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Class 10

English – Supplementary Reader

A Question of Trust

A Question of Trust

Action PlanNotesQuestionsMock-Test
Study Action Plan (Sorted by Difficulty)
Irony and Deception
Accuracy: 36%
Total Attempted14
Total Correct5
Total Incorrect9
Difficulty Level:
High
Theme of Trust and Betrayal
Accuracy: 64%
Total Attempted14
Total Correct9
Total Incorrect5
Difficulty Level:
Medium
Character Analysis: Horace Danby
Accuracy: 88%
Total Attempted56
Total Correct49
Total Incorrect7
Difficulty Level:
Low
Use of Dialogue for Character Development
Accuracy: 93%
Total Attempted14
Total Correct13
Total Incorrect1
Difficulty Level:
Low

Learning Objectives

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Learning Objectives

  • Understand Irony and Deception: Analyze how irony is used to illustrate the theme of deception, focusing on the twist where Horace Danby, a thief, is outsmarted by another thief posing as the lady of the house.
  • Analyze Character: Horace Danby: Evaluate Horace Danby as a meticulous planner with a peculiar moral code, exploring his motivations for theft and his love for rare books.
  • Explore Theme of Trust and Betrayal: Examine the narrative's exploration of trust and betrayal, questioning the notion of 'honour among thieves' and how trust is manipulated for personal gain.
  • Use of Dialogue for Character Development: Investigate how dialogue reveals character traits and motivations, particularly in the interactions between Horace and the woman who deceives him.

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Revision Notes & Summary

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Chapter Notes

Irony and Deception

  • Irony is central to the story, where Horace Danby, a seasoned thief, is ironically deceived by a woman pretending to be the lady of the house.
  • This twist underscores the theme of deception, highlighting the irony of a thief being outsmarted by another thief.
  • The narrative challenges the notion of 'honour among thieves' by demonstrating how easily trust can be manipulated.

Character Analysis: Horace Danby

  • Horace Danby is depicted as a meticulous planner and a thief with a unique moral code.
  • He is passionate about collecting rare books, which motivates his annual thefts.
  • Despite his criminal activities, he is portrayed as a respectable citizen, which adds complexity to his character.
  • His downfall is his trust in the woman who deceives him, revealing his vulnerability.

Theme of Trust and Betrayal

  • The story explores trust and betrayal, questioning the idea of loyalty among criminals.
  • Horace's trust in the woman leads to his betrayal, illustrating how trust can be exploited for personal gain.
  • The narrative suggests that even those with seemingly honourable intentions can be deceived.

Use of Dialogue for Character Development

  • Dialogue is crucial in revealing character traits and motivations.
  • The interactions between Horace and the woman showcase his desperation and her cunning nature.
  • Through their conversation, Horace's vulnerability and the woman's manipulative skills are highlighted.

Key Events

  • Horace plans a robbery at Shotover Grange, believing it to be foolproof.
  • He is deceived by a woman posing as the lady of the house, who manipulates him into opening the safe.
  • Horace's fingerprints lead to his arrest, as the real lady of the house denies any involvement.
  • The story concludes with Horace reflecting on the irony of his situation, now serving as an assistant librarian in prison.
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Practice Test – MCQs, True/False

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Multiple Choice Questions

A.

He left his fingerprints on the safe.

B.

He trusted the young lady who deceived him.

C.

He underestimated the security system of the house.

D.

He failed to cut the telephone wires.
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Horace's trust in the young lady led to his downfall, as she was not who she claimed to be and betrayed him.

Chapter Concept:

Theme of Trust and Betrayal

A.

She shows him a family portrait.

B.

She calls the dog by its name, Sherry.

C.

She mentions a party she needs to attend.

D.

She wears a piece of jewelry from the safe.
Correct Answer: C

Solution:

The woman mentions needing the jewels for a party, which adds credibility to her claim of being the lady of the house.

Chapter Concept:

Irony and Deception

A.

His meticulous planning and attention to detail.

B.

His gullibility and susceptibility to manipulation.

C.

His ability to remain calm under pressure.

D.

His strong sense of morality and justice.
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Horace's interaction with the woman reveals his gullibility, as he is easily deceived by her charm and apparent sincerity.

