Class 10 English Chapter 2 Previous Year Questions - The Thief`s Story

Ans: Anil’s character is portrayed as kind and empathetic. By not confronting Hari Singh about the small profit he makes while buying supplies, Anil demonstrates a forgiving and lenient attitude. This suggests he values Hari’s presence and potential for growth over petty financial discrepancies, reflecting his trust in Hari and his desire to foster a positive relationship rather than enforce strict accountability.

Ans: (C) that he would be able to accomplish a lot if he gets educated
Hari Singh’s realization, as stated in the extract, is that learning to “write like an educated man” would open limitless opportunities for him. This reflects his newfound appreciation for education, inspired by Anil’s teachings. 

Ans: Anil promised to teach Hari Singh to cook, write whole sentences, and add numbers. Hari Singh felt grateful and optimistic, believing that education would enable him to achieve limitless possibilities, transforming his life beyond thievery.

Ans: The narrator earned extra money by making a profit of about a rupee a day.

Ans: Anil’s acceptance and forgiveness of Hari Singh showcase his empathy and generosity. Despite knowing Hari’s deceitful nature, Anil trusts him with responsibilities and teaches him valuable skills. When Hari steals money and returns, Anil silently accepts him back without confrontation, suggesting he understands Hari’s internal struggle. By promising regular payment, Anil encourages Hari’s reformation, reflecting his belief in second chances. This generosity fosters Hari’s moral awakening, as Anil’s kindness makes Hari value trust over theft. Anil’s empathetic approach, overlooking Hari’s flaws to nurture his potential, transforms Hari, highlighting Anil’s character as a compassionate mentor who prioritizes human growth over punishment.

​Ans: Hari Singh met Anil at a wrestling match, where Anil’s kind and simple demeanor attracted Hari, who saw him as an easy target for theft. Hari approached Anil, offering his services, and Anil, needing help, took him in. Hari lied about knowing how to cook to secure the job, as he was a thief seeking opportunities to exploit Anil’s trust. His deception was driven by his opportunistic nature, aiming to gain access to Anil’s home for potential theft. However, Anil’s kindness and trust later influence Hari, leading to his moral transformation, highlighting the contrast between Hari’s initial deceit and Anil’s genuine generosity.

Ans: Anil transformed Hari Singh through his trust, kindness, and mentorship. By teaching Hari to cook, write, and add numbers, Anil offered him a path to self-improvement. Despite Hari’s theft, Anil’s silent forgiveness and decision to pay him regularly showed unwavering belief in Hari’s potential. This empathy stirred Hari’s conscience, making him feel guilt and value Anil’s trust over the stolen money. Anil’s non-confrontational approach and generosity awakened Hari’s sense of morality, leading him to return the money and choose an honest life. Anil’s nurturing environment contrasted with Hari’s past, inspiring him to aspire for education and a better future.

Ans: Hari Singh’s decision to return the stolen money marks a moral awakening, as he prioritizes Anil’s trust over personal gain. Initially deceitful, Hari steals Anil’s money but hesitates, realizing that losing Anil’s mentorship would cost him the chance to learn and reform. His remorse reflects his appreciation for Anil’s kindness, which contrasts with his past experiences. By returning the money, Hari rejects his thieving ways, valuing the opportunity for education and a better life that Anil offers. This act signifies his redemption, as he chooses integrity over dishonesty, inspired by Anil’s unwavering trust and nurturing guidance.

Ans: Anil’s initial kind reaction to Hari’s poor cooking, offering to teach him, shows his patience. His subsequent actions—teaching literacy and ignoring Hari’s small profits—reflect a growing trust and mentorship, fostering Hari’s transformation through empathy and support.

Ans: Hari Singh chose to return to Anil because Anil’s trust and kindness awakened his conscience, making him value their relationship over the stolen money. Anil’s mentorship, offering education and a chance for a better life, gave Hari hope for reform. Fleeing would mean losing the opportunity to learn and gain Anil’s respect. The guilt of betraying Anil, who never confronted Hari’s deceit, stirred remorse, prompting him to return the money and stay. Anil’s non-judgmental nature and belief in Hari’s potential inspired him to choose honesty, marking a shift from his thieving past to a desire for a meaningful future.

