A Question of Trust Long Answer Type Question

This page offers A Question of Trust long answer type question for Class 10 from the book Footprints Without Feet. We’ve put together a bunch of long answer type question based on assumption, creativity, extrapolation and critical thinking. These types of questions are introduced after 2024 in CBSE Board. So, practice to understand A Question of Trust long answer type question

1. Horace Danby represents such people who adopt the wrong ways to fulfil their wishes. What values would you like such people to imbibe to reform themselves? Write in about 100-120 words.

Ans. People like Danby should adopt values like honesty, integrity, and respect for the law. Embracing these values can guide them towards making right decisions. Hard work and patience are important , as they allow individuals to achieve their goals without compromising their morals. It’s also important for them to develop empathy, which can discourage them from actions that could harm others in their community.

Horace Danby, despite being a good and respected man, chose to steal to fulfil his love for rare books. This decision led to his downfall, as he was deceived by another thief, illustrating that dishonest ways often result in negative consequences.

If Danby had embraced honesty and integrity, he could have pursued his passion for books through lawful means. Patience and hard work might have allowed him to save money over time to buy the books he desired.

2. Considering Horace’s annual crimes were driven by his passion for collecting books, could there have been a better way to pursue his hobby? Discuss in about 100-120 words.

Ans. Considering Horace’s annual crimes were driven by his passion for collecting books, there were certainly better ways to pursue his hobby. Horace Danby could have used his locksmith skills to earn extra money legally.

He could have started a side business or offered special services. Joining book clubs and attending auctions would have helped him find rare books. Scholarships focused on rare books would also have been an option.

Volunteering in libraries or book organisations would have let him be near rare books without stealing. By choosing these better paths, Horace could have enjoyed his hobby and lived an honest life.

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3. How does the setting of Shotover Grange contribute to the plot of the story? Write your response in about 100-120 words.

Ans. The setting of Shotover Grange is very important to the story. The large, isolated country house is perfect for Horace Danby to commit his crime without being caught. The house has many valuable items, which attract Horace.

The family is away, and only a few staff members are present. This makes Horace confident about his plan. The quiet and rural setting adds suspense and tension to the story. Horace’s meeting with the young lady becomes more dramatic and crucial to the story’s twist.

The house’s detailed description helps the reader understand why Horace chose it. Its quiet surroundings and lack of immediate neighbours make it an easy target. The setting also highlights Horace’s careful planning and the unexpected challenges he faces.

4. What do you think about the young lady’s actions in the story? Were her methods justified? Explain in about 100-120 words.

Answer: The young lady in the story tricks Horace Danby and gets him arrested. She uses lies and clever tricks to do this. Her actions are smart, but they are not right. She takes advantage of Horace’s trust to benefit herself.

This is unfair and dishonest. Even though she stops Horace from stealing, her way of doing it is wrong. Using bad methods to achieve good results is not justified. It can lead to more dishonesty and mistrust.

People should always use honest and straightforward ways to reach their goals, no matter what. The young lady’s actions show that achieving good outcomes through bad means is not acceptable.

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5. Imagine Horace decides to write a book about his experiences. What would be the main message of his book? Discuss in about 100-120 words.

Answer: If Horace Danby wrote a book about his experiences, the main message would be about the results of making bad choices. He would talk about how his love for rare books led him to steal. The book would show his struggle between doing what is right and his desire for books.

Horace would tell readers to always make honest and good decisions, even when tempted. He would warn that dishonest actions, even for good reasons, can lead to serious trouble. His story would teach that short-term gains from wrong actions are not worth the long-term problems they cause.

6: How did Horace Danby’s yearly plans for stealing affect his feelings and relationships with others? Answer within 120 words

Answer: Horace Danby planned thefts every year, which greatly affected his personal feelings and relationships. Keeping his criminal activities a secret meant he couldn’t be honest with friends or family, making it hard to build close, trusting relationships. This secrecy likely led to loneliness, as he couldn’t share his true self with others. Additionally, the constant fear of getting caught would have made him anxious and paranoid.

