CBSE Class 10 English A Letter to God VBQs

Choose the correct answer.

Question. What struck the postman?
(i) The address on the letter
(ii) The size of the letter
(iii) Lencho’s behaviour
(iv) None of these
Answer. A

Question. Lencho referred to droplets as coins, because these raindrops:
(i) resembled coins.
(ii) contained some coins.
(iii) would ensure good crops which would be worth of a lot of money.
(iv) gave him so much pleasure for which he had to spend a lot of money.
Answer. C

Question. Lencho was very happy when rainfall started because:
(i) he with his family could enjoy the rainfall.
(ii) he expected the rainfall would lead to very good harvest.
(iii) the rainfall would save him a lot of money.
(iv) All of the above
Answer. B

Question. Why did the postmaster choose to give reply to Lencho’s letter?
(i) To show his superiority
(ii) To demonstrate his large heartedness
(iii) To demonstrate his social position
(iv) To maintain Lencho’s faith in God
Answer. D

Question. How did Lencho feel when he told his wife that they were going to have a rain shower?
(i) Nervous
(ii) Confident
(iii) Annoyed
(iv) Doubtful
Answer. B

Read the extracts below and answer the questions that follow.

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 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. Throughout the morning Lencho—who knew his fields intimately—had done nothing else but see the sky towards the north-east.

Questions:

Question. Based on the detail of the house’s location, how can it best be described?
(i) Majestic
(ii) Imposing
(iii) Solitary
(iv) Unique
Answer. C

Question. The field of corn dotted with flowers means that:
(i) not a single flower was bigger than a dot.
(ii) the flowers were scattered across.
(iii) the flowers were shaped like dots.
(iv) the flowers had shrunk in size.
Answer. B

Question. Lencho wished for a downpour or a heavy shower. Pick the option that lists the correct match for kinds of rain.
1. heavy rain         (i) light rain that falls in very fine drops
2. thundrstorm      (ii) very heavy rain, tropical rain
3. drizzle              (iii) It’s coming down quite strong and you get very wet very quickly
4. torrential rain   (iv) really heavy rain that comes very suddenly
5. downpour         (v) is a violent, short-lived weather disturbance associated with lightning, thunder and strong,gusty winds
(i) 1-(ii), 2-(iv), 3-(v) 4-(i), 5-(iii)
(ii) 1-(iv), 2-(i), 3-(iii) 4-(v), 5-(ii)
(iii) 1-(v), 2-(iii), 3-(iv) 4-(ii), 5-(i)
(iv) 1-(iii), 2-(v), 3-(i) 4-(ii), 5-(iv)
Answer. D

Question. Based on the given extract, what is Lencho NOT likely to think while looking at his field?
(1) Such a blessing,God! Thank you.
(2) Just a downpour, God. And everything will be perfect.
(4) I wish we have enough food to eat after this harvest.
(3) All set for the grand harvest. I’m going to be rich!
(i) Option (1)
(ii) Option (2)
(iii) Option (3)
(iv) Option (4)
Answer. D

Question. Which quote supports the idea in the given extract?
(i) “Farming is a profession of hope.”
(ii) “I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.”
(iii) “Farming looks mighty easy when your plough is a pencil, and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field.”
(iv) “Those too lazy to plough in the right season will have no food at the harvest.”
Answer. A

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. What did Lencho write in his second letter ? 
Answer : When Lencho found thirty pesos less, he wrote a second letter to God to send him the remaining amount, but not through the mail as he felt that the employees of the post office were a bunch of crooks.

Question. Why was Lencho angry when he received the letter ?
Answer : When Lencho received the letter, he opened the envelope. He, at once, became angry on counting the amount in it. There were only seventy pesos in the envelope, whereas he had asked for one hundred.

Question. What were Lencho’s feelings when the hailstorm stopped ?
Answer : Lencho was filled with utter sadness when the hailstorm stopped. He was troubled to see the corn which was totally destroyed. Nothing was left in the fields. He and his family had to go hungry without corn.

Question. How did the postmaster help Lencho ?
                            OR
What did the postmaster do to keep the faith of Lencho ?
Answer : The postmaster collected money from the post office employees, he himself also contributed his share and sent the money-order to Lencho in God’s name to keep his faith.

Question. Where was Lencho’s house situated ? Why did he sit seeing the sky ?
Answer : Lencho’s house was situated on the crest of a low hill in the valley. The whole day he sat seeing the sky because he knew that his fields needed downpour or at least a shower and he was waiting to see the signs of rain.

Question. Why would you not agree with Lencho calling them ‘a bunch of crooks’ ?
Answer : Lencho was not at all justified in calling them ‘a bunch of crooks’ because they helped him by collecting money during his difficult time of his crop being spoilt by hail.

Question. How did Lencho’s hope change to despair ? 
Answer : Lencho was waiting for a shower of rain that his field needed. But his hope for good rain vanished when the wind changed into hailstorm. It destroyed everything. So, Lencho’s hope changed to despair as his family would face starvation.

