Enhance your exam preparation with this free online descriptive quiz on “A Question of Trust” by Victor Canning, featured in the Footprints Without Feet textbook for CBSE Class 10 English. This ironic and cleverly written story follows Horace Danby, a thief who believes he steals for a good cause—until he himself is outsmarted by someone even more cunning.
This descriptive quiz contains a variety of short and long answer questions based on the NCERT syllabus, designed to test your ability to analyze characters, plot developments, and themes like deception, irony, and moral ambiguity. Students will reflect on whether trust can exist among criminals, how Horace’s assumptions led to his downfall, and how the author skillfully delivers a twist ending with a dose of humor.
These practice tests help improve answer framing, exam writing skills, and overall understanding of the story’s deeper messages. Ideal for students preparing for school assessments or the CBSE board exam, this quiz encourages detailed thinking and expression — key to excelling in the descriptive section of your English paper.
Whether you're aiming to sharpen your writing, deepen your literary analysis, or simply revise the chapter thoroughly, this descriptive quiz offers an engaging and exam-focused way to study. Start practicing now to build confidence and improve performance.
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Question 1: What does Horace Danby like to collect?
Marks: 2Words: 0 / 60
Show Model Answer
Horace Danby likes to collect rare and expensive books. He has a great passion for reading and maintains a small library filled with books he acquires through his annual thefts.
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Question 2: Why does he steal every year?
Marks: 2Words: 0 / 60
Show Model Answer
Horace Danby steals once a year to fund his expensive hobby of collecting rare books. He carefully plans a robbery to avoid suspicion and uses the money to buy books through an agent.
{"eq_id":2572,"eq_text":"Why does he steal every year?","eq_marks":"2","eq_context":"A Question of Trust by Victor Canning, NCERT-X Textbook","eq_ans_length":60,"eq_exam":"NCERT-X","eq_subject":"English","eq_topic":"A Question of Trust","ans_text":"Horace Danby steals once a year to fund his expensive hobby of collecting rare books. He carefully plans a robbery to avoid suspicion and uses the money to buy books through an agent."}
Question 3: Who is speaking to Horace Danby?
Marks: 1Words: 0 / 30
Show Model Answer
A woman posing as the lady of the house speaks to Horace Danby. She pretends to have caught him red-handed and manipulates him into opening the safe for her.
{"eq_id":2573,"eq_text":"Who is speaking to Horace Danby?","eq_marks":"1","eq_context":"A Question of Trust by Victor Canning, NCERT-X Textbook","eq_ans_length":30,"eq_exam":"NCERT-X","eq_subject":"English","eq_topic":"A Question of Trust","ans_text":"A woman posing as the lady of the house speaks to Horace Danby. She pretends to have caught him red-handed and manipulates him into opening the safe for her."}
Question 4: Who is the real culprit in the story?
Marks: 2Words: 0 / 60
Show Model Answer
The real culprit is the woman who pretends to be the owner of the house. She deceives Horace Danby and escapes with the stolen jewels, leaving Horace to take the blame.
{"eq_id":2574,"eq_text":"Who is the real culprit in the story?","eq_marks":"2","eq_context":"A Question of Trust by Victor Canning, NCERT-X Textbook","eq_ans_length":60,"eq_exam":"NCERT-X","eq_subject":"English","eq_topic":"A Question of Trust","ans_text":"The real culprit is the woman who pretends to be the owner of the house. She deceives Horace Danby and escapes with the stolen jewels, leaving Horace to take the blame."}
Question 5: 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 realise this, and how?
Marks: 3Words: 0 / 90
Show Model Answer
Yes, I began to suspect the lady’s identity when she showed no fear upon seeing a stranger in the house. Her calm behavior and confidence in dealing with Horace seemed unusual, suggesting she was not the actual lady of the house.
{"eq_id":2575,"eq_text":"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 realise this, and how?","eq_marks":"3","eq_context":"A Question of Trust by Victor Canning, NCERT-X Textbook","eq_ans_length":90,"eq_exam":"NCERT-X","eq_subject":"English","eq_topic":"A Question of Trust","ans_text":"Yes, I began to suspect the lady\u2019s identity when she showed no fear upon seeing a stranger in the house. Her calm behavior and confidence in dealing with Horace seemed unusual, suggesting she was not the actual lady of the house."}
Question 6: 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?
