Class 10 English Footprint without Feet Chapter 3 Practice Question Answers - The Midnight Visitor

Q1. Who is the author of the story “The Midnight Visitor”?
(a) James Herriot
(b) Ruskin Bond
(c) Robert Arthur
(d) Victor Canning
Ans: (c)
Robert Arthur is the author of the story "The Midnight Visitor." He was a well-known American writer, known for his contributions to the mystery and detective fiction genre. His story, "The Midnight Visitor," is a thrilling tale of espionage and intrigue.

Q2. “_____ did not fit any description of a secret agent.”
(a) Fowler
(b) Ausable
(c) Max
(d) None of the above
Ans: (b)
In the story, "Ausable," the protagonist, does not fit any traditional description of a secret agent. He is portrayed as a rather unassuming and unlikely character for a spy, making the story more interesting and suspenseful.

Q3. Ausable was a _____ fellow.
(a) fat and sloppy
(b) fat and enthusiastic
(c) thin and enthusiastic
(d) thin and sloppy
Ans: (a)
The story describes Ausable as a "fat and sloppy" fellow. This characterization adds to the contrast between his appearance and the job he supposedly does, making it harder for others to believe him to be a secret agent.

Q4. What is the meaning of the word “wheezily”?
(a) making a sound when you can’t breathe easily
(b) sneezing
(c) coughing
(d) None of the above
Ans: (a)
The story describes Ausable as a "fat and sloppy" fellow. This characterization adds to the contrast between his appearance and the job he supposedly does, making it harder for others to believe him to be a secret agent.

Q5. Where was Ausable staying?
(a) Fowler’s home
(b) French hotel
(c) Max’s home
(d) French Inn
Ans: (b)
Ausable was staying at a French hotel during the events of the story. The location sets the backdrop for the unfolding mystery and adds a sense of international intrigue to the plot.

Q6. Which floor was he staying at?
(a) ground floor
(b) first floor
(c) second floor
(d) top floor
Ans: (d)
Ausable was staying on the top floor of the French hotel. This detail becomes important later in the story when it is linked to his method of escape.

Q7. What language did Ausable speak?
(a) German
(b) French
(c) none of these
(d) both a and b
Ans: (d)
Ausable speaks both German and French. This linguistic ability is a crucial aspect of his character and plays a significant role in the plot's development.

Q8. Where did he come from?
(a) Paris
(b) Germany
(c) Boston
(d) None of the above
Ans: (c)
Ausable came from Boston. This piece of information is mentioned in the story, showing his American origin.

Q9. When did he move to Paris?
(a) 5 years ago
(b) 10 years ago
(c) 20 years ago
(d) 25 years ago
Ans: (c)
Ausable moved to Paris twenty years ago. This detail is significant as it provides background information on his life before the events of the story.

Q10. “he had never lost his _____ accent.”
(a) American
(b) French
(c) British
(d) None of the above
Ans: (a)
Ausable had never lost his American accent, even after living in Paris for twenty years. This further adds to the peculiarities of his character.

Q11. What is the meaning of the word “espionage”?
(a) spying
(b) writing
(c) hunt
(d) None of the above
Ans: (a)
"Espionage" refers to the act of spying, especially for gathering confidential information about a government or organization. In the context of the story, Ausable's activities as a secret agent involve espionage.

Q12. Who is Fowler?
(a) secret agent
(b) spy
(c) personal investigator
(d) writer
Ans: (d)
Fowler is a writer in the story. He is a significant character who encounters Ausable, and their meeting sets the events of the plot in motion.

Q13. How did Fowler feel after meeting Ausable?
(a) excited
(b) overwhelmed
(c) disappointed
(d) None of the above
Ans: (c)
Fowler felt disappointed after meeting Ausable because he expected a more exciting and heroic figure of a secret agent. Ausable's unassuming appearance and behavior were not what Fowler had imagined.

Q14. What was Fowler’s “first thrill of the day”?
(a) meeting Ausable
(b) sight of a man with automatic pistol
(c) seeing a very important paper
(d) none of the above
Ans: (b)
Fowler's "first thrill of the day" came when he saw a man with an automatic pistol on his way to the French hotel. This sighting added an element of suspense and danger to the story.

Q15. What is different about Ausable?
(a) doesn’t look like an agent
(b) doesn’t get messages slipped by dark-eyed beauties
(c) gets only a phone call for appointments inhis room
(d) all of the above
Ans: (d)
Ausable is different from the typical secret agent in multiple ways. He doesn't have the expected appearance, he doesn't receive messages from mysterious sources, and his appointments are made through phone calls, rather than covert encounters.

Q16. What is the meaning of the word “slender”?
(a) weak
(b) slim
(c) fat
(d) None of the above
Ans: (b)
"Slender" means slim or thin in form. In the context of the story, it could refer to the opposite of Ausable's "fat and sloppy" appearance.

Q17. Where did Ausable think Max was?
(a) Paris
(b) Berlin
(c) Boston
(d) None of the above
Ans: (b)
Ausable believed that Max was in Berlin. This assumption sets up the later twist in the plot.

Q18. What did Max want?
(a) Fowler
(b) phone
(c) report
(d) all of the above
Ans: (c)
Max wanted a report from Ausable. This report is a crucial document that becomes the center of the story's mystery.

Q19. How did Max claim to have entered?
(a) a passkey
(b) balcony
(c) window
(d) None of the above
Ans: (a)
Max claimed to have entered Ausable's room using a passkey, suggesting that he had access to the room without anyone noticing.

Q20. How, according to Ausable did Max enter?
(a) a passkey
(b) balcony
(c) window
(d) None of the above
Ans: (b)
Ausable believed that Max entered his room through the balcony, which provides a different perspective on the entry and adds more intrigue to the unfolding events.