A Letter to God
(ইশ্বরের প্রতি একটি চিঠি)
G. L. Fuentes
01. Choose the meaning of the underlined word in the following sentence from among the alternatives given in brackets : (1 mark each)
(a) The house – the only one in the entire valley –sat on the crest of a low hill. (wide/whole/flat) (HSLC-2017)
(b) The house – the only one in the entire valley – sat on the crest of a low hill. (bottom/middle/top of a hill)
(c) The only thing the earth needed was a downpour ……. (drizzle / heavy fall of rain / heavy snowfall)
(d) …… who knew his fields intimately --- (closely/willingly/proudly)
(e) …… draped in a curtain of rain. (spread/covered/influenced)
(f) A plague of locusts would have left more than this. (massive attack/disease/damage)
(g) A plague of locusts would have left more than this. (insects/birds/flowers) (HSLC - 2016, (spl.)
(h) ….. see everything, even what is deep in one's conscience. (inner soul/generosity/closely)
(i) I need a hundred pesos _____ ( currency of India / Spain /Latin America ) (HSLC – 2015)
(j) The postmaster --- a fat, amiable fellow ----- (hostile/strange/friendly)
(k) ….. experiencing the contentment of a man ……. (satisfaction/interaction/hallucination)
(l) Send me the rest, since I need it very much. (relax/remaining part/be buried ) (HSLC – 2016)
Ans:- (a) whole (b) top of a hill (c) insects (d) currency of Latin America (e) remaining part
02. State whether the following are true or false : (1 mark each)
(a) The big drops are ten cent pieces.
(b) The postman sent hundred pesos.
(c) Lencho did not have faith in the post office employees.
(d) The Postmaster sent ninety pesos to Lencho.
(e) Lencho's only hope was the help of God.
Ans:- (a) True (b) False (c)True (d) False (e) True
03. Choose the correct answer from among the alternatives given and complete
the sentence: (1 mark each)
(a) Lencho's soul was ______
(i) filled with sadness. (ii) filled with happiness. (iii) filled with shyness.
(b) All through the night, Lencho thought only his one hope : ______
(i) the help of his brother. (ii) the help of his sister. (iii) the help of his God.
Ans:- (i) filled with sadness. (iii) the help of his God.
04. Very Short Type Questions (1 mark each)
(a) Where was Lencho's house situated? (HSLC - 2016, 17 (Comp))
Ans:- Lencho's house was situated on the crest of a law hill.
(b) “The only thing the earth needed….” What ‘only thing’ did the earth need? (HSLC – 2019)
Or, What did the earth need?
Ans:- The only thing that the earth needed was a downpour or at least a shower.
(c) What happened to Lencho's fields after the hailstorm ? (HSLC – 2015)
Ans:- After the hailstorm, Lencho's fields were totally destroyed.
(d) “All through the night, Lencho thought only of his one hope.” What was Lencho’s only one hope? (HSLC – 2017)
Or, What was the one hope of Lencho? (HSLC – 2020)
Ans:- Lencho's only one hope was the help of God.
(e) What type of man was the Postmaster? (HSLC – 2019)
Ans:- The Postmaster was a fat and amiable man.
(f) Who does Lencho have complete faith in? T.Q.
Ans:- Lencho has complete faith in God.
(g) How much money did Lencho ask from God?
Ans:- Lencho asked one hundred pesos from God.
(h) Who was Lencho?
Ans:- Lencho was a farmer.
(i) To whom did Lencho write a letter?
Ans:- Lencho wrote a letter to God.
(j) How much money did Lencho receive?
Ans:- Lencho received seventy pesos.
(k) What did Lencho write on the envelope?
Ans:- Lencho wrote 'To God' on the envelope.
(l) Who read the letter? T. Q.
Or, Who read the letter of Lencho?
Ans:- The postman and the postmaster read the letter.
(m) How much money did Lencho ask from God in his second letter?
Ans:- Lencho asked thirty pesos from God in his second letter.
(n) Who sent the money to Lencho?
Ans:- The postmaster sent the money to Lencho.
