11th Std The summer of the beautiful white horse

Short Answer Type Questions  (30 to 40 words)

1.Which tribe did Aram and his cousin Mourad belong to? What was their tribe known for?

Ans. Aram and Mourad were cousins. They belonged to the Garoghlanian family. This large family was extremely poor. Yet, they were famous for their honesty. They were proud, honest and just. No member of the family could ever think of stealing.

2. What did people say about Mourad? Who had he inherited that weakness from?

Ans. Mourad enjoyed being alive. He was fond of adventures. He too had a streak of craziness. He had got it naturally from Uncle Khosrove. He used to say that he had a way with horses, dogs and farmers.

3. Why did Mourad wake up Aram? How did Aram react to what he saw?


Ans. Mourad woke up Aram in order to give him a chalice to enjoy horse riding. Aram could not believe his eyes when he saw the beautiful white horse. He knew that Mourad did not have the means to buy a horse. So, it must have been a stolen one.


4. What did Aram think about Mourad’s action of riding a stolen horse? How did he justify Mourad’s action?

Ans. Aram too was very crazy about horse riding. But riding a stolen horse both delighted and frightened him. He justified Mourad’s action saying that taking out a horse just for a joy-ride could not be called stealing until they offered to sell it.

5. Who was the real owner of the beautiful white horse? How did Aram come to know about him?

Ans. The real owner of the white horse was John Byro, a farmer. He had bought it for 60 dollars. On a visit to Aram’s house, he complained of his loss. This assured Aram that the horse had been stolen by Mourad.


6. What was common between Mourad and Aram? In what respect did they differ from each other?

Ans. Mourad and Aram were cousins belonging to the Garoghlanian family. Both had a common craze for horse riding. But Aram was more honest and straightforward than his cousin. Mourad had a streak of craziness. He could tell lies. He was boastful. Aram was simple-hearted.

7. Bring out the significance of the white horse in Saroyan’s story.

Ans. The beautiful white horse is central to Saroyan’s story. Its entry highlights the differences in the characters of the cousins. It gives the story some thrill and action. We read on with anticipation to know as to when and how the boys would return the horse, if ever. In the end, it is with its rightful owner. So it dominates the whole story.

8. Why could Aram not believe what he saw that morning?

Ans. Aram followed the family norm of honesty. He was surprised and shocked to see his cousin sitting on a beautiful white horse. He knew that Mourad was as poor as him and could not have bought it. He even asked straightaway where Mourad had stolen it from. He could not believe this daring act of Mourad.

9. Why did the sight of Mourad’s horse both delightful and frightening for Aram?

Ans. Aram was just a young lad, truthful and honest. But he had a longing for riding a horse. Naturally, he was delighted when Mourad asked him to sit on the white horse. But he was also frightened because he knew that it was a stolen horse.

10. Who was Uncle Khosrove? What were some of the notable traits of his character?

Ans. Uncle Khosrove was widely known to be crazy. He was short-tempered and impatient as well. He stopped others from talking by shouting at them. His stock saying was: it is no harm, pay no attention to it. ‘Mourad had got that craziness from Uncle Khosrove.

11. Mourad had a way and some sort of understanding with three creatures. Who were they?

Ans. Mourad was boastful and self-confident. He was good at dealing with a wild white horse. the farm dogs and an injured bird. The white horse of Byro became better tempered. The dogs at Byro’s barn did not bark at him. The little-injured robin was nursed by Mourad and it managed to fly again.

12. What was Aram’s experience when he rode the white horse alone?

Ans. Aram was keen to ride the white horse alone. He leapt on to the horse’s back and even kicked into its muscles. It snorted and began to run. It went out of control. It leapt over seven vines and threw Aram down in the mud. Aram fell but the horse continued running.

13. “How long ago did you steal this horse?” Aram asked Mourad. What was Mourad’s response?

Ans. Mourad did not admit that he had stolen the horse. He said that he had been riding it only that morning. He did not want both of them to be liars. So, in case they were found out, Aram should tell them that they had started riding only that morning.

14. ‘I didn’t want both of us to be liars. Who spoke these words and in what context?

Ans. These words were spoken by Mourad to Aram. Mourad indirectly admitted that he was telling a lie. In fact, he had stolen the horse quite a few days back but in case they were found out by the horse owner, Aram was to tell him that they had started riding that very morning.

