Here we have shared Class XI English Second Semester Nobel Lecture (Mother Teresa) Questions Answers.
Class XI English Second Semester
Nobel Lecture (Mother Teresa) 6 Marks Questions Answers
Q.1 Why does Mother Teresa call abortion the “greatest destroyer of peace”? Explain.
Ans: Mother Teresa says that abortion is the greatest destroyer of peace because it breaks the most basic bond of love—the bond between a mother and her child. She explains that if a mother can kill her own unborn child, then nothing is left to stop people from killing one another. She refers to Scripture, saying that God never forgets any child and has “carved” each life in His hand. She also mentions that many parents want to adopt unwanted babies, but millions of children are still deliberately killed. According to her, true peace begins when every child—born or unborn—is wanted, loved, and protected.
Q.2 How does Mother Teresa describe the greatness of poor people?
Ans: In the passage, Mother Teresa says that poor people are truly great because they show deep love, gratitude, and dignity even in their suffering. She shares real examples, such as a dying woman who smiled, held her hand, said “Thank you,” and passed away peacefully. Another man, rescued from a drain and covered with worms, said that although he had lived like an animal, he would die “like an angel” because he was loved and cared for. These experiences show that the poor do not blame or curse anyone. Instead, they express pure love, humility, and forgiveness. According to her, this inner greatness teaches the world the true meaning of compassion.
Q.3 What does Mother Teresa mean when she says “Love begins at home”?
Ans: When Mother Teresa says “Love begins at home,” she means that true love, peace, and harmony start within one’s own family. She explains that families do not need weapons or big actions to create peace; they need prayer, togetherness, and mutual care. If family members love one another and stay united, this love naturally spreads to the community and the world. She believes that it is not how much work we do that matters, but how much love we put into each action. She also shares stories of children and families who willingly sacrificed food to help others. Through these examples, she reminds us that the smallest acts of love at home can create global peace.
Q.4 How does Mother Teresa show the value of sharing through her story of the Hindu family?
Ans: Mother Teresa shares a powerful example of sharing when she describes visiting a Hindu family with eight hungry children. She brought rice for them, and the mother immediately divided it and went out. When asked where she went, the woman replied that she had taken a portion to a nearby Muslim family who was also hungry. This touched Mother Teresa deeply because the family had almost nothing, yet they still shared the little they had. She wanted them to experience the joy of giving, so she did not bring more rice that night. The children were joyful, not just because they received food, but because their mother taught them love, kindness, and unity beyond religion.
Q.5 How does Mother Teresa explain the spiritual meaning behind serving the poor?
Ans: According to Mother Teresa, serving the poor is not just social work; it is a spiritual act of touching the “Body of Christ.” She believes that every suffering person represents Jesus Himself, who said, “I was hungry, I was naked, I was homeless—and you did it to Me.” Therefore, when the Sisters care for the poor, they are serving God directly. She adds that their work must be “woven with prayer,” because only prayer gives them the strength to love the suffering without judgment. She also says that the poverty of the West—loneliness, rejection, lack of love—is harder to remove than physical poverty. By serving others with love, they share in Christ’s passion and bring His presence into the world.
Q.6 What message does Mother Teresa give about children and the importance of making every child ‘wanted’?
Ans: Mother Teresa stresses that every child, born or unborn, deserves to be “wanted, loved, and cared for.” She says that people often worry about children dying from hunger in India or Africa, yet millions of unborn children are deliberately killed by abortion. To fight this, she and her Sisters offer adoption and encourage mothers not to destroy their babies. She shares that many families eagerly wait to adopt children, which she sees as a blessing. She asks people to think honestly: have we really made every child wanted? Mother Teresa believes that building a peaceful world begins with welcoming each child with love, because every life is precious in God’s eyes.
Class XI English Second Semester
Nobel Lecture (Mother Teresa) 6 Marks Questions Answers
Q.7 Why does Mother Teresa believe it is not enough to say “I love God” but not love one’s neighbour?
Ans: Mother Teresa believes that a person cannot truly love God if they do not love their neighbour. She refers to Saint John’s teaching, which says that if someone claims to love God—who is unseen—yet does not love the neighbour whom they can see, touch, and live with, then that person is a liar. According to her, God lives in every human being, especially the poor and the lonely. Therefore, serving people is the same as serving God. Neighbours are our daily companions in joy and sorrow, and they are the first to help us in times of need. So, one must love and care for one’s neighbours to show genuine love for God.
Q.8 Summarise Mother Teresa’s experience at the old-age home.
Ans: During her Nobel Lecture, Mother Teresa describes her visit to an old-age home where she found the residents materially well provided for but deeply unhappy. Their rooms were neat, clean, and comfortable, yet there was no smile on their faces. She soon learned that the old people were waiting for their sons and daughters, but their children had placed them there and perhaps forgotten them. All day they looked toward the door with the hope that someone from the family would come. This loneliness—not hunger or poverty—caused their greatest suffering. Mother Teresa calls this “a terrible poverty” and urges everyone to love the elderly so they do not feel unwanted or abandoned.