05. Short Type Questions (2 marks each)
(a) What did Lencho do throughout the morning? What did he see in the morning? (HSLC – 2018)
Ans:- Throughout the morning Lencho had done nothing else but see the sky towards the north-east.
He saw in the north-east huge mountains of clouds be seen approaching.
(b) “These aren't raindrops falling from the sky, they are new coins.” Why did Lencho consider the raindrops as 'new coins' ? (HSLC – 2015)
Or, Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’? T.Q.
Ans:- Lencho's corns were ready for harvest. As raindrops would have helped in getting a better harvest, resulting in more prosperity. So Lencho compared / considered them with new coins.
Or,
He compares the raindrops with the new coins because the raindrops help him to grow and harvest the crops and it will also help Lencho to get more money which in turn enriches his lifestyle.
(c) “Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness,” Why? (HSLC – 2018)
Ans:- Lencho’s soul was filled with sadness because the hailstorm completely damaged Lencho’s cornfield. The field was covered with salt. All the flowers were gone from the plants.
(d) What did the postmaster do then? T. Q.
Or, What did the postmaster do after he had received Lencho’s letter? (HSLC - 2017, 2020)
Or, What did the postmaster do after reading Lencho's letter to God?
Ans:- The postmaster initially laughed after reading Lencho's letter. However, he soon became serious and was completely moved by the writer's unquestioned faith in God. He didn't want to shake Lencho's faith. So, he decided to gather money and send it to Lencho on behalf of God.
(e) "But don't send it to me through the mail because the post office employees are a bunch of crooks" - What made Lencho think that the post office employees were a bunch of crooks? (HSLC – 2016)
Ans:- Lencho asked for a hundred pesos from God. But he received only seventy pesos through the mail. Without thinking much, he assumed that the rest of the money has been stolen by the post office employees. So, he thought that they were a bunch of crooks.
(f) What did Lencho write in his letter to God? (HSLC – 2019)
Ans:- Lencho wrote in his letter to God if God did not help him, his family and he would go hungry that year. He needed a hundred pesos in order to sow his field again and to live until the crop come.
(g) Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter 'God'? T. Q.
Ans:- The postmaster sends money to Lencho because he doesn't want to break Lencho's faith in God.
He signs the letter "God" because he decides to keep Lencho's faith in God intact.
(h) How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s fields? T. Q.
Ans:- The rain was pouring down. But suddenly, a strong wind began to blow and very large hailstones began to fall along with the rain. All the crops in Lencho's fields destroyed.
(i) What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped? T. Q.
Ans:- After hail stopped, Lencho's soul was filled with sadness. He could see a bleak future for him and his family. He was worried about lack of food for the coming year.
(j) Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do? T. Q.
Ans:- Lencho had faith in God. He wrote a letter to God.
(k) What made him angry? T. Q.
Or, “But he became angry when he counted the money.” – Why did Lencho get angry?
Ans:- Lencho requested God to send him hundred pesos. But when he counted the money he found seventy pesos. This made Lencho angry.
(l) Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why? Why not? T. Q.
Ans:- No, Lencho didn't try to find out who had sent the money to him. Because he had a very strong faith in God and he thought that no one other than god would send him the money to help him.
(m) Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money to him? What is the irony in the situation? T. Q.
Ans:- Lencho thought that the post office employees had taken the rest of the money. The irony of the situation was that the employees whom he called a "bunch of crooks" and suspected of taking some of the money sent by god, were the same people who had contributed and sent him the money.
Chapter Nelson Mandela
2 long walk to freedom
(নেলশন মেণ্ডেলা : স্বাধীনতার দিকে সুদীর্ঘ যাত্রা)
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
01. Choose the meaning of the underlined word in the following sentences from
among the alternatives given in brackets :
(a) .... and that they were not able to see what their sacrifices had wrought. (honoured/met out/achieved)
(b) .... if not generations, recovering from that profound hurt. (deep and strong/accepted/skilled)
(c) Today, all of us do, by our presence here .... confer glory and hope to newborn liberty. (meet/give/bring)
(d) ..... he is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. (a strong dislike/accept/reject)
(e) This land of rolling hills is inhabited by a proud race of martial men, beautiful women and wild creatures.
