NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 1-A Letter to God

 Selected Qs Ans: A Letter to God

Q1.What did Lencho hope for?

Ans: Lencho hoped for rain because his dry field of ripe corn needed it very much. He and his family would remain hungry for the whole year if his crop was not saved.

Q2. Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like ‘new coins’?

Ans: Lencho’s crops were ripe and ready for harvesting. Lencho imagined that he would get money by selling his crops in the market. So he called the raindrops new coins.

Q3. How did the rain change? What happened to Lencho’s fields?

Ans: Lencho was very happy when the rain started falling down in his fields. But soon, a strong wind blew and the raindrops changed into hailstones. His crops were destroyed.

Q4. What were Lencho’s feelings when the hail stopped?

Ans: When the hailstones stopped, Lencho was full of sadness. His crops were destroyed. He was shocked and full of worry. He thought that his family would remain hungry if no help reached him.

Q5. Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do?

Ans: Lencho had full faith in God. He believed that God knows everything. God would certainly (surely) help him. So he wrote a letter to God requesting Him to send him 100 pesos to sow his crop again in his fields.

  Q6. What did the postmaster do after he got Lencho’s letter from the postman?

Ans: First, the postmaster laughed heartily. But after a few seconds, he became serious. His firm faith in God had a deep effect on the postmaster. So he did not want to shatter (shake/break) Lencho’s faith in God. So he decided to collect money to help him.

Q7. Why did the postmaster not want to shake Lencho’s faith in God?       or

What did the postmaster do to help Lencho?

Ans. The postmaster did not want to shatter (shake/break) Lencho’s faith in God. So he collected money from his employees for charity. He also gave some part of his salary. But he could collect only 70 pesos. He put that money in an envelope.

Q8.Was Lencho surprised to find an envelope for him with money in it?
Ans: No, Lencho was not at all surprised to see the envelope from God with money inside it. He was fully confident that god would surely help him.

Q9. What made Lencho angry?
Ans: When Lencho finished counting money, he found only seventy pesos. But he had demanded hundred pesos. He was confident that God could never deny him the requested money. So, he thought that the post office employees had stolen his thirty pesos.

Q10. Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho? Why does he sign the letter ‘God’?
Ans: The postmaster was emotionally moved by Lencho’s faith in God. So, he decided to send money to him. The postmaster did not want to shake Lencho’s faith in God. So, he signed the letter ‘God’. It was a good trick to make Lencho believe  that God himself had written that letter.

Q11. Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him? Why/Whynot?
Ans: No, Lencho did not try to find out who had sent the money to him. This is because he had great confidence in God. So he could never have the idea that human beings would help him. His faith in God was so strong that he believed that God had sent him the money.

Q12. Who does Lencho think has taken the rest of the money? What is the irony in the situation? Ans: Lencho thinks that the post office people have taken the money. But they are the people who collect money to help him. Lencho thinks they have stolen his money. He calls them ‘ a bunch of crooks’. Thus there is an element of irony in this situation.

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Long Qs.

Q1. Why did Lencho write a letter to God? Why did he call the post office employees 'a bunch of crooks’?

Ans. Lencho’s ripe cornfields were destroyed by hailstones. He knew his family would die of hunger if no help reached him. He hoped that God would surely help him with money. So he wrote a letter to God.

The postmaster did not want to break Lencho’s faith in God. So he collected money from his employees to help Lencho. He put the money in an envelope to give it to Lencho the next Sunday. He came to get his letter and the envelope was delivered to him. He counted the money. He found less than 30 pesos. It made him angry. He wrote another letter to God in which he called the post office employees ‘a bunch of crooks’. He thought them dishonest persons and doubted that they had stolen his 30 pesos. This is also the irony in the story.

Q2. There are two kinds of conflicts in the story: between humans and nature, and between humans themselves. How are these conflicts illustrated?
Ans: The conflict between humans and nature is shown by the destruction of Lencho’s crops by the hailstorm. The storm of hailstones stands for nature while Lencho represents human beings. This is really the first conflict.

The second conflict in this story occurs when Lencho counts the money that he received in an envelope. He finds it short by 30 pesos. It made him angry. He believed that God could not have sent him less amount. He was sure that the post office employees must have stolen his 30 pesos from the envelope.

But the truth was that the postmaster really wanted to see him happy. So he collected money, put it into an envelope, and managed to deliver it to him. Ironically, Lencho thinks them all dishonest. This is the second conflict that was caused by a lack of faith among human beings.