Question. Why did Lencho become angry when he counted the money ?
Answer : Lencho became angry when he counted the money because the money was not hundred pesos which he had demanded. It was only seventy pesos. Lencho had firm faith in God. Moreover, he knew that God could not make a mistake or deny his request.

Question. What were Lencho’s feelings when he found the letter with money in it ? What did he do after opening the letter ?
Answer : In the beginning, Lencho was very happy and satisfied to receive the letter. But when he counted the money and found it less, he became very angry. He wrote another letter to God, demanding thirty more pesos.

Question. Explain the qualities of the post office employees ?
Answer : The Employees were kind and helpful.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. The Post Master represents the people who still believe in helping others. Mention those values of the Post Master which you would like to emulate. Write it in about 100-120 words.
Answer : The postmaster represents a bunch of people like Lencho who have faith in God. And they believe in helping others. We learn from the story that still there are people like the Postmaster and the Post Office employees, who help others without any self interest. To keep Lencho’s faith in God intact, the postmaster co-operated with his employees and collected the amount. He had love and empathy towards Lencho when he knew about his situation. He was a compassionate man and even hid his identity in helping Lencho. He sent the amount to Lencho in the name of God. Even though none of the Post Office employees or Post Master were related to Lencho in any manner yet it was a pure act of humanity, kindness and selflessness on their part. The way they all helped Lencho in his hard times even restores our faith in humanity and motivates us to be a noble and kind person like the Postmaster.

Question. Lencho seemed to be an impulsive man who felt suddenly elated at the rainfall and later became sad to see the destruction which the rain had caused. Did he lack tolerance? Did he not have the courage to face the challenges of life? Elucidate it discussing the values one must possess to face any type of situation in about 100-120 words.
Answer : Lencho was a hard working farmer. He had grown corn in his field and was anxiously hoping for a good rain. He was very happy to see the rain, but he became despaired on seeing the destroyed crop in his field by the storm. No doubt, he had tolerance and the courage to face the challenges in his life. He had a very firm and deep faith in God and after the destruction of his field, he was still hopeful that everything will be all right. Although Lencho was a very strong man and worked hard in his fields, but his firm faith in God made him write a letter to God. And the tolerance in him only kept him waiting for the reply. He asked for hundred Pesos from God and was confident of receiving the amount. He accepted seventy pesos and again faced the situation by writing a second letter, demanding for the rest of the thirty pesos. His faith in God was not shaken. He tackled the situation bravely. In the same way we should face all situations courageously, we should be tolerant and never loose faith in God.

Question. Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like new coins ? How did the same rain change the face of Lencho’s field ?
Answer : Lencho was a poor and hardworking farmer. He hoped for a good crop, but his fields needed rain or atleast a shower. He waited for the rain eagerly. The rain did come. One day it started drizzling. Lencho felt the falling rain drops as ‘new silver coins’. The big drops of rain, according to him, were ten cent coins and the little ones were that of five. He was quite satisfied with the rainfall. But suddenly the strong wind began to blow and with the rain very large hailstones began to fall. It fell for an hour. The rain, which till then, was a hope for better future, changed into destruction. It shattered all his hopes and changed the face of his fields. It destroyed his crop completely. Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness. He feared that he would go hungry for whole year unless someone helped them from imminent starvation.

Question. In the lesson ‘A Letter to God’, what moral values does the postmaster display in his behaviour ?
Answer : Objective : To test local and global comprehension, themes and ideas in the text. 8 Marks
Marking : Content : 4 marks Fluency : 2 marks Grammatical Accuracy 2 marks (Minimum four points)
• tried to keep Lencho’s faith in God intact
• empathetic, softhearted, caring, good leadership qualities, sensitive
• collects money from his employees to help Lencho and also gives a part of his salary
• generous person, encourages to perceive others in a more positive light
• fosters a sense of community building
• spreads positivity which creates a healthy society.

Question. Write a letter as Lencho to your friend and tell him about the destruction of your crops, about the letter you wrote to God and also about the reply with money that you received. Express your irritation about the Post Office employees also.
Answer : 17A, Carter Road
Southern Valley
Madagascar
Spain
05th April, 20××
Dear Juan,
Hope this letter of mine will find you hale and hearty. This year I was waiting for good rain, which could shower my corn fields. The rain did come last week but it brought hailstones along with it. The rain had completely ruined my harvest. Me and my family were having nothing to eat. We thought, we will be starving soon. But I had not lost the hope, so I wrote a letter to God and asked him to send me 100 pesos for help. God did help me. After four days, I received a money-order from God. I got the money but not the full amount, which I had asked for. I got only 70 pesos. My 30 pesos are missing which I doubt these Post-Office employees, who are crooks must have kept it for themselves. I don’t trust them at all. Once again I have written a letter to God to send me the balance 30 pesos. I’m sure he will definitely help me again. I’m waiting for God’s reply.
With love
Lencho.