#Notes
FULL CBSE BOARD-DEPTH NOTES – A QUESTION OF TRUST
Exam-Oriented Introduction:
“A Question of Trust” is a suspense narrative that explores deception, trust, and irony. In CBSE Class 10 examinations, it is assessed for plot twist, character contrast, irony, and moral reasoning. High-scoring answers should focus on how appearances deceive and how intelligence overcomes cunning crime.
Context and Background:
The story revolves around Horace Danby, a respectable locksmith and occasional thief who steals only to support his passion for rare books. He prides himself on honesty and careful planning. His confidence is shattered when he is outwitted by a clever young woman posing as the lady of the house.
Detailed Explanation with Interpretation:
Horace plans a burglary at Shotover Grange, confident that his meticulous preparation will prevent failure. Inside the house, he encounters a young woman who claims to be the owner. Calm, authoritative, and convincing, she manipulates Horace into opening the safe for her. She also takes his fingerprints from the safe, ensuring he will be caught later.
The irony lies in Horace’s belief that he is a careful and ethical thief, while he becomes a victim of deception due to misplaced trust. The story exposes how intelligence and confidence, not social respectability, determine success or failure in deceptive situations.
Themes (Board-Focused):
Trust and Deception: Blind trust leads to downfall.
Irony: A thief is robbed by another thief.
Appearances vs Reality: Respectability masks dishonesty.
Crime and Consequence: No crime is truly safe.
Character Sketch – Horace Danby:
Horace is intelligent, methodical, and self-deluding. He considers himself honest despite being a thief. His misplaced confidence and trust lead to his capture.
Character Sketch – The Young Woman:
The young woman is confident, manipulative, and clever. She uses presence of mind and acting skills to outwit Horace and escape unpunished.
Central Message (High-Scoring Insight):
The story warns against trusting appearances. Intelligence and alertness are crucial, and crime inevitably leads to consequences, regardless of how carefully it is planned.
Common Board Mistakes to Avoid:
• Portraying Horace as noble or heroic
• Ignoring irony and moral reversal
• Treating the woman as merely lucky rather than intelligent
Exam-Oriented Introduction:
“A Question of Trust” is a suspense narrative that explores deception, trust, and irony. In CBSE Class 10 examinations, it is assessed for plot twist, character contrast, irony, and moral reasoning. High-scoring answers should focus on how appearances deceive and how intelligence overcomes cunning crime.
Context and Background:
The story revolves around Horace Danby, a respectable locksmith and occasional thief who steals only to support his passion for rare books. He prides himself on honesty and careful planning. His confidence is shattered when he is outwitted by a clever young woman posing as the lady of the house.
Detailed Explanation with Interpretation:
Horace plans a burglary at Shotover Grange, confident that his meticulous preparation will prevent failure. Inside the house, he encounters a young woman who claims to be the owner. Calm, authoritative, and convincing, she manipulates Horace into opening the safe for her. She also takes his fingerprints from the safe, ensuring he will be caught later.
The irony lies in Horace’s belief that he is a careful and ethical thief, while he becomes a victim of deception due to misplaced trust. The story exposes how intelligence and confidence, not social respectability, determine success or failure in deceptive situations.
Themes (Board-Focused):
Trust and Deception: Blind trust leads to downfall.
Irony: A thief is robbed by another thief.
Appearances vs Reality: Respectability masks dishonesty.
Crime and Consequence: No crime is truly safe.
Character Sketch – Horace Danby:
Horace is intelligent, methodical, and self-deluding. He considers himself honest despite being a thief. His misplaced confidence and trust lead to his capture.
Character Sketch – The Young Woman:
The young woman is confident, manipulative, and clever. She uses presence of mind and acting skills to outwit Horace and escape unpunished.
Central Message (High-Scoring Insight):
The story warns against trusting appearances. Intelligence and alertness are crucial, and crime inevitably leads to consequences, regardless of how carefully it is planned.
Common Board Mistakes to Avoid:
• Portraying Horace as noble or heroic
• Ignoring irony and moral reversal
• Treating the woman as merely lucky rather than intelligent
#Textbook Q & A
TEXTBOOK QUESTIONS – MODEL CBSE BOARD ANSWERS
Q1. Why did Horace Danby choose to steal?
Answer: Horace Danby stole to support his expensive hobby of collecting rare books. He justified his crime by considering himself a careful and honest thief.
Q2. How did the young woman deceive Horace?
Answer: The young woman posed as the lady of the house and confidently convinced Horace that she needed the jewels urgently. Her calm authority made Horace trust her completely.
Q3. Why did Horace open the safe?
Answer: Horace opened the safe because he trusted the woman’s claim of ownership and wanted to avoid violence or police involvement.
Q4. What role does irony play in the story?
Answer: The irony lies in the fact that a professional thief is deceived and robbed by another criminal due to misplaced trust.
Q5. What message does the story convey? (8 marks)
Answer: The story conveys that appearances are deceptive and trust must be exercised with caution. Intelligence and alertness are essential, and crime ultimately leads to consequences.
Q1. Why did Horace Danby choose to steal?
Answer: Horace Danby stole to support his expensive hobby of collecting rare books. He justified his crime by considering himself a careful and honest thief.
Q2. How did the young woman deceive Horace?
Answer: The young woman posed as the lady of the house and confidently convinced Horace that she needed the jewels urgently. Her calm authority made Horace trust her completely.
Q3. Why did Horace open the safe?
Answer: Horace opened the safe because he trusted the woman’s claim of ownership and wanted to avoid violence or police involvement.
Q4. What role does irony play in the story?
Answer: The irony lies in the fact that a professional thief is deceived and robbed by another criminal due to misplaced trust.
