English for Class 10 ( Footprints Without Feet ) Short and Long Answer Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: What was Oop’s opinion about the ‘sandwiches’ he had eaten?
Ans: Oop was forced to eat ‘sandwiches’ and he made terrible faces while chewing. He said that it was not delicious; rather as dry as Martian dust. He remarked that he could not understand how the Earthlings could get those ‘sandwiches’ down without water.

Q2: What was Noodle’s version to describe the so-called ‘sandwich’?
Ans: Noodle hesitantly told Think-Tank that he had ‘insignificant’ information about those ‘sandwiches’. He informed him that he had seen surveyor films of those sandwiches. He had noticed that the Earthlings did not eat them. They used them as some sort of communication devices.

Q3: Why was the twentieth century called the ‘Era of the Book?
Ans: The twentieth century was often called the Era of the book as there were books about everything. Books taught people how, when, where, and why of everything. They illustrated, educated, punctuated, and even decorated.

Q4: How Does Think-Tank compare the Martians with the people on Earth? What does he call the Earth mockingly?
Ans: Think-Tank considers earth  ‘a ridiculous little planet’ ariel intends to put it under his generous rulership. He feels the earth is actually an unimportant place where ugly earthlings, with their tiny heads, reside. He believes the Martians to be a superior race. He mockingly calls the earth ‘Primitive ball of mud’.

Q5: What saved the Earth? How?
Ans: One dusty old book of nursery rhymes saved the earth from a Martian invasion. The Martian could not decipher the meaning of nursery rhymes. Their misinterpretation made the situation comical. They began to believe that the Earthlings had advance technology and were planning to invade the Mars. They called off their mission and even left the Mars isolated to escape to a far-off planet.

Q6: What guesses are made by Think-Tank about the books found on Earth?
Ans: Think Tank first of all announced that the books found on the Earth were sandwiches and to confirm it he forced Oop to eat them. Later on Noodle shared his observation and he declared that he was about to say the same thing. Now he announced that those books were a sort of communication devices.

Q7: Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank but at the same time he corrects his mistakes. How does he manage to do that?
Ans: Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank very meticulously. He never disagrees with his opinion but he does not miss any opportunity to put forward his suggestions no matter even if he does it hesitantly. He always shows admiration to Think-Tank’s intelligence. He never puts himself into the conflicting ideas from his boss.

Q8: How did the book change Think-Tank’s opinion about the Earthlings?
Ans: Think-Tank used to believe that the Martian was a superior race to the Earthlings. But after cracking the so-called code of an old nursery rhyme book, he changed his view about the Earthlings. He now thought that the Earthlings has reached a high level of civilization and planning to invade the Mars. It made him call off his mission.

Q9: What does Think-Tank infer on listening to the nursery rhyme, ‘Hey diddle diddle ….’?
Ans: On listening to the nursery rhyme, ‘Hey diddle diddle…’, Think – Tank inferred that the Earthlings had reached a high level of civilization. It was alarming that they had taught their domesticated animals musical cultures and space technique. He announced that even their dogs had a sense of humour.’ He believed that the Earthlings could launch an interplanetary attack of millions of cows any time soon.

Q10: What does Noodle tell Think-Tank about the books?
Ans: Noodle hesitantly informs Think-Tank that the books were a sort of communication device. He told that he had seen surveyor films of those ‘sandwiches’. He had noticed that the Earthlings did not eat them. They used them as sort of communication device.
Long Answer Type Questions

Q11: Half knowledge is dangerous. It never helps to achieve success. Discuss how incomplete knowledge can lead to disaster in reference to the lesson “The Book That Saved the Earth’.
Ans: It is a fact that incomplete knowledge can lead to disaster. Suppose we sit to work on a satellite and able to command only half of the instructions. In that case things would fail and cause disaster. Half knowledge is dangerous and never helps to achieve success. If we are able to apply knowledge fully to any kind of task, we can have self contentment.
We read in the lesson “The Book That Saved the Earth” that the Martians had to suffer. They had the mission to invade the earth but due to incomplete knowledge they misinterpreted the nursery rhyme book.

Q12: Rushing to conclusion without going into details may lead to chaos and failure. Elaborate this with reference to the Martian invasion in the chapter ‘ The Book That Saved the Earth’.
Ans: The Martians were very proud of themselves. Great and mighty Think-Thank regarded as the ruler of Mars was always caught in self praise. He had a quick mind and wishes to attack the earth in a great hurry. Martians misinterpreted the signals received from earthlings book of nursery rhymes and fled away. If they had planned the things decisively things would have been different. In any kind of situation rash decisions would never give results. It is only through knowledge, perseverence.

Q13: It is morally incorrect to invade another country/ planet for one’s own benefit. The Martians did not understand the value of peaceful coexistence. How did the book of nursery rhyme save the Earth from the Martian invasion?
Ans: Great and Mighty Think-Tank believed that the Martians were a superior race so they must invade and put the earth under his generous rulership. He scornfully called the Earth ‘primitive ball of mud’. The Martians did not understand the value of peaceful coexistence and sent a mission to invade the earth. The crew landed in a library and could not make out what the books actually were. It was believed – that the books were a sort of communications device.
Think-Tank asked the member to decipher the code of the ‘sandwiches’. The nursery rhymes were totally misinterpreted and it was believed that the Earthlings had developed an advance civilization and were planning to invade the Mars. The mission was called off and the Martians escaped to a remote place to save their lives. Thus the books saved the earth.

Q14: How do the three nursery rhymes frighten Think-Tank in the play, ‘The Book That Saved the Earth’?
Ans: The rhyme ‘Mistress Mary, quite contrary makes Think-Tank believe that the Earthlings have discovered how to combine agriculture and mining. He thinks that they can grow explosives. The rhyme ‘Hey diddle diddle’, makes him conclude that the Earthlings have reached a high level of civilization: even their animals have musical culture and know space techniques.
He fears that at that very moment, the Earthlings might be launching an interplanetary attack of millions of cows. Oop reads the rhyme. ‘Humpty Dumpty’ and shows him a picture of Humpty Dumpty. Think-Tank concludes that it is his picture and the Earthlings are planning to invade Mars.

Q15: How did one old book of nursery rhymes save the world from a Martian invasion?
OR
Who tried to invade the earth in the twenty first century and what saved it?
Ans: The Martians sent a mission to invade the earth. The crew landed in a library and could not make out what the books actually were. It was believed that the books were a sort of communication device. Think-Tank asked the members to decipher the code of the ‘sandwiches’. The nursery rhymes were totally misinterpreted and it was believed that the Earthlings had developed an advance civilization and mission was called off and the Martians escaped to a remote place to save their lives. Thus the books saved the Earth.

Q16: What is Think-Tank’s opinion about the Earth?
Ans: Think-Tank called the Earth a ridiculous little planet and showed his wish to put it under his generous rulership. The planet Earth was insignificant to him. He believed that the Martians were the most handsome race. He referred to the people of the Earth as Earthlings and mocked their tiny heads.
He showed his desire to invade ‘primitive ball of mud’ called Earth before lunch. But after misinterpreting the book of nursery rhymes he began to believe that the earthlings had developed a more advanced civilization and were even planning to invade the Mars.

Q17: Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank but at the same time he corrects his mistakes. How does he manage to do that?
Ans: Noodle avoids offending Think-Tank, but at the same time, he very cleverly tries to correct his mistakes also. Whenever Noodle had to say something contrary to what Think-Tank said, he would present his thoughts by referring to them as being of no particular importance. In this way he would correct Think- Tank’s errors without making him feel that he was being corrected. Noodle appears to be quite an expert in handling these kind of people.

Q18: Do you think books are being replaced by the electronic media? Can we do away with books altogether?
Ans: In a way, yes, we can say that books are being replaced by the electronic media. Most of the children no longer read story books and prefer to watch television and Rufe internet. Although textbooks are still there but they may soon be replaced by electronic vesion. Books have their own utility value because one can read a book at his own pace and a book does not need to be powered by electricity. But as the technology is advancing and newer versions of it are being discovered every day, a time may come when books will become a thing of the past.