(having to do with marriage/ having to do with peace/ having to do with war) [HSLC - 2018]
(f) I saw that it was not just my freedom that was curtailed, but the freedom of everyone ....
(enhanced/reduced/withheld) [HSLC - 2019]
Ans:- (a)achieved (b) deep and strong (c) give (d) a strong dislike (e) having to do with war (f) reduced
02. State whether the following are true or false:
(a) Nelson Mandela spent twenty years in prison. [HSLC - 2015]
(b) On the day of the inauguration, two national anthems were sung. [HSLC - 2015]
(c) On the day of inauguration Mandela was accompanied by his daughter Zenari. [HSLC - 2016]
(d) Thabo Mbki was sworn in as the second deputy president. [HSLC - 2016]
(e) The policy of apartheid created lasting peace in Mandela’s Country. [HSLC - 2017]
(f) On the day of inauguration Mandela was overwhelmed with a sense of history. [HSLC - 2017]
(g) On the podium, Mr. de Klerk was first sworn in as first Deputy President. [HSLC - 2019]
(h) Then Thabo Mbeki was sworn in as second Deputy President. [HSLC - 2019]
(i) The first non-racial African government was established in 1996.
(j) Nelson Mandela fought against apartheid.
(k) Nelson Mandela was elected as the presidet of Africa.
(l) The Anglo-Boer war took piace before the birth of Mandela.
(m) Nelson Mandela was South Africa's first Black President.
(n) The inauguration ceremony was attended by 150 countries.
Ans:- (a) False (b) True (c) True (d) False (e) False (f) True (g) False (h) False (i) False (j) True (k) True
(l) True (m)True (n) False
03. Choose the correct answer from among the alternatives given and complete the
sentences:
(a) In life, every man has ______ . (HSLC – 2018)
(i) three obligations (ii) twin obligations (iii) many obligations
(b) The first deputy president of Nelson Mandela's government was ______
(i) Thabo Mbeki (i) Mr. de Klerk (iii) Bram Fischer
(c) The name of Nelson Mandela's autobiography is ______
(i) The Inauguration (ii) Long Walk to Freedom(iii) My Experiment with Truth
(d) Nelson Mandela was accompanied by his daughter ______
(i) Sujan (ii) Rajia Sultana (iii) Zenani
(e) Nelson Mandela had been in the jail for _______ years.
(i) thirteen (ii) thirty (ii) twenty
Ans:- (a) (ii) twin obligations (b) (i) Thabo Mbeki (c) (ii) Long Walk to Freedom (d) (iii) Zenani (e) (ii) thirty
04. What did Mandela say about the wealth of his country? (HSLC – 2019)
Or, What does Nelson Mandela think of the wealth of the country?
Ans:- Mandela said that his country is rich in minerals and gems that lie beneath its soil. But the real wealth
of his country is its people who are finer and truer than the purest diamonds.
05. What did being free mean to Mandela?
Or, "Freedom is individual" - How does Mandela explain this?
Or, How does Nelson Mandela describe freedom?
Ans:- According to Nelson Mandela freedom is individual. The chains on anyone of his people were the chains on all of them. He says that the chains on all of his people were the chains on him also. All his countrymen were not free. So he wanted freedom for all.
06. According to Mandela, between love and hate which comes more naturally to human heart? (HSLC – 2016)
Ans:- According to Mandela, love comes more naturally to human heart than hate.
07. What mission would Mandela like to achieve for the future of South Africa and her people on securing the political emancipation? (HSLC – 2018)
Ans:- The mission that Mandela would like to achieve for the future of South Africa and her people on securing the political emancipation is to liberate all the people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination.
08. “The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.” What makes Mandela say this? (HSLC – 2018)
Ans:- Mandela says this in the context of freedom of human being. He said, "I am not truly free if he is taking away someone else's freedom, just as surely as I am not free when my freedom is taken from me."
