Tag: “CBSE” English textbook from class 10

Introduction

The funny story known as “The Hack Driver” was written by the American author Sinclair Lewis. It’s a funny story about a good lawyer and a rickshaw driver who get lost in a village while looking for Oliver Lutkins. Because the hack driver Bill was so kind to him, he quickly warmed up to the people who lived in the hamlet and developed an affection for the community as a whole. In the end, Lutkins was the one who successfully tricked the lawyer by posing as a hack driver.

Summary of the chapter

The protagonist of this piece is a recent law school graduate who finds work as an assistant clerk at a prestigious legal firm. The witness Oliver Lutkins, who resided in the nearby hamlet of New Mullion, required his personal service on more than one occasion. The protagonist was looking at a bright platform when he spotted a hacker.

Hack driver

The attorney hired Bill’s rickshaw to help him track down Lutkins. Bill was the one who led the lawyer on a goose chase to several places in search of Lutkins. When he learned of Lutkins, he naturally had questions. When the gang went to Fritz’s business, they were told Lutkins had gone to Gustaff barber for a shave, but when they followed him there, they found him playing poker. Also at Gustaff’s residence, they were unable to locate him, but word reached them that he had been spotted at the pool hall. He was last seen leaving the store with a pack of smokes, and his whereabouts have since been uncovered.

The more the attorney knew about Bill, the more he began to believe in Bill’s kindness and charity. As a result of his kind demeanour, he won the hearts of the locals. The shady driver recommended looking through his mother’s belongings for Lutkin’s. The awful truth about Lutkin’s mother, who threatened to burn them with an iron rod, was revealed when they visited her home. Once all was said and done, they were able to flee and save themselves. The attorney did not call for Lutkins and then he departed.

His supervisor gave him a nasty dressing down the next day and had him return to the village with a coworker who knew Lutkins. As soon as Bill arrived at the station, the lawyer eagerly offered to help him look for Lutkins. As soon as the lawyer found out that Oliver Lutkins had posed as Bill, he felt humiliated.

About the author

This narrative was written by an American author and dramatist by the name of Harry Sinclair Lewis. In 1930, he was honoured with the Nobel Prize in Literature for his work.

Conclusion

The cautionary tale “The Hack Driver” teaches us that we should be aware of the people in our immediate environment and not put our faith in anyone without conducting thorough research on them. This story reminds us not to put all our faith in other people without first investigating and exercising caution. When we judge others only primarily on their outward looks, we put ourselves in potentially dangerous situations.

Textbook Questions and Answers

1. When the lawyer reached New Mullion, did ‘Bill’ know he was looking for Lutkins? When do you think Bill devised his plan for fooling the lawyer?

Ans. At first, Bill was unaware that the lawyer was searching for him. Even though he knew he was needed as a witness, he wasn’t eager to testify; he must have drafted his plan when the lawyer told him he was looking for Lutkins.

2. Lutkins openly takes the lawyer all over the village. How is it that no one lets out the secret? (Hint: Notice that the hack driver asks the lawyer to keep out of sight behind him when they go into Fritz’s.) Can you find other such subtle ways in which Lutkins manipulates the tour?

Ans. When the lawyer is supposed to find Lutkins at a specific time, Lutkins never lets the lawyer get there. A hacker uses stories to convince the lawyer that Lutkins is a vagabond and scares him about Lutkins’ mother to fool the lawyer. Lutkins is never asked about by the lawyer, he just pretends to ask. Hence everybody in the village also supported Lutkins.

3. Why do you think Lutkins’ neighbours were anxious to meet the lawyer?

Ans. Because everybody in that village saw the lawyer, except Lutkins’ neighbours, when he got fooled by Lutkins. They were curious to see the person who got fooled so easily.

4. After his first day’s experience with the hack driver, the lawyer thinks of returning to New Mullion to practise law. Do you think he would have reconsidered this idea after his second visit?

Ans. I don’t think the lawyer would ever consider practising law at New Mullion because he was ashamed of himself for being fooled by Lutkins in front of the entire village.

5. Do you think the lawyer was gullible? How could he have avoided being taken for a ride?

Ans. I think the lawyer acted gullible. It would have been better if he had asked other villagers about Oliver Lutkins instead of believing everything he said.

6. Who is a ‘con man’, or a confidence trickster?

Ans. Someone who makes others look foolish is called a ‘con man’ or a confidence trickster. After gaining their trust, he gets anything he desires from them.

The Hack Driver Extra Questions and Answers

1. What is the moral of this story?

Ans. This story and its message are fantastic. This tale teaches us to be vigilant and research before blindly trusting others. 

2. What is a hack driver? 

Ans. Hack drivers are those who operate a cab or chariot for hire. Customers tend to go with the hack drivers in the train station or bus terminal.

