NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Footprints without Feet Supplementary Reader Chapter 4
NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 4 A Question of Trust – complete answers & explanations
Introduction This NCERT solutions blog for Class 10 English Chapter 4 A Question of Trust (Footprints Without Feet) is designed to help students understand the chapter in a clear, structured, and exam-oriented way. Written by Victor Canning, the story highlights themes of trust, deception, irony, and clever manipulation. These solutions strictly follow the latest NCERT textbook and present accurate, board-aligned answers without unnecessary additions.
What this NCERT chapter covers
1. Character analysis of Horace Danby 2. Theme of deception and irony 3. Trust and betrayal 4. The idea of “honour among thieves” 5. Text-based “Read and Find Out” questions 6. Analytical “Think about it” questions 7. Opinion-based “Talk about it” questions 8. Suggested reading for extended understanding
How to use these NCERT solutions
1. Read the story carefully before checking answers 2. Highlight key turning points in the plot 3. Attempt analytical questions independently first 4. Support answers with textual references 5. Revise moral and thematic aspects for exams
Important tips & tricks
1. Focus on how the lady deceives Horace 2. Understand the irony in the ending 3. Analyse Horace’s personality traits carefully 4. Differentiate between intention and action 5. Practise value-based answer writing
Read and Find Out
Q1 Horace Danby likes to collect rare and expensive books.
Q2 He steals every year to get enough money to buy rare books that he cannot afford otherwise.
Q3 A young, pretty woman dressed in red is speaking to Horace Danby.
Q4 The real culprit in the story is the young lady who tricks Horace into opening the safe and steals the jewels herself.
Think about it
Q1 Yes, suspicion arises when the lady appears unusually calm and confident while confronting a burglar. Her knowledge about the safe and her persuasive manner suggest something is wrong.
Q2 The lady deceives Horace by pretending to be the owner’s wife, speaking confidently, and appealing to his fear of prison. Horace does not suspect her because he believes she belongs to the house and trusts her gentle behaviour.
Q3 The description fits Horace because he appears respectable and disciplined but secretly commits theft once a year. He is not a typical thief as he steals carefully, avoids violence, and uses the money only to buy books.
Q4 Horace went wrong when he removed his gloves and opened the safe, leaving fingerprints. He trusted the lady blindly and ignored his usual precautions.
Talk about it –
Q1 Horace was not unfairly punished because he committed theft knowingly. Although he was deceived, he was still guilty of breaking the law.
Q2 Intentions do not justify wrong actions. Even if the goal seems harmless, dishonest methods cannot be excused. Actions must be lawful and ethical.
Suggested Reading
1. The Unexpected by Ella Edkin 2. The Confession by Anton Chekhov 3. A Case for the Defence by Graham Greene
Why NCERT solutions help students
NCERT solutions help students understand plot twists, character psychology, and moral lessons clearly. These solutions are accurate, structured, and aligned with CBSE exam patterns to ensure effective preparation.