15. Who was John Byro? What did he first lose but finally recover?

Ans. John Byro was an Assyrian farmer and lived in the neighbourhood. He was a frequent visitor to Aram’s house. His white horse has stolen a few weeks ago. He recognised his horse being led by Mourad. But he did not create a scene. Mourad returned it to him when he realised that his family’s honour was at stake.

16. Why did Aram run over to his cousin’s house soon after Byro was gone? What promise did he extract from Mourad?

Ans. John Byro visited Aram’s house. He reported that his white horse was still untraceable. Uncle Khosrove shouted him down. But Aram understood that it must be the same horse which they had hidden in the barn. He ran to Mourad’s house to tell him about it. He extracted a promise from Mourad that he would keep the horse for some time more.

17. How did Mourad put John Byro off when the two met one morning?

Ans. One morning the two cousins ran into the farmer John Byro who recognised his horse and examined it thoroughly. But Mourad confidently told Byro that his horse’s name was My Heart. Byro made no fuss because he knew about the honesty of Mourad’s family.

18. Mourad claimed he had a way with dogs as well. How did he support this claim?

Ans. Mourad had enough of riding. Before he was declared a thief, he took the horse to its Owner’s barn. Aram noted with surprise that dogs there made no sound. Mound said boastfully that he had a way with dogs also, a sort of understanding with them.

19.   What change did John Byrn notice in his horse after it was returned to him?

Ans. John Byro was not only happy but also surprised when he got his missing horseback. He failed to understand how his horse had become stronger and highly tempered than before. Somehow,he thanked God for the change.

Long Answer Questions (up to 100 words)

1. Give a brief account of Mourad’s adventure with the white home.

Ans. Mourad was a daredevil crazy boy. He was fond of horse riding. So, he stole the beautiful white horse of John Byro from his vineyard. He hid it in a deserted barn and enjoyed the ride every morning. One morning, he invited his cousin Aram also to share the joy. He had a way with the wild horse. Aram hesitated because it was a stolen horse. Yet he joined his cousin and enjoyed the ride. Mourad rode alone as well. He sang and roared with joy. He let the horse run across a field of dry grass to an irrigation ditch. He returned five minutes later. He warned Aram not to ride alone because the horse was quite wild.

2. Compare and contrast the characters of Mourad and Aram.

Ans. Mourad and Aram were cousins and belonged to Garoghlanian tribe which was known for its honesty and truth. Mourad was thirteen and Aram was nine years old. Both longed to ride a horse. But their family was too poor to buy a horse. Both were adventure-loving. Both knew that their family was well known for honesty and right conduct. But Mourad could not help stealing John Byro’s horse. While he had a streak of craziness, Aram was honest and simple-hearted. Mourad was more talented and bolder than Aram. He domesticated the wild horse of John Byro. He repaired the injured wing of a robin bird; he knew how to deal with a horse, and how to soothe a dog. Comparatively, Aram was timid and obedient. Mourad could easily lie to John Byro about the horse. Aram could never do it and ran when the truth was revealed to him for the first time of the stolen horse.

3. Bring out some of the notable traits of Mourad’s character.

Ans. Mourad, the son of Zorab, was the 13-year old cousin of Aram. Zorab was a practical man but Mourad was most unlike him. He was considered as crazy as his uncle Khosrove. He was not so honest as his family or tribe. He did not hesitate to steal John Byro’s horse. He was as fond of horse riding as his cousin, but they did not have the mean’s to buy a horse. Very cleverly he hid the horse in a deserted barn and took it out at daybreak for a joy-ride. He loved adventure and singing. He had remarkable self-confidence. He said boastfully that he had a way with a horse, a dog and a farmer. He denied that he was a thief. When he realised that he was found out, he returned the horse to its owner John Byro after about six weeks.

4. The narrator’s uncle Khosrove was known to be a crazy fellow. Give a few instances of his craziness.

Ans. The narrator’s uncle Khosrove was an enormous man with a large moustache. But he was considered crazy or capricious by the people who knew him. He was furious by nature. He was easily annoyed. He was impatient. He would not let anybody have his say. He silenced people with his roar. Once his house was on fire and his son ran to the barber’s shop to give the bad news. But he paid no serious attention to it and roared “It is no harm; pay no attention to it”. He got irritated when John spoke about his stolen horse. and walked out of the room. He was a strange character.

