In The Midst of Hardship (Practice 1)

Read the poem In The Midst of Hardship below and answer the questions that follow.

At dawn they return home
their soaky clothes torn
and approached the stove
their limbs marked by scratches
their legs full of wounds
but on their brows
there was not a sign of despair

The whole day and night just passed
they had to brave the horrendous flood
in the water all the time
between bloated carcasses
and tiny chips of tree barks
desperately looking for their son’s
albino buffalo that was never found

They were born amidst hardship
and grew up without a sigh or complaint
now they are in the kitchen, making
jokes while rolling their cigarette leaves

Stanza 1
1.At what time they return home?
2.Which word carries the meaning of “wet”?
3.Describe the condition of their clothes.
4.Describe the physical injuries they have to endure?
5.What does it mean by ‘but on their brows there was no sign of despair’?

Stanza 2
1.Name the natural disaster that they are facing?
2.List the word that has the same meaning as ‘dreadful’?
3.What they are looking for? Who is the owner?
4.Who are ‘they” in the poem? Give a reason for your answer?
5.Did they find what they are looking for? Quote evidence from the poem.
6.If your son has lost his precious item. Would you face similar hardship in looking for it?
7.Why do you think the water had the following:
a. Bloated carcasses
b. Chips of tree barks


Stanza 3
1.What are they doing in the kitchen?
2.How was the mood of 'they' while in the kitchen?
3.What kind of attitude own by ‘they’?
4.Do ‘they’ feel happy with their lives?

Free response:
1. Suggest two things that you should do during flood.
2. What would you save first when you are caught in a flood? Give a reason for your answer.