Short Answer Type Questions
Q1: Why was Sulekha nicknamed Bholi?
Ans: Sulekha was nicknamed Bholi because she was a simpleton. She was mentally slow and anybody could befool her.

Q2:  Why did Sulekha start stammering?
Ans: Sulekha was a baby when she fell down from a cot. Her brain was damaged. She could not speak till the age of five years. She was mentally slow and lacked confidence. That is why she started stammering.

Q3: Why was Ramlal worried about Bholi and not about his other children?
Ans: All other children of Ramlal were healthy and good looking. Bholi was the only girl who was neither intelligent nor good looking. She was a simpleton, she stammered also. Ramlal was extremely worried about her future.

Q4: Why did the Tehsildar come to Ramlal’s village? What did he ask Ramlal to do?
Ans: The Tehsildar came to Ramlal’s village to inaugurate the primary school. He asked Ramlal to set an example for others by sending his daughters to school.

Q5:  What was Ramlal’s wife reaction?
Ans: His wife was an orthodox village woman. She was against the idea of sending her daughters to school. She thought that education would affect their marriage prospects adversely.

Q6: Why did she agree to send Bholi to school?
Ans: She thought that education would ruin the marriage prospects of their daughters but Bholi was a simpleton. There was no possibility of her marriage. So she agreed to send Bholi to school.

Q7: Why was Bholi reluctant to go to school with her father?
Ans: Bholi did not know what a school was like. She had never heard about it. When her father held her hand and told her that they were going to school, she got frightened fearing to be dragged out of the house. So she was reluctant to go to school with her father.

Q8: What made her feel that she is going to a better place than her home?
Ans: Bholi never got attention before that day. She was bathed and given a clean dress. Oil was rubbed into her dry and matted hair. This made her feel that she was going to a better place than her home.

Q9: Did Bholi enjoy her first day in school? What made her happy on this very day?
Ans: It was a mixed day for Bholi. She was happy to see the girls of her age. She was fascinated with the colourful pictures on the wall of the classrooms. But when the teacher asked her name she could not answer properly and other girls laughed at her. She cried. But her teacher’s soft words made her happy on this very day.

Q10: Which incident touched her heart?
Ans: All the girls were laughing at her. The teacher called her by name in her soft and soothing voice. This touched her heart because she had never been called in that loving way.

Long Answer Type Questions
Q11: “Put the fear out of your heart and you will be able to speak like anyone else.” These words of encouragement from the teacher highlight that change of social attitude and encouragement can help a child like Bholi to become confident and face the world bravely. With reference . to the story ‘Bholi’ write how the social attitude towards Bholi made her an introvert. What should be done to help such children to face the world bravely?
Ans: Bholi was neglected by her parents on account of her looks and lack of intelligence. She used to stammer so the other children made fun of her and mimicked her. As a result she talked very little. It was a daunting task for the teacher to encourage Bholi. The teacher talked to her affectionately and friendly. She assured her if she put the fear out of her heart and she would be able to speak like anyone else.
Through the efforts of years Bholi became a transferred personality. She refused to marry a greedy man who was trying to exploit her father due to her looks. Such children should be constantly encouraged by the parents, teachers and even by the other relations. They must be taught to fight back their handicaps rather to accept it as facts.

Q12: What social attitudes are presented in the story, ‘Bholi’? How does Bholi’s teacher help her overcome these barriers?
OR
God created this world but teachers create human beings. How does Bholi’s teacher succeed in changing the course of her life?
Ans: Bholi was neglected by her parents on account of her looks and lack of intelligence. She was sent to school as her mother thought her to be a burden and let the teachers at school worry about her. Ironically, the teachers transformed her life completely. God created this world but teachers create human beings.
Bholi did not know what exactly a school was and what happened there, in the class when her teacher asked her name, she stammered and began to cry. She kept her head down throughout the class. The teacher was very encouraging and friendly to her and this made her gain confidence to speak.
She started seeing a ray of hope for a new life. After years of gaining education and with the help of her teacher, Bholi turned into a confident girl. She no longer stammered and could speak properly. She even had the courage to refuse marrying the lame old man because he was greedy and asked money from her father to marry her.

Q13: “Don’t you worry, Pitajil In your old age I will serve you and mother”. Through this statement the narrator wants to highlight the moral values Bholi imbibed with. Based on the reading of the lesson, what made Bholi aware of her rights and how did she use them?
Ans: Bholi became an introvert child who lacked confidence. She was neglected and even made fun of due to her appearance and lack of intelligence. Years of education made her bold and confident. She got an aim in her life. When she refused to marry greedy Bishamber, her father became worried. She assured her father not to worry and promised that she would take care of him and her mother in their old age.
She told that she would teach in the school where she learnt so much. During her education Bholi’s teacher made her aware of her rights as well as duties. She faced the challenge of rejecting greedy Bishamber with determination and confidence. Thus she protected her self-respect and integrity.

Q14: Education is always a great asset in the life of a woman. How did Bholi, an educated girl free the challenge posed by Bishamber’s greed?
OR
School education turned Bholi from a dumb cow into a bold girl. How did she save her father from a huge expense and become his support in his old age?
Ans: Ironically, Bholi was sent to school as her mother believed she was a burden and let the teachers at the school worry for her. The teacher showed affection and encouraged her to shed her fear. She was assured by her teacher that she would speak like others one day.
Years of hard work transformed Bholi into a bold and confident young woman. Bishamber refused to marry Bholi due to her appearance and demanded five thousand rupees. Bholi saw how her father was humiliated for no reason. She refused to marry a greedy, mean and contemptible coward. She assured her father that she would serve him and her mother in their old age. She had a mission in her life; she would spread the light of education in her village.

Q15: Write a character sketch of Sulekha.
OR
On the basis of your understanding of the story, sketch the character of Bholi.
OR
Write a character sketch of Bholi.
“Bholi’s whole personality underwent a complete transformation towards the end of the story”. Explain.
Ans: Bholi’s real name was Sulekha but she was called Bholi, the simpleton as she was a backward child. She started speaking only when she turned five but she stammered when she spoke and as a result she was always mimicked or made fun of by the other children. Therefore, Bholi talked very little.
Bholi did not know what exactly a school was and what happened there, in the class when her teacher asked her name, she stammered and began to cry. She kept her head down throughout the class. The teacher was very encouraging and friendly to her and this made her gain confidence to speak. She started seeing a ray of hope for a new life.
After years of gaining education and with the help of her teacher, Bholi turned into a confident girl. She no longer stammered and could speak properly. She even had the courage to refuse marrying the lame old man because he was greedy and asked money from her father to marry her. On seeing her father worried about her marriage, she said that he need not worry as she would teach in the same school where she learnt so much and would take care of him and her mother in their old age.

Q16: “Dowry is a negation of the girl’s dignity”. Explain this statement in the light of the story of ‘Bholi’.
Ans: Initially Bishamber did not demand dowry to get married to Bholi. He was a widower, having children and of the age of Ramlal. But during the marriage ceremony he happened to see the face of Bholi. He bargains if he was given five thousand rupees he will marry the girl. Bholi’s father Ramlal placed his turban at his feet but he refused.
A girl is considered a liability in her own natal home due to prevalence of the custom of dowry practice. Some parents are unwilling to give higher education to their daughter as they have to search for ‘ highly educated boy for marriages and a better educated boy will demand more dowry which creates unnecessary problefn, for parents.
Besides, the boy who receives huge amount of dowry may think of himself as more dignified as having a higher status, greater prestige and more respectful than the girl. Subsequently the girl develops inferiority complex. Fortunately, Bholi refuses to marry greedy Bishamber and decides to serve her parents instead in their old age. ‘

Q17: How did the teacher encourage Bholi on her first day in school?
OR
On the basis of your understanding of the story, describe the role played by the teacher in the life of Bholi.
OR
What values did the teacher display in transforming Bholi into a confident girl?
Ans: Bholi was neglected by her parents on account of her looks and lack of intelligence. She was sent to school as her mother thought her to be a burden and let the teacher at school worry about her. The teacher in the school asked her to tell her name. She stammered -and began to cry.
The teacher showed her affection and encouraged her in a friendly manner to put aside her fear. Bholi somehow told her name. The teacher assured her that she would be able £o speak like everyone else one day. Bholi was surprised. The teacher asked her to come to school regularly. Love and encouragement shown by the teacher brought out drastic changes in Bholi’s personality. Within a few years she became so confident that she refused to marry a greedy man.