3. How do people make a living in a village?

Ans. People in urban areas often migrate to rural regions, or “villages,” to work in agriculture. Around the settlements, we can see lush meadows, animals, and stunning hill stations.

Introduction

The author of “Bholi” is Khwaja Ahmad Abbas. Sulekha, or Bholi as she is better called, is the protagonist of this tale. Because of her unattractiveness and lack of skill, she was looked down upon by everyone. She turned down her marriage proposal from a stingy elderly guy on her wedding day after she’d reached adulthood.

Summary of the chapter

The narrative’s protagonist is a young lady named Sulekha. She was known as Bholi because of her plainness. She suffered from a stutter due to the brain damage she had throughout her early years of learning to speak. She caught smallpox as a kid, permanently disfiguring her face with pockmarks. As a result, she endured ridicule for her ugliness and lack of intelligence.

Indian girl 

Tehsildar instructed Ramlal to sign up his daughters for school on the first day of classes. At first, Bholi was terrified by the thought of attending school. After she obtained the attention, clothing, and other necessities she needed, however, she began to see school as preferable to her home. As the instructor called her name, she stutteringly answered, much to the amusement of her other students. She grew disheartened and started crying as a result. Only after her instructor asked her to repeat the name with a cheerful expression did Bholi finally learn how to pronounce it correctly. The educator offered her encouragement to keep returning to school despite her stammering. That gave Bholi a reason to believe in a better future.

Bholi was proposed to by Bishamber Nath, an elderly crippled man whose own children were now adults when she reached adulthood. A female attendant lifted the veil off her face when the groom was getting ready to approach the bride. Bisambar was put off by Bholi’s unattractive appearance and hence was unwilling to marry her without a dowry. Her dad set up the dowry funds. But, Bholi turned down Bishamber’s marriage proposal because of his avarice. She shocked everyone by not stuttering when she spoke. Bishamber left the event and returned home. Bholi promised her father that she would one day teach at the school from which she had benefited greatly and also look after his ageing parents.

About the author

Besides being an Indian film screenwriter, director, journalist, and novelist, Khwaja Ahmad Abbas was a writer in Hindi, English, and Urdu as well. The Indian film industry honoured him with four ‘National Film Awards’.

Conclusion

This story teaches us that during the crucial years of childhood when children are still developing into responsible adults. We need to provide them with moral and emotional support. It discusses the harmful social practices that are still common in certain regions of the world and how young girls are made vulnerable to these practises due to a lack of knowledge in the community as a whole.

Textbook Question and Answers

1. Bholi had many apprehensions about going to school. What made her feel she was going to a better place than her home?

Ans. Once she had received proper care, good clothes, and other things, she started believing that school was a better place than her home.

2. How did Bholi’s teacher play an important role in changing her life?

Ans. The school teacher motivated her to talk with confidence. In addition to being polite, she played a key role in enhancing her confidence level and making her a more capable reader, writer, and speaker.

3. Why did Bholi at first agree to an unequal match? Why did she later reject the marriage? What does this tell us about her?

Ans. Bholi agreed to an unequal match because her parents were concerned about her marriage, and the groom was not asking for any dowry. Later she rejected the marriage because the groom asked for a dowry after seeing her ugly face. This indicates that Bholi was full of confidence and self-respect, because of which she could handle the worst situation wisely by taking a brave decision.

4. Bholi’s real name is Sulekha. We are told this right at the beginning. But only in the last but one paragraph of the story is Bholi called Sulekha again. Why do you think she is called Sulekha at that point in the story?

Ans. In the entire story, the girl’s name is mentioned as Bholi, which means a simple girl who does not express her point of view in any situation. When she got an education, she gained the confidence to speak and stand for her rights. When she refused to marry the old man in front of everyone she proved that she was not a Bholi anymore. So the author called her Sulekha.

5. Bholi’s teacher helped her overcome social barriers by encouraging and motivating her. How do you think you can contribute towards changing the social attitudes illustrated in this story?

Ans. We can contribute towards changing the social attitudes illustrated in the story by educating boys and girls regarding their rights, providing equal education opportunities, and opposing dowry.

6. Should girls be aware of their rights and assert them? Should girls and boys have the same rights, duties and privileges? What are some of how society treats them differently? When we speak of ‘human rights’, do we differentiate between girls’ and boys’ rights?

Ans. There is no doubt that girls should be aware of and assert their rights. The rights, privileges, and duties of girls and boys must be equal. In villages and small towns, people treat boys and girls differently. Girls are usually trained to be polite, calm, and expert at household chores with their parents, whereas boys are more likely to be educated. The law does not distinguish between girls’ and boys’ rights when we speak of ‘human rights’, but society does.

