KSEEB Karnataka SSLC Solution Class 10 English First Language – Abraham Lincoln’s Letter To His Son’s Teacher
Board |
KSEEB (Karnataka Board) |
Exam |
SSLC (Class 10) |
Subject |
English |
Language |
1st Language |
Part |
1 |
Chapter |
2 |
Chapter Name |
Abraham Lincoln’s Letter To His Son’s Teacher |
Topic and Notes |
Solution of Question Answer/ Study Material |
Abraham Lincoln’s Letter To His Son’s Teacher Class 10 English SSLC Study Material / Notes / Question Answer
POEM
Abraham Lincoln’s Letter To His Son’s Teacher
II.) COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS :
A.) Answer the following questions briefly:
1.) In the first line, ‘he’ refers to Abraham Lincoln’s son; and ‘I’ refers to himself.
2.) The first line, “He will have to learn” means that-
a.) the son has the choice either to learn or not to learn the values listed.
b.) the son has no choice.
3.) ‘‘…….all men are not just all men are not true.’’ These lines convey
a.) a one-sided view of life.
b.) the harsh reality of life.
c.) Lincoln’s personal view.
4.) The statement “for every scoundrel there is a hero” means
a.) the number of scoundrels in this world is equal to the number of heroes.
b.) for every bad person in this world, there is a good person.
c.) in spite of all the wickedness in this world, there is enough goodness.
5.) Why is it important for a child to learn that the world is also filled with heroes, dedicated leaders and friends?
Answer: It is important for a child to know about the heroes, dedicated leaders and friends because if he is not aware of these people then he would think that the world has only selfish politician, scoundrels and enemies.
6.) The first seven lines emphasize
a.) the value of positivity
b.) the negative aspects of life
c.) both the positive and the negative sides of life
7.) Pick out the line which says that hard earned money has greater value than easy money.
Answer: That a dollar earned is of far more value than five found…
8.) What does the phrase “learn to lose” mean?
Answer: The phrase “learn to lose” means to accept defeat and face it with a smile.
9.) In what sense is it more honorable to fail than to cheat?
Answer: It is better to accept the failure than to pretend that we know everything.
10.) a.) Why doesn’t the father want his son to follow the crowd?
Answer: The crowd might be doing something wrong so the father wants his son to have faith in his own ideas and follow himself.
b.) How can this value be linked to having faith in oneself?
Answer: People generally develop bad and cruel habits do so just to impress others or be equal to others and they do it anyhow. The father doesn’t want his son to be like them and impress others.
11.) What kind of a listener does the father want his son to be?
Answer: The father wants his son to listen to everyone but he also wants him to be careful what he hears. He wants his son to filter all that he hears on a screen of truth.
12.) a.) Is it possible to laugh when one is sad?
Answer: It is possible to laugh when one is sad only when one is wise enough to know that everything has both positive and negative points.When we know how to deal with the situations, then one can surely win any sad situation.
b.) What value is the writer highlighting here?
Answer: Stoicism
13.) What does Lincoln mean when he says, “too much sweetness”?
Answer: Lincoln wants his son to beware of people who speaks too much sweet to him for he knows that they use such sugar-coated words to have some favor from us.
14.) What does the poet-father mean by “close his ears to a howling mob”?
Answer: The father knows that the crowd has much influence on an individual. It can also influence in a bad way so he asks his son to beware of such thing and have faith in himself.
15.) What is the ultimate teaching Lincoln recommends, and to what end?
Answer: Lincoln wants his son’s teacher to teach him to have sublime faith in himself because only by then he will have sublime faith in mankind.
16.) Lincoln does not want his son “to put a price tag on his soul”. What does he mean by this?
Answer: Lincoln wants his son to be uncorrupt in his life and be true to his ethics and values.
17.) Why is it essential for someone to have “sublime faith in mankind”?
Answer: By having sublime faith in mankind, one can be sure that not everything in this world is bad. We will realize that though there are bad and cruel people in the society, there are also good people too who are considered as inspiration to others.
18.) In the line, “This is a big order”
a) What does “this” refer to?
Answer: Father’s request is referred here.
b.) What does “a big order” mean here?
Answer: “A big order” refers to the various values the father wants his son to learn and develop.
19.) When the father says, “This is a big order,” it implies
a.) that the father has no faith in the teachers or the school.
b.) that the father has no faith in his son’s ability to acquire these values.
that the task of teaching such values is too difficult for any teacher or school.
20.) There are a few other expressions which indicate that the task of inculcating such values is not easy for the teacher or the school. Pick out the expressions.
