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Question
What is he “a fairly successful hand” at?
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Solution
He was “a fairly successful hand” at stealing and robbing people.
RELATED QUESTIONS
Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft?
What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed?
Does Anil realize that he has been robbed?
What are Hari Singh’s reactions to the prospect of receiving an education? Do they change over time? (Hint: compare, for example, the thought: “I knew that once I could write like an educated man there would be no limit to what I could achieve” with these later thoughts: ‘Whole sentences, I knew, cloud one day bring me more than a few hundred rupees. It was a simple matter to steal − and sometimes just as simple to be caught. But to be a really big man, a clever and respected man, was something else.”) What makes him return to Anil?
Complete the web diagram.
Complete the given sentence.
Anil kept Hari as a cook because ____________
Complete the given sentence.
Hari continued making money ____________
Think and write in your own words, in your notebook.
Why did Anil employ Hari as a cook, although he could not afford to pay him?
Think and write in your own words, in your notebook.
Why didn’t Anil hand over Hari to the police? What effect would it have had on Hari?
Read the following passage and do the activities.
|
I was still a thief when I met Anil. And though only 15, I was an experienced and fairly successful hand. Anil was watching a wrestling match when I approached him. He was about 25- a tall, 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 confidence. "You look a bit of a wrestler yourself," I said. A little flattery helps in making friends. "So do you," he replied, which put me off for a moment because at that time I was rather thin. "Well," I said modestly, "I do wrestle a bit." "What's your name ?" "Harl Singh," I lied. I took a new name every month. That kept me ahead of the police and my former employers. After this introduction, Anil talked about the well-oiled wrestlers who were grunting, lifting and throwing each other about. I didn't have much to say. Anil walked away. I followed casually. "Hello again," he said. I gave him my most appealing smile. "I want to work for you." I said. "But I can't pay you." I thought that over for a minute. Perhaps I had misjudged my man. I asked, "Can you feed me ?" "Can you cook?" "I can cook," I lied again. "If you can cook, then may be I can feed you." |
A1. Complete the given boxes with who said to whom: (2)
| Statement | Who | To whom | |
| (i) | You look a bit of a wrestler yourself. | ||
| (ii) | If you can cook, then may be I can feed you. |
A2. Complete the cluster diagram mentioning the characteristics of the main character of the passage: (2)
A3. Choose the correct meanings of the following words from the given options: (2)
- Flattery -
- insincere praise
- appreciation
- creating false impression
- unfaithful behaviour
- Appealing -
- good conduct
- attractive
- charming
- beautiful
A4. Do as directed: (2)
- I took a new name every month.
[Frame 'Wh' question to get the underlined part as an answer.] - I was an experienced hand.
[Underline the determiners from the given sentence.]
A5. Why do you think Hari Singh gave his most appealing smile? (2)
Fiction writers prefer creating grey characters rather than black and white. Analyse this in detail, with reference to both the characters of The Thief’s Story.
Why did Hari Singh smile in his most appealing way towards the end of the story?
Answer the following in about 100-120 words:
Trust and compassion can reform a person. Justify this statement in the light of the lesson 'The Thief's Story'.
