N. K.

BAGRODIA PUBLIC SCHOOL, ROHINI

THE THIEF’S STORY

Extract Based Competency Questions

1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Anil was watching a wrestling match when I approached him. He was about 25 – a tall,

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lean fellow- and he looked easy going, kind and simple enough for my purpose. I hadn't
had much luck of late and thought I might be able to get into the young man's

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confidence. “You look a bit of a wrestler yourself “, I said. A little flattery helps in making
friends.
A) According to the extract, the young boy was watching the wrestling match

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because he:
(a) had been invited thereby the wrestlers.
(b) Was supposed to meet someone there.
(c) was looking for simple people to dupe.
(d) loved wrestling and followed it very closely
B) ‘I hadn't had much luck of late’ means that the boy hadn't :
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(a) ever canned people successfully.
(b) been successful in duping people for sometime.
(c) understood the consequences of the thievery till date.
(d) Considered the role of faith in deceiving others.
C) ‘I might be able to get into the young man's confidence.
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Choose the option that DOES NOT display what the statement means :
a) He wanted to win his trust
b) he wanted him to share his thoughts without caution
c) He wanted him to feel comfortable revealing more details about
himself
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d) he wanted to be able to spend quality time with him.

D) Anil looked easy going, kind and simple to the narrator. Which of the given
characteristics would NOT fit in with this description?
a) Compassionate
b) Suave
c) uncomplicated
d) carefree
E) Based on the line, “A little flattery helps in making friends, “ choose the option
that displays the quote closest in meaning:
 a) Imitation is the best form of flattery, people generally understand
that my comedy is not intended to hurt anybody.
b) I know imitation is the highest form of flattery, but stealing one's
identity is totally different.
c) nothing is so great an example of bad manners as flattery. If you
flatter all the company, you please none, if you flatter only one or
two, you offend the rest.
d) One May define flattery as a base companionship which is most
advantageous to the flatterer.

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2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:

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Later, he patted me on the head and said never mind, he’d teach me to cook. He also
taught me to write my name and said he would soon teach me to write whole sentences
and to add numbers. I was grateful. I knew that once I could write like an educated man
there would be no limit to what I could achieve. It was quite pleasant working for Anil. I

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made the tea in the morning and then would take my time buying the days supplies,
usually making a profit of about a rupee a day. I think he knew I made a little money this
way but he did not seem to mind.
A) Why would ‘he’ teach the narrator to cook?
a) he wanted to make him a chef.
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b) the narrator lied that he knew to cook but failed.
c) the narrator was to participate in a cooking competition.
d) he wanted to train him to make his permanent cook.
B) ‘I was grateful.’ What was the narrator grateful for?
a) Anil taught him many things.
b) Anil wanted to make him a clever thief.
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c) narrator gained Anil’s confidence.

d) narrator wanted a shelter that Anil provided.
C) The narrator thought that after being educated, he would:
a) achieve great success
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b) become a doctor
c) become a nice person
d) attempt big scale robberies.
D) ‘It was quite pleasant working for Anil.’ Why?
a) narrator had to do skilful work.
b) narrator received a good salary for work.
c) narrator learned to cook from Anil.
d) narrator had to do light work and nothing much.
E) Why did Anil not ‘mind the way’ the narrator made profit from him?
a) Anil was ignorant.
 b) Anil had no idea about it.
c) Anil was generous and forgiving.
d) It was Anil’s money.
3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
I think he knew I made a little money this way but he did not seem to mind. Anil made
money by fits and starts. He would Borrow one week, lend the next week. He kept
worrying about his cheque, but as soon as it arrived, he would go out and celebrate. It
seems he wrote for magazines – a queer way to make a living!

(A) Anil made money ‘by fits and starts’ means that he:

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(a) deemed it fit to start investing money.

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(b) started earning money in the recent past.
(c) received money intermittently.
(d) put his money to use frequently.
(B) The information in the extract suggests that Anil could be a :

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(b) freelancer
(c) Businessman
(d) Volunteer
(C) If borrow :: lend, then pick the ODD pair from the options
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below:
(a) Give :: take
(b) lose :: find
(c) hop:: skip
(d) Buy:: sell
(D)The reference to making a little money ‘this way’ refers to a
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way that is viewed by most people as:

(a) sensible
(b) inappropriate
(c) charitable
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(d) aggressive
(E) Based on your understanding of Anil in the extract, choose
the option that synchronises with his thinking:
(a) so what if I don't have much money? Giving it to that
person is important as they could do with the helping
hand.
(b) I better learn how to protect my money. I think I am being
looted.
(c) I earn money with such tremendous efforts. Where did
does it all go?
 (d) when I become rich, I can begin to help friends then. right
now, I will spend only on myself.
SAQS
1. Anil could not afford to keep Hari Singh. Why?
2. What reasons does Hari Singh give to rob Anil?
3. Describe Hari Singh’s dilemma at the station. Why did he not jump into a compartment
of Lucknow Express when he could?
4. Why did Hari Singh feel that it was difficult to rob a person like Anil?

LAQS

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1. How did Anil make a living? Did he have a regular source of income?

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2. Draw a character sketch of Anil. Write a diary entry of Anil when he realised that Hari
Singh tried to steal the money

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