Q18: ‘Love and encouragement make the impossible possible. Explain this statement on the basis of the story ‘Bholi’.
Ans: Bholi was sent to school as her mother thought her to be a burden. She was neglected by her parents as she was not beautiful and lacked intelligence. The teacher in the school asked her to tell her name. She stammered and began to cry. The teacher showed her affection and encouraged her in a friendly manner to put aside her fear.
Bholi somehow told her name. Bholi was surprised. The teacher asked her to come to school regularly. Love and encouragement shown by the teacher brought out drastic changes in Bholi’s personality. Within a few years she became so confident that she refused to marry a greedy man.

Q19: No one is always foolish. Time and circumstances give us intelligence and change out. personality. Explain with reference to ‘Bholi’.
Ans: Yes, it is quite right that no one is always foolish. Time decides everything. Our maturity and knowledge depend on our experience. Experience is always based on circumstances. Time and experiences teach us different things and make life perfect.
With out experience or practical knowledge all bookish knowledge is in vain. It is never used. There are many such examples in our real life that prove this statement correct. Here I would like to share my own experience about a very simple doctor.
He started his practice very slow in a poor area. Many famous doctors made fun of him. Time passed and gradually he became famous in the neighbouring areas. His treatment was not so costly. Once a very serious accident occurred near his hospital and the people brought the injured person to a costly hospital.
But his condition was very serious and the doctor refused to admit him. Then that doctor took the case and tried his best to save him. At last he succeeded. All were surprised to see and listen to it.

Q20: Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage? What does this tell us about her?
Ans: This is a normal practice in India that girls seldom oppose their parent’s choice for a groom. The upbringing of daughters does a kind of mental conditioning which doesn’t give them enough courage to rebel against their parent’s wish. Bholi more or less followed the tradition of being an ideal Indian girl ,and agreed to an unequal match because her mother felt she was lucky to get a well-to-do groom who owned a big shop, had a house of his own and had several thousands in the bank. Moreover, he was not asking for any dowry.
Bholi also heard her mother saying that he did not know about her pox-marks and her lack of sense. If the proposal was not accepted, she might remain unmarried all her life. Later on when the groom bared his greed to everyone, it repulsed Bholi and she opposed the marriage. Unlike her sisters, Bholi is educated and has a mind of her own. She is as independent as any other modern girl of a big city.
On seeing her father pleading and getting humiliated, she decided not to marry him. This tells us that she loves and respects her parents, has self respect and knows what is right or wrong and is able to take a wise decision.

Short Answer Type QuestionsQ1. How did the Loisels react when they realised that the necklace had been lost?
Ans: When the Loisels realised that the necklace was lost, Matilda Loisel felt profound sadness. They feared that this loss would lead to a miserable life, as Mr Loisel was merely a petty clerk, making it extremely difficult for him to replace such an expensive diamond necklace.

Q2. Why did Matilda not like to visit her rich friend?
Ans: Matilda did not enjoy visiting her rich friend because she felt an inferiority complex. Each time she went, she became dejected and disappointed due to her own poverty. She often compared her modest living conditions to her friend’s luxurious lifestyle. Additionally, Matilda lacked beautiful clothes and jewellery, which made her feel out of place. This is why she preferred to avoid such visits.

Q3. Why is Matilda unhappy with her life?
Ans: Matilda is unhappy with her life because she constantly feels that she is meant for luxury and elegance. The poor condition of her home, with its shabby walls and worn-out chairs, deeply frustrates her. These surroundings remind her of what she lacks, intensifying her feelings of discontent.

Q4. Her husband is kind and loving. Do you agree? Give examples to support your answers.
Ans: He is a kind and loving husband who prioritises his wife’s happiness. For instance, he spent his hard-earned savings, which he had saved for years, to buy her a beautiful dress for a big party, instead of indulging in his own hobby. When she lost a costly necklace, he went to great lengths, even borrowing money, to replace it. His dedication is evident as he works tirelessly without causing any trouble at home, showing his commitment to their relationship.

Q5. What had Matilda’s husband saved the money for? Why did he then part with his savings?
Ans: Matilda’s husband had saved a significant amount of money, specifically four hundred francs, to purchase a gun for himself. However, when Matilda insisted on having a new dress for a party, he chose to sacrifice his savings. He used the money he had saved to buy her a suitable costume.

Q6. What was the cause of Matilda’s ruin? How could she have avoided it?
Ans: Matilda’s downfall stemmed from her unrealistic aspirations and focus on material possessions. She failed to live within her means, which led to her ruin. By being more practical and understanding her husband’s feelings, she could have avoided this tragic outcome.

Q7. What did Mme. Forestier tell Matilda about the reality of her Necklace?
Ans: After losing the borrowed necklace, Matilda replaced it with a diamond necklace that cost thirty-six thousand francs. However, Mme Forestier later revealed that her original necklace was fake and worth only about five hundred francs.

Q8. What changes came into the life of Loisels after the necklace was lost?
Ans: After losing the necklace, the Loisels faced significant changes in their lives. They had to move to a cheaper room and let go of their servant. Matilda took on all the household chores, including shopping, fetching water, and washing clothes. Her husband worked late into the evenings and nights to repay their debt. This challenging lifestyle lasted for ten years, during which Matilda became a strong, hard woman, reflecting the struggles of their new life.

Q9. Why was Mme Forestier shocked to hear Matilda’s story?
Ans: Mme Forestier was shocked to hear Matilda’s story because, during their encounter, she barely recognised Matilda due to her aged appearance. Matilda explained that she had endured many hardships after losing the diamond necklace borrowed from Mme Forestier. To her astonishment, Matilda revealed that she had spent ten years repaying a replacement necklace, only for Mme Forestier to inform her that the original necklace was actually false and worth only five hundred francs.

Q10. Do you think Matilda’s over-ambitious nature was the cause of her miseries?
Ans: Matilda’s overambitious nature indeed contributed to her avoidable miseries. In an attempt to present herself as a wealthy woman, she borrowed a necklace from a friend. Her troubles began when she lost this necklace, leading to a series of unfortunate events.

Long Answer Type QuestionsQ11. A little confession would have changed the life of Matilda. Should we confess our mistakes courageously? Do you agree about above statement.
Ans: Yes, a small mistake can make our lives miserable and dark. People who are open-minded and speak the truth tend to be much happier. A minor error made by Matilda changed her life entirely. If she had confessed to losing Madam Forestier’s necklace, her life would have taken a different path. Confessing could have brought her peace of mind, as she would have discovered that the necklace was merely an imitation. The hard work Matilda put into repaying the borrowed necklace could have been avoided. This situation teaches us an important lesson: we should not hesitate to admit our mistakes.

Q12. On inability to accept our circumstances may lead to an unhappy life. Explain with reference to the story “The Necklace”.
Ans: Many people struggle to accept their circumstances, which can lead to an unhappy life. Instead of recognising their situation, they often complain and wish for a different life. In the story The Necklace, Matilda Loisel exemplifies this mindset. She is discontent with her husband and dreams of a luxurious life. Her constant frustration prevents her from finding solutions and ultimately complicates her situation. When Matilda borrows a necklace for a party and then loses it, her inability to accept her reality leads to a series of unfortunate events. Instead of facing the truth, she chooses to hide her mistake, which results in years of hardship. This story illustrates how failing to accept our circumstances can ruin our lives.

Q13. ‘Love is blind’ is a phrase that was justified by Monsieur Loisel in the lesson ‘The Necklace’. Substantiate the answer from the story you have read in about 100 – 120 words.
Ans: Love is blind is exemplified through Monsieur Loisel’s actions in ‘The Necklace’. His unwavering desire to please his wife, Matilda, highlights this concept. Despite her constant dissatisfaction, he remains devoted. When Matilda laments her lack of a dress for the party, he willingly gives her money to buy one. Later, when she frets over not having jewellery, he encourages her to borrow a necklace from Madame Forestier. This eagerness to make Matilda happy ultimately leads to their downfall when she loses the necklace. Monsieur Loisel takes on the burden of replacing it, sacrificing ten years of hard work without complaint. His own desires are overshadowed by his commitment to Matilda’s happiness, illustrating that love can sometimes blind one to personal needs and consequences.

