Q1. [5]
The postmaster — a fat, amiable fellow — also broke out laughing, but almost immediately he turned serious and, tapping the letter to his desk, commented, "What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter. Starting up a correspondence with God!''
So, in order not to shake the writer's faith in God, the postmaster came up with an idea: answer the letter.
Read the following extract and answer the questions.
- (i) Justify the following statement : What faith! I wish I had the faith of the man who wrote this letter. [1]
- (ii) Fill in the blank with a correct word from the brackets.
The postmaster turned serious on seeing the letter addressed to God because he realized that the writer had _____________ (immense/limited) faith in God. [1]
- (iii) Examine the portrayal of the postmaster in the given extract. [2]
- (iv) Why did the postmaster initially laugh on seeing the letter ? [1]
- (A) It was a blank sheet of paper.
- (B) He lacked faith in God.
- (C) He had received such letters earlier.
- (D) He had never known such an address.
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2026 2/3/1 Q6(a)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-14 11:18 · grounding stimulus+chapter
Model Answer
(i) Lencho had unshakeable faith in God. He addressed a letter directly to God asking for 100 pesos, firmly believing God would help him. The postmaster admired this extraordinary, absolute trust which he himself lacked.
(ii) immense
(iii) The postmaster is portrayed as a fat, amiable (good-natured) man who first laughs at the amusing idea of a letter addressed to God. However, he quickly turns serious, showing his sensitivity and depth of character. He genuinely admires Lencho's faith and, not wanting to shatter it, generously takes the initiative to collect money and reply as God. This reveals him as a kind, empathetic, and thoughtful person.
(iv) (D) He had never known such an address.
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Source: A Letter to God, First Flight (CBSE Class 10)
Explanation
- (i) Justify means explain why the statement is valid — link it to Lencho's act of writing to God directly.
- (ii) Straight from the extract — the postmaster marvels at the faith, so it must be "immense."
- (iii) 2-mark character sketch: pick two distinct traits with textual evidence each (amiable + empathetic/kind). Avoid padding.
- (iv) The postmaster laughed because the address "God" was unprecedented — option D. Options B and C contradict the text; A is invented.
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