 [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.]

 

 

Macbeth ki Summary in English-Summary of Macbeth

Summary of Macbeth

William Shakespeare wrote the finest tragedies and Macbeth is one of them. It tells the story of a Scottish nobleman named Macbeth who becomes consumed by ambition and the desire for power, leading him down a destructive path of murder and betrayal. The play explores themes of ambition, guilt, and the corrupting nature of power. Here is a summary: 

Act 1: The play begins with a brief encounter between three witches, known as the Weird Sisters, who discuss their plans to meet Macbeth. In a desolate place, they wait for him as a storm rages overhead. When Macbeth and his loyal friend Banquo come across the witches, they are intrigued by their prophecies. The witches hail Macbeth as the Thane of Glamis, Thane of Cawdor, and future king. They also predict that Banquo's descendants will inherit the throne.

Shortly after, Macbeth and Banquo receive news that Macbeth has been named the Thane of Cawdor, which confirms the first part of the witches' prophecy. This revelation sparks Macbeth's ambition, and he begins to contemplate the idea of becoming king. Lady Macbeth, Macbeth's wife, learns about the prophecy and becomes equally consumed by the idea of power.

Act 2: Driven by ambition, Macbeth contemplates murdering King Duncan to fulfill the witches' prophecy. He wrestles with his conscience but is eventually persuaded by Lady Macbeth to carry out the deed. Lady Macbeth concocts a plan to drug the king's guards and frame them for the murder. Macbeth, tormented by his own thoughts, sees a bloody dagger in front of him and proceeds to kill Duncan in his sleep.

The next morning, Macbeth is overcome with guilt and paranoia. He becomes increasingly suspicious of others, fearing that they may discover his actions. As a result, he kills the chamberlains in a fit of rage, blaming them for Duncan's murder. Macduff, a nobleman, becomes suspicious of Macbeth's behavior and begins to question his motives.

Act 3: Macbeth's guilt and paranoia intensify as he becomes more ruthless in his pursuit of power. He hires assassins to kill Banquo and his son Fleance, fearing that their descendants may fulfill the witches' prophecy. Fleance manages to escape at the time when Banquo is murdered.

During a royal banquet, Macbeth is haunted by the ghost of Banquo, which only he can see. His disturbed behavior arouses suspicion among the nobles present, leading to further alienation and isolation for Macbeth. Lady Macbeth tries to alleviate the situation, but Macbeth's mental state deteriorates rapidly.

Act 4: Macbeth returns to the witches to seek more prophecies. The Weird Sisters conjure three apparitions that offer cryptic predictions: Macbeth should beware of Macduff, no man born of a woman can harm him, and he will remain safe until Birnam Wood comes to Dunsinane Hill. Encouraged by the apparitions, Macbeth believes himself to be invincible.

Meanwhile, Macduff, suspicious of Macbeth's actions, joins forces with Malcolm, the rightful heir to the throne. Together, they plan to gather an army and overthrow Macbeth. Macduff learns that his family has been murdered on Macbeth's orders, which fuels his determination to seek revenge.

Act 5: Lady Macbeth's guilt and madness intensify, and she sleepwalks, tormented by the murders committed. She eventually takes her own life, unable to bear the weight of her actions.

As the battle approaches, Macbeth remains defiant, convinced that he cannot be defeated. However, Macduff reveals that he was not "born of a woman" in the traditional sense but was instead delivered by a cesarean section. This fulfills the witches' prophecy, and Macbeth realizes his imminent demise. Despite this, he fights valiantly but is ultimately slain by Macduff.

Malcolm, now the rightful king, is crowned, and peace is restored to Scotland. The play ends with Malcolm's vow to restore order and justice to the kingdom.

In conclusion, Macbeth is a tragic play that delves into the destructive consequences of unchecked ambition and the corrupting influence of power. It portrays the downfall of a noble character who succumbs to his darkest desires, leading to a series of brutal and tragic events.

The Third Level-Questions-Answers-Jack Finney

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1. The Third Level: Writer: Jack Finney (Notes Prepared by Shish Pal Chauhan)

Short-Answer Type Qs

Q1. How does Jack Finney describe the Grand Central like the roots of a tree?

Ans. Jack Finney describes that the Grand Central is growing like a tree. He finds new corridors and staircases coming out in front of him. He compares them to the roots of a tree, which are often invisible.