Ans: Hari Singh’s final ‘appealing smile’ reflects genuine gratitude and sincerity, unlike his earlier manipulative smiles used to deceive Anil. It signifies his moral transformation, as he now values Anil’s trust and mentorship, marking a shift from deceit to honesty.

Ans: Hari describes Anil as the most trusting person because Anil overlooks his deceit, like the small profits from shopping, and continues to teach and trust him. Even after Hari’s theft, Anil’s silent forgiveness reinforces his unwavering belief in Hari’s potential.

Ans: Hari Singh believed ‘friends were more trouble than help’ because his past experiences with friends likely involved betrayal or complications, reinforcing his solitary, thieving lifestyle. Anil’s trust and kindness contrast this, showing Hari the value of genuine relationships, prompting his change.

Ans: (B) sad
The extract likely refers to the moment Hari Singh steals Anil’s money. Seeing a fifty-rupee note would evoke feelings like excitement or anxiety, not sadness. Sadness is unlikely, as Hari’s intent was theft, driven by opportunism, not sorrow.

Ans: The prospect of regular payment boosts Hari Singh’s motivation and hope, offering stability and a legitimate income. It reinforces his trust in Anil’s kindness, inspiring him to pursue education and a better future, moving away from thievery.

Ans: It reflects the nobility of his character.
Anil’s decision not to confront Hari about the theft reflects his noble character, as he prioritizes Hari’s reformation over punishment. This act of silent forgiveness showcases Anil’s empathy and desire to guide Hari toward honesty.

Ans: “My heart sank” indicates feelings of disappointment or guilt, while “My spirits rose” suggests joy or optimism.
In the context of Hari’s theft and return, “my heart sank” likely describes his guilt when contemplating betraying Anil, while “my spirits rose” could reflect his relief or hope upon returning and being accepted.

Ans: Anil’s kindness and forgiveness, by not reporting Hari’s theft, stirred Hari’s conscience, leading to his moral transformation. This act made Hari value Anil’s trust, prompting him to return the money and choose honesty, aspiring for a better life through education.

Ans: (d) He had no money to take admission in school.

Ans: Hari realizes that the theft that he has done has led to severe loss in his routine. He feels that the gain is insignificant in comparison to the loss that the has suffered and so, he is regretful.

Ans: Hari Singh realizes that getting education will enable him to earn more money and he finds the petty thefts that he does to be insignificant. He is ambitious and wants to earn his money the right may.

Ans: True 

Ans: When Anil handed the wet currency to Hari Singh, it showed that he was aware that Hari had attempted theft. Anil chose not to confront Hari and he said a lot without speaking a single word. By doing this Anil showed trust in Hari and this made Hari responsible. Hari felt the need to prove his worthiness to such a trusting man. Hari did not want to leave Anil because Anil’s company promised a better future in terms of gaining education and a friend. Anil also believed that there could be the possibility that Hari Singh would change his mood and passion.

Ans: Dear Diary,
Today has been a day of reckoning for me. I’ve always lived by taking what I needed, often without considering the consequences. But today, I faced a dilemma that made me question everything. Anil, the man I tried to steal from, showed me kindness and trust instead of anger or betrayal. His simple gestures of teaching me to cook and write left a deep impact on me.
I realized that human values like trust, kindness, and forgiveness are not weaknesses, but strengths that can transform a person. Anil’s faith in me, despite my deceit, made me reflect on my own actions and the emptiness of my previous life. I returned the money I stole, not out of fear, but out of a newfound respect.
Today taught me that relationships built on honesty and mutual respect are the true wealth in life. I want to learn from Anil, to become a better person, and perhaps, to find redemption.
Yours sincerely,
Hari Singh

Ans: As the thief got the money he quickly crawled out of the room. When he was on the road, he began to run. He had the notes at his waist, held them by the string of his pyjamas. Later on he slowed down to walk and counted the notes. He thought that with those 600 rupees he could lead a luxurious life like an oil-rich Arab at least for a week.

Ans: The thief smiled at Anil towards the end of the story in his most appealing way. But unlike as on previous occasions, this smile was natural and from the innermost comer of his heart. Being spontaneous, the smile was “without any effect”.

