This MCQ module is based on: Activity 1 — Rearranging Lencho’s Story
TOPIC 1 OF 9
Activity 1 — Rearranging Lencho’s Story
🎓 Class 10
English
CBSE
Theory
Ch 1 — Unit 1 — A Letter to God
⏱ ~21 min
🌐 Language: [gtranslate]
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Let's Begin — Unit 1: A Letter to God
This unit connects to the First Flight story 'A Letter to God' by G.L. Fuentes. Explore comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and writing skills through the workbook activities below.
Warm-up Discussion 1: Lencho showed unshakeable faith in God even after his crops were destroyed. Do you think his faith was justified? Is it right to rely entirely on divine intervention when human help is available? Discuss with a partner.
Warm-up Discussion 2: Lencho called the post office employees 'crooks' when they had actually helped him. What does this reveal about the nature of blind faith? How is it different from rational trust?
Vocabulary Warm-up: Match the words before reading — beguiling, wagered, cordiality, snipping, filching. Can you guess their meanings from context?
beguiling Charming and distracting someone cleverly
wagered Bet or staked something on a result
cordiality Warm and friendly behaviour
snipping Cutting with small quick strokes
filching Stealing something small or petty
Activity 1 — Rearranging Lencho's Story
The summary of 'A Letter to God' has been jumbled below. Read the story again and arrange the sentences in the correct chronological order by writing the correct sequence numbers (1–9).
Sequence Activity
| Jumbled Sentence | Correct Order | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Their corn field was longing for water. | 1 | The story opens with Lencho's field needing rain. |
| Lencho predicted it will rain and it did. He and his wife were happy. | 2 | It rained, bringing joy. |
| But it rained heavily and a hailstorm destroyed all the corn. | 3 | The storm ruined everything — the central conflict. |
| Lencho felt desperate but believed that God would help him. | 4 | His faith keeps him going despite despair. |
| He wrote a letter to God asking for a hundred pesos. | 5 | Lencho writes the famous letter. |
| He wrote 'To God' on the envelope and posted it. | 6 | The letter is addressed and dispatched. |
| The postman and postmaster were surprised by his faith; collected 70 pesos. | 7 | Human compassion in action. |
| After some days, Lencho went to the post office to receive money. | 8 | Lencho arrives to collect the answer from God. |
| He wrote back angrily claiming the post office people had stolen 30 pesos. | 9 | The ironic climax — blind faith vs. human goodness. |
The correct order is 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5 → 6 → 7 → 8 → 9. Notice how the story builds from hope to despair to renewed faith to dramatic irony. The key literary device throughout is irony — Lencho's absolute faith in God causes him to suspect the very people who helped him.
Grammar Visualisation — Relative Clauses
Grammar Workshop — Relative Clauses
Rule: A relative clause begins with a relative pronoun (who, which, that) and gives more information about a noun in the main sentence. A defining relative clause tells us which person or thing. Example: "A tailor is a person who stitches clothes."
Exercise: Complete the sentences using the most suitable clause from the box.
Box: contains meaning of words / stitches clothes / tell lies / won the best actor award this year / hit a century / is faithful / need to fill in the application / is a crook / help themselves / won the Nobel prize / believe in hard work
(a) A tailor is a person __________. (done for you)
who stitches clothes.
(b) A dictionary is a book __________.
which contains the meaning of words. ('which' is used for things like a book.)
(c) The book is about a scientist __________.
who won the Nobel prize.
(d) What is the name of the player __________?
who hit a century.
(e) I don't like people __________.
who tell lies.
(f) What is the name of the actor __________?
who won the best actor award this year.
(g) Students __________ should meet the principal in her office.
who need to fill in the application should meet the principal in her office.
(h) Friends of the trader thought the tailor __________ and can cheat anyone.
is a crook — here the relative clause is a complement: "...thought that the tailor is a crook."
(i) Lencho __________ thought God would help him.
who is faithful thought God would help him.
(j) Those __________ will succeed.
who believe in hard work will succeed.
(k) God helps those __________.
who help themselves. (A well-known proverb used as a grammar example!)
Reading Comprehension — The Trader and the Tailor
Read the story by Rumi about a cunning tailor who uses clever conversation to steal cloth from a boastful trader. Identify vocabulary, comprehension, and moral themes.
Key Vocabulary — Look Up and Understand
beguiling
adjective
Charming and distracting in a deceptive way; capable of attracting interest through flattery or clever talk.
cordiality
noun
Warmth and friendliness in behaviour; here, the tailor's excessive pleasantness that put the trader off-guard.
wagered
verb (past tense)
Bet or staked something valuable on an uncertain outcome.
filching
verb
Stealing something in a sneaky or petty manner.
unhinged
adjective
Made unstable or mentally disordered; thrown into confusion.
hamper
verb
To hinder or obstruct movement or progress.
Vocabulary Exercise — Compound Words with 'Light'
In the story, the phrase 'light-fingered' means inclined to steal things. The word 'light' combines with many other words to create new meanings. Practice using similar compound words correctly.