10th Std The midnight visitor

Read the extracts given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1. And as the light came on, Fowler had his first authentic thrill of the day. For halfway; across the room, a small automatic pistol in his hand stood a man.

(a) What was the turn of events?

(b) What did they find?

(c) Who was the man with a pistol in his hand?


d) What was the first authentic thrill of the day for Fowler?

Ans. (a) Fowler and Ausable found a man with a pistol standing in the room. Ausable’: room.

(b) They found a man with a pistol in the room.

(c) Max

(d) Fowler saw a man with a pointed pistol waiting in the room. This was the first authentic thrill of the day for him.

2.”Max,” he wheezed, “you gave me quite a start. I thought you were in Berlin. What are you doing here in my room?”

(a) In whose room was Max?

(b) Why was he there?

(c) Where and what is Berlin?

(d) How has Max got in?

Ans. (a) A sable’s room.

(b) He had come to get a very important report from him.

(c) Berlin is the capital of Germany.

(d) Max has got in the room by using a pass-key for unlocking Ausable’s room.

3.”You are disappointed”, Ausable said wheezily over his shoulder. “You were told that I was a secret agent, a spy, dealing in espionage and danger. You wished to meet me because you are a writer, young and romantic. You envisioned mysterious figures in the night, the crack of pistols, drugs in the wine.”

(a) Who was disappointed and with whom?

(b) Why did ‘he’ want to meet Ausable?

(c) Why was Fowler disappointed?

(d) How was Ausable different from the other secret agents?

Ans. (a) Fowler was disappointed to see Ausable.

(b) Fowler wanted to meet him because he was a writer and wished to meet a real spy.

(c) He was disappointed to meet Ausable who looked ordinary, slow, sluggish and a very fat person who lived in a small room on the top floor of a cheap hotel.

(d) Ausable, unlike other secret agents, was very fat with an accent of both French and German.

4.Ausable moved to an armchair and sat down heavily. “I’m going to raise the devil with the management this time, and you can bet on it,” he said grimly. “This is the second time in a month that somebody has got into my room through that nuisance of a balcony!” Fowler’s eyes went to the single window of the room. It was an ordinary window, against which now the night was pressing blackly.

(a) Why was Ausable disturbed?

(b) What did he complain of?

(c) What story did Ausable cook up to confuse Max?

(d) When do you think Ausable thought up his plan for getting rid of Max?

Ans. (a) Ausable was disturbed with his room’s balcony window.

(b) He complained of strangers entering through the window into his rooms.

(c) Ausable confused Max by framing a story about a balcony under his window. He told Max that it was being used by people for entering his room secretly.

(d) Ausable thought the plan when he encountered Max in his room. He showed a little surprise but he was not scared.

Short Answer Type Important Questions

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:

1. What made the story of the balcony so convincing?

Ans. Ausable showed his annoyance for the nuisance created by the balcony. He said that this was the second time that someone had got into his room through it. He also said that the balcony was not his but belongs to the next apartment and earlier his room used to be a part of a large unit.

2. How did Max go out of Ausable’s room to save himself from the police?

Ans. Max was very nervous to find the police at the door. He went out of the window saying that he would wait in the balcony. He warned Ausable to send them away or he would shoot him. Max did not confirm the balcony and stepped out of the window and died.

3. How did Ausable kill Max without using a weapon?

Ans. Ausable was an intelligent spy. When he found Max waiting for him in his room, he made a story of a balcony under his window. He convinced Max about the balcony. And thus, when someone knocked at the door, Max fearing it to be the police, jumped out of the window and died.

4. How and why did Max come inside Ausable’s room?

Ans. Max had come into the room using a passkey. He had come to get the secret report about some new missiles which, he was sure, was with Ausable.

5. How was Ausable different from the other secret agents?

Ans. Ausable, unlike other secret agents, was very fat with an accent of German. Fowler was expecting a smart and active agent having messages slipped into his hand by a dark beauty. Whereas, Ausable received a telephone call making an appointment in his room.

6. Why was Ausable confident that Max would never return?

Ans. Believing Ausable’s story about the balcony to be true, Max stepped out, however, had concocted a very convincing story, and knew that what awaited hit° was a drop from the sixth floor. Hence, he was confident that Max would never return.

