10th class-cbse english (NCERT BOOK-Footprints without feet)( Short answers) chapter- 7 (The Necklace)(Guy de Maupassant)

 

The necklace

Important questions for board examination.

Q) Why does the writer say that Matilda was born as if through an error of destiny into a family of clerk?

Ans) Matilda was a pretty young lady. She felt that she was born for delicacies and luxuries. But she belonged to a middle class family where she always suffered from the poverty and deficiency. That’s why the writer said that she was born as if through an error of destiny into the family of clerk.

Q) What was the financial position of Matilda's husband?

Ans) Matilda’s husband was a clerk in the Board of Education. His apartment had the shabby walls and the worn furniture.  Like any other middle class man he could fulfill all necessities but no luxury.

Q) Why did Matilda not like to visit her rich friend?

Ans) Matilda was very disappointed and unhappy in her life. She loved delicate and luxurious things like silver plates, exquisite food, jewels etc. But she had none of them. When she visited  her rich friend who had all these things, she suffered. After returning she wept for whole day in despair and disappointment.

Q) What happened at the ball? Was her dream fulfilled?

Ans) At ball Matilda was a great success. She was the prettiest of all – elegant, gracious, smiling and full of joy. All man noticed her, asked her name and wanted to be presented. She danced with enthusiasm till the early morning. All these things were too sweet to her heart.

Yes, her dream was fulfilled.

Q) How did Mr Loisel manage to buy another necklace?

Ans) Mr Loisel found a substitute for the lost necklace in the market. It cost forty thousand francs. They could get it for thirty six thousand. He possessed eighteen thousand francs which his father had left for him. He borrowed the rest from usurers and the lenders at very high interest rates.

Q) Why did Jeanne not recognise her friend Matilda?

Ans) Matilda had lived a very difficult life for ten years. To repay the debt, she worked hard with her husband. The hardship of life changed her into a crude woman of the poor household. Therefore her friend could not recognise her.

 Q) Was Madam Forestier responsible for their sufferings? Why did Matilda say so?

Ans) Madam Forestier was not responsible for the sufferings of Matilda. In fact she helped Matilda by giving her a diamond necklace for the ball. It was Matilda who lost it carelessly. But Matilda had gone through a very challenging time due to this necklace. And necklace belonged to the Madam Forestier. So in despair Matilda blamed her.

More questions for practice.

Q) Why was Matilda not happy when her husband showed invitation for the ball?

Q)Why did Matilda refused to go to the ball even when her dress was about to complete?

Q) What spoiled the pleasure of Matilda and her husband?

Q) How did Mr Loisel work to repay the borrowed money?

Q) Mention the instances from the text that  show Loisel was a simple man and loved his wife?

10th class-cbse english (NCERT BOOK-Footprints without feet)( Long answers) chapter- 5 (Footprints without feet)(H. G. Wells)

 Footprints without feet

Answer the following questions in about 100 to 150 words.

Q) Griffin was not a true scientist because he misused a scientific discovery. Discuss.

OR

Q) Write the character sketch of Griffin.

Ans) Griffin was a brilliant scientist. He discovered some rare drugs and swallowed them to become invisible.

But he was a lawless person. He had the least regard for the laws and society norms. In revenge he set the landlords house on fire. In the departmental store in London he used things without payment. He stole materials and clothes from a theoretical company and attacked the shopkeeper and robbed him.

In the village iping he continued his lawless activities. He stole the clergyman’s money. He attacked Mrs Hall. He knocked the constable jaffer  conscious and hit other people who tried to catch him.

He had irritable temper. He was not a true scientist.

Q) Why did griffin entered in the big london store? How did he behaved there?

Ans) Griffin had chosen a wrong time to become invisible. To escape from his landlord’s house he took off his clothes and became invisible naked wanderer  in the London streets. It was middle of the winter. Air was bitterly cold. To get some warmth he entered in a big departmental store.

He waited for the store to be closed. Then he open the boxes, tore the wrappers and found clothes for himself. He wore shoes, overcoat and a large brimmed hat. Then he went in the kitchen and ate cold meat and coffee. He enjoyed sweets and wine after the food. He used things without the regard for payment. Finally he slept over the pile of quilts.

In the morning he got up late. Employees of the store reached and approached him. To got rid of them Griffin had to remove all his clothes. He escaped but reached in the  same condition again - invisible without clothes.

