NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints without Feet Supplementary Reader Chapter 2
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter The Thief’s Story – Complete Answers & Explanations
This NCERT solutions blog for Class 10 English Chapter The Thief’s Story from the supplementary reader Footprints without Feet helps students understand the story in a clear and structured way. The story written by Ruskin Bond revolves around a young thief named Hari Singh who meets a kind and trusting man named Anil. Anil employs him and teaches him basic life skills such as cooking, reading, writing, and counting. Through Anil’s kindness and trust, the boy slowly begins to realise the importance of honesty and education. This chapter is important because it highlights themes of trust, transformation, kindness, and the power of education. The solutions shared here follow the NCERT pattern and help students understand the story, characters, and questions exactly as asked in the textbook.
What this NCERT chapter covers?
1. Understanding the story of Hari Singh and his transformation
2. The importance of trust and kindness in relationships
3. Moral lessons about honesty and personal change
4. Reading comprehension through story-based questions
5. Character analysis of Anil and Hari Singh
6. Analytical thinking through discussion-based questions
How to use these NCERT solutions?
1. Read the chapter carefully before checking the answers
2. Try to understand the actions and emotions of the characters
3. Attempt the textbook questions first and then compare your answers
4. Follow the exact order of questions given in the NCERT exercise
5. Use the solutions for revision and exam preparation
Important tips & tricks for students
1. Pay attention to the narrator’s thoughts and feelings throughout the story
2. Understand how Anil’s trust influences Hari Singh’s behaviour
3. Focus on the turning point when the thief decides to return the money
4. Remember the importance of education highlighted in the story
5. Write answers clearly with reference to events from the story
NCERT solutions – complete answer key
Read and find out
Question -Answer
1. Who does ‘I’ refer to in this story?
Hari Singh, the young thief who narrates the story.
2. What is he “a fairly successful hand” at?
He is a fairly successful hand at stealing.
3. What does he get from Anil in return for his work?
Anil feeds him, gives him shelter, and teaches him how to cook, read, write, and add numbers.
Read and find out
How does the thief think Anil will react to the theft?
Answer He thinks Anil will feel sad not because of the loss of money but because of the loss of trust.
Read and find out
What does he say about the different reactions of people when they are robbed?
Answer The greedy man shows fear, the rich man shows anger, and the poor man shows acceptance.
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Does Anil realise that he has been robbed?
Answer Yes, Anil understands that the money was taken and returned because the notes were still wet from the rain, but he does not directly accuse Hari Singh.
Think about it
1. Hari Singh is excited at the idea of learning to read and write because he believes education will help him achieve more in life. Later he realises that education can help him become a respectable and successful person instead of continuing as a thief. This realisation makes him return to Anil and replace the stolen money under the mattress.
2. Anil does not hand the thief over to the police because he understands the boy and wants to give him a chance to change. Instead of punishing him, he continues to trust him and offers to teach him writing. Most people might have reported the theft, but Anil’s kindness and patience make him different from such employers
Talk about it
1. People like Anil and Hari Singh can exist in real life. Many individuals change their behaviour when they receive kindness and trust from others.
2. Anil being a struggling writer may explain his behaviour because he understands hardship and therefore shows patience and sympathy toward Hari Singh.
3. Some children may turn to theft due to poverty, lack of guidance, difficult living conditions, or the absence of education and support.
4. The story appears to be set in India. Clues such as the Jumna Sweet Shop, the railway station, and the names Hari Singh and Anil suggest this setting. In such places people would likely speak Hindi or other local languages, and the characters may not actually have spoken English in their daily life.
Suggested reading
1. He Said It with Arsenic by Ruskin Bond
2. Vanka by Anton Chekhov
3. A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle
Why NCERT solutions help students?
NCERT solutions help students understand textbook concepts clearly and prepare effectively for exams. They provide structured answers aligned with the CBSE pattern and improve comprehension, writing ability, and confidence in literature-based questions.
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