7. Do you think the characters in the story were speaking to each other in English? If not, in which language were they speaking? (You can get clues from the names of the persons and the non-English words used in the story.)

Ans. The characters in the story were not speaking to each other in English. It is evident from the text that characters spoke in Hindi, using terms like the number dar, pita ji, tehsildar, and izzat.

Bholi Class 10 Extra Questions and Answers

1. Discuss children’s rights.

Ans. Children have the same rights as adults, including health care, an appropriate education, the means of subsistence, safety, and participation in decision-making, among other things.

2. Can speech problems take place due to brain problems?

Ans. Damage to the part of the brain which controls the “speech movement” can result in stammering while speaking. People who get traumatic brain injuries have a chance of stammering.

3. What is the moral of the story?

Ans. We can learn from this story that children should be morally and emotionally protected during their formative years to grow up to be good citizens.

Introduction

This story was written by Elsie Brown. John Hallock writes ghost stories and this story is about him. The ghost, Helen, helped him to develop his creativity. As a result, he feared divorce could plague his relationship with Lavinia because he could not disclose his relationship with the ghost. As soon as his wife threw out the ‘Ouija Board’, things became clear.

Ouja Board

Summary of the chapter

 A ghost story writer is the subject of this story. The ghost named Helen, who works for ‘Writer’s Inspiration Bureau’, provides him with ideas for stories when he doesn’t have any. Ghosts, however, are annoyed with the people who are operating ‘Ouija boards’. The ghost Helen comes to John saying that the ghosts are going on a strike to stop humans from playing with Ouija boards.

However, he is dragged to participate in a Ouija board party by his wife, who recently bought an Ouija board. Helen, the ghost, disrupts the game, preventing it from reaching its conclusion. Following her suspicion that John has been having an affair with Helen, Lavinia threatens to leave him forever. Moreover, their cook is scared of Ouija boards and decides to resign her job. After Lavinia told the cook to take away the Ouija board, they were all happy again and back to their normal lives. 

Due to Lavinia’s desicon of not using the Ouija board again, the ghost also leaves them forever. A new idea from Helen the ghost inspires the writer to begin his next assignment, and he sets into work.

About the author

Elsie Brown has been active in her church’s music department for over sixty years, from the age of twelve when she was a church organist. As a painter, she uses acrylics, watercolors, and oils. She has written “Out of Appalachia.”

Conclusion

In this story, the storyteller teaches us that humans shouldn’t use supernatural powers to solve their problems, such as Tarot cards or Ouija boards. One must use his intelligence and wit to face the challenges instead of choosing shortcuts.

Textbook Questions and Answers

I) Based on your reading of the story above, answer the following questions by ticking the correct options. 

1. The narrator earns his living by …… 

(а) writing ghost stories 

(b) working as a reader for a magazine 

(c) working as a stenographer 

(d) working as an accountant in a lumber company

Ans. (d) working as an accountant in a lumber company

2. The writer was overconfident about his ability to write ghost stories because ……

(a) whenever magazines wanted a ghost story, they got in touch with him 

(b) he was always able to write a ghost story whenever he had to write one

(c) the readers appreciated his ghost stories

(d) he knew the ghost lady would help him write a good ghost story

Ans. (b) he was always able to write a ghost story whenever he had to write one

3. The sight of the ghost materialising in his room filled the narrator with ……

(a) fear

(b) excitement 

(c) joy 

(d) anticipation

Ans. (d) anticipation

4. The ghost wanted John to 

(a) stop his wife from using the Ouija board

(b) stop using the Ouija board himself

(c) stop his guests from using the Ouija board

(d) stop people from using the Ouija board

Ans. (d) stop people from using the Ouija board

5. John wants the ghost to disappear before his wife enters the room and waves his arms at the ghost with something of the motion of a beginner when learning to swim. His movement shows his ………

(a) fear

(b) amusement

(c) desperation

(d) anxiety

Ans. (c) desperation

6. When the narrator says his wife is never so pretty as when she’s doing something she knows he disapproves of, his tone is ……….

(а) amused

(b) ironic

(c) angry

(d) irritated

    Ans. (b) ironic

7. The ghost says “It’s all your fault”. ‘It’ here refers to ………

(a) the narrator’s wife’s anger 

(b) the ghost’s anger

(c) the narrator’s wife leaving him

(d) the ghost materialising in sections

Ans. (a) the narrator’s wife’s anger

8. Gladolia wishes to leave the narrator’s house as ……….

(a) she does not like the Ouija boards

(b) she is afraid of the ghost

(c) she is afraid of magic and hoodoo

(d) she likes Ouija boards and hoodoo

Ans. (c) she is afraid of magic and hoodoo

Question II) Answer the following questions briefly :

(a) What genre of stories does Jenkins want the narrator to write ? Why ?

