Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.
"The soil, the land, the earth... shouldn't someone let the land rest a bit?" the old woman said, softly, smiling.
"Rest? Let the land rest? I don't understand," Velu looked at her, a little puzzled.
"Yes, my son, that is the difficulty. You don't realise that the earth is old…"
The old woman's advice was accompanied with a soft tone and a smile. What does that tell us about her?
The old woman's soft tone and smile show that she is a kind, compassionate, and wise person. She genuinely cares for Velu and wants to help him understand Nature's ways without being harsh or judgmental about his ignorance.
Fill in the blank with the correct option from those given below. The old woman's advice ____ Velu, at that moment. A. failed to impress B. confused C. scared D. made sense to
B. confused
State one thing about the old woman when she referred to Velu as 'my son', while offering advice.
When the old woman referred to Velu as 'my son', it shows her affectionate and caring nature. She treated him like family and offered guidance with the warmth and concern of a mother figure, making her advice more personal and meaningful.
Complete the following sentence with a suitable explanation. The 'difficulty' that the old woman mentions is due to the fact that ____.
The 'difficulty' that the old woman mentions is due to the fact that Velu does not realise that the earth is old and needs rest just like humans do. He has been working the land continuously for years without understanding that the earth also needs periods of rest to remain fertile and productive.
Explanation
((i)) The story describes her as having eyes that 'sparkled when she smiled' and she spoke 'softly, smiling.' This gentle demeanor makes her advice more acceptable to Velu. ((ii)) The correct answer is B. confused. The extract clearly states: 'Rest? Let the land rest? I don't understand,' Velu looked at her, a little puzzled. He was initially confused by this new concept. ((iii)) The old woman's use of 'my son' establishes a nurturing relationship and shows she cares deeply about Velu's wellbeing, not just offering advice as a stranger. ((iv)) The old woman explicitly states: 'Yes, my son, that is the difficulty. You don't realise that the earth is old…' She explains that the earth has worked for 'years, centuries, in fact, thousands of years' and needs rest.