Q) What was the curious episode that took place in the clergyman’s study?

Ans) One early morning clergymen and his wife heard some sound from their study. They came downstairs quietly with a poker in clergyman’s hand. They reached near the door silently and heard the chink of the coins. Clergymen flung open the door and shouted “surrender”. To their surprise there was nobody inside the study. They searched everywhere beneath the table, behind the curtain, even in the chimney but in vain.  But the drawer was open and housekeeping money was missing. Actually Griffin had entered in their study invisibly and had stolen their money.

Q) What happened to the landlord and his wife in Griffin’s bedroom?

Ans) One morning Mr and Mrs hall found that door of Griffin's room was open. Usually he kept his room closed and locked. So they thought it is a good chance to go inside. They peeped through the door. There was no one inside. The bed was cold. it seemed that Griffin had got up much early. His bandages, false nose, hat and other clothes were lying on the bed. But suddenly Mrs hall heard a sniff close to her ear. Furnitures of the room became alive. A chair rose in the air and attacked directly at her leg. Then her mother’s chair pushed them out of the room. Mrs hall was about to fell in the stairs in hysteria. They thought that it was the act of some spirits . Griffin had done some wirchcraft.

More questions for practice.

Q) Describe the adventures of Griffin in London.

Q) Describe the adventures of Griffin in village of  Iping.

Q) Describe Mr jaffer's fight with the Invisible man in the bar.

Q) What will you do if you become invisible?

10th class-cbse english (NCERT BOOK-Footprints without feet)( Short answers) chapter- 5 (Footprints without feet)(H. G. Wells)

 

Footprints without feet

Q) Why were the two boys in London surprised?

Ans) Two boy were surprised because they saw muddy footprints in the street of London which were appearing from nowhere. They chased them but to no help. They were clueless about the origin of footprints.

 Q) Why was the scientist angry with the landlord and what did he do?

Ans) Landlord of Griffin was unhappy with him because of his weird behaviour and short tempered nature. He wanted to eject Griffin from his house. That’s why Griffin was angry with his landlord.

When he became invisible, he set the house on fire and escaped.

Q) Why did Griffin become a homeless wanderer without clothes?

Ans) Griffin was a scientist. He had discovered some rare drugs. He swallowed them and became invisible. He was angry with his landlord. In revenge he set his house on fire. To escape without being seen he removed his clothes and became a homeless wanderer.

Q) Why did Griffin enter the theatrical company?

Ans) Invisible Griffin was finding it difficult to wander in London streets in winters without clothes. Moreover he wanted something to cover his face. In a theatrical company he could find both clothes as well as materials for his face.

Q) Why was the arrival of Griffin in the village inn an unusual event?

Ans) Griffins arrival in the village inn was an unusual event because of two reasons. Firstly his weird appearance and his short tempered nature. Secondly it was a mid winter time and nobody came in the village at this time.

Q) What reason does Griffin give to Mrs hall for coming to lping?

Ans) Griffin told Mrs hall that he had come to the village in the search of solitude. He didn’t like if anybody disturb him. Moreover His face was damaged in an accident.

Q) Why were the people in bar horrified?

Ans) When Griffin was in the bar, Mrs Hall came and inquired about the peculiar incident that happened in his room today morning. Griffin became furious. He wanted to teach her a lesson. He removed his bandages, whiskers, false nose and wide brimmed hat. He became a headless person. Thus the people in the bar were horrified.

Q) How did griffin escaped from the bar?

Ans) Griffin removed his clothes one by one and became invisible. He knocked the constable jaffer unconscious. He hit the people in the bar who tried to catch him. Nobody could see him. So, he escaped easily.

Q) The scientist was a man of “irritable temper”? give some examples to prove this.

Ans) There are incidents in the story which proves that Griffin was a man of irritable temper. He set the house of his landlord on fire only because he wanted revenge. He hit the shopkeeper in theatrical store from behind and robbed him. He attacked Mrs Hall by her furniture. When she questioned him in the bar, he removed his bandages etc and became a headless man. He also knocked constable Jaffer unconscious.

More questions for practice.

Q) Why did Griffin entered the departmental store in London?

Q) How did griffin manage to get away from the crowded London?

Q) Why did people suspect that Griffin had some hand in burglary at clergyman’s study?

Q) Who hit the people at bar and why?

