READ THE POEM AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS;

Wind, come softly.

Don't break the shutters of the windows.

Don't scatter the papers.

Don't throw down the books on the shelf.

There, look what you did - you threw them all down.

You tore the pages of the books.

You brought rain again.

You're very clever at poking fun at weaklings.

Frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors, crumbling rafters,

Crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling lives,

crumbling hearts-

the wind god winnows and crushes them all.

He won't do what you tell him.

So, come, let's build strong homes,

Let's join the doors firmly.

Practise to firm teh body.

Make the heart steadfast.

Do this, and the wind will be friends with us.

The wind blows out weak fires.

He makes stronger fires roar and flourish.

His friendship is good.

We praise him every day.

Wind, come softly.

FILL; THE BLANKS

The poet begins by a)________ to the wind to blow softly and not cause havoc by breaking window shutters, scattering paper or throwing books on the shelf. The poet b)________ against the wind since it has torn the pages of the books and has brought rain again. The poet feels that the wind is extremely clever as it c)________ fun of those who are weak. It does not like anything weak. Everything that d)______ easily be it houses, doors, wood or rafters, is e)________ mercilessly by wind. Besides, it also crushes weak bodies, lives and hearts. The poet f)_________ wind to a God who doesn't do what people tell him to. The poet offers a g)_______ to help humanity. He appeals to people to be firm, positive and strong both physically as well as mentally. They must have a h)_______ heart if they want to be friends with wind. If we are strong then wind will not only i)___________ us but also aids in achieving success and in flourishing. It is j)_________ to be friends with wind.