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

Introduction: About This Chapter

Welcome to EduFetch's comprehensive NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 1 – A Letter to God. Written by Gregorio López y Fuentes, this chapter conveys a heartwarming story about unshakable faith, kindness, and human nature. These solutions are prepared to help students easily understand and prepare well for exams.

Chapter Summary

In this story, Lencho, a poor farmer, lives with his family in a small house on a hill. He is a hardworking and hopeful man who depends on farming for his livelihood. One day, when he eagerly waits for rain to water his crops, a hailstorm comes instead and destroys everything.

In desperation, Lencho writes a letter addressed to God, asking for 100 pesos to save his family. The postmaster, touched by Lencho's faith, collects money from his colleagues and sends it to Lencho anonymously. However, Lencho, upon receiving less than what he asked for, suspects the post office employees of stealing part of the money, but his faith in God remains unshaken.

Word Meanings

Hailstorm: A storm with balls of ice (hail)
Crops: Plants grown for food and trade
Faith: Strong belief or trust in something or someone
Conscience: Inner sense of right and wrong
Harvest: The process of gathering mature crops

NCERT Textbook Questions and Answers

Oral Comprehension Check (Page 5)

Q1: What did Lencho hope for?

Ans: Lencho hoped for rain to fall on his fields to ensure a good harvest and support his family financially.

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

Ans: Lencho compared the raindrops to new coins because they symbolized hope and prosperity for his family. The rain meant a good harvest, which would bring money for their needs.

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

Ans: The rain soon turned into a hailstorm. Large hailstones fell and destroyed all of Lencho’s crops, leaving his fields covered in ice and ruining his harvest.

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

Ans: Lencho was heartbroken and filled with despair after seeing his destroyed crops. He felt helpless, knowing he had no food for the year ahead.

Thinking about the Text (Page 6-7)

Q1: Who or what did Lencho have faith in? What did he do?

Ans: Lencho had complete faith in God. Believing that only God could save his family, he wrote a letter to God asking for 100 pesos to survive the crisis.

Q2: Who read the letter?

Ans: The postmaster read Lencho’s letter. He was amused at first but later deeply moved by Lencho’s faith in God.

Q3: What did the postmaster do then?

Ans: The postmaster decided to help Lencho by collecting money from his employees and contributing a part of his salary. He sent the collected amount to Lencho anonymously as ‘from God.’

Q4: Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it?

Ans: No, Lencho was not surprised because of his strong belief in God. However, he was disappointed to find only 70 pesos instead of the 100 he had requested.

Q5: What made him angry?

Ans: Lencho became angry as he believed that some of the post office employees had stolen 30 pesos from the money sent by God.

Moral of the Story

The story teaches us about the power of unshakable faith and the importance of kindness and compassion. It also highlights the innocence and simplicity of people who trust in divine forces.

FAQs on A Letter to God

Who is the author of 'A Letter to God'? – Gregorio López y Fuentes.
What is the main theme of the story? – The story revolves around faith in God, kindness, and human nature.
Why did Lencho get angry after receiving the money? – He believed that someone from the post office stole a part of the money sent by God.