting very happy and excited when it starts to rain, because the rain means his crops will grow and bring in money.

Exam Tip: Identify that the figure of speech used is a metaphor (comparing raindrops directly to coins), which matches option (c).

Question. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows :
The following Sunday Lencho came a bit earlier than usual to ask if there was a letter for him. It was the postman himself who handed the letter to him while the postmaster, experiencing the contentment of a man who has performed a good deed, looked on from his office. 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.
(i) According to the extract, what was the belief of Lencho?
(a) God couldn’t make a mistake in sending the money.
(b) God couldn’t deny what he had requested.
(c) Money was stolen.
(d) Both (a) and (b)
(ii) Why did Lencho go a bit early to the post office the following Sunday?
(iii) Read the following descriptions (a)-(c) and identify which one correctly corresponds to Lencho.
(a) Blind faith in God
(b) Superstitious nature of village people
(c) Suspicious of all government authorities
(iv) How much money did Lencho receive?
Answer:
(i) (d) Both (a) and (b)
(ii) Lencho arrived earlier than usual because he was extremely eager to get the expected reply to his letter.
(iii) (a) Blind faith in God
(iv) Lencho received seventy pesos instead of the one hundred he asked for.
In simple words: Lencho went early to get his letter and was completely calm about receiving money, but he became angry because there were only 70 pesos instead of 100.

Exam Tip: Clearly state that the postmaster watched with a quiet sense of satisfaction, contrasting with Lencho's sudden anger.

Question. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows :
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. One of the employees, who was a postman and also helped at the post office, went to his boss laughing heartily and showed him the letter to God. Never in his career as a postman had he known that address. The postmaster-a fat, amiable fellow-also broke out laughing, but almost immediately he turned serious and, tapping the letter on his desk, commented, “What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter. Starting up a correspondence with God!”
(i) The author says, “He wrote, ‘To God’ on the envelope, put the letter inside, and still troubled, went to town.” Why was the man troubled?
(a) He had no money for an envelope and a stamp.
(b) He needed a hundred pesos to rebuild his life.
(c) He needed seventy pesos to buy corn seeds.
(d) He knew God wouldn’t bother to reply.
(ii) What do the words, “What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter. Starting up a correspondence with God!” reveal about the postmaster? Answer in about 40 words.
(iii) Below are given a few sentences (a)-(c) with various meanings of ‘shake’. Which of the following sentences has used the word ‘shake’ in a similar meaning as in the passage?
(a) The armies did not want to unsettle the situation so they declared a truce.
(b) As soon as we finished bathing the dog, it wiggled itself vigorously.
(c) The jelly wobbled daintily n a pool of creamy custard.
(iv) How would you describe the postmaster based on your understanding of the passage.
Answer:
(i) (b) He needed a hundred pesos to rebuild his life.
(ii) These words show that the postmaster was deeply moved and amazed by the farmer's simple, pure belief. He felt that such rare, perfect trust in the divine was worth protecting and supporting.
(iii) (a) The armies did not want to unsettle the situation so they declared a truce.
(iv) The postmaster was a warm, friendly, giving, and highly compassionate man who greatly respected Lencho's absolute trust in God.
In simple words: This passage shows how the postmaster went from laughing at the letter to respecting Lencho's incredible faith and wishing he had that same strong trust.

Exam Tip: Understand that the word 'shake' in the context of the story means to 'unsettle' or 'weaken' someone's belief, which matches option (a).

Question. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follows :
One of the employees, who was a postman and also helped at the post office, went to his boss laughing heartily and showed him the letter to God. Never in his career as a postman had he known that address. The postmaster — a fat, amiable fellow — also broke out laughing, but almost immediately he turned serious and, tapping the letter on his desk, commented, “What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter. Starting up a correspondence with God!”
So, in order not to shake the writer’s faith in God, the postmaster came up with an idea: answer the letter. But when he opened it, it was evident that to answer it he needed something more than goodwill, ink and paper.
(i) How would you describe the postmaster based on your understanding of the passage? Answer in about 40 words.
(ii) ‘But when he opened it, it was evident that to answer it he needed something more than goodwill, ink and paper.’ What did the postmaster need?
(a) He needed seeds from everyone to help Lencho.
(b) He needed an envelop and a stamp.
(c) He needed a hundred pesos to help the petitioner.
(d) He needed sixty pesos to give in charity to Lencho.
(iii) A few sentences with various meanings of ‘shake’. are given below. Which of the following sentence has used the word ‘shake’ in a similar meaning as in the passage?
(a) The jelly wobbled daintily in a pool of creamy custard.
(b) As soon as we finished bathing the dog, it shook itself vigorously.
(c) The armies did not want to unsettle the situation so they declared a truce.
(d) She stood in a corner shivering with cold and fear.
(iv) What do the words, “What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter. Starting up a correspondence with God!” reveal about the postmaster?
Answer:
(i) The postmaster was a highly compassionate, supportive, friendly, and religious person. He felt deep sympathy for the farmer's plight and chose to give up a portion of his own salary while organizing donations from his staff.
(ii) (c) He needed a hundred pesos to help the petitioner.
(iii) (c) The armies did not want to unsettle the situation so they declared a truce.
(iv) These thoughts show that the postmaster felt deep admiration and respect for the farmer's simple, pure, and unwavering trust in God.
In simple words: The postmaster was a generous person who realized that to keep Lencho's faith alive, he had to raise a large sum of money rather than just writing a simple reply.

Exam Tip: Clearly link the postmaster's action of raising money to his respect for Lencho's faith.