NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Suggested Readings 3 Chapter 4

NCERT solutions for Class 10 English Chapter A Case for the Defence – complete answers & explanations

Mastering Class 10 English requires a thorough understanding of text structures, plot developments, and complex thematic elements found across the supplementary reader curriculum. In the Grade 10 English supplementary textbook Footprints without Feet, the Suggested Readings section features Chapter 4, titled A Case for the Defence by Graham Greene. This captivating legal mystery introduces students to the tension of a high-stakes murder trial, exploring critical concepts like eyewitness testimony, the fallibility of human perception, and the nature of coincidence. Navigating these narratives helps students cultivate sharper critical analysis skills and build clear arguments for their examinations. To make your self-study routine highly structured and productive, you can download the worksheet and practice alongside solutions for better clarity. If you are looking for additional structured academic mentorship to improve your analytical skills, book a free trial now to get expert guidance.

What this NCERT chapter covers?

1. The text introduces high school students to the genre of courtroom drama and legal thrillers through the narrative style of Graham Greene.
2. It expands vocabulary knowledge by incorporating domain-specific terms from legal proceedings, criminal trials, and judicial environments.
3. The chapter explores the literary concept of situational irony, especially focusing on how a highly structured human system can be disrupted by natural coincidence.
4. It helps students understand the mechanical framework of building suspense and using dramatic plot twists effectively in prose writing.
5. The thematic focus challenges students to look deeply at the idea of reasonable doubt and how physical evidence contrasts with sensory observations.
6. The narrative builds advanced comprehension skills by prompting students to trace character behaviors and testimonies across a timeline.
7. It prepares students for analytical evaluation questions, ensuring they learn to frame responses with precise text-based inferences.

How to use these NCERT solutions?

1. Students should actively read through the story of the Peckham murder case on their own before looking at standard answers.
2. Attempt all short and long descriptive questions independently in your study notebook to gauge your initial grasp of the chapter.
3. Open these clear and reliable NCERT solutions to verify the structural format, accuracy, and depth of your written answers.
4. Pay attention to how technical legal terminology is naturally woven into the model answers to maximize your structural writing proficiency.
5. Parents can use this direct answer key to easily evaluate their child's independent practice sheets and offer timely constructive feedback.
6. Review the sections systematically to follow the exact sequence of evaluation, helping you build a consistent methodology for your revisions.

Important tips & tricks for students

1. Avoid giving overly generalized descriptions when explaining the courtroom twist; name specific characters and details to show complete textual familiarity.
2. Be highly precise when describing the concept of reasonable doubt, linking it directly to the introduction of the identical twin.
3. Highlight the contrast between the absolute confidence of the witness and the physical impossibility of proving the suspect's presence.
4. Do not leave out the final sequence of the story, as the accident outside the court is essential to discussing the deeper literary themes.
5. Read formatting and question requirements carefully during practice to eliminate common language errors or incomplete situational summaries.

NCERT solutions – complete answer key

Section A Short answer questions

1. Who was murdered in the Peckham case, and who was the primary suspect?
Answer: Mrs. Parker was the elderly woman murdered in the Peckham case, and a man named Adams was the primary suspect arrested for the crime.

2. Why was Mrs. Salmon considered an excellent and reliable witness by the court?
Answer: Mrs. Salmon was considered reliable because she had a clear, unhurried view of the suspect from her window, possessed excellent eyesight, and spoke with absolute clarity and lack of malice or emotion.

3. What unexpected event completely destroyed the prosecution's case against the prisoner?
Answer: The defense counsel asked a man sitting at the back of the court to stand up, revealing an identical twin brother who looked exactly like the prisoner, making it impossible for any witness to swear which brother was actually present at the crime scene.

Section B Long answer questions

4. Analyze how Graham Greene explores the conflict between human legal justice and divine intervention in the story.
Answer: The story presents a stark contrast between man-made legal systems and the unpredictable nature of fate. The human court relies heavily on eyewitness testimony and empirical evidence to establish guilt. Mrs. Salmon's testimony seems flawless until the defense introduces the prisoner's identical twin brother. Because the law demands proof beyond a reasonable doubt, the court is forced to acquit the suspect, resulting in a failure of human justice to punish a clear crime. However, Greene subverts this legal failure in the final moments of the story. As the twins leave the court, one of them is pushed by the crowd into the path of a bus and killed instantly. This horrific coincidence provides an immediate, supernatural form of retribution, suggesting that where human laws are blocked by technicalities, a higher form of cosmic or divine justice takes over.

Section C Creative writing and open-ended tasks

5. Imagine you were a juror present during the trial. Draft a short diary entry explaining your emotional reaction to the acquittal and the sudden accident outside the courtroom.
Answer: Answers may vary.

Why NCERT solutions help students?

Utilizing aligned and systematic solutions provides a definitive guide for young learners facing complex evaluative parameters. It clarifies text-specific questions, removes conceptual ambiguity, and ensures students learn the correct approach to answering board-level questions. Consistent preparation with reliable tools helps students write with clarity, master timing, and enter assessments with immense self-assurance.

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