7. Did Max really deserve to get a chance to accomplish a risky task?

Ans. I do not believe that Max deserved a chance to accomplish a risky task, as he his err very smart, gun. A spy without these nor very intelligent. He did not even look threatening to Fowler except seeing apparent qualities will most likely be a failure.

8. How did Ausable befool Max about the balcony?

Ans. Ausable was a very intelligent spy agent. When he found Max waiting for him in his room, he immediately thought of the plan. He told Max that there is a balcony from where people enter his room that Max must have also entered from there. Max got convinced about the story and hence when someone knocked at the door, he ran towards the balcony to hide and died.

9. Why did Fowler come to meet Ausable? Was he able to achieve his target?

Ans. Fowler was a young and romantic writer. He had come to see Ausable know about the life of a secret agent. Fowler was fascinated n by them and thought of them as mysterious and romantic. He was not able to achieve his target as Ausable was a boring man.

10. Why did so many people risk their lives?

Ans. Ausable had received a paper which had certain important information about new missiles. The paper was so important that several men and women had risked their lives to get it.

11. Why did Fowler feel let down when he met Ausable?

Ans. Fowler felt let down and disappointed to meet Ausable. He had a different picture of a secret agent in his mind. He thought they should look to be very mysterious and romantic but he found Ausable a very fat and boring man.

12. What was someone expected to bring to Ausable’s room?

Ans. Someone was expected to bring a paper containing important information to Ausable’s room.

13. Who was in Ausable’s room? What was in his hand?

Ans. A man named Max was there in Ausable’s room. He was another secret agent. He had an automatic pistol in his hand.

14. What did the secret agent tell Max when he heard the knock?

Ans. He told Max that it would be the police. He said that he had called the police for the protection of such an important paper that he was going to receive that night. He wanted to have extra protection for the report.

15. Did Ausable know that it was the waiter who had knocked at the door?

Ans. Yes, Ausable knew that the man knocking at the door was the waiter. He had ordered him to bring a bottle of wine. And he knew that the waiter must have come with the drinks.

16. Was there a balcony outside the window? Give instances from the text in support of your answer.

Ans. No, actually there was not a balcony outside the window. Ausable had falsely told Max about the balcony. When Max dropped himself to the balcony, he screamed. He fell down to the ground from the sixth floor. In the end, Ausable told Fowler, “No, he won’t return.”

17. Did Fowler find this episode, thrilling or disappointing? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. Fowler found this episode very thrilling. He was much surprised by the tactful nature of Ausable. He cocked-up a story about the balcony and the police. He got the intruder, Max, killed without firing a shot.

18. How did Ausable get rid of Max?

Ans. Ausable cocked-up a story. He told Max that there was a balcony just below his window. He told him that the balcony was a part of the next room. When the waiter knocked at the door, Ausable told Max that it would be the police. Max was nervous. He dropped himself to the balcony through the window. But outside there was no balcony. He fell down and died.

19. How did Ausable behave to see Max in his room?

Ans. To see Max in his room Ausable remained cool and silent. He was not afraid of Max. He seemed to be angry with the management of the hotel regarding the balcony below the window of his room.

20. Describe Ausable.

Ans. Ausable was a secret agent. He was a fat and sloppy fellow. He was not a romantic figure. He had Wine to Paris from Boston twenty years ago. He could speak French and German passably. He had a style of his own in the American language.

21. Fowler said that Max would soon come back from the balcony. What did Ausable tell him?

Ans. Ausable told Fowler that Max would never return. He said so because he knew that there was not any balcony outside. He said that Max had fallen down to the ground to meet his end.

22. Why did Fowler want to meet Ausable? Why was he disappointed?

Ans. Fowler was a young and romantic writer. He wanted to meet Ausable because he was a secret agent. He was disappointed to meet Ausable because he was a fat sloppy fellow. He was not romantic. He lived in a small room in a gloomy hotel.

Q23.Who was Ausable?

Ans. Ausable was a secret agent. A very important document concerning some new missiles was under his safe custody. He didn’t look like a secret agent as we read in books or see in films. He was fat and sloppy. His office was in a small room on the sixth and top floor. Fowler was very disappointed to meet him.

Q24. Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent. Comment.

Ans. Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent. He did not seem to be so smart, active, movable, aggressive and romantic as we read in books or see in films. He was very fat and sloppy. The crack of pistols, wine and dark-eyed beauties are normally associated with secret agents like James Bond. These qualities had nothing to do with Ausable.