Answer: It will take time, I know;
Also the phrase ‘you can’ is repeated many times which suggest that the father knows that it would be hard for the son’s teacher to inculcate those values in him.
21.) The poem has a long list of contrasting values.
e.g: scoundrel X hero
selfish politician X dedicated leader.
Pick out the rest from the poem.
Answer: dollar earned x five found
learn to lose x enjoy winning
the wonder of books x the eternal mystery of birds in the sky
gentle x tough
laugh x sad
Treat him gently x do not cuddle him
courage to be impatient x patience to be brave.
22.) Identify the lines which highlight the following qualities or values:
a.) to be positive and optimistic
Answer: And take only the good that comes through.
Teach him, if you can,
how to laugh when he is sad…
b.) to be able to accept failure and defeat
Answer: Teach him to learn to lose…
and also to enjoy winning.
c.) to be able to appreciate what is beyond human understanding
Answer: But also give him quiet time
to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky,
bees in the sun,
and the flowers on a green hillside.
d.) to have faith and belief in oneself
Answer: Teach him to have faith in his own ideas,
even if everyone tells him they are wrong
e.) not to tread the beaten track
Answer: Try to give my son
the strength not to follow the crowd
when everyone is getting on the bandwagon
f.) not being gullible
Answer: Teach him to listen to all men…
but teach him also to filter all he hears
on a screen of truth.
g.) to be able to discriminate the right from the wrong.
Answer: Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob
and to stand and fight
if he thinks he’s right.
B.) Close Study
Read the following extracts carefully. Discuss in pairs and then write the answers to the questions given below them.
1.) Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend.
It will take time, I know;
a) What does the first line mean?
Answer: The first lines suggest that even though there are bad people but there are also people who are good. Even many are enemies but there are also friends.
b) What human virtue is highlighted here?
Answer: Optimistic attitude is highlighted here.
c) What will take time?
Answer: Getting to know who is good and bad will take time.
2.) Only the test of fire makes fine steel.
a) Whom is this line meant for?
Answer: This line is meant for the poet’s son.
b) Explain the literal meaning of the line.
Answer: One becomes strong only one goes through bad times.
c) What human virtue is emphasized here?
Answer: Courage to face the situation
III.) PARAGRAPH WRITING :
Discuss in pairs/groups of four each, the answers to the following questions. Individually, note down the important points for each question and then develop the points into one paragraph answers :
1.) “Teach him to listen to all men
but teach him to filter all he hears on a screen of truth.”
Bring out the different ideas conveyed in these lines.
Answer: The father wants his son to listen to everyone but also make sure to seek what is truth. He wants his son to filter all he hears on a screen of truth. He wants to discover the truth and be wise.
2.) Do you agree with the poet when he says,
“Only the test of fire makes fine steel.”
Give reasons to support your point of view.
Answer: When steel goes through fire, it gets stronger and harder. In the same way, he wants his son to face the hard situations of life and become stronger with every experience. With each hard time, the son will learn to face challenges in life and become strong.
IV.) ACTIVITIES :
Work in groups of four or five each.
1.) a) List all the values which the poet-father wants the teacher to teach his son.
Answer: The following are the values which the poet-father wants the teacher to teach his son:-
1.) making him aware of all the good and bad people in the world
2.) importance of money and efforts
3.) sporting attitude
4.) enjoy reading books
5.) to love nature
6.) faith in himself
7.) optimistic attitude
8.) wisdom
9.) patience
10.) sublime faith in himself
11.) sublime faith in mankind
b) Pick out any three values which in your opinion your teachers should teach students. State your reasons.
Answer: Sporting attitude, loving nature and honesty
By having sporting attitude, one can accept failures easily and not get depressed. It is also important to inculcate the value of loving nature and being kind towards it. Since young age it is important to teach students to have honesty in them so that they would earn everything honestly in life.
c) Make suggestions on how those three values in the poem could be taught.
Answer: Teachers can inculcate these values by giving them practical examples and by telling them how to deal with various things in life.
2.) The poet-father contrasts each harsh lesson that his son will have to learn with a truth about the world. Write down five such examples. The first one is done for you.
The harsh lesson that the father wants his son to learn |
The truth about the world/People |
1. don’t follow the crowd | 1. everyone is getting on the bandwagon. |
2. filter all that he hears | 2. Listen to everyone |
3. never put price-tag on his soul | 3. Sell brawn and drain to highest bidders |
4. fight when he is right | 4. Close his ears to a howling mob |