Lincoln’s letter
White House
Washington DC
Dear Sir,
He will have to learn I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader and for every scoundrel, there is a hero... Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend. It will take time, I know, but teach him if you can, that a dollar earned is of far more value than five pounds... Teach him to learn to lose ... and also to enjoy winning. Steer him away from envy; if you can, teach him the secret of quiet laughter. Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick ... Teach him if you can, the wonder of books ... but also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hill side.
In the school teach him it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat... teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him he is wrong... Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with the tough. Try to give him the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the bandwagon. Teach him to listen to all men... but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth. Teach him if you can, how to laugh when he is sad... Teach him there is no shame in tears.
Teach him to scoff at cynics and to be beware of too much sweetness... Teach him to sell his talents and brains to the highest bidder, but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob... and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right. Teach him gently but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel. Let him have the courage to be impatient. Let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in humankind.
Yours faithfully,
1. Read the text above and fill in the gaps with the correct word from the list below.
[enemy, steer, bandwagon, cuddle, impatient]
a. Don't be impatient even in your hard times.
b. We should not fight even with our enemy.
c. Teachers should steer their students on the right path.
d. Do not cuddle him so that he will start acting stupidly.
e. Give him the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is getting on the bandwagon.
2. Match the words with their meanings.
a. White House ------- the residence of the American president
b. bidder ------- dealer/ buyer
c. a howling mob--------a crowd making unnecessary loud noise
d. eternal mystery------------ timeless or everlasting unidentification
e. sublime faith-------------inspiring belief
Read and answer
Read the text again and answer these questions.
a. Who wrote the letter?
Ans:- Abraham Lincoln wrote the letter.
b. Why did he write the letter?
Ans- He wrote the letter to suggest his son’s teacher teach his son to be an ideal citizen.
c. What does he mean by ‘a dollar earned is of far more value than five pounds?
Ans- By ‘a dollar earned is of far more value than five pounds’ it is meant that something that is gained by hard work is worthier than that which we get by doing nothing.
d. Why did he request his son's teacher to teach him to learn to lose?
Ans- He requested his son’s teacher to teach him to learn to lose to make him understand the significance of winning.
e. What did Lincoln want to see?
Ans- Lincoln wanted to see his son as an honourable person.
f. Why did he advise not to follow the crowd?
Ans- He advised not to follow the crowd to avoid getting on the bandwagon.
g. What did he request from his son's teacher?
Ans- He requested his son’s teacher to teach his son always to have sublime faith in himself.