Q.9 In what ways does Mother Teresa appeal to the emotions of her audience? What stories does she share of her encounters with the poor in Calcutta?
Ans: Mother Teresa appeals to the emotions of her audience by sharing simple but powerful stories of the poor she met in Calcutta. She speaks of four dying people whom the Sisters rescued; one woman smiled, held her hand, and said “Thank you” before she died. She recalls a little four-year-old boy who gave her sugar during a sugar crisis, even though he had not eaten sugar for three days. She also narrates how a starving Hindu mother shared her rice with her Muslim neighbour despite having eight hungry children. Another story is of a man bedridden for twenty years who donated his only pleasure money—fifteen dollars—by giving up smoking. These stories highlight sacrifice, love, and human dignity.
Q.10 Do you think Mother Teresa’s call for action is effective? Give two reasons.
Ans: Yes, Mother Teresa’s call for action is highly effective because it inspires people through real examples of compassion. First, her teachings show that even the poorest can serve others. The starving Hindu family with eight children shared their rice with a hungry Muslim neighbour, proving that love can cross all barriers. Second, her influence motivates people to sacrifice willingly. A man who had been on his back for twenty years donated fifteen dollars—his only money saved from giving up smoking—to help others. These actions demonstrate that her message reaches both rich and poor. She does not merely preach; she shows through examples how simple acts of love can transform the world.
Q.11 Comment on the use of Biblical and Christian references in Mother Teresa’s speech. Does she ignore other religions?
Ans: In her Nobel Lecture, Mother Teresa uses many Biblical and Christian references because these teachings shaped her life and mission. She begins with a prayer and refers to Jesus’ message: “Love one another as I have loved you.” She also quotes Saint John, who teaches that one cannot love God without loving one’s neighbour. However, she does not ignore other religions. Her examples honour Hindu and Muslim families who showed kindness, generosity, and sacrifice. She says that love is the central teaching of every religion. Therefore, although her language is Christian, her message is universal. She believes that every religion encourages people to serve others and create peace through love.
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Class XI English Second Semester
Nobel Lecture 2 Marks Questions Answers
Q.1. How many dying persons were picked up by Mother Teresa and her associates from the streets of Calcutta?
Ans: Mother Teresa and her associates picked up more than 36,000 dying persons from the streets of Calcutta. They rescued them with love and care so they could die with dignity.
Q.2. Why did Mother Teresa establish a home?
Ans: Mother Teresa established a home to give shelter to the poor, unfed, unloved and dying people. She wanted them to feel cared for and to spend their last days with peace and dignity.
Q.3. What did Mother Teresa intend to do with the Nobel Peace Prize money?
Ans: Mother Teresa intended to use the Nobel Peace Prize money to build a home for many homeless, uncared and unfed people. She wanted the prize to help the poorest of the poor.
Q.4. “Let us give now—that Christmas is coming so close.”
What does Mother Teresa want us to give during Christmas?
Ans: Mother Teresa wants us to give love to God and share God’s love with one another during Christmas. She urges people to give kindness instead of material gifts.
Q.5. What, according to Mother Teresa, is the importance of a smile?
Ans: According to Mother Teresa, a smile is important because it is the beginning of love. A simple smile can bring joy, create hope, and help people feel loved and cared for.
Q.6. Why did people respect Mother Teresa so deeply?
Ans: People respected Mother Teresa because she dedicated her entire life to serving the poor and dying. Her love, compassion and selfless work inspired millions across the world.
Q.7. What was Mother Teresa’s main message to the world?
Ans: Mother Teresa’s main message was to love and care for the poorest. She believed that small acts of kindness, done with love, can bring peace and happiness to society.
Class XI English Second Semester
Nobel Lecture 2 Marks Questions Answers
Q.8. How did Mother Teresa help the homeless and abandoned?
Ans: Mother Teresa provided food, shelter, medical care and love to the homeless and abandoned. She treated every person with dignity, making them feel valued and respected.
Q.9. What did Mother Teresa say about doing small things?
Ans: Mother Teresa said that we may not do great things, but we can do small things with great love. She believed love makes even simple actions meaningful.
Q.10. What kind of life did Mother Teresa lead?
Ans: Mother Teresa lived a very simple, humble and disciplined life. She avoided luxury and devoted all her time to prayer, service and helping the poorest around her.
Q.11. How did Mother Teresa inspire young people?
Ans: Mother Teresa inspired young people by showing that true happiness comes from serving others. She encouraged them to be kind, loving and helpful in their daily lives.
Q.12. What qualities made Mother Teresa a great humanitarian?
Ans: Mother Teresa was compassionate, patient, selfless and courageous. These qualities made her a great humanitarian who worked tirelessly for suffering people without expecting anything in return.
Q.13. How did Mother Teresa bring hope to dying people?
Ans: Mother Teresa brought hope by giving dying people love, care and dignity. She ensured they felt valued, comforted and not alone during their final moments.