Q14. ‘The Necklace’ reveals that vanity is an evil. It may bring joy for short period but ultimately it leads to ruin. If you are placed in a situation similar to that of Matilda, what would you have done? Express your views.
Ans: Vanity can be a destructive force, as shown through Matilda’s character in the story. She was proud of her beauty and believed she deserved a life filled with luxuries and fine things, despite being born into a modest family. This sense of entitlement led to her downfall. If I found myself in a situation like Matilda’s, I would prioritise the love and support of my husband over material possessions. Instead of insisting on an expensive dress for the party, I would choose to appreciate what I already had. I would not borrow a costly necklace from a friend, which ultimately caused the Loisels significant hardship. By valuing our relationship and living within our means, I could have spared us both from the struggles that Matilda faced.

Q15. What changes came in the lifestyle of Matilda after she had lost the necklace?
Ans: After losing the necklace, Matilda and her husband, Mr Loisel, faced a difficult life for ten long years to repay the borrowed money. They began by sending away their maid and moved to a smaller, rented attic. Matilda had to learn the burdensome tasks of household life, which included washing dishes, greasy pots, and laundry. She often used her hands to scrub the dirty items, and each morning, she took out the rubbish and fetched water, stopping to catch her breath along the way. With limited funds, she haggled with shopkeepers for lower prices. Once known for her beauty and elegant dresses, Matilda now appeared aged and worn. Her hair was unkempt, her clothes were shabby, and her hands were rough from hard work. She spoke loudly and washed floors with large buckets of water. During these years, her husband worked evenings and nights to make ends meet, often doing tedious tasks like copying documents. This challenging lifestyle lasted a decade, and by the end, they had repaid their debt. However, Matilda had transformed into a strong, hardened woman, reflecting the struggles of her new life. Occasionally, she would reminisce about the glamorous evening when she wore the necklace, pondering how different her life might have been had she not lost it.

Q16. At the end of the ten years, they had restored all. What had Matilda and her husband restored and at what cost?
Ans: Matilda lost the necklace she had borrowed from her wealthy friend, Mme Forestier. Despite their efforts to find it, they were unsuccessful. Consequently, they decided to replace the necklace with a new one. M. Loisel spent his entire savings and borrowed money to buy a similar necklace, which cost thirty-six thousand francs. To repay this debt, they drastically reduced their expenses. They let go of their maid and moved to an attic, while M. Loisel worked evenings and nights, earning money by putting merchants’ books in order and doing copying at five sous a page. This challenging lifestyle lasted for ten years, and by the end, they had restored all their debts.

Q17. Matilda would not have suffered much if she had confessed the loss of necklace. Do you think our mistakes become more serious if we try to cover them?
Ans: Yes, a small mistake can make our lives miserable. People who are open-minded and speak the truth tend to be much happier. A minor error made by Matilda changed her life entirely. If she had confessed to losing Madam Forestier’s necklace, her life would have taken a different path. A confession could have brought her peace of mind. Matilda would have quickly learned that the necklace was not real but an imitation. The hard work she put into repaying the borrowed necklace could have been avoided. This story teaches us an important lesson: we should not delay in admitting our mistakes.

Q18. Our inability to accept our limitations may lead to an unhappy life. Analyze with reference to the story ‘The Necklace’.
Ans: Many people struggle to accept their limitations, which can lead to an unhappy life. In the story The Necklace, we see how Matilda Loisel embodies this struggle. She is dissatisfied with her life and constantly yearns for luxury and wealth. Instead of appreciating her circumstances, she grumbles and wishes for something different. Matilda’s frustration stems from her belief that she deserves a more glamorous life. This discontent drives her to borrow a necklace for a party, which she ultimately loses. Rather than seeking a solution, she complicates her life further by not admitting her mistake. This decision leads to years of hardship, demonstrating how failing to accept our reality can result in a tragic outcome.

Q19. The course of the Loisels’ life changed due to the necklace. Comment.
Ans: The course of the Loisel family’s life drastically changed due to the necklace. After losing the original necklace, they replaced it with a new one, which forced them to borrow a significant amount of money. This decision led them to make severe lifestyle changes, including sending away their maid and moving to a small attic. Matilda, now responsible for household chores, took on the burdens of daily life. She washed dishes, cleaned soiled linen, and even carried refuse to the street each morning. Clothed like a working-class woman, she shopped at the grocer’s, butcher’s, and fruiterer’s, haggling to save every sou of their limited money. Meanwhile, Loisel worked late into the evenings, organising merchants’ books, and took on additional copying work at a low rate. This challenging life continued for ten years, during which they struggled to repay their debts. By the end of this period, they had finally restored their financial situation, but the toll on Matilda was evident. She had aged significantly, becoming a hardened woman, reflecting the harsh realities of their life. Occasionally, she would reminisce about the glamorous evening when she wore the necklace, pondering how different their lives might have been had she not lost it.

Q20. What would have happened to Matilda if she had confessed to her friend that she had lost her necklace?
Ans: If Matilda had confessed to her friend that she had lost her necklace, she might have faced less trouble than she did after replacing it. Although her friend would likely have been angry, she would probably have asked Matilda to replace it and provided details about where she bought it and its cost. This would have revealed to Matilda that the jewels were not real diamonds, meaning the replacement would have been much cheaper. Consequently, Matilda could have saved herself and her husband from the significant difficulties they endured, leading to a much easier life for them.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Why did viceroy butterflies copy monarchs?
Ans: Viceroy butterflies copied monarchs because monarchs do not taste good to birds. Viceroy butterflies on the other hand taste good to birds. So, the more they look similar to monarchs, the less likely they are to become a bird’s prey. Thus they protect themselves.

Q2: Why did Richard Ebright give up tagging butterflies?
Ans: Richard Ebright lost interest in tagging butterflies as it was tedious and there was not much feedback. He could recapture only two butterflies in all the time he did it and they were not more than seventy five miles away from where he lived.

Q3: What are the ingredients in the making of a scientist?
Ans: The author gave examples from Richard Ebright’s life to show the ingredients to make a scientist. Start with a first rate mind, add curiosity, and mix in the will to win for the right reasons.

Q4: What was the common belief about the twelve tiny gold spots on a monarch pupa? What is the actual purpose of these tiny gold spots?
Ans: These twelve tiny gold spots were believed to be ornamental only. The actual purpose of these tiny gold spots is to produce a hormone necessary for the butterfly’s full development.

Q5: “But there was one thing I could do-collect things”. What collection did Ebright make? When did he start making collection?
Ans: Ebright began collecting butterflies, rocks, fossils and coins. He began as early as when he was in kindergarten. He collected with same determination that had marked all his activities.

Q6: What other interests besides science did Richard Ebright pursue?
Ans: Richard Ebright was a champion debater and public speaker. He was a good canoeist and all-around outdoor person. He was also an expert photographer, particularly of natural and scientific exhibits.

Q7: How did Richard Ebright’s mother help him to become a scientist?
Ans: Ebright’s mother was his only companion. She used to encourage the child to learn whatever he wanted to learn. She took him on trips, brought him telescopes, microscopes, cameras, mounting materials and other such equipments.

Q8: Which book did Ebright mother get for him? How did it change his life?
Ans: Ebright’s mother got a children’s book called The Travel of Monarch X’ for him. The book invited readers to help study butterfly migrations and actively participate in tagging butterflies to help in the research being conducted by Dr Frederick A. Urquhart. Ebright then went on to raise an entire flock of butterflies in the basement of his home. In this way the book managed to keep his enthusiasm in the study of butterflies alive for several years and opened the world of science to the young collector who never lost his scientific curiosity. ,

Q9: Why did Richard Ebright raise a flock of butterflies?
Ans: At the end of the book, “The travels of Monarch X’, readers were invited to help study butterfly migrations. They were asked to tag butterflies for research by Dr Frederick A. Urquhart. The butterfly collecting season around reading lasts six weeks in late summery. If Ebright went to chase them one by one, he could not catch very many. So he decided to raise a flock of butterflies.

