Hi Everyone!! This article will share In Time of Drought Questions & Answers.
This poem is written by Mary Hannay Foott. In my previous posts, I have shared the questions and answers of Courage in the Face of Catastrophe, The Luncheon and Leisure so, you can check these posts as well.
In Time of Drought Questions & Answers
Word Galaxy
- Wistful-eyed – eyes full of sadness
- Slake – to quench or satisfy
- Furrowed – marked with grooves or ruts
- Gullies – ravines
- Winnow – to remove the chaff from grain
- Way-farer – a traveller who travels on foot
- Lightened – removed his outer clothing in order to feel lighter
Question 1: Pick out three words/phrases from the poem that depict a drought-hit landscape.
Answer: Three words/phrases from the poem that depict a drought-hit landscape are:
- Waste of gravel and sand
- Waterless gullies
- Slimy pool
Question 2: Where do the sheep and cattle stand?
Answer: The sheep and cattle stand near the slimy pool.
Question 3: What has happened to the way-farer?
Answer: The way-farer has fainted despite his lightened load.
Question 4: In what state are the fields now?
Answer: The fields are furrowed and the seeds have been sown.
Question 5: How has the river bed changed from what it was earlier?
Answer: Earlier, the river bed was full of water but after the drought, it has changed into a slimy pool.
Question 6: Why is the pool called ‘slimy’? Does it still serve the purpose for which it is approached?
Answer: The pool is called slimy because little stagnant water is left in it.
Yes, it still serves the purpose for which it is approached upto some extent because it is still the last resort for water for the dying cattle in the drought.
Question 7: What does the poet mean by the lines ‘Our need was great, But the river of God was full’?
Answer: Our need was great, But the river of God was full means although our need for water was so great, the rivers of God were full enough to satisfy them all.
Question 8: According to the poet, how can the drought end?
Answer: According to the poet, the drought can end if God shows his mercy to take care of our needs. The poet appeals to the God to bring water to the dry lands from his river. The poet wants the tropic seas to fill the clouds that shed heavy rains upon ‘Andes’ eastward slopes and bring soft snowfall on Himalaya peak. She wants God to freight for the sake of all humans his dark winged fleet so that we may say with happiness that though our need was great, the river of God was full enough to take care of it. Only the God can end the prevailing drought.
Question 9: Read these sentences and answer the questions:
1.
(a) What are the fields waiting for?
Answer: The fields are waiting for the rain.
(b) What is the first question that the poet raises?
Answer: The first question that the poet raises is “Where shall the grain for the harvest be?”
(c) Who will benefit from the harvest?
Answer: The poor will benefit from the harvest.
2.
(a) Why do you think the poet mentions the Andes and the Himalayas?
Answer: The poet mentions the Andes and the Himalayas as a direct request to God for rains.
(b) Why do you think ‘tropic seas’ are being referred to in these lines?
Answer: ‘Tropic seas’ are being referred to in these lines because it is the main source of rains.
(c) What prayer does the poet send up to the Father?
Answer: The poet requests the Father to send rain on the earth.
So, these were In Time of Drought Questions & Answers.