Living with these feelings could have made him pull away from social interactions, leading to isolation. The guilt from leading a double life might have also harmed his self-esteem, making him feel bad about himself. This complex mix of emotions and social isolation would have taken a significant toll on his psychological well-being.

7. What could be the long-term effects on Horace after being tricked and arrested again? Write your thoughts in about 100-120 words.

Answer: After being tricked and arrested again, Horace Danby might face several long-term effects. Emotionally, he may develop deeper distrust towards others. This could stem from the betrayal he felt when deceived by someone posing as the homeowner.

Such experiences could make him more cynical and isolated, increasing his feelings of loneliness and regret. Psychologically, this incident might prompt him to reconsider his choices.

He could either resolve to reform his ways or, conversely, his resentments and sense of injustice might deepen, pushing him further into criminal activities. Socially, the impact would also be significant. His reputation would suffer more damage, complicating his reintegration into society after prison.

8: Imagine a conversation between Horace and a young aspiring locksmith about ethical practices in their profession.

Answer: If Horace Danby were to have a conversation with a young aspiring locksmith, he would likely emphasise the crucial importance of integrity and honesty in their profession. He could use his own experiences as a cautionary tale, illustrating how misusing his skills for illegal activities ultimately led to his downfall.

Horace might advise the young locksmith to always channel their abilities into lawful and constructive endeavours, highlighting that the trust clients place in them is precious and must be respected.

He could say, “Our skills have the power to protect or to exploit; it is our choice that defines who we are.” Through this mentorship, Horace would aim to guide the young locksmith towards a respectable and satisfying career, helping them avoid the pitfalls he encountered.

9. What might have happened to Horace Danby if he never met the young lady during his theft and continued stealing every year?

Answer: If Horace Danby had continued his annual thefts without meeting the young lady, his life might have grown more stressful and complicated. Over the next five years, the strain of living two lives might have increased.

He could have felt more anxious, guilty, and paranoid about getting caught. Socially, he would likely have kept himself away from close relationships to keep his secret safe.

This loneliness might have worsened his emotional struggles, leading him to either seek help and change his ways or sink deeper into his criminal activities to cope with the isolation and pressure.

10. What would happen if the young lady who deceived Horace Danby was caught soon after the incident?

Answer: If the young lady who tricked Horace Danby was caught shortly after their encounter, this could really change things for Horace. Her arrest would prove that Horace was telling the truth about being deceived. This could make the legal system look at his case again.

They might see Horace more as someone who was fooled rather than just a criminal. This could mean a lighter sentence for him or even a chance to have a new trial. Also, people in society might start seeing Horace in a different light.

They might realise he was not just a thief but someone who was taken advantage of. This could make people feel more sympathetic towards him and support his efforts to change his life.

11. Suppose Horace Danby had a true mentor, how might this have helped him keep away from crime and avoid becoming a thief?

Answer: If Horace Danby had a mentor early in his locksmith career, especially someone who had reformed from a criminal past, it could have changed his life. This mentor could teach Horace how to manage a locksmith business the right way, emphasising honesty and the benefits of being trustworthy.

By sharing stories of the bad results from a life of crime, the mentor could show Horace the risks and downsides of such choices. Support from someone who understood Horace’s challenges could help him avoid the temptation of stealing for quick money. This advice and support could lead him to a more satisfying and honest career.

12. Horace Danby justified his thefts by targeting only those who were wealthy. Discuss the ethical implications of using someone’s financial status as a justification for theft. Consider the values of equality and justice in your answer.

Ans. Justifying theft because someone is rich goes against basic ideas of fairness and justice. This idea suggests that stealing from the wealthy isn’t as bad or is okay, which is not fair.

It means making a personal choice about who should keep their property based on how much money they have, but no one has the right to make that decision. True justice should be fair and protect everyone’s rights the same way, no matter how much money they have.

Keeping these values means we respect everyone’s property rights equally, helping to build a society where people trust each other and the law.

13. Horace Danby steals to support his hobby of collecting rare books. What does this say about the impact of pursuing personal interests at the cost of ethical values?