Q25. Why did Fowler feel let down after meeting Ausable?

Ans. The young writer, the Fowler, had formed a very romantic and grand picture of a secret agent in his mind. This picture was based as it is found in books or shown in films. He found Ausable not cracking pistols or surrounded by dark-eyed beauties like James Bond. Rather he was a fat and sloppy man. He lived in a very small room on the sixth floor. Fowler felt rather let down after meeting Ausable.

Q26. What is the important paper that Ausable talks of?

Ans. Ausable is a secret agent. He has been assigned an important job. He has an important paper regarding some new missiles under his custody. The paper may well affect the course of history. It is of so much importance that several men and women have risked their lives to get them. Even Max, a secret agent himself, comes to grab them from Ausable’s room.

Q27. How did Fowler have his first authentic thrill of the day?

Ans. Fowler was rather bored and disillusioned after meeting the secret agent, Ausable. But soon, he had his first authentic thrill of the day. The moment Ausable switched on the light, he found a man standing halfway across the room. He had a small automatic pistol in his hand. Fowler was stunned. The man demanded the report concerning some new missiles from Ausable. Fowler had his first authentic thrill of the day.

Q28. Why and how did Max enter Ausable’s room?

Ans. Max’s entry was not merely accidental. He had entered Ausable’s room through a passkey. When Ausable switched on the light, he found him standing with a small automatic pistol in his hand. He had come to grab a very important paper that was related to some new missiles. Several men and women had already risked their lives to get that report.

Q29. Describe Max as a secret agent.

Ans. Max was a secret agent and a rival and enemy of Ausable. He was slender, a little less than tall. He appeared crafty and had pointed countenance of a fox. There was nothing especially menacing about him except his pistol. He came to Ausable’s room to steal a very important paper concerning some new missiles. He is outwitted by Ausable and made to jump out of his window.

Q30. What was the real story of the balcony below the window of Ausable’s room?

Ans. Ausable had an instant and fertile mind. He could cook up all kinds of stories that fit in different situations. Actually, there was no balcony below the window of his room. Ausable cooked up a story that the balcony below his room had become a big nuisance. It was the second time that someone had got into his room through it. Actually, he wanted to confuse Max and make him jump out of the window to get rid of him.

Q31. What position did Max take before he jumped out of the window?

Ans. Max kept his body twisted. In this way, he could keep his gun pointed at Ausable and Fowler. He grasped the frame with his free hand to support himself. He swung his other leg up and over the windowsill. The moment he heard the knocking getting louder at the door, he positioned himself to jump out of the window.

Q32. What story did Ausable cook up regarding the arrival of the police? How did it affect Max?

Ans. Ausable was very quick of mind. His sharp brain could cook up any story that could fit in a particular situation. When Max heard a loud knocking at the door, he got nervous. Ausable told Max that the knocking at the door announced the arrival of the police. After all, he was holding an important paper concerning missiles. He had sought police protection. He told the police to check on him to make sure that everything was all right. This unnerved and confused Max.

Q33. How did Max react when Ausable told him that the loud knockings at the door were of the police?

Ans. Ausable cooked up the police’s story. He told that he himself had sought the protection of the police. The knockings at the door signalled their arrival. Max’s face was black with anger. Max swung a leg over the windowsill and shouted to send the police away. He threatened him to obey. If not, he would take his chances and shoot.

Q34. How did clever Ausable outwit and get rid of his rival or enemy secret agent Max?

Ans. Ausable very cleverly convinced Max that there existed a balcony below the windowsill of his room. Actually, it was a trap to make Max jump out of the window. He unnerved Max by cooking up a false story of the arrival of the police. Confused and panicky, Max jumped out on the balcony which did not exist. In this way, Ausable got rid of his enemy or rival.

Q35. Who was actually knocking at the door? Was it pre-planned?

Ans. Ausable could cook up any false story to suit his mission. He cooked up the story of the police. He told Max that he himself sought the protection of the police. He had a very important report with him. Actually, the knocking at the door was of Henry, the waiter. When the door opened, he was standing there with a bottle and two glasses. It was all cleverly planned in advance to outwit the crafty rival, Max.

Q36. What happened to Max after he jumped out of the window?