Ans. A ghost story would be written by a narrator about ghosts and supernatural occurrences. The ghosts in his stories look like real ones, and he writes supernatural stories with both horror and supernatural elements.

(b) Does the narrator like writing ghost stories ? Support your answer with evidence from the story. 

Ans. The narrator likes writing ghost stories. Because he does not have any other option than writing ghost stories as Jenkins wants him to write such stores and his magazine is the only one that prints narrator’s stories.

(c) What makes Helen, the ghost, and her other co-ghosts organize The Writer’s Inspiration Bureau?

Ans. Hallock the narrator learns from Helen, the ghost, that she used to write in her other life. She became a magazine reader. However, those days were terrible because their memories caused her to mistake purgatory for paradise. She made a decision when she reached her current state of being. The Writer’s Inspiration Bureau was formed because of her and other ghosts’ suffering.

(d) Why had Helen, the ghost, been helping the narrator write ghost stories ? Why was she going on strike ? What condition did she place for providing continued help ?

Ans. He had been without ideas for his ghost stories until Helen, the ghost, helped him write them. Having had horrible days as a magazine reader, she went on strike. If he stopped using Ouija boards with all his friends and acquaintances, she would help him.

(e) How does the ghost undermine the narrator’s faith in his ability to write ghost stories ?

Ans. Putting a condition on the narrator undermines his confidence in writing ghost stories. He is promised that she will assist him if he prevents his friends and acquaintances from using Ouija boards. Nevertheless, Hallock was unable to stop them from using them.

(f) Why does John want the ghost to disappear before his wife appears on the scene ? What impression of his wife’s character do you form from his words ?

Ans. The reason is that John is afraid she wouldn’t tolerate him talking to another woman. It is possible that his talking to ‘her’ will cause problems in their marriage since his wife, like any other woman placed in such a situation, is jealous.

(g) Why does the narrator hesitate to be a partner to Laura Hinkle during the Ouija Board Party ? Or Why didn’t John want to partner Laura Hinkle at the Ouija Board party ?

Ans. Since he doesn’t want to use the Ouija board, the narrator hesitates to be Laura Hinkle’s partner. The second reason was that Laura Hinkle was a flirt and cheater.

(h) What message does the ghost convey to the group that had assembled in the narrator’s house ? What is their reaction to the message ?

Ans. Despite the ghost’s objections, the group used Ouija boards. In order to get John’s attention, she called them, saying he had cheated on her. As they too called John’s name together, the women felt that they were in trouble.

(i) Do you agree with the narrator calling the assembly of women “manipulators” ? Give reasons.

Ans. I agree with the narrator calling the assembly of women as ‘manipulators’. The reason is that they take shortcuts and use dubious methods to accomplish their goals. However, they still use Ouija boards despite Helen’s wishes.

(j) Why is John’s wife angry ? What does she decide to do ? Or Why did John’s wife get angry with him ? What did she decide to do ? Or Why is John’s wife angry and what does she decide to do ? Why does John wish he were dead ?

Ans. Because her husband is talking to another woman, John’s wife is jealous. Angry over his behavior, she leaves her husband, John Hallock. A brief encounter with Helen had led to such a situation that John wished to be dead because his wife Helen and all their happiness had been snuffed out due to such a short meeting.

(l) When confronted by Lavinia about his flirtations over the Ouija Board, John insists that ‘the affair was quite above-board, I assure you, my love’. Bring out the pun in John’s statement.

Ans. As a result of a threat he received from his wife, John wished he were dead. In the meantime, he will speak with her lawyer about the threat she is making towards him.

(m) John’s apprehensions about his wife’s reaction to her encounter with the ghost are unfounded. Justify.

Ans. In this case, ‘the affair was very above-board’ is the pun. The statement is true that John flirted with Hinkle, but was forced to pair up with her by his wife. In his own right, he was not interested in getting married to her.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Write a note on the author of the story ‘A shady plot’.

Ans.  Elsie Brown has been active in her church’s music department for over sixty years, from the age of twelve when she was a church organist. As a painter, she uses acrylics, watercolors, and oils. She has written “Out of Appalachia.”

Q2: What is a Ouija Board?

Ans. On an ouija board, you will find letters from the alphabet arranged in alphabetical order. The spirit of the dead is believed to answer questions asked in this way.

Q3: Write a note on the ‘Ouija Board party’?

Ans. A ‘Ouija board party’ involves a game of slumber party fame. A number of people believe automatic writing facilitates the channeling of answers from the spiritual realm through automatic writing.