Short textual questions and answers.
1. What are locusts?
The locusts are insects which attack the crops in swarms and eat them up. They are very dangerous and harmful for the crops and plants. They are a natural calamity that makes the human beings helpless in saving the crops. They cause huge financial loss to the farmers.
2. Why did the farmers throw wet leaves on fire?
The attack of locusts was so heavy and devastating that the farmers were quite helpless. They threw wet leaves on to the fires to produce thick and bitter smoke to scare away the locusts. They tried everything in their capacity but could not stop the locusts from destroying their crops.
3. What was the desire of every farmer?
The attack of locusts was so heavy and devastating that the farmers were quite helpless. They tried everything in their capacity but could not stop the locusts from destroying their crops. In this hour of disappointment, every farmer only hoped that the locusts might overlook his farm and go on to the next.
4. Did Margaret know what to do to keep the locusts away?
Margaret was extremely sad and disturbed at the loss of the crops. She was disappointed to see wide-spread devastation on the land. She was angry and fearful. She was helpless and could do nothing to help the farmers in saving their crops.
5. What was the condition of trees?
The condition of the trees was very bad. They were not safe from the attack of the locusts. They looked strange and still. They were clotted with insects and their branches weighed to the ground. The locusts were eating their branches after branches.
6. How did old Stephen treat the stray locust which he found on his shirt?
Old Stephen was angry and disturbed at the loss of the crops. He picked a stray locust off his shirt and split down with his thumbnail. He vented his anger in this way. He could do nothing more to kill them.
7. Are the hoppers different from the locusts?
The hoppers are the young ones of the locusts. They also spread huge destruction. They are equally harmful for the crops. They cause unbearable loss to the crops and plants. They multiply quickly and take minutes to turn green fields into a land of total destruction.
8. Did Margaret lose heart on the loss of crops?
Margaret was extremely sad and disturbed at the loss of the crops. She was disappointed to see wide-spread devastation on the land. She was angry and fearful. She was helpless and could do nothing to help the farmers in saving their crops.
9. Why are the locusts compared with bad weather?
The locusts are compared with bad weather because they are harmful for crops like bad weather. They can come any time to attack crops. They can cause heavy financial loss to the farmers. They are a natural calamity that makes the human beings helpless in saving the crops.
10. Why did the men eat their supper with good appetites?
The men continued to fight the swarm even after all the crops were destroyed because they did not lose heart. They were very optimistic. They had strong faith in God. They were full of courage and confidence. They did not take the loss of crops to their hearts. They ate their supper with good appetites.
Long textual questions and answers.
1. How did the farmers try to prevent the main swarm of locusts from landing on their farms?
The farmers tried very hard to prevent the main swarm of locusts from landing on their farms. They burnt huge fires and tried to make enough smoke to scare away the locusts. They also tried to produce enough noise through metal and tin pieces to prevent the locusts from attacking their fields.
2. Why, even after all the crops were destroyed, did the men continue to fight the swarm?
The men continued to fight the swarm even after all the crops were destroyed because they did not lose heart. They were very optimistic. They had strong faith in God. They were full of courage and confidence. They did not take the loss of crops to their hearts.
3. What was the condition of the land when the locusts had moved to the south?
The condition of the land was very bad. It looked quite devastated and mangled. There was not even a single blade of grass left there. The locusts had eaten up everything. It was a scene of total destruction.
4. What are the measures the farmers should have taken to save their crops? Give five suggestions.
The farmers should have taken the following measures to save their crops:
- They should have sprayed pesticides on the crops to kill the locusts.
- They should have burnt huge fires before the attack of the locusts.
- They should have covered their crops properly.
- They should have consulted government agriculture department beforehand.
- They should have used modern machinery to scare away locusts.
5. Write a note on the character of Margaret.
She was a brave and courageous lady. She tried her best to help the farmers in saving their crops. But the attack of the locusts was so devastating that she found herself quite helpless. She was feeling fearful at the loss of crops. She could not bear the sight of devastated fields and preferred not to think about them.