Q10: Mention any two Ebright contributions to the world of science.
Ans: Ebright made valuable contributions to the world of science. He discovered an unknown insect hormone and also determined how the cell could read the blueprint of its DNA.

Long Answer Type
Q11: Although Richard does not win anything at the science fair but it was a stepping stone for his success. With reference to the story ‘The Making of a Scientist’ of the above statement, give your comments whether competitions are for winning sake or to give your best at work.
Ans: It is true, no one can deny the fact that every person wants to be a winner. Each has basic wish to reach ‘ at the top. For that many competitions are organised at various levels. But still we must accept that all cannot be winners. Participation is more important than winning. The participant should work hard to reach their level best. Failures should not make us disheartened and best way to overcome failure is to learn through our mistakes. We cannot deny that experimentation and learning are stepping stones to our success. So we should try to give our best.

Q12: Besides curiosity a number of other values are required to become a successful scientist. Explain with reference to the chapter, ‘The Making of a Scientist’.
Ans: From very young age Richard Ebright was competitive and put in extra effort with curiosity for the right reason to win. But his mother was always very dedicated and made his spirits rise high. He did not lose heart even after losing when he was in seventh grade. To him people around were very encouraging.
His mother’s encouragement was really an eye-opener. She took him on trips, bought him telescopes, microscopes, cameras, mounting materials and other equipment. Thus constant support of each other opened a new world. This helps us to conclude that hard work, parental guidance and keen observation are the qualities which help one to excel.

Q13: Ebright’s mother played a pivotal role in enabling him to become a successful scientist. This is true for most of our lives. Our parents help us a lot in our education. Their guidance is very important in what we become in later life. Based on your reading of the story how did Ebright’s mother help him in becoming a scientist?
Ans: Parents play a pivotal role in determining not just our behaviour but also our future in most cases. They are the ones who teach us wrong from right. For most of us, parents are our role models. Ebright’s mother supported her son in becoming a scientist. She gave him an intensive training. She took him on trips, bought him telescopes, microscopes, cameras, mounting materials and other equipments.
She used to keep her son busy. If she found him sitting idle, she would find work for him-not physical work, but learning things. His mother was very supportive. She wrote to Dr Urquhart also so that her son could be busy in research activity. She helped her son a lot. She inspired him to explore new things and instilled a sense of discovery into her child.

Q14: To participate in the competition is more necessary than to win a prize. Explain this statement in the light of Ebright’s participation at the country science fair.
Ans: We know very well to win is a human nature. Everyone wants to get a winning place everywhere. Our life is full of different competitions at different levels. In these, competitions everyone of us wants to become a winner. But it is always not possible. When we enter any competition, we feel a great zeal. We try our best to get the top position there. But if we don’t get or achieve our goal, we feel disappointed.
Great thinkers have said that participation is more important than winning. The same is proved in Ebright success. Richards Ebright participated in the country science fair, but he lost. There he showed slides of frog tissues. He realised that he should have done some real experiments to be a winner. If he did not participate in that competition, the result might have been different.

Q15: How can one become a scientist, an economist, a historian…? Does it simply involve reading t many books on the subject? Does it involve observing, thinking and doing experiments?
Ans: Reading books is just one aspect of learning. This is an exercise in information gathering. It is how your brain processes the information that affects the degree of learning. The first and the foremost criteria to become a genius in one’s chosen field is to have great curiosity and unending hunger to discover more, Next criteria is a sense of closely observing the things, which further helps you to correlate your findings with what you see or experience in the real world. Experiments are must to test your findings against possible variables and in real life situations. And last but not the least, it is an urge, a strong desire to work really hard on your area of interest.

Q16: You must have read about cells and DNA in your science books. Discuss Richard Ebright’s work in light of what you have studied. If you get an opportunity to work like Richard Ebright on projects and experiments, which field would you like to work on and why?
Ans: Ebright’s work is directly related to Biology. Discovery of a cell’s structure has helped the scientific community ! to understand how the organisms function and grow. This has also helped other scientists to discover how disease causing organisms attack us and grow inside our; body. DNA fingerprints help police to pinpoint to the real culprit. This could not have been possible until DNA was discovered. Monarch I butterflies present an amazing example of a tiny creature migrating thousands of miles from North America to the rainforests of Amazon. Some day we can be in a position to develop as a sturdy and reliable navigation system as that of the Monarch butterflies.

Q17: Children everywhere wonder about the world around them. The Qs they ask are the beginning of scientific inquiry. Given below are some Qs that children in India have asked professor Yash Pal and Dr Rahul Pal as reported in their book, Discovered Qs?
(i) What is DNA fingerprinting? What are its uses?
(ii) How do honeybees identify their own honeycombs?
(iii) What does rainfall in drops?
Can you answer these Qs? You will find professor Yash Pal’s and Dr Rahul Pal’s answers
(as given in Discovered Qs) on Page 75.
Ans:
Classroom activities and self attempt. You may try to find answers to these Qs. However Prof. Yash Pal’s answers are given below.
(i) DNA exists as strands of bases that carry genetic information specific to each living thing. The sequence of bases of DNA in each of our cells is the same, but differs from that of any differences make the DNA break at different places when certain protein called enzymes are added to it, resulting in smaller DNA fragments of different sizes. These fragments migrate at different rates in an electric field, resulting in a unique pattern: This pattern is referred to as a DNA fingerprint.
Our DNA is inherited from our parents. Some parts come from the father and some from the mother. DNA fingerprinting can help identify percentage, since a son or a daughter would always exhibit a pattern identifiable as coming from both parents. DNA fingerprinting analysis is very useful in forensic science: from a single hair or tiny spot of blood. It is possible to prove the innocence or guilt of a murder suspect.
Similarly, it is also possible to identify human remains after violent accidents have caused disfigurement. It has been suggested that in the not-so-distant future, a DNA fingerprinting profile of the individual will have to accompany applications for an ID card, a bank account and a driving license. Human right groups say this type of “genetic profiling” constitutes an invasion of privacy. As with a lot of new technology, DNA fingerprinting also has a potential for abuse.
(ii) Honeybees are very sophisticated at position, location and navigation. It is known that they use the sun as a guide. They also appear to have a good memory. They convey the information of finding of food to the hive through an amazingly clever dance language. The dance indicates the direction and distance of the food source with respect to the direction of the sun in the sky! If it is dark inside the hive and a light bulb is switched on the dance is modified to include the light bulb as a new reference direction! Since bees have pictorial memory of some sort, a direction-finding mechanism and a way of reckoning distance, they are probably better equipped for getting back home than any of us!
(iii) Rain is the result of condensation of vapour when the air is cooled below the dew point. All the vapour in a cloud cannot condense at the same time and turn into a large pool of water. Pockets of air move up independently and slowly cool till condensation begins and water droplets form. It is believed that most raindrops start out as tiny ice crystals so tiny that they float down, slowly accretion of more moisture on the way; at lower altitudes, the crystals melt into water droplets. In colder climates, the crystals reach the ground as snowflakes.

Q18: You also must have wondered about certain things around you. Share these Qs with your class, and try and answer them.
Ans: Classroom activities and self-attempt
Yes, I also must have wondered about certain things around me. These Qs are:

• How does a fruit ripe?
• How do trees give us oxygen etc?
• How does the sky colour change as soon as the sunsets.
• (to answer these Q, you may discuss with your science teacher).

Q1: What do you think would have happened if Griffin was caught by Jaffers and the latter hadn’t become unconscious? 

Ans: If Griffin was caught by Jaffers and the latter hadn’t became unconscious, the situation would have been totally different. The cruelty and lawlessness of griffin, the scientist, would have come to an end and the people of Iping would have heaved a sigh of relief.

Q2: What other extraordinary things happened at the Inn?