10th class-cbse english (NCERT BOOK-Footprints without feet)( Long answers) chapter- 4 (A Question of Trust)(Victor Canning)

 A Question of Trust

Q) Write the charactersketch of Horace Danby.

OR

Q) Why is Horace Danby described as good and respectable, but not completely honest?

Ans) Horace Danby was a  successful business man. He dealt in locks and safes. He was unmarried and a servant looked after him. He was suffering from hay fever. During summers it disturbed him.

 He was fond of expensive and rare books. He had a good collection of them. He was a good and respectable person but not completely honest. Every year he committed one robbery. From the robbed money he purchased books through an agent. He planned  and executed the robbery very carefully. Opening safes was not a big deal for him, he had spent his life with locks and safes. But at Shotover Grange he was oversmarted by a lady. He was arrested and sentenced.

Q) How did the lady in red turn out to be the smarter and cleverer then Horace Danby?

Ans) Every year Horace Danby planned a robbery for purchasing expensive and rare books. As usual this year also he planned a robbery very carefully. He studied the layout of  Shotover Grange in a magazine. He obtained the minutest detail. During a summer day when family was in London and servants were out for a movie he decided to execute his plan.

Every thing was going as planned. But a young lady who pretended to be the owner’s wife befooled him. She convinced him that she was the real owner and persuaded him to open the safe for her. He broke the safe carelessly and removed his gloves. His fingerprints were everywhere which helped police to arrest him. Only after his arrest he realised that lady in red was also a thief.

 

More questions for practice.

Q) Why did Horace get very angry when anyone talk about “honour among thieves”?

10th class-cbse english (NCERT BOOK-Footprints without feet)( Short answers) chapter- 4 (A Question of Trust)(Victor Canning)

 A Question of Trust

Q) What was Horace Danby's passion? How did he satisfy it?

Ans) Horace Danby's passion was to collect and read expensive and rare books. To buy these books he used to rob a safe every year. He purchased these books through an agent.

Q) What was his plan about his next robbery at Shotover Grange?

Ans) Horace Danby collected information about Shotover Grange from a magazine. He studied the detailed layout of the house. There was a safe in the drawing room behind the painting. He came to know that the family would be in London in the summer. So he planned to rob Shotover Grange when servants were not at home.

Q) How did Horace Danby's hay fever cause his failure in his robbery?

Ans) Horace Danby was suffering from hay fever. He had allergy to some flowers. When he entered the drawing room of Shotover Grange he felt some sensation in his nose. There were some flowers in the drawing room. He started sneezing and alerted the lady in red dress.

Q) How was the women treating Horace and why did she not inform the police?

Ans) The women talk very softly but firmly to the Horace Danby. Firstly she convinced him that she was the wife of house owner. Then she gained his trust and persuaded him to open the safe for her. She did not inform the police because she was in the same profession as the Horace was. She had used him for her purpose.

Q) Why did Horace Danby remove his gloves and to what effects?

Ans) Horace Denby was convinced that the lady in red dress was the wife of the owner. When he agreed to open the safe for her there was no fear of being caught. So he became careless and removed his gloves. Later police searched him easily because  his fingerprints were everywhere in the room.

Q) When did Horace Danby realise that the lady in red had befooled him?

Ans) After the Shotover Grange episode, Horace Danby stay at home for two days. In the afternoon of third day he was arrested by the police. In the police station he saw the wife of the house owner. She was a sixty year old lady. Then he realised that the lady in red had befooled him.

More questions for practice.

Q) Why was it not difficult for Horace to open the safe?

Q) What did Horace Danby know about the shortover Grange house?

Q) Why did Horace mistake the young lady for the mistress of the house?

Q) Do you think that the young lady was smarter than Horace Danby?

10th class-cbse english (NCERT BOOK-Footprints without feet)( Long answers) chapter- 3 (The Midnight Visitor)(Robert Arthur)

Answer the following questions in 100 to 150 words.

Q) What impression do you form of Ausable as a secret agent after reading the story “the midnight visitor” ?

OR

Q) Write the character sketch of Ausable.

OR

Q) Who was smarter – Max or Abusable?

Ans) Ausableb was a short and fat person who did not fit any description of a spy. But he was a clever secret agent. He outsmarted the Max. In a french hotel he was waiting for a very secret and important documents related to the missile technology. When he entered in his room with writer Fowler he found Max was waiting for him in the room. Max had a pistol in his hand. Ausable had no weapon. Even then he got rid of Max easily. He cooked a story instantly and convinced the Max, and also the Fowler, that there was a balcony beneath the window. He had ordered wine and was expecting waiter Henry anytime. When waiter knocked at the door he told the Max that it must be police. To hide himself Max jump from the window.