Or,
Both of the oppressed and the oppressors are not free because a man who takes away another man’s freedom is a prisoner of hatred. The oppressor is locked behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness.
09. Where did the ceremonies take place? Can you name any public buildings in India that are made of sandstone?
Ans:- The ceremonies took place in the campus of the Union Building of Pretoria, where attended by dignitaries and leaders of many nations. In India; Rashtrapati Bhavan and Red Fort are buildings made of red sandstone.
10. Can you say how 10th May is an 'autumn day' in South Africa?
Ans:- As South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, may falls in the autumn season. Thus 10th May is an 'autumn day'.
11. At the beginning of his speech, Mandela mentions "an extraordinary human disaster". What does he mean by this? What is the "glorious ... human achievement" he speaks of at end?
Ans:- By "an extraordinary human disaster" Mandela means to state the practice of apartheid in South Africa. During this there was a racial segregation based on colour and the blacks suffered a lot. They were not allowed to demand freedom or any right.
He considered it as great glorious human achievement that a black person became the President of a country where the blacks were not even considered human beings and were treated badly.
12. What does Mandela thank the international leaders for ?
Ans:- Mandela felt very privileged to welcome the international leaders at the swearing - in ceremony because not too long ago, the South Africans were considered outlaws. He thus thanks all of them for having come to witness the historical ceremony.
13. What ideals does Nelson Mandela set out for the future of South Africa?
Ans:- Nelson Mandela sets out the ideals of liberating people from bondage of poverty, deprivation and suffering. He also sets out the ideal for a society where there would be no discrimination based on gender or racial origins.
Oral Comprehension Check
14. What do the military generals do? How has their attitude changed, and why?
Ans:- The highest military generals of the South African defence force and police saluted Mandela and pledged their loyalty.
Their attitude towards blacks had taken great change. Instead of arresting a black they saluted him.
15. Why were two national anthems sung?
Ans:- On the day of the inauguration, two national anthems were sung, one by the whites, and the other by the blacks. This symbolized the equality of blacks and whites.
16. How does Mandela describe the systems of government in his country (i) in the first decade, and (ii) in the final decade, of the twentieth century
Ans:- (i) In the first decade of the twentieth century, the white-skinned people of South Africa patched up their differences and erected a system of racial domination against the dark- skinned people of their own land, thus creating the basis of one of the harshest and most inhumane societies the world had ever known.
(ii) In the last decade of the twentieth century, the previous system had been overturned forever and replaced by one that recognized the rights and freedoms of all peoples, regardless of the colour of their skin.
17. What does courage mean to Mandela?
Or, What does courage mean by Mandela? (2015, 2017)
Ans:- For Mandela courage does not mean the absence of fear but a victory over fear. According to him brave men need not be fearless but should be able to conquer fear.
18. Which does he think is natural, to love or to hate?
Ans:- For Mandela, love comes more naturally to the human heart than hate.
19. What "twin obligations" does Mandela mention?
Ans:- Mandela mentions that every man has twin obligations. The first is to his family, parents, wife and children; the second obligation is to his people, his community and his country.
20. What did being free mean to Mandela as a boy, and as a student? How does he contrast these "transitory freedoms" with "the basic and honourable freedoms"?
Ans:- Like any other kid for Mandela also the freedom meant a freedom to make merry and enjoy the blissful life. Once anybody becomes an adult then antics of childhood looks like transitory because most of the childish activity is wasteful from an adult's perspective. Once you are adult then someday you have to earn a livelihood to bring the bacon home, then only you get an honourable existence in the family and in the society.
21. Does Mandela think the oppressor is free? Why / Why not?
Ans:- Mandela does not think that the oppressor is free because according to him an oppressor is a victim of hatred who is behind the bars of prejudice and narrow-mindedness. He realises that both the oppressor and the oppressed are robbed of their humanity and peace.
Or
Mandela thinks that the oppressor is not free like the oppressed. A person who takes away another man's freedom is a prisoner of hatred. He is locked in prejudice and narrow-mindedness.