‘The Thief’s story’

Instructions:
Read the chapter thoroughly before attempting any question. Consult an English to English
dictionary( preferably Oxford) to get the meanings of the words used in the text.

I. Extract Based Questions:

1. Anil was watching a wrestling match when I ……….kind and simple enough
for my purpose……….to get into the young man’s confidence.
“You look a bit of a wrestler yourself,”….. helps in making friends.

(i) According to the extract, the young boy was watching the wrestling match
because he ….
(a) had been invited there by 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.

(ii) ‘I hadn’t much luck of late’ means that the boy hadn’t……
(a) ever conned people successfully.
(b) been successful in duping people lately.
(c) understood the consequences of thievery till date.
(d) considered the role of fate in deceiving others.

(iii) Anil looked easy-going, kind and simple to the narrator. Which of the given
characteristics would NOT fit in this description?
(a) Compassionate (b) Suave (c) Uncomplicated (d) Naive

(iv) 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.
2. Well , it’s time, I did some real work, I told myself: ……..After all, he doesn’t
even pay me.
(i) What is referred to as ‘real work’?
(a) Writing articles. (b) Cooking (c) Cleaning (d) Stealing

(ii) Who is ‘I’ in the above lines?

(a) Anil (b) Hari singh (c) The writer (d) None of these

(iii) Hari wants to steal Anil’s money because…

(a) he has to pay his debt. (b) he has not stolen anything for a long time.
(c) the money belongs to him. (d) none of these.

(iv) The word ____________ in the above extract is the antonym of ‘useful’

3. I had forgotten about them in the excitement of the theft. Whole sentences
…………. and sometimes just as simple to be caught……….I told myself, if only
to learn to read and write.
(i) The speaker says that in his excitement of the theft, he forgot…
(a) to take his belongings. (b) about his education.
(c) to lock the door (d) to cook food for his master.

(ii) The speaker realised that education could give him….

(a) freedom (b) respect (c) money (d) both (b) and (c)

(iii) The speaker went back to his master to confess his mistake. (T/F)
(iv) The word ____________ in the above extract means the same as ‘smart’.

4. I think he knew I made a little money this way……kept worrying about his
next cheque……a queer way to make a living.
(i) Anil made money by ‘fits and starts’ means that he….
(a) deemed it fit to start investing money.
(b) started earning money in the recent past.
(c) received money intermittently.
(d) put his money to use frequently.

(ii) The information in the extract suggests that Anil could be a…

(a) salaried professional (b) freelancer (c) businessman (d) volunteer

(iii) If borrow : : lend, then pick the ODD pair from the options below:
(a) give : : take (b) lose : : find (c) hop : : skip (d) buy : : sell
(iv) The reference to making a little money ‘this way’ refers to a way that is
viewed by most people as…
(a) sensible (b) inappropriate (c) charitable (d) aggressive

5. When the train had gone, I found myself standing ……. I had no friends.
(i) The name of ‘the train’ is…
(a) Anand Vihar Express (b) Coromandel Express
(c) Lucknow Express (d) Jijamata Express

(ii) The speaker was standing alone on the platform because…

(a) he had nowhere to go. (b) the train he wanted to board had just left.
(c) he didn’t have any friend. (d) both (a) and (c).

(iii) The speaker didn’t have any friends because…

(a) he thought that friends were more trouble than help (b) he was a thief.
(c) he was rude. (d) all of these.

(iv) The word ______ in the extract is the opposite of ‘crowded’.

II. Answer in 40-50 words:

(i) What did Anil and Hari Singh agree upon to be the mode of payment?
(ii) State the events that took place on the night of the theft.
(iii) Why was it difficult for Hari Singh to rob Anil?
(iv) What made Hari Singh come back to Anil?
(v) Had Anil really forgiven Hari Singh? Support your answer with evidence.

III. Answer in 100-120 words:

(i) Write a character sketch of the thief-boy.
(ii) Draw a character sketch of Anil.
(iii) ‘The Thief’s Story’ is an in-depth study of human mind. Discuss.
(iv) Education means different things to different people. Evaluate how it impacted
the young thief in the story.
(v) Money cannot make a man as much as education can. Elucidate the statement
w.r.t the ‘The Thief’s Story’.

xxxxxxx