Q5. What message does the story convey? (8 marks)
Answer: The story conveys that appearances are deceptive and trust must be exercised with caution. Intelligence and alertness are essential, and crime ultimately leads to consequences.
#Worksheet
WORKSHEET – A QUESTION OF TRUST (40 FULLY SOLVED QUESTIONS)
SECTION A: MCQs
1. Horace Danby was a: Locksmith
2. Horace stole to buy: Rare books
3. The burglary took place at: Shotover Grange
4. The woman claimed to be the: Owner of the house
5. Horace avoided carrying weapons because: He feared violence
SECTION B: ASSERTION–REASON
6. Assertion: Horace considered himself honest. Reason: He stole only occasionally. Ans: Both true, Reason correct
7. Assertion: The woman outwitted Horace. Reason: She acted confidently. Ans: Both true, Reason correct
SECTION C: VERY SHORT ANSWER
8. Horace’s hobby: Collecting rare books
9. The woman asked for: Jewels
10. Horace used gloves because: To avoid fingerprints
11. The woman took Horace’s fingerprints from: The safe
SECTION D: SHORT ANSWER
12. Why did Horace trust the woman? Ans: She appeared confident and authoritative.
13. Why did Horace avoid violence? Ans: He feared police and injury.
14. How was Horace’s planning flawed? Ans: He trusted appearances blindly.
15. What mistake proved fatal for Horace? Ans: Opening the safe himself.
SECTION E: LONG ANSWER
16. Describe Horace Danby’s character. Ans: Intelligent, cautious, self-deluding thief.
17. Analyse the role of the young woman. Ans: Clever, manipulative, confident criminal.
18. Explain the irony in the title. Ans: Trust leads to betrayal.
19. How does the story criticise crime? Ans: Crime invites downfall.
SECTION F: EXTRACT-BASED
20. “I want the jewels.” What does this show? Ans: Authority and manipulation
21. Tone of the story? Ans: Ironical
SECTION G: VALUE-BASED
22. Value Horace lacks: Judgement
23. Value shown by woman: Cleverness
SECTION H: TRUE / FALSE
24. Horace escaped punishment. Ans: False
25. The woman was arrested. Ans: False
SECTION I: ONE-WORD ANSWERS
26. Theme: Deception
27. Genre: Suspense
SECTION J: APPLICATION-BASED
28. Why should trust be cautious? Ans: Appearances deceive.
29. Why is crime risky? Ans: It leads to consequences.
SECTION K: COMPETENCY-BASED
30. Why was the woman successful? Ans: Confidence and planning.
31. Why did Horace fail? Ans: Overconfidence.
SECTION L: REVISION
32. Central conflict? Ans: Deception
33. Resolution? Ans: Horace caught
34. Message? Ans: Trust cautiously
35. Horace’s flaw? Ans: Self-delusion
36. Woman’s strength? Ans: Manipulation
37. Irony? Ans: Thief robbed
38. Setting? Ans: Shotover Grange
39. Outcome? Ans: Horace punished
40. Moral? Ans: Crime never pays
SECTION A: MCQs
1. Horace Danby was a: Locksmith
2. Horace stole to buy: Rare books
3. The burglary took place at: Shotover Grange
4. The woman claimed to be the: Owner of the house
5. Horace avoided carrying weapons because: He feared violence
SECTION B: ASSERTION–REASON
6. Assertion: Horace considered himself honest. Reason: He stole only occasionally. Ans: Both true, Reason correct
7. Assertion: The woman outwitted Horace. Reason: She acted confidently. Ans: Both true, Reason correct
SECTION C: VERY SHORT ANSWER
8. Horace’s hobby: Collecting rare books
9. The woman asked for: Jewels
10. Horace used gloves because: To avoid fingerprints
11. The woman took Horace’s fingerprints from: The safe
SECTION D: SHORT ANSWER
12. Why did Horace trust the woman? Ans: She appeared confident and authoritative.
13. Why did Horace avoid violence? Ans: He feared police and injury.
14. How was Horace’s planning flawed? Ans: He trusted appearances blindly.
15. What mistake proved fatal for Horace? Ans: Opening the safe himself.
SECTION E: LONG ANSWER
16. Describe Horace Danby’s character. Ans: Intelligent, cautious, self-deluding thief.
17. Analyse the role of the young woman. Ans: Clever, manipulative, confident criminal.
18. Explain the irony in the title. Ans: Trust leads to betrayal.
19. How does the story criticise crime? Ans: Crime invites downfall.
SECTION F: EXTRACT-BASED
20. “I want the jewels.” What does this show? Ans: Authority and manipulation
21. Tone of the story? Ans: Ironical
SECTION G: VALUE-BASED
22. Value Horace lacks: Judgement
23. Value shown by woman: Cleverness
SECTION H: TRUE / FALSE
24. Horace escaped punishment. Ans: False
25. The woman was arrested. Ans: False
SECTION I: ONE-WORD ANSWERS
26. Theme: Deception
27. Genre: Suspense
SECTION J: APPLICATION-BASED
28. Why should trust be cautious? Ans: Appearances deceive.
29. Why is crime risky? Ans: It leads to consequences.
SECTION K: COMPETENCY-BASED
30. Why was the woman successful? Ans: Confidence and planning.
31. Why did Horace fail? Ans: Overconfidence.
SECTION L: REVISION
32. Central conflict? Ans: Deception
33. Resolution? Ans: Horace caught
34. Message? Ans: Trust cautiously
35. Horace’s flaw? Ans: Self-delusion
36. Woman’s strength? Ans: Manipulation
37. Irony? Ans: Thief robbed
38. Setting? Ans: Shotover Grange
39. Outcome? Ans: Horace punished
40. Moral? Ans: Crime never pays