Wrong shortcode initialized

I. Chapter Summary

“A Question of Trust” by Victor Canning is a story full of irony and twists. It follows Horace Danby, a 50-year-old man who appears to be a respectable locksmith but leads a double life as a part-time thief. He plans his burglaries carefully and steals only once a year. However, during one such heist at a countryside house, Horace encounters a woman who pretends to be the owner. Trusting her, he opens the safe for her, only to be betrayed. When the real owner returns, Horace is caught by the police. The story ends with Horace realizing that trusting someone blindly, especially in a dishonest act, comes with consequences.

II. Key Concepts Covered

Concept	Explanation
Irony	A thief gets tricked by another thief, showing poetic justice.
Trust and Betrayal	Trust placed in the wrong person can lead to downfall.
Crime and Consequence	Even a single mistake can destroy years of planning.
Deception	The woman’s manipulation shows how appearances can mislead.
Duality of Character	Horace lives a double life—respectable citizen vs. secret criminal.

 

III. Important Questions

(A) Multiple Choice Questions (1 Mark)

1. What was Horace Danby’s profession?

   • a) Lawyer

   • b) Professor

   • c) Locksmith

   • d) Gardener

   • Answer: c) Locksmith

2. How often did Horace commit theft?

   • a) Once a week

   • b) Once a month

   • c) Once every six months

   • d) Once a year

   • Answer: d) Once a year
     (PYQ – 2020)

3. What did the woman in the house claim to be?

   • a) Police officer

   • b) Maid

   • c) Houseowner’s friend

   • d) Houseowner’s wife

   • Answer: d) Houseowner’s wife

4. What was Horace’s weakness?

   • a) Money

   • b) Jewelry

   • c) Books

   • d) Rare books and hay fever

   • Answer: d) Rare books and hay fever

(B) Short Answer Questions (2/3 Marks)

1. Why did Horace choose to rob only one house a year? (PYQ – 2020)

2. How did the woman outsmart Horace?

3. What role does Horace’s hay fever play in the story?

4. What is ironic about the ending of A Question of Trust?

(C) Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)

1. “Horace Danby was good and respectable but not completely honest.” Explain with reference to the story. (PYQ – 2020)

2. How does the story A Question of Trust reflect that intelligence and planning alone are not enough in crime?

3. Do you think Horace deserved to be punished? Justify your answer.

4. Discuss the theme of deception and its consequences in the story.

(D) HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills)

1. If Horace hadn’t trusted the woman, what alternative actions could he have taken?

2. What message does the story give about judging people by appearances?

IV. Key Formulas/Concepts

This is a prose fiction chapter, so while there are no numerical formulas, key literary devices and concepts include:

• Irony: A thief being tricked by another thief.

• Foreshadowing: Horace’s overly confident attitude hints at his downfall.

• Characterization: The double life of Horace and the manipulative woman.

• Theme: Crime, deception, and misplaced trust.

V. Deleted Portions (CBSE 2025–2026)

No portions have been deleted from this chapter as per the rationalized NCERT textbooks (2025–26).

VI. Chapter-Wise Marks Bifurcation (Estimated – CBSE 2025–2026)

Unit/Chapter	Estimated Marks	Type of Questions Typically Asked
A Question of Trust	6–8 marks	1 MCQ, 1 Short Answer, 1 Long Answer, 1 HOTS

 

VII. Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Year	Marks	Question
2020	5	“Horace was good and respectable—but not completely honest.” Justify.
2021	2	Why did Horace choose to rob only once a year?
2019	3	How did the lady in the house fool Horace?

 

VIII. Real-World Application Examples

• Cybersecurity & Trust: Just as in real life, trusting the wrong person in a digital space can have serious consequences.

• Ethics in Business: Shortcuts in professional life can backfire despite clever planning.

• Law and Justice: Even minor crimes eventually catch up, reinforcing that crime doesn’t pay.

• Human Psychology: Demonstrates manipulation, overconfidence, and psychological vulnerability.

IX. Student Tips & Strategies for Success

Time Management

• Read and summarize each story in under 100 words for quick recall.

• Allocate 10–15 minutes weekly for prose revision using mind maps.

Exam Preparation

• Practice writing character sketches of Horace and the woman.

• Prepare for irony-based questions, as it’s a key theme.

Stress Management

• Discuss the moral of the story with peers to better internalize it.

• Use visualization techniques (role-play the story) for better understanding.

X. Career Guidance & Exploration

For Classes 9–10

Streams Overview:

• Science: Develops analytical skills useful in ethical hacking, forensics.

• Commerce: Understanding of deception and ethics in professional settings.

• Arts: Strong base for psychology, literature, media, and law.

Related Career Paths:

• Detective/Forensic Analyst

• Lawyer (legal interpretation of deception and trust)

• Author/Scriptwriter (for crime or thriller genres)

• Ethical Hacker (protecting systems against digital theft)

Foundational Exams:

• NTSE

• English Olympiads

• CBSE Reading Challenge

XI. Important Notes

•  Always refer to ncert.nic.in and cbseacademic.nic.in for authentic syllabus updates.

•  Understanding literary elements like theme, irony, and tone will improve answer quality.

•  Consistent writing practice and mock tests will help in scoring high marks.