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AMITY INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, NOIDA

Class X (2022-23)
A LETTER TO GOD (First Flight)
BY: G.L.FUENTES
SUMMARY STATEMENT
The story revolves round the idea of having unquestionable belief in something. The story is set in a Latin
American country. Lencho, the farmer, who is the protagonist of the story, writes a letter to God seeking help
from the almighty after discovering his entire crop yield has been destroyed by a devastating hailstorm.
Although, his wishes get fulfilled partially, if not completely, he is ungrateful in the end and questions the
honesty and modesty of the post-masters who actually helped him with money (anonymously) in the name of
god.
LESSON AT A GLANCE
 The story depicts unwavering faith of a farmer in God. It begins with a farmer, named Lencho
expecting for a rain shower to nourish his field of corn.
 However, to his utmost horror, a hailstorm occurs instead of rain, destroying his entire crop field. The
damage posed a threat to the family's survival.
 Lencho, a firm believer in God, decides to write a letter to God explaining his situation and asking for
help. He goes to town to post his letter addressed "To God".
 The letter on being noticed by the postmaster, at first amuses him, but then motivates him in wanting
to do something for the farmer so as to keep his immense belief intact.
 He contributes from his salary and collects money from his colleagues and friends who willingly
contribute for an act of charity. However, they are able to collect only 70 pesos.
 On finding the letter, Lencho is not at all shocked, instead, he gets angry on finding that the amount is
less than what he had expected.
 He again writes a letter to God conveying his disappointment and distrust in the employees of the post
office who he thinks had stolen the remaining amount.
A. REFERENCE TO CONTEXT
Q1. RTC-1
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.”
(i) ‘…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)

(ii) What was the most likely response that the postmaster expected in Lencho’s second letter?
i) Sorrowful ii) gratitude iii) disappointment iv) elation v) shock
a) ii and v b) i and iii c) ii and iv d) iii and v

(iii) Pick the option that lists the option corresponding to—'with a blow of his fist.’
a) option (i)
b) option (ii)
c) option (iii)
d) option (iv)

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 (iv) Lencho’s letter included
a) details of his problems.
b) List of further demands.
c) belief of being looted.
d) description of the post office.

(v) Pick the most suitable quote for this extract.

a) “True generosity means accepting ingratitude.” - Coco Chanel
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) “It is easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.” – Mark Twain

B. Short Answer Questions

Q1. Answer the following in 20-30 words:
(a) Why does Lencho write a letter to God?
Hint: The hailstorm drives his family to starvation and thus he demands 100 pesos from God for
sustenance (Substantiate
(b) ANSWER: Lencho was a hard working farmer,a strong believer ofGOD he could read and write a
bit,who lived with his family at the creast of a low hil.He was eagerly waiting for the rain to get a good
harvest.But the pleasing rain changed into hailstorm and destroyed his cornfield with in an hour.He
became sad and was worried about his family as they might remain hungry that year. But there was no
one to help him in this difficult situation.His last hope was the help of god.He was a firm believer of
god, so he decided to write a letter to god demanding him to send hundred pesos to sow his field again
and support his family till the next crop.

(c) What are the raindrops compared to? Why?

(d) answer: Lencho compares the raindrops were like new coins because the raindrops help him to grow
and harvest the crops, which results in more prosperity. Hence, he compares raindrops to new coins.

Q2. Answer the following in 30-40 words:

(a) Why does the postmaster send money to Lencho and sign the letter as ‘God’?
Hint : The postmaster does not want to shake Lencho’s faith (Substantiate)
ANSWER:The postmaster sends lencho money,to keep his faith in god alive and firm,as he was moved by
it.He read lenchos letter and becomes serious and decides to keep lenchos faith intact.He gathers money
with assistance of his post office employees to assist Lencho on behalf of God and signs the letter as god in
order that lenchos faith in go does not get shaken.
(b) What is Lencho’s response to the letter he receives from God?
Hint: He is angry and disappointed with the 70 pesos and blames the post office staff for this shortfall.
(Substantiate)
ANSWER:Lencho had asked god for 100 pesos But only 70 pesos reached him.He got angry and blamed the
post office employees for taking the rest of the money.He demands god for the rest of the money because
he needed them very much and asks for not sending it through mail.
C. Long Answer Questions (Write the answer in your register in100-150 words using the value points
provided after the question)
(a) ‘I wish I had the faith of the man’. In light of the given statement, what moral values does the postmaster
display? Elaborate in 100 -120 words.

Value Points:

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Sympathetic, compassionate, considerate, understanding, good human being, sensitive, kind, generous,
amiable, helpful
Does not want to break Lencho’s faith in God…., act of charity… signed letter as God
ANSWER: The postmaster was a kind, generous, helpful, sensitive and God-fearing man. He received a
letter from Lencho which was written to God asking for 100 pesos so that he could sow his fields
again. The postman felt sympathetic towards Lencho,so He decided to help Lencho and gave up a
part of his salary, asked all other employees to help,Even friends were made to contribute for a cause
of charity.He managed to collect 70 pesos which he sent to Lencho along with a reply. The
postmaster signed the letter as god in order to preserve the man’s faith in God. This shows the
postmaster was a compassionate and amiable.

ANSWERS TO RTC QUESTIONS

(Please check whether you got it correct)
RTC
(i) (d) option (iv)
(ii) (c) ii and iv
(iii) (d) option (iv)
(iv) (b) List of further demands
(v) (a) “True generosity means accepting ingratitude.” - Coco Chanel

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