 

More questions for practice.

Answers the following questions in about 100 to 150 words.

Q) How did Max attempt but failed to acquire the secret paper from  Ausable?

Q) In difficult times we can always find the solutions if we keep our cool. Taking the example of the secret agent Ausable, Elaborate.

10th class-cbse english (NCERT BOOK-Footprints without feet)( Short answers) chapter- 3 (The Midnight Visitor)(Robert Arthur)

 The Midnight Visitor

Answer the following questions in about 40 to 50 words.

Q) Who was Fowler? why was he disappointed?

Ans) Fowler was a writer. He had come to the hotel to meet a spy. He was expecting a thrilling experience  of mysterious figures, the crack of guns  and drugs in the wine. Instead he found a fat man who didn't fit any description of a spy he had ever read. That’s why he was disappointed.

Q) What was the fowler’s first authentic thrill of the day?

Ans)  Fowler spent his evening with Ausable in the Music Hall of a french hotel. Ausable received a call that some secret papers were about to come in his room. He also took Fowler with him. When they entered the room on the sixth floor and switched the light on they found another spy in the room with a pistol in his hand pointed towards them. Fowler was startled and experienced his first thrill of the day.

Q) How does Ausable manage to make Max believe that there is a balcony attached to his room?

Ans) Ausable told the Max that it was the second time that someone entered in his room. It was due to the balcony beneath the window of the room.  Ausable showed his anger on the hotel management who had promised him to block the balcony.This convinced the Max that there was some balcony.

Q) Looking back at the story when do you think Ausable thought of his plan for getting rid of Max?

Ans) When Abusable entered his room with Fowler he had no idea that the Max was waiting for him in the room. It seems that he thought of his plan in few moments when he saw Max and slowly sat on a chair. He kept his cool and came out with a smart idea. He acted equally smartly.

Q) Did Fowler find this episode thrilling or disappointing? Give reasons for your answer?

Ans) Initially Fowler was disappointed. He was feeling let down. Because he was expecting a thrilling experience with a spy. But in the end he was thrilled by the way Ausable get rid of Max. Even Fowler believed that there was a balcony beneath the window. He inquired about the Max when waiter had gone.

10th class-cbse english (NCERT BOOK-Footprints without feet)( Long answers) chapter- 2 (A Thief's Story)(Ruskin Bond)

 The Thief's Story.

Answer the following questions in 100 to 150 words.

Q)Who was Anil? Give his character sketch?

Ans) Anil was writer. He wrote for the magazines and got paid for it. His income was not regular. One day he borrowed and next day he lend money. He was a simple and easygoing person. He spent all his money carelessly on his friends in the parties.

He was a kind person. He knew very well that Hari singh was stealing about one rupee daily from the shopping. But he ignored it. When Hari Singh could not make food on the first day he encouraged him and promised him to teach how to cook. He also promised to teach him reading and writing skills. By his kindness he changed Hari singh completely. Hari singh could not escape with the stolen money and came back to Anil. In fact he came back to life. Hari Singh was completely reformed by the generous methods of Anil.

Q) Love and sympathy can transform even a thief. How is it true in case of Hari Singh?

Ans) It is absolutely true that love and sympathy can transform anyone even a thief. These are the powerful feelings that can affects everyone's heart. If someone is on the wrong path due to his circumstances, he can be reformed by love, trust and sympathy.

In this story are Hari singh was a thief. He was only 15 years old. He persuaded Anil to get jobs. But his actual purpose was to rob him. He did everything to gain the confidence of Anil. Anil trusted him blindly and ignored all his mistakes. This had deep impact on the Hari Singh. These methods reformed him. In the force of his old habits he stole money from the Anil's house but he could not run away. Love and innocence of Anil pulled him back. Hari singh as thinking of the bright future after acquiring education. This dream was implanted in his mind by the Anil.

More questions for practice.

Q) Give a character sketch of Hari Singh?

Q)Why did Hari Singh decide to return the stolen money? What light does it throw on his character?

10th class-cbse english (NCERT BOOK-Footprints without feet)( Short answers) chapter- 2 (A Thief's Story)(Ruskin Bond)

 The Thief's Story.

