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NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 4 A Question of Trust

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Class 10 English Chapter 4 A Question of Trust Question Answers - PDF FREE Download

"A Question of Trust" by Victor Canning is an intriguing story about Horace Danby, a respectable locksmith with a secret life as a thief. Obsessed with rare books, he robs safes once a year to fund his hobby. During a meticulously planned burglary at Shotover Grange, he encounters a cunning young woman who deceives him, leading to his arrest. The story explores themes of trust and deception among thieves.

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Vedantu offers A Question of Trust NCERT Solutions updated for the latest CBSE Class 10 English syllabus along with supporting study materials for NCERT English Class 10. These solutions are created by top professionals and master teachers at Vedantu who strive to constantly bring you the best and most accurate answers to textbook questions. 


Glance on Class 10 - A Question of Trust

  • A respectable locksmith and businessman who secretly indulges in theft once a year to buy rare books.

  • He targets a house at Shotover Grange, studying its layout for two weeks before the burglary.

  • Danby breaks into the house, disables the alarm, and is interrupted by a young lady pretending to be the owner’s wife.

  • The lady convinces Danby to open the safe for her, claiming she needs her jewels for a party, and he complies without wearing gloves.

  • Danby is arrested after his fingerprints are found, and he realizes the lady was a thief who tricked him.

  • In prison, Danby becomes an assistant librarian and reflects bitterly on the betrayal by the cunning young lady.

Access NCERT Solutions For Class 10 English Chapter 4 - A Question of Trust

Read And Find Out

1. What Does Horace Danby Like To Collect?

Ans: Horace Danby was a fifty years old honest man. Since he was unmarried, he lived with a housekeeper and liked to collect expensive and rare books.


2. Why Does He Steal Every Year?

Ans: Horace Danby was fond of collecting expensive and rare books, but he was not rich enough to fund his wish. So instead of working hard or saving money, he would rob a safe every year.


3. Who is Speaking to Horace Danby?

Ans: A woman, who pretended to be one of the members of the family living at Shotover Grange. She was pretty and dressed in red. She acted that she came back just in time or else Horace would have robbed her family.


4. Who is the Real Culprit in the Story?

Ans: The woman in the red dress was the real culprit. She acted to be a part of the family when Horace entered to rob the house. Horace got tricked by her and she took away everything in the safe. She escaped safely while Horace was accused of the crime.


Think About It

1. Did You Begin To Suspect, Before the End of the Story, That the Lady Was Not the Person Horace Danby Took Her To Be? If So, at What Point Did You Realize This, and How?

Ans: The lady had an unusually calm appearance for a person who just encountered a thief at her home. I suspected her even before Horace Danby got an idea about who she was. She acted that she had forgotten the numbers to open the safe and encouraged him to break open the safe and take out the jewels instead of calling the police, an action that is not usually done when faced with such a situation. These actions made it very obvious, from the beginning that she was not someone she was pretending to be.


2. What are the Subtle Ways in Which the Lady Manages To Deceive Horace Danby Into Thinking She is the Lady of the House? Why Doesn’t Horace Suspect That Something is Wrong?

Ans: Horace entered the home and was trying to break open the safe, a young lady with a kind voice entered the room. She introduced herself as the lady of the house and the confidence and ease with which she was doing mundane acts, like picking up the cigarette, made it very evident that she was the one. Horace was frightened when he encountered her. He thought he might avoid serious trouble if he treated her the right way.


3. “Horace Danby Was Good and Respectable − but Not Completely Honest”. Why Do You Think This Description is Apt for Horace? Why Can’t He Be Categorized as a Typical Thief?

Ans: Horace Danby was a fifty years old man, who robbed the rich to satisfy his wish of buying expensive and rare books. He made locks and was successful at his business but his habit of stealing to fulfil his luxuries was not good. He cannot be categorised as a typical thief because he did not steal frequently and for his survival. He just robbed to buy expensive stuff and had a business, along with two people to help him. He was good because he even kept his promise to the lady by not planning any robbery further.