Answer: When Horace Danby steals to support his hobby, he shows a big conflict between personal desires and ethical values. This choice suggests that personal goals can become more important than moral responsibilities to others and society. It sends a message that individual wants can sometimes seem more important than following society’s rules and laws.

This could lead to more wrong actions if they seem to help achieve personal goals. To maintain integrity, one should keep their actions in line with ethical standards, even if it means giving up personal benefits. This helps ensure that one’s actions help build their character and improve society.

14. Consider the role of deception (misleading or lying) in the story. What are the long-term effects of deceit on personal relationships and trust within a community?

Answer: Deception is a key theme in “A Question of Trust,” and it has serious effects on Horace Danby and the community. In the story, and generally in life, lying can deeply hurt personal relationships. It breaks down trust and makes it hard to connect with others sincerely.

For Horace, being tricked not only leads to his arrest but also damages his ability to trust people later. In a community, frequent lies can destroy the social bonds that hold people together, creating an atmosphere of doubt and fear.

Communities need trust to support and work together effectively. When deception is common, it harms everyone’s well-being.

15. Horace Danby justifies his thefts as necessary to support his book-collecting hobby. Explore the ethical dilemma of ‘the ends justify the means’ in this context. Is it ever acceptable to commit wrong actions for a right cause?

Answer: The idea that ‘the ends justify the means’ is about whether it’s okay to do something wrong if it leads to a good outcome. In Horace Danby’s case, he believes that stealing is fine because it helps him pursue his hobby of collecting books. However, stealing is wrong because it harms others by taking what isn’t his.

Even if his goal is to enjoy his hobby, the method he uses—stealing—hurts other people. Usually, doing bad things for a good reason isn’t right because it can lead to more harmful actions, thinking they can be excused if the result is good.

It’s important to find ways to achieve our goals that don’t hurt others and are fair. This helps build a kinder and more honest community.

16. If Horace Danby could give advice to young people about his life choices, what might he say? Why is it important to make good decisions early in life?

Answer: If Horace Danby were to give advice to young people, he would likely tell them about the importance of making good choices from the start. He could talk about his own decisions to steal because he wanted to collect rare books and how this led to bad outcomes like going to jail and losing his good name.

Horace might explain that choosing quick, wrong ways to reach goals might seem easy, but these choices can have serious, lasting problems. He would probably encourage young people to be patient, work hard, and stay honest.

Horace would emphasise that living ethically helps avoid trouble with the law and builds a strong, respectable life. He would point out that making good decisions builds trust and respect from others, which are important for a successful and happy life.

17. What do you think about the moral choices made in the story? If you were Horace Danby, would you have done the same? Consider the ethical aspects of his actions and suggest other ways he could have acted.

Answer: If I were in Horace Danby’s situation, I might consider different choices because of the ethical issues involved. Horace decides to steal to support his book collecting hobby. However, there are other ways he could have pursued his passion without breaking the law.

For example, he could have tried to make more money from his locksmith business or found cheaper ways to enjoy books, like joining book clubs or using libraries. These options would not hurt anyone and would follow the rules of society.

Making choices like these shows the importance of keeping our actions ethical and finding legal ways to achieve what we want.

18. Horace Danby is nice but does wrong things. How does this change our view of right and wrong? What can we learn about people’s behaviour?

Answer: Making Horace Danby a likeable character even though he steals makes us think more about right and wrong. This way of telling the story helps us see that people aren’t just good or bad.

They do different things based on what they want, their situation, and their choices. When we like Horace, we might try to understand why he does what he does, even if we don’t agree with it.

This teaches us to look at why people do things, not just what they do. It helps us see people in a fuller way, thinking about their reasons and life, not just judging them for their mistakes.

19. Write a character-sketch of Horace Danby.

Ans. Horace Danby was a good and respectable citizen. He was about fifty years old but he was unmarried. He was a locksmith. He was very successful in his business. Despite all these qualities, he was not completely honest. He had been to jail once. So he hated the thought of jail.

