12 Waiting for the Rain English - 12 Waiting for the Rain

What does the story suggest about the relationship between farmers and nature?

How did Velu initially react to the old woman’s advice about the land needing rest?

According to the old woman, why was the earth not bringing rain?

What was the old woman’s main advice to Velu regarding the land?

Who did Velu meet after visiting the weather office?

The story implies that farmers’ lives are heavily dependent on nature.

The old woman believed that the earth was too young to need rest.

Velu immediately understood and agreed with the old woman’s advice.

An old woman advised Velu that the land needed to rest.

The weather office was able to give Velu a precise date for the next rainfall.

Ravi (i) __________ (be) a farmer who (ii) __________ (practise) crop rotation on his land. Each season, he (iii) __________ (plant) different crops to maintain the soil’s health. This year, he (iv) __________ (grow) legumes, which help restore the nutrients in the soil. Over the years, Ravi (v) __________ (learn) that planting the same crop repeatedly (vi) __________ (deplete) the soil, making it less fertile. By rotating crops, he keeps the land productive and fertile. He has seen a noticeable improvement in his yields since adopting this method. Now, Ravi is sharing his knowledge with other farmers, explaining how crop rotation benefits both the soil and their harvests.

It was 1. ________ (a/an) rainy afternoon, and 2. ________ (a/the) sky was thick with dark clouds. Mala noticed a large puddle quickly forming in front of 3. ________ (her/their) house. Excited, she called for her brother to join her, knowing that both of them always loved playing in 4. ________ (a/the) rain. While jumping from 5. ________ (some/one) puddle to another, Mala spotted 6. ________ (few/a few) snails slowly creeping along the wet sidewalk and pointed them out to her brother. With each jump, the sound of both her squeals and laughter was heard through the soft patter of raindrops. Though they were fully drenched neither siblings minded it. It had been a perfect rainy day.

The farmer looked at the sky and wondered 1. ________________ (weather/whether) the clouds would fially bring rain. He sat down on the ground, breaking a small 2. ________________ (piece/peace) of roti for his meal. The 3. ________________ (plain/plane) filds stretched endlessly before him, completely dry. He thought about how he could 4. ________________ (sell/cell) his last sack of grain to buy some essentials for his family. Without the rains, it didn’t 5. ________________ (seam/seem) possible to grow another crop this season. Despite his worries, he smiled, knowing that every farmer hopes for the next 6. ________________ (rain/reign) by nature to bring life back to the land.

You have observed the difficulties faced by the people in your neighbourhood due to scarcity of water especially during the summer months. Write a letter to the Councillor of your Municipal ward, requesting her/him to set up a rain water harvesting unit. Provide suggestions to address the issue.

Explain how ‘Waiting for the Rain’ conveys the idea of sustainable agriculture.

Why is the story relevant to today’s world?

What role does patience pla y in the story?

How does the author use imagery and nature to convey the theme?

Discuss the emotional changes that Velu experiences throughout the story.

What kind of person is Velu?

Why did Velu feel bitter while speaking to the old woman?

What does the phrase ‘the land was breathing peacefully’ suggest?

Why did Velu consider his land ‘beloved’?

What does the s tory tell us about the life of farmers?

Assertion (A): The old woman advised Velu to let the land rest.
Reason (R): She believed that continu¬ous cultivation for a long time made the earth tired, just like humans.

Assertion (A): Velu decided to go to the weather office in the city.
Reason (R): He believed that talking to astrologers would bring rain.

The old woman referred to Velu as ‘my ___________’, showing her affection. (son, come, cloud)

An old woman advised Velu that the ___________ should be allowed to rest a bit. (land, farmer, weather)

The people at the weather office exclaimed, “We are at a ___________ ourselves!” (loss, cloud, untended)

Velu decided to go to the ___________ office in the city to talk to someone. (weather, land, crimson)

The fields lay ___________, as the earth had hardened, crusted, and cracked. (untended, cloud, son)

“Perhaps she is right, ” he thought, as he ap-proached the village. It was already evening. The sun was low in the sky. And… what was that? Velufelt a cool breeze on his back. Then he felt a tiny drop on his shoulder. He looked up. Yes… the clouds were gathering in the dis¬tance. It was growing dark. Soon there would be lightning. And thunder. And sweet, fragrant rain. Velu ran home, laughing and happy.
Q.1. What change does this extract show in Velu’s state of mind?
Q.2. Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason.
Velu ran home laughing and happy because ________
Q.3. Complete the table with reference to Velu’s final experience.

Expectation (What I think will happen)	Outcome (What actually happened)
Velu thought the land might rest, but he was unsure if it would rain.

Q.4. Velu’s joyful reaction shows that:
A. he no longer believed in farming
B. he had given up on nature
C. he was unsure about what rain meant
D. his hope and patience were finally rewarded

“When the rains don’t come, you are dejected. But in that way the land is left alone. The land lies undisturbed, staring at the sky, resting… And when the rains come, it will spring back into activity, fresh and ready for your crop. Go home, my son, Nature knows a thing or two… go home,” she said, and got up. She walked away. After a while Velu, too, got up and walked homeward. He thought about the land, his beloved piece of land, which, if he were to believe the old woman, was perhaps breathing peacefully, taking a break from the constant, ceaseless year-round cultivation.
Q.1. What does this extract suggest about the old woman’s understanding of nature?
Q.2. Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason.
The old woman tells Velu that the land will spring back into activity because ________
Q.3. Complete the table with reference to Velu’s change in thoughts.

Expectation (What I think will happen)	Outcome (What actually happened)
Velu thought the land was suffering and dying due to the drought.

Q.4. The old woman’s advice helped Velu see the drought as a:
A. sign to stop farming forever
B. punishment for hard work
C. chance for the land to rest and rejuvenate
D. warning from the villagers

Velu, too, was at a loss. He walked back to the village, tired, and dejected. He was thirsty and the dust made him cough and sneeze. He decided to rest for a while. He saw a large tree. Its shade was cool and inviting. As he sat down, he noticed that an old woman was also sitting there, sheltering from the sun.
Q.1. What does this extract reveal about Velu’s emotional state?
Q.2. Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason.
Velu chose to rest under the tree because ________
Q.3. Complete the table with reference to Velu’s walk back to the village.

Expectation (What I think will happen)	Outcome (What actually happened)
Velu hoped that the weather office would give him some clear answers.

Q.4. Velu’s coughing, sneezing, and tiredness show the effects of
A. working too hard on his land
B. being caught in a rainstorm
C. walking through heat and dust in a dry environment
D. eating unclean food

Velu was a farmer. The sun was beginning to rise, glowing crimson like fire.
Velu scanned the sky.
There was not a cloud.
“It doesn’t look encour¬aging,” he muttered to himself and got up.
Rain or no rain, a farm¬er wakes up early. Velu worked hard. His piece of land never failed him. Season after season he cultivated it, harvesting jowar one season and dhal the next. Throughout the year he worked, never thinking of rest or taking a holiday. For nearly six years it had been so, ever since he had got his own piece of land.
Q.1. What does the first line of the extract tell us about Velu’s beliefs?
Q.2. Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason.
Velu is determined to continue farming despite the lack of rain because ________
Q.3. Complete the table with reference to Velu’s morning sky observation.

Expectation (What I think will happen)	Outcome (What actually happened)
Velu expected to see clouds that would bring the long-awaited rain.

Q.4. The absence of rain despite Velu’s constant efforts shows:
A. lack of astrological knowledge
B. ineffectiveness of farmers like Velu
C. delay in understanding the weather
D. unpredictability of nature