Class 10 English A Question of Trust Chapter 12 Solutions
Victor Canning
Selected Question Answers
Q.1. What are the subtle ways in which the lady manages to deceive Horace Danby into thinking she is the lady of the house? Why does not Horace suspect that something is wrong?
or
How did the young lady trick Horace Danby? HSLC ’19
Ans: Horace Danby, a thief, went to steal jewels at Shotover Grange. While searching for valuables, he heard a woman’s voice and assumed she was the mistress of the house. The lady, however, was cunning. She spoke confidently, smiled, and even threatened to call the police. This scared Horace, and he believed her story. Overwhelmed by fear, he failed to suspect her true identity. Thus, the lady tricked him.
Q.2. 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 categorised as a typical thief ? or Who is Horace Danby? What type of man was he? HSLC ‘17, 20
Ans: Horace Danby was a lock manufacturer and a successful businessman. He had a good reputation in society and even employed two helpers. However, he stole once a year, targeting only the rich to buy rare books, not for personal needs. These traits make him different from a typical thief.
Q.3. Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he failed. Where did he go wrong and why? HSLC ’15
Ans: Horace Danby planned his thefts carefully and studied every detail of his target, including at Shotover Grange. He even knew the house dog’s name. However, he failed because he blindly trusted a clever woman who posed as the house mistress. She frightened him and convinced him to break the safe himself. This left evidence that led to his arrest. His failure was due to trusting the wrong person despite his planning.
Q.4 How Horace Danby become an assistant librarian in the prison? HSLC ’18
Ans: Horace Danby was known as a respectable businessman and lock manufacturer. However, he stole once a year to buy rare books. Fifteen years ago, he served time in a prison library after being tricked by a woman in the same profession. Later, while stealing at Shotover Grange, another lady deceived him, leading to his arrest. In prison, his experience in the library earned him the role of assistant librarian.
Multiple Choice Questions
Choose the correct answer from the options given below each question
- (A) Atulananda
- (B) R K Narayana
- (C) Victor Canning
- (D) A Chekhov
- Ans: (C) Victor Canning
- (A) London
- (B) Las Vegas
- (C) Los Angeles
- (D) None of the above
- Ans: (A)
- (A) a servant
- (B) a dog
- (C) a box
- (D) the lady
- Ans: (B)
- (A) To inform the police
- (B) To let Sherry loose at him
- (C) To raise alarm
- (D) To call the neighbours
- Ans: (A) To inform the police
- (A) About 30
- (B) About 50
- (C) About 70
- (D) None of above
- Ans: (B)
- (A) Good
- (B) Honest
- (C) Both of these
- (D) None of these
- Ans: (C)
- (A) A Librarian
- (B) Clean floor
- (C) Typist
- (D) Accountant
- Ans: (A)
- (A) His shirt
- (B) His gloves
- (C) His fingerprints
- (D) All of above
- Ans: (C)
- (A) She wanted him to steal
- (B) She had forgotten the numbers
- (C) She wanted to see if he could break it
- (D) None of these
- Ans: (B)
- (A) By saying he steals for a good reson
- (B) By saying he steals only from those who are rich
- (C) By saying he is not harming people
- (D) All of the above
- Ans: (D)
- (A) Red
- (B) Yellow
- (C) Green
- (D) white
- Ans: (A)
- (A) Yes
- (B) No
- (C) He didn’t try to
- (D) None of the above
- Ans: (B)
- (A) market
- (B) movie
- (C) shopping
- (D) to meet relatives
- Ans: (B)
- (A) Pageboy
- (B) Sherry
- (C) Max
- (D) None of the above
- Ans: (B)
- (A) Sunlight
- (B) Smell of flowers
- (C) Dust
- (D) Milk
- Ans: (B)
- Horace thought”
- (A) Poor
- (B) foolish
- (C) lucky
- (D) fortunate
- Ans: (B)
- (A) To soften his nails
- (B) To take a rest
- (C) To light the lighter
- (D) To give her the jewels
- Ans: (C)
- (A) It was nonsense
- (B) It was funny
- (C) It was a foolish
- (D)None of above
- Ans: (A)