He loved rare and expensive books. He broke a safe every year to have enough money to buy books. He was a careful burglar. He planned his work well. He was very careful while robbing a safe. He wore gloves and never left fingerprints on the scene of the crime. Since he was a locksmith, it was very easy for him to break any safe.

Once he was duped by a young lady. That young lady, who pretended to be the owner’s wife, was also a thief. He gave all the jewels to the young lady and left his fingerprints all over the room. Thus, he was arrested and sent to prison. Now he did not like the thought of ‘honour among thieves’ any more. ‘

Note- Following are the old detailed answer type of questions. These were asked before 2023-24. Actually these questions focus more on memory rather than creative thinking, imagination and extrapolation.

1. Horace Danby represents such people who adopt the wrong ways to fulfil their wishes. What values would you like such people to imbibe to reform themselves? Write in about 100-120 words.

Ans. Horace Danby was a successful businessman. He was about fifty years respectable citizen but had a habit that led him to do robberies. Danby loved rare, expensive books and to get them he used to rob a safe every year. Every year he planned carefully just to get what he wanted.

Danby adopted wrong ways to fulfil his wishes and hence, later got trapped in a plot by a thief like him. People should imbibe good values. They should learn that hard work is the only key to success One should work hard to fulfil his desires.

I think such people should imbibe the values of honesty, responsibility, hard work, dedication, self-confidence in order to reform themselves.

2. Horace Danby was a respectable man but he could not be called loyal. What do you think could be the reasons for leading a respectable man like him on the path of thievery? Did he feel lack of sense of freedom? Was it not in his nature to accept the differences among people regarding their social status? Discuss the values he should have possessed in 100-120 words.

Ans. Horace Danby’s habits were not typical of a thief. He was fond of books was a respectable man but his passion for books lead him to thievery. He used to steal only once. In a year so, he was never stealing more than his needs.

He stole only to buy rare books; he loved rare and expensive books. Moreover, Danby used to rob only rich people. It was his nature. To accept the differences among people regarding their social status.

He was aware that people with high socio-background can help him to fulfil his desire. He found such people easy to rob.

3. Horace promised the young lady that he would follow the path of honesty if sills would not hand him over to the police but he could not keep his promise for more than days. Did he lack reconciliation? Was it not in his nature to keep his promise? Did he lack the courage to fulfil his needs through an honest living? Discuss the values he needed to imbibe in 100-120 words.

Ans. The lady manipulated the whole situation as well as Horace and very skillfully got the jewels without even touching anything. She talked high things like protecting the society from culprits like Horace. Horace promised her that he would follow the path of honesty.

He helped her in getting the jewels by breaking the safe without wearing gloves. But after two days, police caught him for stealing the jewels. He could not convince them that he had not taken the jewels and had helped the owner’s wife.

The condition provoked him to break his promise. Although he honestly felt that he would not rob any more he could not do so as he had no other choice left.

4. Horace stated that he robbed only those who had a lot of money. Was he really a threat to the society? Did he lack the qualities of a good citizen? Discuss the values he needs to imbibe to lead a path of righteousness in 100-120 words.

Ans. I don’t think Horace was a threat to the society. He never threatened anyone and rather stole for a very good reason. He used to rob a safe every year to pursue his hobby of getting rare and expensive books to read.

He was not a professional thief. Moreover, he never harmed anyone. He was considered a good and honest citizen by everyone. He was about fifty years old and unmarried. He had all the qualities of a good citizen.

He was not a criminal or a typical thief. He did so only to fulfil his need. He was an honest and good man. He believed in the lady’s story and gave away all the jewels to her. If he had been a criminal, he would have killed the lady or would have never handed the jewels to her.

5. Horace Danby requested the lady to forget what she saw. Was Horace afraid of being caught? Did he lack the courage to accept his crime publicly? Explain the values one must imbibe to accept one’s mistake in 100-120 words.

Ans. Yes, Horace Danby was afraid of being caught. He lacked the courage to accept his crime publicly. He was not a professional criminal or thief. He was considered a good and honest man by everyone.