Ans. At last, the crafty Max was trapped in. He was outwitted by the cleverer secret agent Ausable. Ausable, the quick-witted secret agent, made Max believe that there was a balcony below his windowsill. He also made him believe that the knockings at the door were made by the police. The confused, panicked and unnerved Max jumped out of the window. He cried only for once. That was the end of the crafty rival secret agent and Ausable got rid of him forever.

Q37. How do you judge Ausable as a secret agent?

Ans. Ausable was fat and round but exceptionally quick in mind and manipulations. He might look fat and sloppy but was much more than that. His sharp mind could cook up any story that could fit in a particular situation. The story of the balcony and the police were cooked up only to confuse and unnerve Max. Although he didn’t look like secret agents as described in books or shown in films, he was a highly competent and sharp-witted secret agent.

Answer the following questions in 100-120 words:

1. Presence of mind and intelligence are more powerful than a gun. How far is it true in the case of Ausable, the secret agent?

Ans. Max lay in wait for Ausable to steal the important paper from him. As Fowler observed, apart from the pointed gun he didn’t look very menacing. Even this proved useless for him as Ausable outwitted him with his presence of mind and intelligence. Ausable cleverly found out how Max had entered the room and created an extremely believable story about a non-existent balcony. He kept calm, and, hearing the waiter knock, declared it to be the police. Max, in an attempt to hide, fell to his death. Thus, Ausable got rid of Max without moving a muscle.

2. Pride before a fall befits Max, who said: “I will get it back tonight.” Was he successful? What lesson can be learnt from this?

Ans. Max was a spy who was overconfident and too proud. His pride blinded him, and he thought that wielding a gun would give a further edge over the seemingly slow Ausable. However, despite this apparent pride and confidence, Max was utterly unsuccessful. Ausable outwitted him without lifting a finger. Max, in fact, jumped to his own death by taking Ausable’s Words at face value. Thus, one learns that one should not be proud and must pay attention to the finer details before attempting to do anything.

3. Ausable was a successful secret agent. What qualities can be attributed to him? Give some examples.

Ans. Ausable was very fat. He appeared to be a slow and sluggish person. But inside that fat body, he had a very sharp brain.

It was throwing his presence of mind, intelligence and cleverness that he got rid of Max easily. When Max heard a knock at the poor Ausable told in hat t was the police whom he had called for the extra protection of the papers.

Max wanted him to send them off quickly till he waited on the balcony.

Ausable had ordered a drink and it was the waiter with the drink knocking at the Able used the false story to mislead Max. the poor fellow was neither police law jumped through the nor the below, not one n the balcony but on the ground from the sixth Max lost his life and with him died that he was his mission a clever secret agent. Way Ausable got rid of Max.  They may assemble got rid of max proves that he was clever secret argent.

4. At the beginning of the story, Fowler felt disappointed with Ausable. Do you think Fowler had the same feeling towards the end of the story? Give reasons for your answer.

Ans. At the beginning of the story, Fowler felt disappointed with Ausable because he did not at all look like a secret agent of his imagination. He found him quite boring. He did not want to be with him any more. But when he found Max in his room with a gun, he was thrilled. He found that Ausable was not at all perturbed. He cocked-up a story about the balcony outside his window. When the waiter knocked at the door, Ausable told Max that it would be the police. He told him that he had called the police for the security of that important paper. Hearing this Max jumped outside the window to the balcony. But there was no balcony. He fell down from the sixth floor and died. Thus, Fowler was thrilled to see all this. So towards the end of the story, he was not disappointed with Ausable.

10th Std The thief's story

Read the extracts given below carefully and answer the questions that follow:

1.”I hurried back to the room feeling very nervous, for it is much easier to steal something than to return undetected”.

(a) Who is the speaker of this line?

(b) Why was the speaker feeling nervous?

(c) Why was it difficult for the speaker to return the money?

(d) What is the view of Hari regarding theft?

Ans. (a) Han, a young boy is the speaker of this line who is a thief

(b) Because he was keeping back the stolen money and feared to get caught.

(c) He feared to get caught while keeping it back.

(d) It is much easier to steal something than to return undetected.

2.”I could come and go as I pleased. He was the most trusting person I had ever met”.

(a) Other than the freedom of moment what else does the speaker feel happy about?

(b) What does the speaker mean by ‘most trusting person’?

(c) Who is the speaker speaking about?

(d) What character traits of the master does this line reveal?

