INDIAN SCHOOL SUR

English Class X
Higher Order Thinking Skill Questions – Footprints without Feet

1. A Triumph of Surgery
1. How does the story highlight the theme of excess indulgence and its consequences?
2. What would have happened if Tricki had stayed with Mrs. Pumphrey instead of being taken to the surgery?
3. If you were in Dr. Herriot’s place, how would you have handled Tricki’s condition differently?
4. How does the story reflect the importance of expert intervention in solving problems?
5. How would the story change if Tricki could express his thoughts in words?

2. The Thief’s Story

1. How does the narrator’s transformation reflect the impact of kindness on human behavior?
2. What do you think would have happened if the thief had not returned to Anil?
3. Compare and contrast Anil’s approach to dealing with the thief with traditional punishment.
4. How does the story challenge the conventional notion of crime and punishment?
5. If you were in the thief’s place, would you have returned the stolen money? Why or why not?

3. The Midnight Visitor

1. How does Ausable’s intelligence and presence of mind contrast with Max’s overconfidence?
2. If you were Max, how would you have planned the situation differently to avoid failure?
3. What role does deception play in the story, and how does it shape the outcome?
4. How would the story have ended differently if Fowler had not been present?
5. How does the story highlight that physical strength is not always the key to success?

4. A Question of Trust
1. How does the story depict the irony in the lives of thieves?
2. How would you justify or criticize Horace Danby’s actions based on ethical grounds?
3. If you were in Horace’s place, how would you have handled the situation with the lady?
4. How does the story challenge the perception of honesty and trustworthiness?
5. Why do you think the lady tricked Horace Danby instead of reporting him to the police?

5. Footprints Without Feet

1. How does the story highlight the advantages and disadvantages of invisibility?
2. If you had the power of invisibility, how would you use it responsibly?
 3. How does the story reflect the dangers of unchecked scientific ambition?
4. Why do you think Griffin continued to misuse his powers instead of using them for good?
5. How does the story connect with real-world ethical concerns about scientific advancements?

6. The Making of a Scientist

1. How does Richard Ebright’s journey illustrate the importance of curiosity and perseverance?
2. What lessons can students learn from Ebright’s dedication to science?
3. How would Ebright’s life have been different if he had not received encouragement from his mother and mentor?
4. How does the story emphasize that failure is an essential part of success?
5. If you were in Ebright’s place, how would you have approached scientific research differently?

7. The Necklace
1. How does the story highlight the theme of pride and materialism?
2. If Madame Loisel had told the truth earlier, how might her life have been different?
3. What does the story teach about the difference between appearance and reality?
4. How does the ending of the story impact your perception of Madame Loisel’s character?
5. How would you react if you were in Madame Forestier’s place after learning the truth?

9. Bholi
1. How does Bholi’s transformation reflect the power of education and self-confidence?
2. How does the story challenge traditional gender roles and societal expectations?
3. What does Bholi’s refusal to marry Bishamber reveal about her character development?
4. If you were in Bholi’s position, how would you have handled the situation differently?
5. How does the story highlight the role of teachers in shaping students’ futures?

10. The Book That Saved the Earth

1. How does the story use humor and satire to comment on human nature and intelligence?
2. How would history have changed if the Martians had successfully invaded Earth?
3. What does the story suggest about the power of literature and knowledge?
4. How does the story depict the importance of cross-cultural understanding?
5. If you were a Martian, how would you have reacted to the book instead of calling off the invasion?
6. How do the three nursery rhymes frighten Think-Tank in the play, ‘The Book That Saved the Earth’?
 Answer: The rhyme ‘Mistress Mary, quite contrary makes Think-Tank believe that the Earthlings have discovered
how to combine agriculture and mining. He thinks that they can grow explosives. The rhyme ‘Hey diddle diddle’,
makes him conclude that the Earthlings have reached a high level of civilization: even their animals have musical
culture and know space techniques. He fears that at that very moment, the Earthlings might be launching an
interplanetary attack of millions of cows. Oop reads the rhyme. ‘Humpty Dumpty’ and shows him a picture of
Humpty Dumpty. Think-Tank concludes that it is his picture and the Earthlings are planning to invade Mars.
7. Compare and contrast the characters of Noodle and Think-Tank. [CBSE 2012]
Answer: Noodle and Think-Tank have contrasting characters. Think-Tank likes to be called the ‘Great and the
Mighty’. He orders and commands. He is the ruler of Mars, but has no intelligence.
He thinks books to be sandwiches. He is wrong about everything. He demands that the crew obey him. He likes to
pass on other’s idea as his own. He is a coward who simply boasts about his power.
Noodle, his apprentice, is very clever and wise. He corrects the mistakes of the ruler (Think-Tank) very gently. He
never takes credit for his ideas. But he offers them to the ruler very gently. Think-Tank makes them as his own.
CBSE Previous Year Questions - Literature
1. Life is full of trials and tribulations. Kisa Gotami also passes through a period of grief in her life. How does she
behave in those circumstances?
2. What did being free mean to Nelson Mandela as a boy and as a student? How does he contrast these "Transitory
Freedom" with the basic and the honourable freedom?
3. Whenever we want to achieve something difficulties always come in our way, What did Valli have to do to go
and ride in a bus?
4. Give contrasting pictures of the tiger in his natural habitat and in the locked cage of the zoo. How does he feel and
behave differently in both places ?
5. Education is always a great asset in the life of a woman. How did Bholi, an educated girl, face the challenge posed
by Bishamber's greed?
6. Discuss the role of Ebright’s mother in making him a scientist.
7. Based on your understanding of the Play ‘The Proposal’ how do you think good relationships can be maintained?
Why in today’s time we see so many people going away from each other?
8. In the name of rules and regulations, basic values are ignored but people like the airhostess in ‘Mijbil the Otter’ are
a ray of hope. What virtues do we find in the airhostess?
9. What ‘experiment’ did Maxwell think Camusfearna would be suitable for? HINT - Maxwell was staying in a cottage
in Camusfearna. There was a lot of water around the cottage. He thought to have an otter as a pet instead of a dog.
An otter likes flowing water. So the author thought that Camusfearna would be suitable spot for that experiment.