He was about fifty years old and unmarried. His house was looked after by a housekeeper. He used to rob only one safe every year to pursue his habit of getting rare and expensive books to read.

He used to rob only those who were rich. He had a good reputation in the society and hence did not want anyone to know about his crimes. Although he helped the lady but was caught by the police for the crime he did not commit. He learnt from his mistake.

6.” Horace had some hope because she seemed to be amused at meeting him.” Why did Horace feel so? Did he consider the young lady compassionate towards him? Did he find her free from biases? Discuss the values Horace should have imbibe understanding of the person in 100-120 words.

Ans. Horace was a fifty-year-old man who used to rob only to buy rare and expensive. This time he decided to rob Shot over Grange. But as soon as e entered the room, a Young lady appeared. She posed to be the lady of the ruse. She was very confident in her Mat, inner of talking.

She talked about high ideals like pro-acting. The society from robbers like conium racked. Then she tried to be polite and nice to him. On hearing her, Horace felt that he had a hope of escaping. He found her a bit compassionate towards him.

He was amused at Horace. She acted in quite a subtle manner and showed her sympathy and admiration towards a simple and honest man. He could not judge her ace. She made Horace promise that he would never commit the crime again. Horace was cleverness and shrewdness and hence later got arrested for stealing the jewels which he did not steal.

7. Write a character-sketch of Horace Danby.

8. Describe Horace Danby’s encounter with the young lady.

‘The lady in the red was a more professional thief than Horace Danby’. Give a reasoned answer.

Ans. Horace Danby was going to rob the safe at Shotover Grange. He had cut the wires of the burglar alarm. But the flowers on the table made a tickle in his nose and he was sneezing repeatedly. Just then a young lady dressed in red came in. She spoke friendly to Danby but her sound was firm.

She said that she was the owner’s wife. She told him that she had come there to take the jewels from the safe. She had to wear them that night at a party. She made an excuse that she had forgotten the number to open the safe. She told the thief that she would let him go if he opened the safe for her.

Danby was taken in. He opened the safe without gloves. He gave all the jewels to the young lady. She went away safely with the jewels but Danby was arrested for the jewels robbery and sent to prison.

9. What were Horace Danby’s plans for his latest robbery? [H.B.S.E. March 2017 (Set-B)]

Ans. Horace was sure that the robbery he was planning for that year was going to be as successful as all the others so far. He had been observing and studying the house at Shotover Grange for two weeks.

He had observed everything minutely. That afternoon, when he planned to rob the house, he had seen the two servants, who remained in the Grange, going to the movies. He came out from behind the garden wall. He had packed his tools carefully in a bag on his back.

Horace knew that there were about fifteen thousand pounds worth of jewels in the Grange safe and if he sold them one by one, he was sure to get enough money to last him for another year.

Q10. How did the lady in red turn out to be much smarter and cleverer than Horace Danby? How did one thief outwit and outmanoeuvre the other?

How did the lady in red manage to outsmart and outmanoeuvre the other thief, Horace Danby, by robbing the safe without leaving a single fingerprint?

Ans. The lady in red was also a thief. So was Horace Danby. But it was the lady in the red who outmanoeuvred and outwitted Horace. No doubt, Horace did his job quite professionally. He worked hard to find out the necessary details about the location of the house and the position of the key and the safe.

But, Horace proved to be a novice in judging the young lady in red. The young lady acted with so much confidence and in such a convincing manner that she could easily pass off as the lady of the house. Horace Danby became a mere puppet who danced to the tune of the lady.

When caught red-handed, he pleaded her to let him go. The young lady exploited his confusion and fear of going to prison fully. She made Horace open the safe. The unsuspecting Horace was made to believe that he was working for the lady of the house. So he opened the safe without putting on his gloves.

He gave the jewels to the lady leaving his fingerprints on the safe. So he was found out and arrested. Naturally, the young lady in red proved far smarter and outmanoeuvred Horace Danby.

Q11. Give a character-sketch of Horace Danby in your own words. How was he outmanoeuvred by the lady in red?

