ELPRO INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, PUNE
Session:2025-26
GRADE 10 QUESTION BANK
SUBJECT – English language and literature.
FIRST FLIGHT- Prose
A Letter to God
Name of Student -
Grade & Section -
Date of Issue-
Date of submission-
1
FIRST FLIGHT- Prose
A Letter to God
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Q1 EXTRACT -1 5 R, U,
A&E
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. It said: “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.”
1. What was the postmaster’s reaction after reading Lencho’s letter for the second time?
i. happiness
ii. gratitude
iii. disappointment
iv. shock
v. anger
a) ii and v
b) i and iii
c) ii and iv
d) iii and iv
2. Why did Lencho write letter to god?
2
a) To protect his ripe crops
b) Because of unwavering faith in god
c) To ask for help
d) Both (b) and (c)
3. Pick the most suitable quote for this extract.
a) “It is easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” –
Mark Twain
b) “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”- Confucius
c) “You see a person’s true colours when you are no longer beneficial to their
life.”- anonymous
d) “True generosity means accepting ingratitude.” - Coco Chanel
4. ‘…bunch of crooks.’ Pick the option that does not collate with ‘bunch of’, correctly.
a) option (i)
b) option (ii)
c) option (iii)
d) option (iv)
5. Pick the option that lists the option corresponding to- ‘with a blow of his fist.’
3
a) Option (i)
b) Option (ii)
c) Option (iii)
d) Option (iv)
Q2 EXTRACT -2 5 R, U,
A&E
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.
1. What could be seen approaching in the Northeast?
a) The fresh air
b) Huge mountains of clouds
c) Big drops of rain
d) Herd of stray animals
2. Why did Lencho go out?
a) To protect his ripe crops
b) To shoo away the stray animals
c) To irrigate his fields
d) To have the pleasure of feeling the rain on his body
3. Find the word from the extract which means ‘forecasted’.
a) Predicted
b) Dotted
c) Approached
d) Seen
4
4. What do you mean by huge mountains of clouds?
a) Very high clouds
b) Very dark clouds
c) Clouds promising heavy rains
d) Clouds making hilly pattern
5. Find the opposite of ‘Sour’ from the passage.
a) Fresh
b) Big
c) Sweet
d) Pleasure
Q3 EXTRACT- 3 5 R, U,
A&E
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. When the storm had passed, he stood in the
middle of the field and said to his sons, “A plague of locusts would have left more than this.
The hail has left nothing”
1. What happened to the crop when the storm had passed?
a) It blossomed
b) It remained as it was
c) It grew to produce more seeds
d) The corn was destroyed
2. What was the status of leaves after the storm?
a) They turned green
b) They turned pale
c) They were detached from the trees
d) They dried up
3. Describe Lencho’s feelings as shown in the extract.
a) He was elated
b) He was very sad
c) He was angry
d) He was charged up
4. Find the opposite of ‘destroyed’ from the passage.
a) Restored
b) Lost
c) Grown
d) Passed
5. Why was Lencho’s soul filled with sadness?
a) locust had destroyed cornfields
5
b) it did not rain
c) hailstorm destroyed cornfields
d) his children did not obey him
Q4 EXTRACT - 4 5 R, U,
A&E
“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. Lencho was an ox of a man, working like an animal in the fields, but
still he knew how to write
1. What was Lencho’s only hope?
a) The help of God
b) The help of the government
c) Flourishing of another crop
d) His family’s support
2. Despite being a farmer what did Lencho know?
a) How to please God
b) How to write
c) How to talk
d) How to cook
3. How did Lencho work in the field?
a) Like a farmer
b) Like a businessman
c) As hard as an animal
d) As comfortably as the rich
4. What does the word ‘conscience’ in the extract mean?
a) Knowledge
b) Awareness
c) Interest
d) Moral sense
5. Lencho has been called ‘an ox of a man’ because
a) He was a fool
b) He was illiterate
c) He worked hard
d) None of these
Answer in 40-50 words
Q6 Lencho did not bother exploring any other means to resolve his situation but just turned to
God. 3 R, E
Do you feel that his approach was justified? Why/Why not?
6
Q7 Lencho and his family knew the implications the hailstorm would have on their lives. Write 3 R, E
a conversation between Lencho and his wife as they watched the downpour turn to a
hailstorm.
3 R, E
Q8 People like postmaster are rare these days. Mention the qualities of postmaster that you
would like to emulate in yourself.
Answer in about 100 to 120 words.
6 A, E
Q9 The people at the post-office contribute to put 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!
6 A, E
Q10 Lencho received the money and a letter from God but still he was not happy. Was it not in
his behaviour to be happy with what he had achieved? Did he not know the pleasure of being
grateful to others? Reflecting on the values required to lead a happy life, explain in about
100- 120 words.
