(Short Answer Type Questions)

1. Where did Lencho live?

Odia Meaning: ଲେଞ୍ଚୋ କେଉଁଠାରେ ରହୁଥିଲା?

Answer: Lencho lived in the only house in the entire valley, which was situated on the crest (top) of a low hill.

2. What did he hope for?

Odia Meaning: ସେ କ’ଣ ଆଶା କରୁଥିଲା?

Answer: Initially, Lencho hoped for a downpour or at least a shower of rain for his ripe cornfield. After the hailstorm destroyed his crops, his only hope was for help from God.

3. What did he say about the raindrops?

Odia Meaning: ସେ ବର୍ଷା ବୁନ୍ଦା ବିଷୟରେ କ’ଣ କହିଲା?

Answer: When the rain began, Lencho exclaimed that the raindrops were not rain, but "new coins". He called the big drops ten-cent pieces and the little ones fives.

4. How did the rain change?

Odia Meaning: ବର୍ଷା କିପରି ବଦଳିଗଲା?

Answer: The rain suddenly changed when a strong wind began to blow, and "very large hailstones began to fall" along with the rain.

5. What happened to Lencho's corn fields?

 Odia Meaning: ଲେଞ୍ଚୋର ମକା କ୍ଷେତର କ’ଣ ହେଲା?

Answer: Lencho's cornfields were totally destroyed by the hailstorm. The field was left white, "as if covered with salt," and not a leaf remained on the trees.

6. Who did Lencho have faith in?

Odia Meaning: ଲେଞ୍ଚୋର କାହା ଉପରେ ବିଶ୍ୱାସ ଥିଲା? 

Answer: Lencho had a single, strong faith in God.

7. Who did he write a letter to?

Odia Meaning: ସେ କାହାକୁ ଚିଠି ଲେଖିଥିଲା?

Answer: He wrote a letter to God.

8. Who read the letter?

 Odia Meaning: ଚିଠିଟି କିଏ ପଢିଲା?

Answer: A postman first found the letter and showed it to the postmaster. The postmaster then opened and read the letter.

9. What did the postmaster do?

Odia Meaning: ପୋଷ୍ଟମାଷ୍ଟର କ’ଣ କଲେ?

Answer: To protect Lencho's faith, the postmaster decided to answer the letter. He collected money from his employees, gave part of his own salary, and asked friends for contributions as "an act of charity". He put the money (which was a little more than half of what Lencho asked for) in an envelope and signed it "God".

10. Was Lencho surprised to find a letter for him with money in it?

 Odia Meaning: ଚିଠିରେ ଟଙ୍କା ଥିବା ଦେଖି ଲେଞ୍ଚୋ ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟ ହୋଇଥିଲା କି?

Answer: No, Lencho was not surprised at all. The text states, "Lencho showed not the slightest surprise on seeing the money; such was his confidence".

11. What was Lencho's reaction after getting the letter?

Odia Meaning: ଚିଠି ପାଇବା ପରେ ଲେଞ୍ଚୋର ପ୍ରତିକ୍ରିୟା କ’ଣ ଥିଲା?

 Answer: After counting the money, Lencho "became angry". He believed God could not have made a mistake or denied his request, so he immediately went to the window to ask for paper and ink to write a second letter.

(a) (i) Why did Lencho keep on looking at the sky throughout the morning?

 (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଲେଞ୍ଚୋ କାହିଁକି ସକାଳ ସାରା ଆକାଶକୁ ଚାହିଁ ରହିଥିଲା?

Ans- Lencho kept on looking at the sky throughout the morning because his field of ripe corn desperately needed a downpour or at least a shower. He knew his fields intimately and was watching the north-east sky, from where he expected the rain to come.

(a) (ii) Why was the field white after the storm?

 (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଝଡ଼ ପରେ କ୍ଷେତଟି କାହିଁକି ଧଳା ହୋଇଯାଇଥିଲା?

Ans-The field was white after the storm because it was completely covered by hailstones; the text says it looked "as if covered with salt".

(a) (iii) Why did Lencho say the raindrops were like 'new coins'?

 (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଲେଞ୍ChO କାହିଁକି କହିଲା ଯେ ବର୍ଷା ବୁନ୍ଦାଗୁଡ଼ିକ 'ନୂଆ ମୁଦ୍ରା' ପରି ଥିଲା?

Ans-Lencho said the raindrops were like 'new coins' because the rain was essential for a good harvest. A good harvest would bring him money, so he compared the valuable raindrops (big drops as ten-cent pieces and little ones as fives) directly to currency.