10. “From the diary of Anne Frank’ throws light on teacher-student relationship, class atmosphere and discipline.
Write a paragraph oh the values of these aspects of school and how far these values are necessary for learning and
life.
11. Write the character sketch of Anne Frank. HINT - Anne Frank was born on 12th June 1929 in Frankfurt Germany.
She was four years old when her father went to Holland to find a better place for his family to live. She was very
intelligent and always wanted to become a writer. She loved Peter even when she had to face opposition from her
family in this regard. She was a very good reader as well, she continued reading books, translated chapters, wrote
down the vocabulary and worked hard on her skills. Like any child, she loved her parents but later grew a dislike
towards her mother as she compared Anne to Margot. She was always jealous with her. She believed that time would
come when the problems would be over. She felt alone although there were thirty people around her but she hardly
 could call anyone a true friend. Anne died of typhus in the concentration camp at Berger-Belsen in late February or
early March of 1945.
12. Write the brief character sketch of Mrs Pumphrey. HINT - Mrs Pumphrey was a rich but eccentric lady. She was an
ignorant kind of person. She had a pet dog Tricki, whom she loved more than anything. Her way of showing love
was very different. She overfed Tricki. She showed her concern by giving him rich and extra diet between meals
which finally made Tricki ill. She couldn’t bear Tricki doing exercise. She thought that it would make Tricki tired
while it was necessary for him. She pampered her pet which had a wardrobe of clothes for every season, different
bowls for each meal, toys and what not. Her way of loving was not normal. But she was also a kind- hearted lady
who finally burst into tears while parting with her dog. She had all human qualities as she didn’t forget to thank Mr
Herriot at the end.
13. What is the significance of the Buddha's request for a handful of mustard seeds and the addition of a condition to
it? (The Sermon At Benares)

14. Describe a traditional Goan village baker. (Glimpses Of India)

15. "A ballad includes the telling of a tale as well as surprise ending." Quoting evidence from the poem The Tale of
Custard the Dragon explain how these features are included in a poem.

16. "Mijbil caused a sensation in London" expound with reference to the chapter Mijbil the Otter. Cite suitable
textual evidence

17. Highlight the central theme of the poem "For Anne Gregory"

18. "Richard Ebright's mother played a crucial role in making him a great scientist." Justify. (The Making of a Scientist)

19. How did Mme Loisel understand what life of necessity means?(The Necklace)

20. Comment on the tone of Ausable when he said "you gave me quite a start. I thought you were in Berlin. What are
you doing here in my room?" (The Midnight Visitor)

21. Read the extracts given below and comment on the similarity of tone in both the extracts. Also, analyse the
situations in the context. CHUBOKOV: To court? You can take it to court, and all that! You can! I know you; you're
just on the look-out for a chance to go to court, and all that. You pettifogger! All your people were like that! All of
them! (The Proposal)

"God! Of the money that I asked for, only seventy pesos reached me. Send me the rest, since I need it very much. But
don't send it to me through the mail because the post office employees are a bunch of crooks.
Lencho."(A Letter to God)

22. "Age is not a barrier to do something different and great." Justify the statement with reference to the chapter
"Madam Rides the Bus"

23. Half knowledge is dangerous. Critically examine the given statement in reference to the chapter "The Book That
Saved the Earth."

24. Read the following quote by an American author E.E.Hale. "I am only one but I am one. I cannot do everything
but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I do."

Bholi’s evolution from a 'dumb cow' to a 'masterpiece' supports the given quote. Justify the statement through suitable
textual evidence. (Bholi)