Ans. Horace Danby was about fifty years old and unmarried. Everyone thought him a good and honest citizen. He was otherwise very well and happy except for attacks of hay fever in summer. He made locks and was fairly successful at his business. Horace Danby was good and respectable — but not completely honest.

He used to rob a safe every year. He did so because he needed money to buy books. Horace had a passion for buying rare and costly books. With that money, he secretly bought the books he loved through an agent.

Like a professional thief, he made a lot of preparations. He made it sure that every year’s robbery was going to be as successful as all the others. He studied the location of the house at Shotover Grange—its rooms, its electric wiring, its paths and its gardens in details.

He also came to know that the two servants of the house were out to the movies. He also knew where was safe and it’s key. He befriended the little dog by calling his right name.

In spite of all his professionalism, Horace Danby proved a novice in judging the lady in red. The lady in red behaved with so much confidence and authority that Horace became totally a puppet in her hands. Easily passing off as the lady of the house, she made Horace open the safe without wearing his gloves. While the lady in red decamped with the jewels, Horace was sent to prison.

Q12. Give a character-sketch of the lady in red highlighting how she outwitted Horace Danby.

Ans. We don’t get any information regarding the past history of the lady in red as we know about Horace’s past. Her whole personality remains wrapped in mystery until the end. Only when the identity of the real lady of the house is unfolded, we come to know that she is a thief. She is the real culprit.

The lady in red comes there with the only purpose of committing a theft in the house like Horace. She cleverly decamps with the jewels while Horace is sent to prison.

The lady in red is gifted with a rare personality. She is full of confidence. She acts like a perfect actress presenting herself as the lady of the house. Her gestures, confidence and convincing power are enough to convince Horace. He turns out quite a novice in understanding and judging the lady in red and her motive. She dominates the proceeding. Horace only proves a puppet in her hands.

She exploits his fear of going to prison. She makes him open the safe without his gloves. She convinced him that she needes those jewels to wear them to a party that night. Horace willingly hands over the jewels and she decamps with them. Only when the grey-haired, sharp-tongued woman appears as the real lady of the house, we come to know that the lady in red was a professional and crafty thief much smarter than Horace.

Q13. How had Horace planned to loot the house at Shotover Grange?

Ans. Horace Danby never committed theft in a hurry. All his previous operations were completely successful. He robbed a safe every year. This money was enough to last for a year. Like all his previous robberies, he also planned his latest robbery in a house at Shotover Grange in all details.

For two weeks, he had been studying the house, its rooms, electric wiring, paths and its garden. He also had definite information that two servants working there had gone to movies. He saw them go. He came out from behind the garden wall. He had packed his tools carefully in a bag on his back.

He had seen the housekeeper hang the key to the kitchen door on a hook outside. He put on a pair of gloves, took the key and opened the house. He always put on a pair of gloves before committing a theft.

A magazine article had described the house with all the rooms. It also mentioned that a painting hid a safe. He collected all these details and made all preparations to make his latest theft a complete success like the others.

Q14. How was Horace Danby arrested for the robbery of the jewels in a house at Shotover Grange? Do you think his own foolishness was responsible for his arrest? Give a reasoned answer.

Ans. Horace Danby never acted recklessly in a hurry while committing a theft. He robbed a safe every year. All his previous thefts had been completely successful. Even to commit a theft in a house at Shotover Grange, he made detailed and fool-proof preparations.

However, he proved a novice in comparison to the young lady in red. She, in a very confident and convincing way, made him believe that she was the lady of the house. She made him open the safe without the gloves and handover all the jewels to her. She decamped with the jewels and Horace was arrested.

By noon, a policeman arrested Horace for the jewel robbery at Shotover Grange. He had opened the safe without wearing his gloves. He did so believe that he was opening the safe for the lady of the house.

He pleaded that the wife of the owner of the house had asked him to open the safe for her. The real lady of the house appeared on the scene. She was not the young lady in red but a grey-haired woman of sixty.

She said that Horace’s story was nonsense. Only then, Horace came to know that he was outwitted by the lady in red who was also a thief like him.