Q) Why did Hari singh decide to go back to Anil?

Ans) Hari singh knew that Anil trusted him. Anil taught him cooking and writing his name. Anil promised to teach him writing full sentences. Hari singh thought if he would be literate, he would earn money and respect both. Moreover simplicity and generosity of Anil compelled him to go back.

Q) Who is “I” in this story why did he changed his name every month?

Ans) Here “I” stand for Hari singh. He was a thief. He changed his name every month to stay ahead of police and his previous employers.

Q) What was Anil’s job? What did he usually do with the money he earned?

Ans) Anil was a writer. He wrote for the magazines and charged money for it. He was a easy going and a bit careless person. He spent all the money on his friends in the parties.

Q) What does the thief say about the reactions of the different types of people when they were robbed?

Ans) The thief had studied the faces of different types of people after they had been robbed. Greedy man felt fear, rich man got angry and poor man showed acceptance.

Q) Why did the thief smile without any effort towards the end of the story?

Ans) When Hari singh stole money, he was in delimma. He was unable to run away. He came back to Anil and returned his money. He listened to his conscience. This act of goodness made him smile effortlessly towards the end of the story.

Q) What lies did Hari Singh tell Anil and why?

Ans) First lie that Hari singh told Anil was his name. He kept changing his name every month. Then he lied that he knew cooking. His motive was to get into the confidence of Anil and then rob him.

Q) How did Anil encourage Hari Singh when he could not cook meal properly?

Ans) The first day when Hari sigh cooked food, his lie was caught. He cooked so miserably that Anil threw the food to the stray dogs. Anil was angry and asked him to leave the job. But Hari singh lingered around. Finally Anil forgave him and promised him to teach how to cook.

Q) What happened when Hari Singh reached the railway station?

Ans) When Hari singh reached the station the Lucknow express was departing slowly. He could easily caught the train. But something stopped him. He remembered the innocent face of Anil and his promise of teaching him. In the excitement of theft he forgot the prospect of being an educated person. So, he returned back to Anil.

 

More questions for practice.

Q) Do you think people like Anil and Hari Singh are found only in fiction, or are there such people in real life?

Q) What prompted Hari Singh to steal Anil’s money?

Q) How did Anil treat Hari Singh, the next day?

Q) Why is it easy to rob a greedy man but difficult to rob a careless man?

 Q) How did Hari Singh steal the Anil's money? What justification did he give?

10th class-cbse english (NCERT BOOK-Footprints without feet)( Long answers) chapter-1 (A Triumph of Surgery)(James Herriot)

 Important questions for board examination.

Chapter - 1 Triumph of Surgery.

Answer the following questions in 100 to 150 words.

Q) Give a brief character sketch of doctor Herriot.

Ans)Mr Herriot was a veterinary surgeon. He had much regard for Mrs pumphrey. He regularly visited her to see her little dog tricki. He was concerned about the health of tricki. He was a professional doctor. He strictly advised Mrs Pumphrey to cut down the food items of tricki especially the sweet dishes. He advised her to give him plenty of exercise. When situation was out of control he took tricki to his surgery.

 He knew his work skillfully. He treated tricky in a very natural way without using any medicine or surgery. He knew the real cause of the problem and directly dealt with it. He was a honest man. When Mrs Pumphrey send eggs, wines and Brandy for tricki, doctor and his staff tempted to keep tricky forever. But considering the situation of Mrs Pumphrey he called her to take her dog who was completely fit now.

Q) How did the vet cure tricki?

Ans) Mr Herriet took tricki to his surgery for the treatment. Actually tricki's mistress Mrs Pumphrey was unable to take strict actions.

At the surgery doctor put the tricki with the other dogs. For two days he gave him nothing to eat but only plenty of water to drink. Third day tricki started to take interest in his surroundings. He struggled with other dogs for his share of food. He could not compete. Next day doctor put separate bowl for the tricki. He enjoyed his food. In few days he became part of the gang of dogs. In the daytime he played with them, struggle for food and at night he hunted for the rats in the old hen house. Slowly he started losing his fat and become fast and muscular. He was out of danger and completely fit now. Doctor treated him very cleverly.

More questions for practice.

Q) Write the character sketch of Mrs. Pumphrey.

Q) What was the reason of Tricki's ailment? How was Mrs. Pumphrey responsible for his condition?