Ans. (a) He was free to come and go when he pleased. Moreover, he was trusted by Anil.

(b) Anil trusted him completely.

(c) Anil, Hari Singh’s master.

(d) Anil is a caring, kind-hearted, compassionate, understanding and trusting person.

3. He took me to his room over the Jumna Sweet Shop and told me I could sleep on the balcony. But the meal I cooked that night must have been terrible because Anil gave it to a stray dog and told me to be oft but I just hung around, smiling in my most appealing way, and he couldn’t help laughing.

(a) What does ‘I’ refer to?

(b) Where did Mil take him?

(c) How did Anil react when Hari cooked a bad meal?

(d) How did Hari respond to his reaction?

Ans. (a) ‘I’ refers to Hari Singh.

(b) Anil took him to the room where he stayed, over Jumna sweet shop.

(c) Anil gave the food to the stray dogs and asked Hari to leave.

(d) Han kept on smiling appealingly.

4. Well, it’s time I did some real work, I told myself, and I’m out of practice. And if I don’t take the money, he’ll only waste it on his friends. After all, he doesn’t even pay me.

(a) What did he tell himself?

(b) Why did Hari decide to steal?

(c) Does Anil pay Hari a regular salary?

(d) What justification does Hari Singh give for stealing Anil’s money?

Ans. (a) He told himself that whatever he did was correct.

(b) He thought his owner would waste the money M y on his friends and was not paying him his salary. He could use the money for his own use.

(c) No, Anil did not pay n regular salary to Hair.

(d) If he did not steal, Anil would waste the money on his friends. Moreover, he did not pay him any salary so far.

Short Answer Type Important Questions

Answer the following questions in 30-40 words:

1. Why did Hari Singh not make many friends?

Ans. Hari Singh did not have friends as he believed that friends were more trouble than help. Moreover, he did not want to make anyone curious.

2. Why did Hari Singh decide to come back to Anil?

Ans.Had Singh decided to come back to Anil because he felt that when Anil would come to know about the theft, he would feel sad, not for the loss of money but for the loss of trust. He did not want to lose his trust.

3. Why did Hari Singh choose Anil to be his next victim?

Ans. Hari Singh was an experienced thief. He found Anil, a writer an easy-going, kind and simple man, the correct person for his purpose. He found him an easy target to win confidence.

4. Why did Hari Singh not go to his friend’s house or a hotel just after he missed the train?

Ans. Hari Singh did not have any friend and he did not want to make anyone curious about staying at one of the small hotels near the station.

5. Why was it difficult for Hari Singh to rob Anil?

Ans. It was difficult to rob Anil because he was the most trusting person Hari Singh had ever met. According to Hari Singh, it’s easy to rob a greedy man because he can afford to be robbed but it’s difficult to rob a careless man because he doesn’t even notice that he’s been robbed and that takes all the pleasure out of the work.

6. Why did Hari Singh tell a lie about cooking?

Ans. Hari Singh said that he could cook but when he cooked the meal at night, it was so terrible that Anil gave it to a stray dog and told him to be off. But then Anil patted him and said that he would teach him to cook.

7. Why was the thief able to steal from Anil easily?

Ans. Anil was a person who trusted Hari Singh easily. Also, he seemed to be a slightly careless person. Thus, his gullibility and trusting nature made it easy for Hari to rob him.

8. Why did Hari Singh tell a lie about cooking?

Ans. Hari Singh knew that Anil would hire him only if he could cook. However, Hari did not know how to cook. Still, as he wanted to somehow rob Anil, he told the lie to gain entry into Anil’s house.

9. Why did Hari Singh feel bad after stealing the money?

Ans. Anil had trusted Hari Singh completely and also taught him how to cook. Anil also started teaching him how to read and write. Thus, when Hari stole money from Anil,his conscience pricked him as he had broken Anil’s trust.

10. What are the different reactions of the people when they are robbed?

Ans. According to Hari Singh, different people react differently upon being robbed. The greedy man displays fear, the rich man shows anger, and the poor man shows acceptance. However, a trusting man like Anil would be sad due to the loss of trust.

11. Why did Anil decide to pay Hari Singh regularly?

Ans. Anil handed Hari a fifty-rupee note as payment for his services. He went on to that since he had started making money, he would pay Hari regularly. However, I knew about Hari and did not want him to be tempted again for want of money.