Ans: The landlord and his wife were surprised to see the door of the scientist’s room open. Usually it is shut and locked and Griffin becomes furious if anyone enters his room. So they did not want to miss this opportunity. They peeped round the door, and finding nobody inside, decided to enter and investigate. The bedclothes were cold, showing that the scientist must have been up for some time now. All of a sudden Mrs Hall heard a sniff close to her ear. A moment later that hat on the bed suddenly leapt up and dashed itself onto her face.
Then the bedroom chair became alive. Springing into the air, it charged straight at her legs. As she and her husband turned away in terror, the extraordinary chair pushed them both out of the room and then appeared to slam and lock the door after them. Mrs Hall almost fell down the stairs in hysterics. She was, by now, convinced that the room was haunted by spirits and the stranger had somehow caused these to enter into the furniture.

Q3: What did Griffin do inside the store?

Ans: Griffin broke open the boxes and wrappers and dressed himself in warm clothes. He ate and drank to his heart’s content. In the end, he laid down on the pile of quilts to sleep.

Q4: What did Griffin do in the shop of a theatrical company?

Ans: He wore bandages round his forehead and put on dark glasses, a false nose, big bushy side whiskers and a large hat. He attacked the shopkeeper from behind and robbed him of all his money.

Q5: Scientists contribute to make the world a better place. Griffin is an antithesis to this statement. Justify. 

Ans: There is no denying the fact that scientists contribute to make the world a better place but it was not so in the case of Griffin. His unbridled ambition made him a cruel and heartless person. Whatever they did, it made everything worse. He didn’t show kindness or humanity towards anyone whether it was his land lord the shopkeeper or the people living at Iping. He set the house of his landlord on fire, pushed a shopkeeper down the stairs by taking advantage of his invisibility. None of his actions were for the betterment of the humans. Thus, we can say that Griffin is an antithesis to this statement.

Q6: What was the “curious episode” that took place in the clergyman’s study?

Ans: One morning, the clergyman and his wife were awakened by noise. They saw no person. They were shocked to find that their money had been stolen from the desk.

Q7: Did Griffin from Footprints without Feet follow the saying ‘with great power comes great responsibility’? Justify your answer in 120 words. 

Ans: No, Griffin did not follow the saying ‘with great power comes great responsibility’. The saying means that if one has the ability to do something, one should make sure to do it for the good of others. Since Griffin did not think of anyone else except himself, this saying is not what he followed. After he managed to make himself invisible, he did not use his powers of invisibility for doing good. Instead, one of the first things he did was to set fire to his landlord’s house in an act of revenge. He did not think of helping anyone with his newfound powers, instead, he harmed other people for his own gain. He stole clothes and food for himself without feeling any remorse. He even attacked and robbed a shopkeeper. When his money ran low once more, he again resorted to stealing and robbed a clergyman. When Mrs. Hall entered his room, he attacked her with her own chair. Finally, when the police were about to catch him, instead of going quietly and accepting his arrest, he fought back and escaped the police. At no time did Griffin take any responsibility for his actions.

Q8: The landlord’s wife was convinced that Griffin was an “eccentric scientist”. What made her think of Griffin in these terms?

Ans: Griffin remained indoors and did not mix up with others. His habits were strange and his appearance was fantastic. All these things of Griffin made the landlady think that he was an “eccentric scientist.

Q9: Griffin was rather a lawless person. Pick out instances which prove that he was lawless.

Ans: He set fire to a house which didn’t belong to him. He tools away clothes without paying for them. He hit a shopkeeper and stole his money.

Q10: ‘Brilliant scientist though he was, Griffin was a lawless person. Does this statement approve the apprehension that science in wrong hands is Devil’s Pandora Box?

Ans: Griffin was a brilliant scientist. He had discovered a rare drug that could make a human body invisible. This made Griffin an arrogant lawless person. He broke the law more them once but never for a good reason. He could dedicate his discovery to his country but he didn’t do that. His lawlessness made the law helpless. All his actions prove that science in devil’s hand is disastrous.

Q11: Why did the landlord want to eject Griffin? Why did Griffin set the house on fire?

Ans: The landlord wanted to eject Griffin from his house because his activities were whimsical. Griffin set the house on fire to take his revenge on the landlord.

Q12: ‘Griffin could use his discovery for welfare of the people but misuses it to take revenge.’ Discuss with reference with the story Footprints without Feet.

Ans: Griffin was a scientist who had made a discovery due to which’he could be invisible. But he was rather a lawless scientist, who misused a scientific discovery for his petty, selfish gains. He set his landlord’s house on fire, when he asked him to vacate it. He entered the store invisible, stole clothes and food.
At another shop, he attacked the shopkeeper from behind and ran away after robbing his money. , At Iping, he stole the clergyman’s money from his desk and hit Mrs Hall by throwing a chair on her. He hurled blows on the police constable Mr Jaffers and knocked him down. In this way, Griffin misused his scientific discovery without making benefit to the mankind.

Q13: The modem world has created great scientific inventions. But very often these inventions are more misused than used for the benefit of man. Griffin had made wonderful discovery; but be used it for unlawful means. Write a paragraph on “Science is being more misused than used”.

Ans: Science is being more misused than used. The present time is highly dependent on science and technology. In the 21st century, survival without gadgets and electronics is unimaginable. But there are various instances where science is being misused to create panic and terror in the society.
Scientific experiments on various deadly disease are let out to cause mass destruction. Technology is used more for warfare purpose, to kill and to terrorize. The resulting products of science have been valuable to human society and have greatly raised the quality of life. But they have also led to the growth of means to destroy human society.

Q14: “Scientific discoveries have made life easier but insecure.” Explain with reference to the story ‘Footprints without Feet’ written by H.G. Wells.
Ans: There is no doubt that scientific discoveries have made life easier. Take any sphere of human activity, electricity, telecommunications, electronics, computer, etc, these have totally changed man’s life. We can interact and walk on moon. Trip to Mars is next on our agenda. We can fly like birds. Supersonic planes fly at more than the speed of sound. Wonderful drugs can overcome deadly diseases.lSurgery can replace defective limbs.
Despite all these discoveries, human life is becoming insecure. Weapons of mass destruction are a constant danger. The fear of chemical, or biological warfare looms large. Diseases like AIDS and SARS can destroy human race.

Q15: “A lawless scientist is a curse to the society.” Discuss.
Ans: It is true, that a lawless scientist is a curse to the society. A true scientist uses his discoveries for the good of the society and welfare of the people. It helps the nations to progress. A lawless scientist increases the miseries and sufferings of society. In this story, we find how Griffin misuses his discovery.
He causes pain and suffering to others. He causes destruction. Suppose the nuclear weapons fall in the hands of a lawless scientist, he can cause widespread destruction. He may ruin the achievements of other scientists. That’s why the leaders of the world are worried about chemical weapons falling into the hands of lawless heads of governments or terrorists. If this happens, all the scientists of the world will be doomed.

Q16: Why were the two boys in London surprised and fascinated?

Ans: The two boys in London saw fresh muddy footprints appearing on the steps of a house but the barefooted man was not visible. So, they were surprised and fascinated.

Q17: How did the invisible man first become visible?

Ans: Griffin was completely invisible until he happened to step in some mud, which caused him to leave footprints as he walked. Two boys noticed these footprints and followed him as long as the prints were visible. Griffin, after getting rid of them, went into a big London store to put on some warm clothes. After the store was shut, he got himself dressed in an overcoat and a wide-brimmed hat. He also put on a pair of shoes. This made him visible to the people who came to work at the store the next day.

Q17: Why was he wandering the streets?

Ans: Griffin was a lawless person. His landlord disliked him and tried to get rid of him. In revenge, Griffin set fire to his house. He had to remove his clothes to get away without being noticed. This was why he had become a homeless wanderer—without clothes and money.

Q18: Why does Mrs Hall find the scientist eccentric?

Ans: The arrival of a stranger at an inn in winter was in itself a strange occurrence. In addition, the stranger had an uncommon appearance. Inspite of Mrs Hall’s repeated attempts to be friendly, he would respond in a closed manner. He told her that he had no desire to talk and wanted to live in solitude. He did not wish to be disturbed in his work. For all these strange reasons, she regarded him as an eccentric scientist.

Q19: What curious episode occurs in the study?

Ans: A clergyman and his wife were awakened by some strange noises in the study very early in the morning. Creeping downstairs, they heard the chink of money being taken from the clergyman’s desk. He and his wife looked under the desk and behind the curtains, and even up the chimney. There wasn’t a sign of anybody. Yet the desk had been opened and the housekeeping money was missing.