4. Horace Danby Was a Meticulous Planner but Still, He Faltered. Where Did He Go Wrong and Why?

Ans: Horace had never failed in a robbery before but this time he did not research well enough the information about the real occupants of the home. Meeting the lady in the home was sudden and to avoid any form of trouble he figured out that it would be best to treat her the right way. This caused him not to think rationally and he followed the instructions laid by her and got trapped in her plan. He was so anxious that he even opened the safe without wearing gloves which left fingerprints on the safe and he got caught.


Talk About It

1. Do You Think Horace Danby Was Unfairly Punished, or That He Deserved What He Got?

Ans: Horace was not unfairly punished. He was never caught in his previous attempts, and this time he got caught without actually stealing something. It was almost like a consequence of his previous deeds that he got caught this time, tricked by another thief.


2. Do Intentions Justify Actions? Would You, Like Horace Danby, Do Something Wrong if You Thought Your Ends Justified the Means? Do You Think That There Are Situations in Which It is Excusable To Act Less Than Honestly?

Ans: No intentions do not justify your actions because if your actions would cause harm to someone, they cannot be justified. We should not harm someone or cause harm to someone just for our profit. No, I do not think I would do something wrong like Horace. Under conditions where someone is not being harmed, acting less than honestly is excusable.


Benefits of NCERT Class 10 A Question of Trust Question Answers

  • The NCERT Solutions for A Question of Trust provide comprehensive explanations that help students grasp the story's intricate themes and character motivations.

  • These solutions offer precise and well-structured answers to ensure students can confidently tackle their exams.

  • A Question of Trust NCERT solutions are easily accessible, allowing students to study and revise anytime, which enhances their preparation.

  • The solutions clarify complex aspects of the story, making it easier for students to understand and analyze, especially in the "A Question of Trust Question Answers" section. 

  • Designed to meet the Class 10 English Supplementary Chapter 4 Question Answers requirements, these solutions ensure students are well-prepared and aligned with their syllabus.

  • Practicing these solutions helps students improve their analytical skills, boosting their performance in exams.  


Conclusion

In conclusion, "A Question of Trust" by Victor Canning highlights the themes of trust and deception through the story of Horace Danby, a seemingly respectable locksmith with a secret life as a thief. His encounter with a cunning young woman leads to his downfall, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of trust and the consequences of misplaced faith. Vedantu offers comprehensive NCERT Class 10 A Question of Trust Question Answers. These solutions are the stepping stone that brings you one step closer to confidently cracking your exams.


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A Question Of Trust Notes

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A Question Of Trust Important Questions


NCERT Chapter-wise Links Class 10 Footprints Without Feet

After you have familiarised yourself with the NCERT Class 10 English Supplementary Chapter 4 Question Answers, Students can proceed to access NCERT Solutions from all other chapters of the textbook.


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FAQs on NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter 4 A Question of Trust

1. What are the key NCERT Solutions provided for Class 10 English Chapter 4 A Question of Trust as per the CBSE 2025–26 syllabus?

The NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 4 A Question of Trust include stepwise, CBSE-aligned answers for all textbook questions. They cover key themes like trust, deception, character motivations, and provide concise, well-structured responses suitable for board exam preparation as per the 2025–26 syllabus.

2. How does the NCERT solution explain Horace Danby's reason for committing theft in Chapter 4?

The NCERT solution explains that Horace Danby steals once a year to fund his passion for collecting expensive and rare books. Despite being a respectable locksmith, he commits theft not out of necessity, but to indulge a personal hobby, highlighting the complexity of his character.

3. In the NCERT Solutions for A Question of Trust, why is the title considered significant?

The title 'A Question of Trust' is significant because it reflects the core theme of trust and betrayal in the story. The NCERT Solutions highlight how trust is manipulated among thieves, and how misplaced confidence can lead to unforeseen consequences, aligning with CBSE’s expectation for thematic analysis.

