CLASS:X NOTES

COMPOSED BY SARA AHMED

1.A Voice of God:

Summary:
This poem is written by “Louis I.Newman” (1893-1972). He was born in providence Rhode
Island (USA). He studied at Brown University and after his doctorate lectured at Columbia. He
is author of many books on religious subjects. This poem brings out his religious bent of mind.
In this poem the Poet wanted to make conversation with God. In this regard he went up the
tower of church. When reached at the top most of the tower he was directed by God to go
back to the earth. If he wanted to find him, he should search him among the people because
He (God) lives among the human being.

Central Idea:
If someone wants to be close to god, he should not aloof himself from people. God loves
those, who love people. God is always with people.

Question answer

Q1. Who wrote the poem “The Voice of God” and what do you know about the
writer?
A. Louis I. Newman wrote the poem“The Voice of God”. He was an American Poet. He
was a religious man and this poem also shows his religious bend of mind.

Q2. Why did the poet climb the steeple?

A. The poet climbed the steeple to hear the voice of God. He thought that God lives only
in the sky While He is omnipresent.

Q3. Why did God tell him to go down again?

A. God told him to go down again because He does not live only in the sky. He is
everywhere; we may find Him by serving the suffering humanity and by removing their
difficulties in the time of distress.
REFRENCE TO CONTEXT:
STANZA:
“I sought to hear the voice of god, And climbed the topmost steeple, But God
Declared: “Go down again, I dwell among the people.”
REFRENCE:
These lines have been taken from the poem “the voice of God”. This poem is
written by “Louis I. Newman”.
CONTEXT / CENTRAL IDEA:
If someone wants to be close to god, he should not aloof himself from people. God
loves those, who love people. God is always with people.

EXPLANATION:
In these lines the poet says that he wanted to hear the voice of god. So he climbed
over the highest place. But God said to him go down and find him in the people where
he lives. If we want to get God’s love we should start loving human beings. we should
take care of them, look after them. So if we love our fellow human beings, God will
be pleased with us. God loves all his creatures especially the mankind.

CHAPTER: 02
THE WISE CALIPH
Question and Answers
Q.1 What was caliph Haroon-ur-Rashid known and respected for?
Ans. Caliph Haroon-ur-Rashid was famous for his wisdom and justice. The Caliph was wise in
that manner as he used to disguise himself to know the problems and difficulties of the subject
more freely and equality.
Q.2 why did he go through the streets of Baghdad?
Ans. He would go through the streets of Baghdad to mingle with the common people in order to
gain first-hand knowledge of their difficulties. He believed that by adopting the common life
style, he experienced the problems in true sense.
Q.3 What did the Qazi say to the Caliph?
Ans. Firstly Qazi approached to the Caliph saluted him and presented a puzzled case, which the
Qazi could not solve. The mystery was disturbing the Qazi because the two men were claiming
the ownership of the same horse.
Q.4 What was the dispute between the rich man and beggar?
Ans. The dispute between the rich man and the beggar is because of a horse. Both of them were
claiming the ownership of horse plus accusing each other of robbery.
Q.5 What did the rich man tell the Caliph?
Ans. The rich man told the Caliph that he was riding towards the city. On this way he saw a
beggar, who asked for a ride up to city gate. Afterwards the beggar refused to get down from the
horse and claimed that the horse was his.
Q.6 What did the beggar tell the Caliph?
Ans. The beggar told the Caliph that he had spent all his money on the horse. That morning the
beggar was riding to the city and saw the rich man walking along the road. He asked for a lift
because he was in hurry but afterwards refused to discount claiming that the horse belonged to
him.
Q.7 Why did the beggar refuse to go down the horse?
Ans. The beggar refused to get down the horse because he wanted to rob the rich man of his
horse. He also fabricated a false story to claim his ownership.
Q.8 What did the horse do when the beggar touched it?
Ans. When the beggar touched the horse it winced as if it did not like the touch of his hand. This
reaction of the animals shows that it was not owned by the beggar.
Q.9 What did the horse do when the rich man touched it?
Ans. When the rich man touched the horse it neighed and snorted with pleasure. This reaction of
the horse proved the true ownership of the rich man.
Q.10 What did the Caliph say to the beggar?
Ans. The Caliph pronounced the beggar that he was a lair and wicked man. And by forgiving he
asked him to beg the pardon of the rich man. Afterwards the rich man forgave him.
WORDS MEANING
Afford Allow, manage
Winced Back off, turn, shy.
Hinted Sign, idea, indication, advice, suggestion.
claim To accept, demand
puzzled confuse
pronounce To judge, speak, vocalize
disguise The act of concealing himself, false front
dismount Get down
Dispute Conflict, debate, disagreement
lend Loan, give temporary
Limp Disable, not firm
Motion To move
Neigh Make a characteristics sound by horse
Snort Noise made to express displeasure
Swear Promise or take oath
Synonyms
1. Shiver – tremble
2. Astonish – amaze
3. Cling – stick
4. Request – beg
5. Stiffen – harden
6. Severe – stern
7. utterly – completely
8. disguise – hide
9. obvious – clear
10. puzzled – confused
11. mingle – mix
Complete the Sentences
1. A large crowd had gathered outside the court.
2. The courtiers crowed round the Caliph.
3. The Caliph disguised himself as a common man.
4. The people recognized the Caliph inspite of his disguise.
5. His right leg is shorter than the left leg, so he has a limp in his walk.
6. The rich man saw the lame beggar limping along the road.
7. The beggar motioned to him to stop.
8. He stood still and made no motion.
9. He uttered a few words and then lost consciousness.
10. To his utter disappointment he failed in the examination.
11. The rich man went galloping along the road.
12. The horse was running at a gallop.
13. The rich man and the beggar both claimed the horse.
14. Whose claim was found to be true?
Verbs and Nouns
1. Beg – Beggary
2. Live – Life
3. Lend – Loan
4. Believe – Belief
5. Please – Pleasant
6. Give – Gift, giver
7. Speak – Speech

Composition
1. Describe the dispute between the rich man and the poor beggar and how did the Caliph
prove that the beggar was a liar?
ANS. The dispute between the rich man and the beggar was because of a white horse. Both of
them were claiming the ownership of the horse plus accusing each other of the robbery. Firstly,
rich man riding to the city, he saw the beggar limping along the road. He felt sorry for him and
gave him a ride up city gate. Afterwards, the beggar refused to dismount claiming that horse
belonged to him. The beggar also told the same story with few amendments.
The Caliph, being wise, settled the dispute in a minute. He ordered both the men to touch the
horse. When the beggar touched the horse, it showed the displeasure by wincing. But when the
rich man touched the horse, It neighed and snorted with pleasure. The reaction of the animal
proved the true ownership of the rich man. In this manner the case was decided and the Caliph
was able to prove that the beggar was a liar and wicked man.
2. What is the moral of the lesson “The Wise Caliph”?
ANS. The lesson “The Wise Caliph” teaches us that if someone is dishonest to you and treats
you in the bad manner, you should not treat him in the same manner in which her behaved. The
best revenge for a bad deed is a good deed.