Word Box: light-headed | light year | light-hearted | light sleeper | light-duty
(a) The ______________ is a unit of distance used to measure distances in space.
light year — A light year is the distance light travels in one year (about 9.46 trillion km), used in astronomy.
(b) The farmer bought a ______________ truck to transport produce, as it uses less diesel.
light-duty — A light-duty vehicle is designed for lighter loads and less demanding tasks.
(c) We had a fairly ______________ discussion with our colleagues.
light-hearted — A light-hearted discussion is cheerful, not serious or stressful.
(d) Rita felt dizzy and ______________ after skydiving.
light-headed — Feeling dizzy or faint, often due to altitude change or excitement.
(e) He is a ______________; the slightest noise wakes him up.
light sleeper — Someone who wakes easily at the smallest sound or disturbance.
Comprehension — Complete the Summary
The passage below summarises 'The Trader and the Tailor'. Model answers are provided — study the word forms used.
Once there was a tailor known for his cunning and thievery. He could deceive anyone with his clever ways. A trader challenged that the tailor would not be able to cheat him. He went to the tailor with a piece of satin cloth. The tailor welcomed him warmly. The trader was pleased by the tailor's praise. He told the tailor to make a coat for him. The tailor praised the trader to the maximum. The trader was full of joy. The tailor recounted funny tales and the trader forgot his bet. The tailor started snipping the cloth and hiding the extra pieces. The eyes of the trader filled with tears of joy, and yet the trader kept on asking for more stories. At last, the tailor told the trader that the coat would be too tight and he would weep tears of blood.
Word Form Notes:
• went — Simple Past of 'go' (irregular verb)
• welcomed — Simple Past of 'welcome' (regular verb)
• pleased — Past Participle used as adjective
• recounted — Simple Past of 'recount' (re- + count = to tell again)
• recounted funny tales → subject (tailor) + verb + object (tales)
• went — Simple Past of 'go' (irregular verb)
• welcomed — Simple Past of 'welcome' (regular verb)
• pleased — Past Participle used as adjective
• recounted — Simple Past of 'recount' (re- + count = to tell again)
• recounted funny tales → subject (tailor) + verb + object (tales)
Editing Exercise — Lencho's Letter of Gratitude
Suppose Lencho received all one hundred pesos and wrote a thank-you letter to God. However, a word is missing in each line. Identify and correct each omission. The first one is done for you.
| Original Line (with missing word) | Corrected Version |
|---|---|
| Thank for — (Done for you) | Thank you for |
| (a) sending a hundred pesos help. | sending a hundred pesos to help. / sending a hundred pesos as help. → Accept: 'to' or 'for' |
| (b) I am very for this kind gesture. | I am very grateful for this kind gesture. |
| (c) You were my only and your | You were my only hope and your |
| (d) help has my faith in you. | help has strengthened my faith in you. |
| (e) This money will help me until the crop | This money will help me until the crop comes / arrives. |
| (f) and I promise to hard in the future. | and I promise to work hard in the future. |
Each line has a single omitted word — this type of exercise is called Gap Filling / Omission in CBSE editing. Key skills tested: correct verb forms, appropriate prepositions, and vocabulary meaning in context. Always read the full sentence before choosing the missing word — context is the best guide.
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Extract-Based Practice — 'The Trader and the Tailor'
"The trader was laughing, the tailor was cutting, the trader closed his eyes in joy, the tailor cut extra pieces, tucking them under his thighs, hidden away from all but God. From his delight at the tailor's tales, the trader's former boast went out of his mind."
Q1. What was the trader doing while the tailor was cutting the cloth?
L1 Remember
The trader was laughing with his eyes shut, completely lost in the tailor's entertaining stories. He was paying no attention to the cloth being cut.
Q2. What does the expression "the trader's former boast went out of his mind" suggest?
L2 Understand
It suggests that the trader had completely forgotten his wager and his pride. The tailor's distracting tales made him oblivious to his original purpose — to protect his cloth from being stolen. This is how the tailor's psychological strategy succeeded.
Q3. What literary device is used in the phrase "hidden away from all but God"? What does it convey?
L4 Analyse
This is an example of irony combined with hyperbole. The tailor hid the cloth so skillfully that only God could see it — yet God is invoked here humorously, almost as a co-conspirator. It conveys how brazen and confident the tailor was in his theft, and how completely fooled the trader was.
Q4. Compare the characters of Lencho (from 'A Letter to God') and the tailor. Who is more morally complex and why?
L5 Evaluate
Lencho is naive and simple — his faith is genuine, though his suspicion of the helpers is ironic. The tailor is cunning and deliberate — his charm is a tool for deception. The tailor is morally more complex because his actions are premeditated theft masked as hospitality. Lencho's flaw is innocent misplaced trust, while the tailor's flaw is intentional exploitation. Both, however, teach us that appearances can be deeply misleading.
