A Question of Trust Class 10 Worksheet English Chapter 5

Q.1. Horace Danby was ____ years old. 
(a) 50
(b) 40
(c) 60
(d) 45

Correct Answer is Option (a)

Q.2. The housekeeper hung the key of the house to the outside of the _____.
(a) Kitchen door
(b) Back door
(c) Front door
(d) Bedroom window

Correct Answer is Option (a)

Q.3. Whom did Horace Danby see in the kitchen? How did they greet each other? What tact did Horace apply there?

Horace Danby saw the family dog, Sherry, in the kitchen. The dog greeted Horace by stirring, making noise, and wagging its tail in a friendly way. Horace greeted the dog by tactfully calming it down, calling it by its name, and showing love to it.

Q.4. Horace Danby was interested in the books, not in the painting. Why?

Horace Danby was fond of reading rare type of books. For a moment, he thought to collect paintings from the small house but he could not, as the books were better in that small house.

Q.5. What was the passion of Horace Danby and how did he satisfy it?

The passion of Horace Danby was collecting rare and expensive books. To satisfy this passion, he needed money and arranged it by robbing one safe every year and then secretly buying the books through an agent.

Q.6. Give the character sketch of Horace Danby.

Horace Danby was a fifty-year-old bachelor. Everybody thought him to be a good and honest citizen. He was usually very well and happy except for the attacks of hay fever in summer. He made locks and was successful enough in his business. Horace was good and respectable – but not completely honest. He was very fond of rare and expensive books. He was a very good planner, who planned his robbery in a very systematic manner, he studied every minute details. Horace was never caught for stealing. He stole only the rich people and never hurt anyone. He also never carried any weapon with him. He loved rare and expensive books for that he robbed one safe each year which lasted him for twelve months and he secretly bought the books he loved through an agent.

Q.7. Why was Horace Danby arrested although he failed to profit from the robbery at Shotover Grange?

Horace Danby was arrested although he failed to profit from the robbery at Shotover Grange because he broke open the safe to give the lady in red the jewels, thinking her to be the wife of the owner who had forgotten the number combination to open the safe. Actually, he wanted to escape scot-free, as he had been caught red-handed by the lady and wanted to keep her happy. However, his fingerprints were all over the room, as he had forgotten to wear his gloves while opening the safe. Thus he was arrested soon afterward.

Q.8. Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still, he faltered. Where did he go wrong and why?

Horace Danby had collected all the information about the owner and servants and studied the house carefully. He always planned his work well and was always alert. When the lady in red came and announced that she was the owner of the house, her appearance was such that he was fooled. When she took a cigarette from a silver book, Horace took off his gloves and held his lighter towards her. When opening the safe to get her jewels, he forgot to put on the gloves and so, his fingerprints were found on the safe and he was arrested two days later. In fact, the owner of the house was an aged lady of sixty and he had been fooled by that young lady who was herself a thief, who robbed the jewels and fled away easily.

Q.9. Horace was a successful thief because he carefully planned his robberies. Should we call him a successful thief and still appreciate his work? Why or why not?

Yes, as a thief, Horace is successful because he carefully planned his robberies and completes them well. He was living his life as a good and honest citizen. However, the wealth he gathered due from his successful robberies did not belong to him. By stealing other people’s valuables, he may have become successful but he is actually a criminal. He may be efficient in – conducting his’-crimes so that he is successful, but we still cannot appreciate his work.

Q.10. Horace was clever but the lady in red was cleverer. Do you agree with this statement? Justify your answer.

Yes, I agree with this statement. Horace was clever, as he planned the robbery carefully, studied the target, took the proper tools, and also took his gloves, to ensure leaving no fingerprints. But the young lady in red had all the necessary information, and, posing as the mistress of the house, exploited Horace’s fear on being discovered, tricked him into cracking open the safe and handing her the jewels. She even ensured that Horace left his fingerprints at the site, as she distracted him by picking up a cigarette which Horace offered to light after removing his gloves. Thus the lady outwitted him.