Assignment Class 10 English

A Letter to God. Long Answer Questions (6 marks each)

1. “Faith can move mountains.” How does the story ‘A Letter to God’ highlight the
unwavering faith of a poor farmer in God? Do you think faith alone is enough to
overcome hardships? Elaborate with examples from the text.
2. Lencho calls the post office employees ‘a bunch of crooks’ though they helped
him. Justify the irony in this statement and discuss what this tells us about human
perception and faith.
Short Answer Questions (3 marks each)
3. Why did Lencho become angry after receiving the money? What does his
reaction reveal about his understanding of faith and honesty?
4. How does the author use humour and irony to develop the central message of
the story?
5. What role do the post office employees play in the story? What message does
this convey about kindness and humanity?
6. How does the setting of the story contribute to the overall message?
7. What lesson can modern-day readers learn from Lencho’s unwavering faith and
the villagers?’
Chapter Nelson Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. Long Answer Questions (6 marks
each)
1. Mandela says, “Freedom is indivisible.” What did he mean by that? How did his
understanding of freedom evolve from childhood to adulthood?
2. “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society…” Explain how
Nelson Mandela’s life and struggles reflect this ideal. What can students learn from
his commitment to justice and equality?
Short Answer Questions (3 marks each)
3. Why were two national anthems sung at the inauguration ceremony? What does
this signify in the new South Africa?
4. Why does Mandela say that the oppressor must be liberated just as surely as the
oppressed?
5. What are the “twin obligations” that every man has, according to Mandela? Why
was it difficult for black South Africans to fulfil them?
6. Describe the mood of the inauguration day. How did Mandela and others feel
during the ceremony?
7. What does Mandela mean when he says that courage is not the absence of fear
but the triumph over it?
Chapter The Black Aeroplane. Long Answer Questions (6 marks each)
1. The story 'The Black Aeroplane' revolves around mystery and hope. Discuss how
the pilot’s experience in the storm highlights the themes of courage, survival, and
divine intervention.
2. The narrator was alone in the storm and yet he landed safely. Who do you think
helped the narrator? Was it a dream, a miracle, or a mystery? Give a reasoned
answer with evidence from the text.
Short Answer Questions (3 marks each)
3. Why did the narrator risk flying through the storm instead of turning back to
Paris? What does this tell us about his state of mind?
4. Describe the strange experience the pilot had after entering the black clouds.
How did it affect him?
5. What role does the “black aeroplane” play in the story? Is it real or imaginary?
6. How was the narrator finally able to land safely? What surprises him after
landing?
7. Why could the woman in the control tower not see any other aircraft on the
radar? What effect does this have on the ending of the story?
Chapter The First Flight Long Answer Questions (6 marks each)
1. “Fear holds us back, while self-confidence helps us fly.” Justify this statement
with reference to the young seagull’s journey in His First Flight.
2. The young seagull’s first flight is not just about flying, but about overcoming
hesitation and gaining independence. Discuss how the author presents this
transformation.
Short Answer Questions (3 marks each)
3. Why was the young seagull afraid to fly? How did his fear affect his actions?
4. How did the seagull’s mother trick him into flying? What does this say about her
role?
5. What was the young seagull’s reaction after his first successful flight?
6. Describe the condition of the young seagull before he took his first flight. What
does it reflect about his mental state?
7. How is the title His First Flight symbolic?
Poem Dust of Snow by Robert Frost Long Answer Questions (6 marks each)
1. “A simple moment can change the direction of one’s day.” How does the poem
Dust of Snow show that small things in nature can have a great impact on our
lives?
2. Explain how Robert Frost uses symbols in the poem Dust of Snow to convey a
deep message in very few words. How is this an example of poetic economy?
Short Answer Questions (3 marks each)
3. What is the significance of the “dust of snow” in the poet’s life? How did it affect
his mood?
4. What do the crow and the hemlock tree symbolise in the poem?
5. How does the poet’s mood change in the poem? What caused this change? 6\.
Why does the poet feel that the rest of the day has been “saved”?
7. What is the message conveyed through the poem? How is it relevant to daily
life?
Extract from the poem Dust of Snow:

The way a crow

Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree

MCQs (1 mark each):

1\. What is the effect of the dust of snow on the poet?
a) It irritated him b) It spoiled his mood c) It changed his mood d) It made him
sleepy
2. What is the poet doing in the poem?
a) Describing a bird’s nest b) Remembering a snowy evening c) Sharing a moment
that altered his mood d) Explaining types of trees
3. Which poetic device is used in the line “The dust of snow”?
a) Metaphor b) Simile c) Alliteration d) Personification
4. What kind of tree is mentioned in the stanza?
a) Oak b) Pine c) Hemlock d) Maple
5. What does the crow symbolise in the poem?
a) Joy and excitement b) Gloom and an unexpected source of change c) Festivity
and celebration d) Bad omen only