Q20: What did the scientist do when he became furious? Why were the people in the bar horrified? What happened to the constable?

Ans: The scientist took off his bandages and spectacles and became headless. The people in the bar were shocked to see a headless man. Griffin hit the constable Jaffers hard and made him senseless.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: What did Horace Danby hear from the doorway?
Ans: Horace Danby heard a voice from the doorway. It was the voice of a lady. As Horace Danby has sneezed loudly, therefore the lady asked what it was and he replied that it was due to hay fever.

Q2: How did the lady in red convince Horace Danby to open the lock?
Ans: The lady told Horace Danby that she had promised her husband to take her jewels to the bank but she left them in the safe. She had forgotten the numbers to open the safe and wanted to wear the jewels to a party. Horace Danby believed her and opened the safe for her.

Q3: Was Horace Danby a typical thief?
Ans: Horace Danby was not a typical thief. He made locks and was successful in his business. He loved rare and expensive books. To purchase these books he used to rob only one safe every year.

Q4: What advice did the lady give Horace Danby about his. hay fever?
Ans: The lady advised him that he could cure his hay fever with a special treatment, if he could find out just. what plant gave him the disease. She said sympathetically that he had better see a doctor if he was serious about his work.

Q5: Why did Horace Danby feel sure of his success in that year’s robbery?
Ans: Horace Danby felt sure of his success in that year’s robbery as he had been studying room, paths and gardens of the house at Shotover Grange for two weeks. He knew that the family was in London and two servants who lived in the house had gone to watch a movie that afternoon.

Q6: Did Horace Danby get the jewels from the Grange safe? Then why did the police arrest him?
Ans: Horace Danby did not get the jewels from the Grange safe but he was arrested by the police as his fingerprints were traced on the lighter which he gave to the lady to light the cigarette. He was eager to please the lady to win her favour.

Q7: What story did the lady tell Horace Danby to get the jewels?
Ans: The lady made up a story that before going to London, she promised her husband to take her jewels to their bank, but she left them there in the safe. She wished to put on the jewels to a party that night. Above all she had forgotten the numbers to open the safe. Thus she convinced Horace Danby to open the safe.

Q8: Why was it not difficult for Horace to open the safe?
Ans: It was not difficult for Horace Danby to open the safe because he had lived with locks and safes all his life. The burglar alarm was poorly built. He cut the wire without any difficulty.

Q9: What does the author tell us about Horace Danby’s life?
Ans: Horace Danby was unmarried and fifty years old and lived with a housekeeper who bothered about his health. He had hay fever. He made locks and was successful in his business. He was good and respectable but not honest.

Q10: How often did Horace Danby commit a robbery every year? What did he do with the stolen money?
Ans: Horace Danby committed only one robbery every year. He was fond of collecting rare and expensive books. He used to buy these books with stolen money through an agent secretly.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q11: What do you think is the meaning of the phrase ‘honour among thieves’? Which of the two thieves lack the honour?
OR
Which of the two thieves lacked ‘honour’ in the story ‘A Question of Trust’?
Ans: “There is honour among Thieves” means that ‘dishonest people may have certain standards of behaviour which they will respect’. The young lady pretended to be the owner of the house and innocently asked Horace Danby to-open the safe as she would need the jewels to wear to the party that day. Horace Danby found himself trapped in a tricky situation and could not make out how to escape. He readily opened the safe unwittingly leaving his fingerprints. He was arrested and nobody believed that the lady of the house asked him to open the safe.

Q12: At times we keep on planning things but our plans fail, we are not always responsible for the failure. Explain with reference to the story ‘A Question of Trust’.
OR
In the story ‘A Questions of Trust’, Horace Danby carefully planned his theft, but was outwitted by another thief ‘The lady in red’. Would you agree that over confidence may prove fatal one day? Discuss.
Ans: It is true that we keep on planning things in our life. We wish thing would materialise as we had planned but Man proposes God disposes. Horace Danby was a very careful planner. He made all plans very carefully before the robbery. He drew picture of wiring of electricity and even took every efforts of befriending pets. But fate had planned something different. The Lady in red turned out to be smarter and duped him. Horace, without any suspicion, opened the safe without gloves. This mistake landed him in prison. So one lesson that we learn that we should not trust anyone.

Q13: “Lying and stealing are next door neighbours”. Comment.
Ans: A path of truthfulness and honesty is always better than an easy path of deceit. Horace Danby was a thief, he robbed safe every year. But, in the end he was be fooled by another thief and was arrested by the police. Stealing or lying cannot bring happiness or success. A truthful and honest person always leads a happy and peaceful life. He does not have to live with any kind of guilt. Stealing or lying robs one of peace. Those who are honest do not live a life of tension and are able to get peace of mind too.

Q14: Our sins never go unpunished. Horace Danby ultimately had to go to prison. This shows that inspite of planning a crime intelligently and carefully a criminal can’t escape the law— Explain / discuss.
Ans: A path of truthfulness and honesty is always better than an easy path of deceit. Horace Danby was a thief, he robbed safe every year. But, in the end he was befooled by another thief and was arrested by the police. Stealing or lying cannot bring happiness or success. A truthful and honest person always leads a happy and peaceful life. He does not have to live with any kind of guilt. Stealing or lying robs one of peace. Those who are honest do not live a life of tension and are able to get peace of mind too.

Q15: “Horace Danby was clever but the young woman was cleverer”. Discuss.
OR
How did the lady in red turn out to be smarter than Horace Danby?
Ans: Horace Danby was a clever thief. He lived a life of a respectable and successful businessman. He used to make locks. He was fond of rare and expensive books. He did not have enough money to buy these books. He used to rob a safe for this once in an year. He was very clever. He made his plan in such a way that he was never caught. He spent a lot of time in planning his mission. He never left any sign of theft but the lady who was another thief proved herself cleverer than Danby. She was a great actress as well.
She pretended to be the owner of the house. She tricked Danby who opened the safe for her and ‘ handed over the jewels. Horace was so nervous that he did not realise that he had no gloves in his hand. The lady had no tools, no gloves but managed to rob the safe without leaving any evidence against her. Thus, we can say that the lady was cleverer than Danby.

Q16: Did you begin to suspect, before the end of the story, that the lady was not the person Horace Danby took her to be? If so, at what point did you realize this, and how?
Ans: Yes, one does begin to suspect before the end of the story that the lady was not the person Horace Danby took her to be. She was unusually calm on seeing Horace. This seemed strange enough. When she did not call the police, and instead asked Horace to break open the safe and take out all the jewels from it. It seemed suspicious. Moreover, it also seemed unlikely that she would forget the code to open the safe. Therefore, it was evident, before the story ended, that she was not the person Horace had taken her to be.

Q17: What are the subtle ways in which the lady manages to deceive Horace Danby into thinking she is the lady of the house? Why doesn’t Horace suspect that something is wrong?
Ans: Her confident walk, her act of touching up her make-up and the ease with which she picks cigarette at the right place, are enough to deceive anybody. Horace was too frightened to think properly so he didn’t suspect anything.

Q18: “Horace Danby was good and respectable but not completely honest”. Why do you think this description is apt for Horace? Why can’t he be.categorized as a typical thief?
Ans: “Horace Danby was good and respectable—but not completely honest”. This description is apt for Horace. He was about fifty years old. He robbed only from rich people. His purpose of stealing money was only to buy rare and expensive books. He stole only once every year. His intention to use the booty in buying books was good. However, the fact that he stole to achieve this intention showed that he was not completely honest.
He cannot be categorized as a typical thief because he did not steal to eat or drink and was not a regular offender. He did not harm anybody during the act. He had a house. He made locks, had two people to help him, and was successful in his business. He only stole enough money to buy the books. For a couple of days, he even kept his promises to the lady he met at Shotover Grange by not stealing or planning any robbery.

Q19: Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered. Where did he go wrong and why?
Ans: Horace Danby failed to get enough information about real occupants of the house. He seemed to be too occupied with collecting other little details and information about house map, wiring and location of valuable things. Although he was smart enough to know the dog’s actual name but overlooked getting identity of each and every occupant of the house. Once he was in problem then probably his clever mind gave way to carelessness leading him to open the safe without wearing gloves.