Writing Task — Character Sketch of Lencho and the Tailor
Working in pairs, compare the actions and qualities of Lencho and the tailor, then write character sketches for both. Use the Process Approach to writing.
The Process Approach to Writing
Step 1 — Brainstorm: Jot down all qualities, actions, and incidents for each character.Step 2 — Outline: Organise your points — personality, actions, moral stance.
Step 3 — Draft: Write the first version focusing on content.
Step 4 — Revise: Improve language, add examples from the text.
Step 5 — Proofread: Check grammar, spelling, punctuation.
Step 6 — Final Draft: Write the clean version. (120–150 words each)
Model Character Sketch — Lencho
Lencho is a Mexican farmer who embodies simple, unquestioning faith. A hardworking man who depends on the land, he is shattered when a hailstorm destroys his crops. Yet rather than despair permanently, his deep belief in God's justice drives him to write a letter requesting financial help. His character is defined by honesty — he never seeks to deceive anyone. However, his blind trust in God makes him view human helpers with suspicion. When he receives only seventy pesos, he immediately assumes theft rather than considering that people showed him kindness. Lencho is sympathetic because his faith is pure, yet ironic because it prevents him from seeing goodness in the very humans who helped him. His character reveals the dual nature of faith — its power to sustain us and its danger when it blinds us to reality.
Model Character Sketch — The Tailor (from Rumi's story)
The tailor in Rumi's parable is a master of psychological manipulation. Renowned for his light-fingered skill, he uses charm rather than force to achieve his ends. When the boastful trader arrives with a wager, the tailor does not confront him — instead, he disarms him with cordiality, flattery, and an endless stream of entertaining stories. His cleverness lies in understanding human weakness: that pride and laughter can make even the most vigilant person careless. Unlike Lencho, who is honest to a fault, the tailor is dishonest to a fault — skilled, calculating, and amoral. Rumi uses him as a metaphor for worldly illusions that distract us from higher truths. The tailor's character ultimately warns us that those who entertain us most may also rob us most effectively.
Writing Task — Describing a Person (Portrait Writing)
Read the descriptions of Raavi and Mohini in your workbook. Write a description of one of them using the Process Approach. Focus on descriptive adjectives, occupations, habits, and personality. Word limit: 100–120 words.
Portrait Writing Structure
Opening: Introduce the person — name, appearance, profession.Middle: Describe personality traits, habits, interests, and relationships.
Closing: Give your impression or a memorable quality.
Use adjectives like: congenial, supportive, disciplined, passionate, purposeful, dedicated.
Sample Description — Raavi
Raavi is a young, handsome engineer who works in a manufacturing firm. His clean-cut appearance — always in full-sleeved shirts — reflects his disciplined nature. At heart, Raavi is a problem-solver. He finds deep satisfaction in making and fixing things, whether at work or at home. His leisure activities include television and occasional visits to the cinema, reflecting a balanced personality that values both intellectual engagement and relaxation. What makes Raavi truly admirable is his congenial and supportive attitude — he is the kind of person others turn to for help. Though he prefers not to play sports, his daily morning walks show that he takes his health seriously. Raavi is a modern, grounded individual who quietly contributes to those around him.
Fun Fact — Proofreading MarksEditors use special symbols to correct text: # means 'give space'; a dot means 'put a full stop'; a caret (^) with comma means 'insert comma'. These are called proofreading marks and are internationally standardised.
Fun Fact — Wound'The bandage was wound around the wound.' — The same spelling, two different pronunciations! 'Wound' (past tense of wind) rhymes with 'found'; 'wound' (injury) rhymes with 'tuned'. This is called a heteronym.
Speaking Task — Man vs. Nature
Task 1: Discuss with your partner the natural calamities that devastate the lives of people (floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes). Collect photographs and prepare a visual presentation for the class.
Task 2: Read the poem 'Man vs. Nature' by Norman Littleford. Then compose a short poem (8–12 lines) on the theme. Read it aloud with appropriate stress and intonation. Focus on how humans harm nature and how nature responds.
Poem Prompt: Think about: deforestation, plastic pollution, climate change, floods. Use imagery, personification, and rhetorical questions in your poem — just like Littleford does.
FAQ
What is Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 1: A Letter to God about?
Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 1: A Letter to God is a lesson from the NCERT English textbook covering important literary and language concepts with vocabulary, literary devices, and exercises.
What vocabulary is in Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 1: A Letter to God?
Key vocabulary words from Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 1: A Letter to God are highlighted with contextual meanings and usage examples throughout the lesson.
What literary devices are in Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 1: A Letter to God?
Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 1: A Letter to God uses various literary devices including imagery, symbolism, and figurative language identified with coloured tags.
What exercises are in Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 1: A Letter to God?
Exercises include extract-based comprehension questions, grammar workshops, vocabulary activities, and writing tasks with model answers.
How does Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 1: A Letter to God help exam prep?
Words and Expressions 2 — Unit 1: A Letter to God includes CBSE-format questions and model answers following Bloom's Taxonomy levels L1-L6.
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