Ans: In his short career as a thief, he has studied reactions of so many people when they are robbed off their belongings. He has Observed that the greedy people showed fear; the rich showed anger and the poor people showed acceptance.

Ans: Hari Singh justified stealing from Anil by saying that if he did not steal, Anil would waste the money on his friends. Moreover, Hari believed that since Anil had not been paying him any salary, it was another reason for him to rob Anil.

Ans: Trust and compassion can indeed reform a person, as demonstrated in the story 'The Thief's Story'. Anil, the young man who hired Hari Singh as a domestic help, was the epitome of generosity and trust. He gave Hari Singh a key to his room, allowing him the freedom to come and go as he pleased. One day, Hari Singh stole six-hundred rupees while Anil was sleeping and went to the railway station to catch a train and escape after the robbery. However, his conscience pricked him for robbing a man like Anil, who had trusted him and always treated him with kindness. He realized that Anil would be saddened not by the loss of money, but by the loss of trust and faith he had in Hari Singh. Hari did not want to lose the chance of getting an education and leading a respectable life, so he made the decision to return. In this way, the trust, love, and compassion shown by Anil ultimately reformed a thief.

Ans: Anil didn’t hand over Hari to the police because if Anil had done it, Hari would have never reformed. He would have gone back to his old ways of cheating and stealing from people, which Anil didn’t want. Thus, by doing so, he gave Hari another chance to reform.

Ans: Both the characters in 'The Thief's Story’ are neither completely black or white. They have their own qualities out of which some need improvement. We may consider both the personas as grey.
The narrator of the story was a thief of 15 years. He had worked for different employees. He used to change his place after cheating his owner. Now he made Anil, who was an easy going person and writer by profession, his friend. He keeps faith in Hari Singh giving him shelter in his own house, although he does not have any clear information about him. On the other hand, Hari Singh was artful and smart for his age. He didn’t have shame in lying and stealing. One day he stole Anil’s money and went out of the room but came back. His conscience stopped him from doing so. Even he made no effort to confess that he had given in to the temptation of stealing the notes. His heart had been changed due to love, affection and faith Anil had shown. In this way, we may conclude that grey characters are unpredictable and present a moral challenge to the readers.

Ans: (c) 
Hari Singh stayed on because he was planning to steal from Anil, hoping to gain something from staying with him.

Ans: Anil employed Hari Singh on the condition that if he could cook, he would be fed and given a place to stay. However, Hari Singh failed in his job by not only lying about his ability to cook but also by stealing money from Anil.

Ans: (d)
Hari found it pleasant to work for Anil because he believed Anil’s trusting nature made him easy to deceive.

Ans: Hari Singh is a thief who would do anything to ensure his survival. He lied about his name and his abilities to Anil in order to have a place to stay and earn money. At the same time, he is also a human being, as shown by his decision to return the stolen money. His reluctance to betray Anil demonstrates his human side perfectly.

Ans: Anil does not hand Hari Singh over to the police because he sees a change in him. He realizes that Hari has realized his mistake and wants to mend his ways, as evidenced by his decision to put the stolen money back. Anil has a humble nature and wants to give Hari a chance. Therefore, he forgives him for stealing and decides to encourage the spirit of goodness in him.

Ans: Anil made a living in a peculiar way. He would borrow money one week and lend it the next. He would worry about his next paycheck, but as soon as it arrived, he would spend it all. He also wrote for magazines, which was another unconventional way of making money to support his lifestyle.

Ans: Hari Singh returned to Anil because he realised that he had robbed the most trustworthy person that he had ever met. Anil’s kindness, love, and help that he provided him made him repent of his mistake and brought him back to him.

Ans: Anil made money in fits and starts. He would borrow one week, lend the next. He would worry about his next paycheck, but spend it all as soon as it arrived. It seemed like a peculiar way of making a living.

Ans: Yes, Hari Singh liked working for Anil as he did not have to do a lot of work. He used to make tea in the morning and go out to the local market to buy the daily essentials. In the process of buying daily essentials, Hari would also steal about a rupee for himself.