Q20: Do you think Horace Danby was unfairly punished, or that he deserved what he got?
Ans: He deserved what he got. A crime is a crime no matter what the thief does with the booty. Whether it is committed a hundred times or just once, or even if nobody gets harmed still it is a punishable act.

Q1: How is Ausable different from other Secret Agents?
Ans: Ausable was very fat. He looked very slow. He had an American accent. He had no pistol or any other arms. So, he was different from the others.

Q2: Why did Fowler want to meet Ausable? Why was he disappointed?
Ans: Fowler was a young romantic writer. He had a fine imagination about spying and secret agents. He loved adventure and thrill. So he wanted to meet Ausable who was engaged in collecting sensitive information. He was disappointed after spending a dull evening in a French music hall with a fat, sloppy man as there was nothing mysterious or romantic about him.

Q3: “Presence of mind and intelligence are more powerful than gun”. How far is it true in case of Ausable, the secret agent?
Ans: Ausable did not at all have the conventional image of a secret agent. He was short and very fat. However, Ausable had a very sharp and active mind. When he entered his hotel room with Fowler he found Max with a gun in his room. Max was an agent of another organisation. Ausable, with presence of mind, invented a story of non-existent balcony. Max was convinced about existence of balcony, and this led to his tragic end. Ausable did not use physical strength but only his presence of mind.

Q4: Who is Fowler and what is his first authentic thrill of the day?
Ans: Fowler is a writer. His authentic thrill of the day is finding a man with a pistol in Ausable’s locked room.

Q5: What was Ausable’s problem? How did he solve it?
Ans: Ausable was a secret agent in an organisation. He had gone out with Fowler to spend the evening in a French music hall. When they returned to Ausable’s room in the hotel, they found Max standing in the middle of the room. He had a revolver in his hand. Ausable did not lose his calm. With unique presence of mind, he fabricated a story. He said that it was the second time someone had entered his room through the balcony under the window. Max took the story as true.
Instantly, there was a knocking on the door. Max got panic-stricken when Ausable remarked that the police were at the door. He had requested them to provide him extra security. Max was bewildered. He went towards the window and jumped on the non-existing balcony from the sixth floor. Max met with his death. Thus, Ausable’s problem was solved.

Q6: How can you show that Ausable showed great presence of mind in situation of danger and surprise?
Ans: Ausable showed great presence of mind when Max pointed a gun at him as he entered the room with Fowler. Though his looks were not mysterious but with his presence of mind he cooked up the story of non-existent balcony. Max, though smart, was fooled by Ausable and even lost his life.

Q7: Who actually had knocked at the door of Ausable’s room? Why did he come there?
Ans: Henry, the waiter, was knocking at the door in hotel. In fact, Ausable had ordered for a bottle of wine and two glasses. When there was a knock at the door, he reacted as if policeman was at the door. He had come there as Ausable had ordered drinks before coming into the room.

Q8: Where and why did Ausable take Fowler?
Ans: Ausable brought Fowler to his room, which was on the sixth floor of a hotel. He wanted Fowler to have some thrill and excitement as he was expecting some important papers to be delivered there.

Q9: Why and how did Max enter Ausable’s room?
Ans: Max wanted those important papers from Ausable so he entered his room secretly from the main door. He had managed to get the pass key to open the door.

Q10: What story did Ausable frame about calling the police?
Ans: As soon as there was a knock at the door, Max inquired about it. Ausable told him that he had already informed the police to check if everything was okay at intervals because of the important papers. Ausable told Max that they were on their duty to check.

Q11: “Telling a lie is sin and killing someone is a crime”. Why then Ausable told lies more than once and killed Max?
Ans: Of course, morally Ausable had done wrong. But his profession allowed him to take such steps when the security and integrity of the nation were at stake. He did not tell lies and killed Max for his own sake but for his country. He is a true soldier to protect the country from inside.

Q12: “A procrastinator is someone who delays action and invites tragedy upon himself.” Is Max a procrastinator? Why or why not?
Ans: No, Max is not a procrastinator. He did not delay the action of his own. He had to wait until the paper he was seeking, arrived. He was overconfident and foolish enough to be duped by Ausable so simply and easily. He believed Ausable and did not confirm anything himself.

Q13: What impression do you form of Ausable as a secret agent after reading the story “The Midnight Visitor”?
Ans: Ausable was a determined secret agent. He was dedicated to his work. He was agile in action even though he was a sloppy fat man. He was sane and shrewd. Being calm and cool headed by nature he did not lose his presence of mind when he found Max in his room with a revolver. It was midnight. He cooked up a false story of a balcony existing under the window just to befool the intruder.
Instantly they heard a knock at the door. Ausable remarked that the police had come to check on him and to provide him security. Getting nervous, Max rushed towards the window. He dropped down to the balcony and fell to his death. He was patient, fearless, courageous, ready-witted and resourceful.

Q14: How did Max attempt but failed to acquire the secret paper from Ausable?
Ans: Max’s organisation had ordered him to grab the secret report on missiles which the people of Ausable’s organisation had managed to get. He used a passkey and entered Ausable’s hotel room at midnight. He was holding a revolver in his hand since he intended to grab the report at pistol point. Ausable invented the fake story of a balcony extending under his window just to embarrass Max.
He remarked that it was the second time in the month that somebody had got into his room through that’ balcony. Instantly there was a knock at the door. Ausable’s remark that police had arrived to check on him unnerved Max. To save his life, Max rushed towards the window. In hot haste, Max dropped to the non-existent balcony and met his tragic end. Thus, he failed to acquire the secret paper.

Q15: How does Ausable manage to make Max believe that there is a balcony attached to his room?
Look back at his detailed description of it. What makes it a convincing story?
Ans:
Ausable tells Max that someone entered his room through the balcony earlier also. He also told him that ^ he had asked police to give him protection as he had some important papers with him. On listening this, Max became nervous and just wanted to escape from police and as a result, without noticing, he jumped . out of the window and fell down. Ausable’s ability to think quickly and calmly in a situation of panic, makes it convincing.

Q16: Looking back at the story, when do you think Ausable thought up his plan for getting rid of Max? Do you think he had worked out his plan in detail right from the beginning? Or did he make up a plan taking advantage of events as they happened?
Ans: No, I don’t think that he had worked out his plan in detail right from the very beginning. He took advantage of the events as they happened. Ausable made a story of the balcony outside the room and as there was a knock at the door at the same time, he told it would be police. All these events threatened Max. He became restless and without seeing, jumped out of the window hurriedly.

Q17: In this story, Ausable shows great ‘presence of mind’ or the ability to think quickly and act calmly and wisely, in a situation of danger and surprise. Give examples from your own experience, or narrate a story, which shows someone’s presence of mind.
Ans: This story is in reference to the play ‘If I Were You’. Gerrard was captured by a criminal and when he pointed a gun towards him, Gerrard treated the criminal as a guest and trapped him in his confidence. He succeeded in making the criminal to run away as police was behind him. He told the criminal to run through the exit door, which was actually a cupboard door. The criminal exited through the door and was caught in the cupboard.

Q18: How did the atmosphere of the French hotel influence Fowler’s mood?
Ans: The French hotel is described as ‘gloomy’, ‘musty’ and ‘small’. This sombre atmosphere of the hotel added to Fowler’s feeling of disappointment. He expected a grand atmosphere of mystery and danger, and was disappointed by the reality of the situation. 

Q19: Henry unintentionally saved Ausable’s life. Briefly comment.
Ans: Henry was a waiter in the same hotel in which Ausable was living in. Henry, fortunately, knocked at the door, when Ausable was convincing Max about an imaginary balcony. Assuming that it was police at the door, Max desperately jumped through the window. Hence, Ausable was saved.

Q20: How is Ausable different from other secret agents?
Ans: Fowler was disappointed on seeing Ausable who was unlike other secret agents. According to him, the secret agents are tall, smart, agile, dashing and alert people surrounded by darkness, pistols and drugs in the wine. On the contrary, Ausable was fat and sloppy with heavy American accent. He was not at all flashy or romantic like other agent.