12. Describe Hari Singh, the young and successful thief.

Ans. Hari Singh was a fifteen-year-old boy who had already gained much expertise in the field of thievery. He knew how to find prospective victims, and used his intelligence to get close to them. Even when he was being taught how to read and write, his first thought was how he could use it to his benefit while thieving.

13. Why did Anil hire Hari Singh?

Ans. Anil hired Hari Singh because Hari himself expressed his desire to work for him. When Anil told him that he could not pay him, Had Singh asked him if he could feed him. Anil replied that if he knew how to cook, then he may work for him.

14. How did Hari Singh realize that Anil knew about his theft?

Ans. Anil gave him a fifty rupees note in the morning, which was still damp from the night’s rain. Anil told him that he would start teaching him, how to write full sentences and smiled at him. This made Had Singh realize that Anil knew everything.

15. What was-Anit’s job? What did he usually do with the money he earned?

Ans. Anil was a writer. He wrote articles for magazines. He had no regular source of income. He earned by fits and starts. When he earned some money, he would go out to celebrate.

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

Ans. Hari Singh had found that a greedy man’s face showed panic. The rich man showed anger and the poor man showed a sense of resignation.

Q.17. How did he think Anil would react when he discovered the theft? Why did he think so?

Ans. Hari Singh thought that when Anil would come to know of the theft, his face would show a touch of sadness. It would not be for the loss of money but for the loss of trust.

18. What made him come back to Anil?

Ans. Anil had been teaching Hari Singh to read and write. He thought that without education, he would remain only a thief. But with education, he would become a big, clever and respected man. This made him come back to Anil.

19. What did Anil give him in the morning? In what condition was it?

Ans. Anil gave him a fifty-rupee note in the morning. It was still wet from the night’s rain.

20. How did the thief realise that Anil knew that it had been stolen?

Ans. Anil gave a fifty rupee note to the thief. It was still wet from the night’s rain. So, the thief realised that And knew that it had been stolen.

21. How did the thief know that Anil had forgiven him?

Ans. And did not express in any way that he knew about the stealing. Moreover, he promised to pay him regularly. He also promised to continue with his leaching hint full sentences.

22. Why did the thief smile without any effort towards the end of the story?

Ans. The thief was under tension that his master would be angry with him for stealing the money. But Anil did not express any anger. He said that he would pay him regularly and would remain to continue teaching him full sentences. This made him tension free and he smiled without any effort.

23. Why. according to Hari, is it difficult to rob a careless man?

Ans. Hari thinks that it is difficult to rob a careless man. Sometimes he does not even notice that he has been robbed. This takes out the joy of robbing him.

24. Why did Hari Singh think of doing some real work?

Ans. By ‘real work’ Hari Singh means stealing. He wants to steal Anil’s money because he has not stolen anything for a long time. Secondly, Anil is a careless mail. If Han Singh did not steal his money, he would waste it on useless things.

25 What made him think that he could live like an oil-rich Arab for some time?

Ans. Hari Singh was a poor boy. He stole Anil’s bundle of notes. It was a sum of 600 rupees. Hari Singh thought that he could live in luxury like an oil-rich Arab for some time on this stolen money.

26. Why should he find friends to be more trouble than help?

Ans. Hari Singh was a very poor boy. Those whom he knew were also poor like him. So. he thought that friends would be troublesome.

27. Why did he feet’ nervous about going back to Anil’s room?

Ans. Hari Singh decided to go back to Anil and replace the stolen money under the mattress. But he felt nervous about going there. He thought that it was much easier to steal something than to return it undetected.

28. How was Hari Singh’s ‘appealing smile’ at the end different from similar smiles of his on earlier occasions?

Ans. On earlier occasions, Hari Singh’s ‘appealing smile’ had been artificial. It was full of flattery. But in the end, his smile was real. It was natural and appealing.

29. Who is ‘I’ in this story? Why did he change his name every month?

Ans. In this story ‘I’ is a boy thief of 15 years. He often changed his name every month to avoid being caught by the police and his former employers. This time he tells that his name is Han Singh.


30. Why did Hari Singh smile in his most appealing way?

Ans. Hari Singh cooked food for Anil. He did not know anything about cooking. Anil could not eat it. He threw it to a stray dog. He asked the boy to go away from his house. But the boy did not want to leave him. So, he smiled in his most appealing way.