(a) (iv) Why did Lencho prefer locusts to the storm?

 (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଲେଞ୍ଚୋ କାହିଁକି ଝଡ଼ ଅପେକ୍ଷା ପଙ୍ଗପାଳକୁ ପସନ୍ଦ କରିଥାନ୍ତା?

Ans- Lencho preferred locusts because he felt that "A plague of locusts would have left more than this". The hailstorm was so severe that it destroyed everything, leaving absolutely nothing behind, whereas a locust attack might have spared some of the crop.

(a) (v) Did Lencho try to find out who had sent the money to him?

 Why / Why not?

 (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଲେଞ୍ଚୋ କ'ଣ ଖୋଜିବାକୁ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରିଥିଲା ଯେ ତାକୁ କିଏ ଟଙ୍କା ପଠାଇଛି? କାହିଁକି / କାହିଁକି ନୁହେଁ?

Ans- No, Lencho did not try to find out who sent the money. This was because his faith in God was absolute and unshakable. He showed "not the slightest surprise" because he was fully confident that only God could have answered his letter.

(a) (vi) What would be the reaction of the post office employees when they read the second letter?

 (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଯେତେବେଳେ ଡାକଘର କର୍ମଚାରୀମାନେ ଦ୍ୱିତୀୟ ଚିଠିଟି ପଢିବେ, ସେମାନଙ୍କର ପ୍ରତିକ୍ରିୟା କ'ଣ ହେବ?

Ans- The text does not state their reaction, but they would likely have been shocked, amused, and perhaps hurt. After performing an "act of charity" to help Lencho, they were ironically accused of being "a bunch of crooks".

(b) (i) Who does Lencho have complete faith in?

 (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଲେଞ୍ଚୋର କାହା ଉପରେ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବିଶ୍ୱାସ ଥିଲା?

Ans-Lencho had complete faith in God.

(b) (ii) 'Lencho was an ox of a man' - what does the line mean?

 (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: 'ଲେଞ୍ଚୋ ଜଣେ ବଳଦ ପରି ମଣିଷ ଥିଲା' - ଏହି ଧାଡିର ଅର୍ଥ କ'ଣ?

Ans- This line means that Lencho was a very strong and hardworking man, "working like an animal in the fields".

(b) (iii) What was the postmaster like?

 (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ପୋଷ୍ଟମାଷ୍ଟର କିପରି ଥିଲେ?

Ans- The postmaster was a "fat, amiable fellow", meaning he was friendly, pleasant, and kind-hearted, as shown by his decision to help Lencho.

(b) (iv) Why did the postmaster send money to Lencho?

 (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ପୋଷ୍ଟମାଷ୍ଟର କାହିଁକି ଲେଞ୍ଚୋକୁ ଟଙ୍କା ପଠାଇଲେ?

Ans- The postmaster sent money to Lencho "in order not to shake the writer's faith in God".

(b) (v) What does the expression 'an act of charity' mean?

 (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: 'ଏକ ପୁଣ୍ୟ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ' ଅଭିବ୍ୟକ୍ତିର ଅର୍ଥ କ'ଣ?

Ans- The expression 'an act of charity' means a kind and generous act of giving help, usually money, to those in need.

(i) Match the names in the box with their descriptions:

 1. A violent tropical storm in which strong winds move in a circle: Cyclone

 2. An extremely strong wind: Gale 

3. A violent tropical storm with very strong winds: Typhoon 

4. A violent storm with strong winds, especially in the Western Atlantic Ocean: Hurricane

5. A violent storm whose centre is a cloud in the shape of a funnel: Tornado 

6. A very strong wind that moves very fast in a spinning movement and causes a lot of damage: Whirlwind

(ii) Match the sentences in Column A      with the meanings of 'hope' in Column B: 

(This section asks you to create a dialogue. Here is a sample based on the story.)

Read the text and prepare a dialogue like the one given above and play the roles. (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ପାଠ୍ୟଟିକୁ ପଢନ୍ତୁ ଏବଂ ଉପରେ ଦିଆଯାଇଥିବା ସଂଳାପ ପରି ଏକ ସଂଳାପ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ କରନ୍ତୁ ଏବଂ ଭୂମିକା ଗ୍ରହଣ କରନ୍ତୁ।) Sample Dialogue: Lencho: (Looking at the sky) The clouds are huge. Now we're really going to get some water, woman. Wife: Yes, God willing. The corn needs it badly. Lencho: (As rain falls) Ah! These aren't raindrops, they are new coins! Wife: (Wind starts blowing) Lencho, the wind is very strong! And... are those hailstones?