Chapter Concept:

Use of Dialogue for Character Development

A.

He is betrayed by his accomplice.

B.

He leaves fingerprints by not wearing gloves.

C.

He is caught on camera.

D.

He forgets the combination to the safe.
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Horace Danby fails because he removes his gloves to help the woman, leaving fingerprints that lead to his arrest.

Chapter Concept:

Irony and Deception

A.

His arrogance in his abilities.

B.

His fear of going to prison.

C.

His lack of interest in books.

D.

His desire to harm others.
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Horace's dialogue reveals his fear of going to prison, as he pleads with the woman to let him go.

Chapter Concept:

Use of Dialogue for Character Development

A.

Horace and the woman both show respect for each other's skills.

B.

The woman betrays Horace, contradicting the idea of honour among thieves.

C.

Horace refuses to harm the woman, demonstrating his sense of honour.

D.

The woman offers to split the jewels with Horace, showing mutual respect.
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

The dialogue illustrates the theme by showing the woman's betrayal of Horace, highlighting the lack of honour among thieves.

Chapter Concept:

Use of Dialogue for Character Development

A.

He is caught by the police due to a tip-off from his accomplice.

B.

The young lady he trusted was actually a thief who tricked him.

C.

His housekeeper reported him to the authorities.

D.

The family returned unexpectedly and caught him.
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Horace feels betrayed because the young lady, who he thought was the lady of the house, was actually a thief who tricked him.

Chapter Concept:

Theme of Trust and Betrayal

A.

To support his family

B.

To buy rare and expensive books

C.

To travel around the world

D.

To donate to charity
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

Horace Danby steals each year to buy rare and expensive books, which he loves.

Chapter Concept:

Character Analysis: Horace Danby

A.

Metaphor

B.

Irony

C.

Foreshadowing

D.

Personification
Correct Answer: B

Solution:

The irony lies in the fact that Horace, a thief, is outsmarted by another thief, which underscores the theme of deception.

Chapter Concept:

Irony and Deception

A.

Horace Danby is a thief who gets deceived by another thief.

B.

Horace Danby is caught because he forgets to wear gloves.

C.

Horace Danby is a thief who only steals books.

D.

Horace Danby is a thief who is actually a police officer.
Correct Answer: A

Solution:

The irony lies in Horace Danby, a thief, being outsmarted by a woman who is also a thief, highlighting the theme of deception.

Chapter Concept:

Irony and Deception

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A Question of Trust

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True or False

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

The woman's voice is described as quiet and kindly, yet firm, which she uses effectively to manipulate Horace into opening the safe for her.

Chapter Concept :

Use of Dialogue for Character Development

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

The story illustrates how trust among thieves can be manipulated for personal gain, ultimately questioning the notion of 'honour among thieves'.

Chapter Concept :

Theme of Trust and Betrayal

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

The story illustrates irony by showing how Horace Danby, who is a thief, is deceived and outsmarted by a woman who is also a thief.

Chapter Concept :

Irony and Deception

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Horace Danby was arrested for the jewel robbery because he opened the safe without wearing gloves, leaving fingerprints as evidence.

Chapter Concept :

Character Analysis: Horace Danby

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

Horace Danby does not suspect the woman because she seems amused rather than alarmed by his presence, which gives him hope that he might avoid trouble.

Chapter Concept :

Use of Dialogue for Character Development

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

The story highlights the irony of Horace Danby, a thief, being deceived by another thief posing as the lady of the house, thus emphasizing the theme of deception.

Chapter Concept :

Irony and Deception

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

The dialogue reveals that Horace is indeed afraid of going to prison, as he pleads with the woman to let him go.

Chapter Concept :

Use of Dialogue for Character Development

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

Horace Danby believed the woman was the lady of the house and was unaware of her true identity until after he was arrested.

Chapter Concept :

Theme of Trust and Betrayal

Correct Answer: False

Solution:

Horace Danby is not a typical thief; he has a peculiar moral code and steals only to buy rare books.

Chapter Concept :

Character Analysis: Horace Danby

Correct Answer: True

Solution:

Horace Danby steals every year to buy rare, expensive books, which he loves.

Chapter Concept :

Character Analysis: Horace Danby

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