 Q2. Describe four unusual things which Charley finds at the third level?

Ans. Everything was quite different at the third level for Charley. The rooms were smaller. There were fewer ticket windows. The lights were dim and flickering because they were open-flame gaslights. There were brass spittoons on the floors.

 Q3. Describe the men at the third level as seen by Charlie in his reverie.

Ans. The people Charley saw in his reverie were dressed in the old style of the year 1890 or something. They wore derby hats and four buttoned suits with small lapels. Men had beard, side-whiskers and mustaches.

 Q4. Why was Charley not able to purchase tickets from the third level? How did he manage to purchase them?

Ans. Charley was unable to purchase tickets from the window because he had modern currency. It was invalid because old style bills were accepted at the booking window. The next day Charley managed to get old style bills to purchase two tickets.

 Q5. What is the first day cover? Elaborate it.

Ans. When a new stamp is issued, the stamp collectors buy some. They use them on envelopes, write their own addresses and post them into the mailbox. They also put a blank paper inside the envelopes. It is done on the first day of the sale of the new stamps. They keep the date-stamped envelope in record.

Q.6. How did the psychiatrist friend react to his description of the third level at the Grand Central Station?

Ans. His friend, Sam did not believe it and said that it was the product of his imagination only. He called it a waking dream wish fulfillment. He also added that Charley’s stamp collecting hobby was a medium of his escape from reality.

 Q.7.  How does the writer defend himself at the allegation of escaping in fantasy by way of stamp collecting?

Ans. The writer defends himself from the allegation of escaping from the real world. He admits that it is a temporary refuge from reality. He adds that his grandfather was also in the habit of collecting stamps. Life was peaceful and without many problems. There was no need of escaping from real life in those days.

 Q.8. What proofs does the writer get that Sam is living in Galesberg in 1984?

Ans. The envelope mailed to Charley’s grandfather was showing July 18, 1894. A note was also written by Sam, admitting his arrival at Glasberg through the third level. He also invited Charley and his wife Louisa to reach there.

 Q9.Do you think the third level was a medium of escape for Charley?

Ans. The third level was really a medium of escape for Charley, who was also a victim of stressful life of the modern age. People get themselves lost in the world of their imagination by various means of escape. Stamp collecting is one of them.

Long Answer-type Qs. (Notes Prepared by Shish Pal Chauhan)

Q1. How often did Charlie get lost at the Grand Central Station?

Ans. One day Charley worked for more time at office. So, he was late for home. So, he took the subway from the Grand Central to reach the second level of it. From there he was to catch a train. He started walking quickly. He reached the second level. But all of a sudden, he lost his way there. He entered a corridor that had a left turn. It was also slanting somewhat downwards. It was like a tunnel. He met no one on the way. There was dead silence. Even he could hear the sound of his own footsteps. Then the corridor took a sharp left turn. After coming down a flight of stairs he reached the third level of the Grand Central Station.

 Q2. What unusual things did he notice there at the third level? How was it different from the other two levels?

Ans. Everything was quite different at the third level for Charley. The room was smaller. There were fewer ticket windows. The lights were dim and flickering because they were open-flame gaslights. There were brass spittoons on the floors. Everything there at the third level was old and belonged to the eighteen-ninety-something. Nothing was there which could be called belonging to the modern times. The furniture at the third level was of ancient time.  A man was using an old type of watch which he kept in his vest pocket. The dresses of the men and women were also of very old style. He also saw an old type of engine. It was a locomotive with a funnel shaped chimney. Old-style bills were accepted there. He could not purchase tickets as he had modern type of bill.

 Q3. ‘The modern consumerist world is full of fear, insecurities, stress and wars.’ What are the ways in which we try to combat them? Answer with reference to The Third Level.

This world is full of fear, insecurities, stress and wars. Charley is also the product of the same kind of world. He must have been a victim of stress and anxiety. So, he developed   a habit of slipping into the world of escape, the third level. He must have had a dormant (hidden) desire of such a platform from where one could go anywhere in the U.S.A. That was the reason he wished to purchase two tickets for Galesburg. So, one day, that wish was fulfilled in his waking dream.

There are many ways to combat (fight) these types of stress. People can do creative writing and lose themselves in imagination. They can enjoy the beauties of nature. They can make several hobbies like listening to music, dancing, painting and gardening. But they should not become habitual of non-desirable habits like drinking wine and taking drugs or intoxicants.