Marks: 4Words: 0 / 120
Show Model Answer
The lady uses calm demeanor, authoritative tone, and familiarity with the house to trick Horace. She also talks about the safe and the jewels convincingly. Horace, nervous and caught off guard, believes her easily and is eager to avoid trouble.
{"eq_id":2576,"eq_text":"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\u2019t Horace suspect that something is wrong?","eq_marks":"4","eq_context":"A Question of Trust by Victor Canning, NCERT-X Textbook","eq_ans_length":120,"eq_exam":"NCERT-X","eq_subject":"English","eq_topic":"A Question of Trust","ans_text":"The lady uses calm demeanor, authoritative tone, and familiarity with the house to trick Horace. She also talks about the safe and the jewels convincingly. Horace, nervous and caught off guard, believes her easily and is eager to avoid trouble."}
Question 7: “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 categorised as a typical thief?
Marks: 4Words: 0 / 120
Show Model Answer
This description is apt because Horace led a respectable life and only committed theft once a year to pursue his love for books. He avoided violence and didn’t steal for greed, distinguishing him from typical criminals.
{"eq_id":2577,"eq_text":"\u201cHorace Danby was good and respectable \u2014 but not completely honest\u201d. Why do you think this description is apt for Horace? Why can\u2019t he be categorised as a typical thief?","eq_marks":"4","eq_context":"A Question of Trust by Victor Canning, NCERT-X Textbook","eq_ans_length":120,"eq_exam":"NCERT-X","eq_subject":"English","eq_topic":"A Question of Trust","ans_text":"This description is apt because Horace led a respectable life and only committed theft once a year to pursue his love for books. He avoided violence and didn\u2019t steal for greed, distinguishing him from typical criminals."}
Question 8: Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered. Where did he go wrong and why?
Marks: 3Words: 0 / 90
Show Model Answer
Horace failed to consider unexpected situations. He didn’t expect anyone to be home or to be deceived. His trust in the woman without verifying her identity was his biggest mistake.
{"eq_id":2578,"eq_text":"Horace Danby was a meticulous planner but still he faltered. Where did he go wrong and why?","eq_marks":"3","eq_context":"A Question of Trust by Victor Canning, NCERT-X Textbook","eq_ans_length":90,"eq_exam":"NCERT-X","eq_subject":"English","eq_topic":"A Question of Trust","ans_text":"Horace failed to consider unexpected situations. He didn\u2019t expect anyone to be home or to be deceived. His trust in the woman without verifying her identity was his biggest mistake."}
Question 9: Do you think Horace Danby was unfairly punished, or that he deserved what he got?
Marks: 3Words: 0 / 90
Show Model Answer
While Horace’s punishment seemed harsh considering his non-violent nature, he did commit a crime and broke the law. Hence, he was not unfairly punished, though he was also a victim of deceit.
{"eq_id":2579,"eq_text":"Do you think Horace Danby was unfairly punished, or that he deserved what he got?","eq_marks":"3","eq_context":"A Question of Trust by Victor Canning, NCERT-X Textbook","eq_ans_length":90,"eq_exam":"NCERT-X","eq_subject":"English","eq_topic":"A Question of Trust","ans_text":"While Horace\u2019s punishment seemed harsh considering his non-violent nature, he did commit a crime and broke the law. Hence, he was not unfairly punished, though he was also a victim of deceit."}
Question 10: 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?
Marks: 5Words: 0 / 150
Show Model Answer
Intentions do not always justify actions. While Horace stole for a seemingly harmless purpose, it was still illegal. Personally, I believe honesty should be upheld, and while some situations may test our morals, breaking the law cannot be excused easily.
{"eq_id":2580,"eq_text":"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?","eq_marks":"5","eq_context":"A Question of Trust by Victor Canning, NCERT-X Textbook","eq_ans_length":150,"eq_exam":"NCERT-X","eq_subject":"English","eq_topic":"A Question of Trust","ans_text":"Intentions do not always justify actions. While Horace stole for a seemingly harmless purpose, it was still illegal. Personally, I believe honesty should be upheld, and while some situations may test our morals, breaking the law cannot be excused easily."}