Visual Story: The Case of the Fifth Word | English Poorvi Class 8 - New NCERT PDF Download

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The Case of the Fifth Word
by Donald J. Sobol
Meet Encyclopedia Brown
Encyclopedia Brown is a bright eighth grader in Idaville who secretly helps his father, Chief 
Brown, solve difficult police cases. The family often discusses mysteries at the dinner table, 
and Encyclopedia usually solves them before dessert!
A Worrying Evening
One evening, Chief Brown returns home looking worried and tells the family that Tim Nolan 
has died. Tim Nolan was long suspected of being involved in a jewellery robbery five years 
earlier but was never arrested due to lack of proof.
The Criminal Partnership
Chief Brown always believed Nolan and 
his partner, Daniel Davenport, committed 
the robbery together. Nolan and 
Davenport had first met in prison and 
became close friends. Afterwards, Nolan 
started a palm-tree nursery business in 
Idaville.
The Week Before
A week before the jewellery robbery, 
Davenport moved in with Nolan at the 
nursery. During the robbery, a sales clerk 
nearly identified Nolan when his mask 
slipped, but her testimony was too 
uncertain to convict him.
The Disappearance
After the robbery, Davenport disappeared 
completely and was never seen again. 
Chief Brown explains that Nolan recently 
died of a stroke.
The Mysterious Will
Before his death, Nolan left a will, giving all his property, 
including the nursery, to Davenport. Attached to the will was a 
calendar page with four puzzling words:
"Nom Utes Sweden Hurts"
The Family Discussion
Chief Brown admits he cannot understand 
the meaning of these words and brings the 
mystery to the dinner table. Mrs Brown, 
who had once been a teacher, tries to figure 
out the clue but fails.
Encyclopedia's Question
Encyclopedia studies the words carefully, 
thinks for a moment, and then asks: "Is 
there a young fir tree in Mr Nolan's 
nursery?" Chief Brown is surprised but 
confirms that a single fir tree does grow 
near the south side of Nolan's house.
The Brilliant Solution
Encyclopedia explains his 
reasoning: the strange 
words represent the first 
four days of the week - 
Monday, Tuesday, 
Wednesday, Thursday. 
Nolan had removed the 
letters " d - a - y " from each 
weekday and scrambled 
the remaining letters to 
form Nom, Utes, Sweden, 
and Hurts.
The Hidden Message
This sequence points to 
the next day, Friday, which 
can be shortened to " F i r ". 
Encyclopedia deduces that 
the stolen jewellery must 
be hidden beneath the fir 
tree in the nursery.
Case Solved!
Chief Brown investigates 
and discovers the jewellery 
buried inside a 20-gallon 
jug of soil under the fir tree. 
Nolan had left this coded 
message in hopes that 
Davenport would find the 
jewels, but Encyclopedia 
solved the puzzle first!
Theme/Message
Intelligence & Critical 
Thinking
The story highlights the 
importance of intelligence 
and critical thinking in 
solving problems. Anyone, 
regardless of age, can be 
smart and capable of 
solving complex problems.
Value of Family 
Discussions
It emphasises the value of 
family discussions and 
how they can lead to 
creative ideas and 
solutions. Communication 
and collaboration within a 
family can enhance 
understanding and foster 
creativity.
Supportive Family 
Bond
The relationship between 
Encyclopedia and his father 
illustrates a supportive 
bond that encourages 
learning and growth. It 
shows that observation and 
reasoning can lead to 
uncovering hidden truths.