 Lencho: (Watching the field turn white) It's really getting bad now. I hope it passes quickly. Wife: (After the storm) Everything is destroyed. What will we do?

 Lencho: Don't be so upset. Remember, no one dies of hunger. There is one hope: help from God.

I. Let us learn language (ଚାଲନ୍ତୁ ଭାଷା ଶିଖିବା)

(i) Join the pair of sentences given below using a relative pronoun. (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଏକ ଆପେକ୍ଷିକ ସର୍ବନାମ ବ୍ୟବହାର କରି ନିମ୍ନରେ ଦିଆଯାଇଥିବା ବାକ୍ୟ ଯୋଡିକୁ ସଂଯୋଗ କରନ୍ତୁ।)

1.      My mother is going to host a T.V. show on cooking. She cooks very well. My mother, who cooks very well, is going to host a T.V. show on cooking. 2. Our institution is highly popular. It works for public welfare. Our institution, which works for public welfare, is highly popular. 3. Satish scored a goal in the last minute. He was fortunate. Satish, who was fortunate, scored a goal in the last minute. 4. Mother Teresa is revered as a saint. She served mankind. Mother Teresa, who served mankind, is revered as a saint. 5. I often go to Mumbai. Mumbai is the commercial capital of India. I often go to Mumbai, which is the commercial capital of India. 6. These sports-persons are going to meet the President. Their performance has been excellent. These sports-persons, whose performance has been excellent, are going to meet the President.

(ii) Find sentences in the story with negative words, which express the following ideas emphatically: (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ଗଳ୍ପରେ ନକାରାତ୍ମକ ଶବ୍ଦ ଥିବା ବାକ୍ୟଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଖୋଜନ୍ତୁ, ଯାହା ନିମ୍ନଲିଖିତ ଭାବନାକୁ ଦୃଢ ଭାବରେ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରେ:)

1.      The trees lost all their leaves. Not a leaf remained on the trees. 2. The letter was addressed to God himself. It was nothing less than a letter to God. 3. The postman saw this address for the first time in his life. Never in his career as a postman had he known that address.

J. Let's write (ଚାଲନ୍ତୁ ଲେଖିବା)

(This section asks you to write a newspaper report. Here is a sample.)

Now imagine that you are a reporter of 'The Indian Express'. You have received the news about the recent cyclone that hit Odisha. Using the guidelines given in the box above, complete a similar report for the newspaper. (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅର୍ଥ: ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ କଳ୍ପନା କରନ୍ତୁ ଯେ ଆପଣ 'ଦି ଇଣ୍ଡିଆନ୍ ଏକ୍ସପ୍ରେସ୍'ର ଜଣେ ସମ୍ବାଦଦାତା। ଆପଣ ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ହୋଇଥିବା ସାମ୍ପ୍ରତିକ ବାତ୍ୟା ବିଷୟରେ ଖବର ପାଇଛନ୍ତି। ଉପର ବକ୍ସରେ ଦିଆଯାଇଥିବା ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶାବଳୀ ବ୍ୟବହାର କରି ଖବରକାଗଜ ପାଇଁ ଏକ ସମାନ ରିପୋର୍ଟ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ କରନ୍ତୁ।)

 (Sample Report)

 (1) Title: Super Cyclone 'Phailin' Batters Odisha Coast

(2) Source: The Indian Express (3) Place and date: Bhubaneswar, 13th October 

(4) Topic sentence and Introduction: Coastal Odisha was left devastated after Super Cyclone 'Phailin' made landfall near Gopalpur on Saturday evening, bringing with it torrential rains and wind speeds exceeding 200 km/h.

(5) Details of the Yatra (Event): The cyclone caused widespread destruction, uprooting trees, destroying homes, and snapping power and communication lines. Districts like Ganjam, Puri, and Khurda are reported to be the worst affected. The storm surge inundated low-lying coastal areas, forcing mass evacuations. 

(6) Information on the terror threat (Damage) and stampede (Casualties): While the death toll has been minimal thanks to a massive pre-emptive evacuation of nearly one million people, the damage to property and infrastructure is immense. Reports of widespread crop destruction, similar to the hailstorm faced by Lencho, are emerging from across the agricultural belts.

 (7) Further details of action taken by the authorities: "Our priority is rescue and relief," said the Chief Minister. "We have deployed NDRF and ODRF teams and are working to restore power and clear roads. Relief camps are operational, providing food and shelter to the affected."