4. What does the NCERT solution stress as the main lesson to be learned from Chapter 4 of Class 10 English?

The NCERT solution stresses that the main lesson is about the fragility of trust, especially among dishonest individuals. It also underscores the importance of honesty and the certainty that dishonest actions, even with good intentions, can have serious repercussions as emphasized by CBSE guidelines.

5. Who is identified as the real culprit in 'A Question of Trust' according to the NCERT Solution?

According to the NCERT Solution, the real culprit is the woman who tricks Horace Danby by pretending to be the owner’s wife. She manipulates Horace into opening the safe for her, then escapes undetected, leaving Horace to be arrested for the crime.

6. Based on the NCERT Solutions, list key values highlighted in Class 10 English Chapter 4.

The NCERT Solutions highlight values such as

  • Trust
  • Loyalty
  • Betrayal
  • Justice
  • Confidentiality
  • Ethics
  • Accountability
These are explored through the actions and consequences faced by characters in the story.

7. What is the concept of 'honor among thieves' and how does the NCERT Solution critique it?

The concept of 'honor among thieves' suggests criminals adhere to a personal code of loyalty and trust. The NCERT Solution critiques this by showing that even criminals can betray each other, as shown when Horace Danby is deceived by another thief, questioning the reliability of such 'honor.' This aligns with exam-oriented interpretation skills for students.

8. In what way does the NCERT Solution describe Horace Danby's failure as a meticulous planner?

NCERT Solutions explain that despite Horace's careful planning, he failed because he did not thoroughly verify the identity of everyone in the house. His fear and desire to avoid trouble made him overlook caution, causing him to obey the woman and leave evidence that led to his capture.

9. According to the NCERT Solutions, how did the young woman deceive Horace Danby?

According to the NCERT Solutions, the young woman deceived Horace Danby by calmly posing as the owner’s wife, inventing a plausible story about needing her jewels. Using confidence and manipulation, she convinced Horace to open the safe, then disappeared with the valuables.

10. Does the NCERT Solution agree that intentions justify actions in Chapter 4? Why or why not?

The NCERT Solution states that intentions do not justify dishonest actions. Horace's theft, even for a personal reason, is still a crime. The solution supports the CBSE value-based assessment that ethics and integrity must be upheld regardless of personal motives.

11. How does the NCERT Solution characterize Horace Danby — is he a typical thief?

Horace Danby is not described as a typical thief by the NCERT Solution. Though he steals, he does it rarely and for personal enjoyment, rather than out of need. He maintains an otherwise honest profession and lifestyle, illustrating a nuanced character as expected in higher-order board answers.

12. What does the NCERT Solution suggest about Horace Danby's sense of guilt or regret?

The NCERT Solution suggests Horace feels regret and betrayal after being caught. Serving as an assistant librarian in prison, he reflects on how his misplaced trust led to his downfall — a sentiment expected in responses focusing on character examination for CBSE exams.

13. According to NCERT Solutions, what role does irony play in Chapter 4 of Class 10 English?

NCERT Solutions highlight that irony is central to the plot: Horace, a thief, is outwitted and framed by someone he believes to be trustworthy. This situational irony demonstrates the story’s complex lesson about deception and misplaced faith, aligning with the CBSE’s focus on literary devices.

14. What strategies do the NCERT Solutions suggest for answering character-based questions in Chapter 4?

NCERT Solutions recommend

  • Providing text-based evidence
  • Analyzing character motivations
  • Describing cause and effect of actions
  • Referencing direct speech/actions from the story
These strategies help students construct high-scoring, analytical answers for character-based questions.

15. How does regular practice of NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 4 boost exam performance?

Practicing NCERT Solutions enhances a student’s understanding of chapter concepts, improves answer structure, and builds exam confidence. It ensures responses are aligned with the CBSE marking scheme and board examiner expectations for the 2025–26 term.