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| Subject | English Language & Literature |
| Class | 10 |
| Board | CBSE |
| Chapter Name | The Midnight Visitor (Chapter 3) |
| Poet | Robert Arthur |
| Type | Important Questions and Answers |
| Session | 2023-24 |
| Book Name | Footprints without Feet |
| Literature | Prose |
"Change is the end result of all true learning."
- Leo Buscaglia
The Midnight Visitor Class 10 Important Questions Answers
Q. No. 1) Multiple Choice Questions based on an extract:
Ausable did not fit any description of a secret agent Fowler had ever read. Following him down the musty corridor of the gloomy French hotel where Ausable had a room, Fowler felt let down. It was a small room, on the sixth and top floor, and scarcely a setting for a romantic adventure. Ausable was, for one thing, fat. Very fat. And then there was his accent. Though he spoke French and German passably, he had never altogether lost the American accent he had brought to Paris from Boston twenty years ago. “You are disappointed,” Ausable said wheezily over his shoulder.
i. “Following him down the musty corridor of the gloomy French hotel where Ausable had a room…”
Choose the correct option to replace the underlined words.
a. expansive, abnormal
b. lighted; formal
c. damp; dingy
d. uncanny; smart
Ans. Option (c)
ii. Amy is an American woman who teaches French and German in a primary school. This means that Amy is
a. an empathetic teacher.
b. a rational human being.
c. an experienced guide.
d. a multilingual instructor.
Ans. Option (d)
iii. It can be inferred from the extract that a secret agent is expected to be
- fit.
- compassionate.
- apologetic.
- suave.
- violent.
a. Option 1, 3, & 5
b. Option 1 & 4
c. Option 2 ,4, & 5
d. Option 2 & 3
Ans. Option (b)
iv. The reason Fowler was disappointed by Ausable when he met him was because Ausable
a. lived in a shady French hotel.
b. was related to the cops.
c. didn’t have the personality of a spy.
d. had a very strange accent.
Ans. Option (c)
v. Choose the option that lists the INCORRECT statements about the given passage.
- Fowler had no expectations at all from Ausable.
- Fowler was elated when he met Ausable.
- Ausable was living in France as a spy.
- Ausable had acquired the French accent over twenty years ago.
a. 1, 2
b. 3, 4
c. 1, 3
d. 2, 4
Ans. Option (d)
Q. No. 2) Multiple Choice Questions based on an extract.
Max was slender, a little less than tall, with features that suggested slightly the crafty, pointed countenance of a fox. There was about him — aside from the gun — nothing especially menacing. “The report,” he murmured. “The report that is being brought to you tonight concerning some new missiles. I thought I would take it from you. It will be safer in my hands than in yours.” Ausable moved to an armchair and sat down heavily. “I’m going to raise the devil with the management this time, and you can bet on it,” he said grimly. “This is the second time in a month that somebody has got into my room through that nuisance of a balcony!”
i. Owning a gun gave a menacing impression to Max’s character because
a. a gun is only used by police officials.
b. he was carrying it without any official license.
c. a gun has a threatening implication.
d. the gun was particularly huge.
Ans. Option (c)
ii. Choose the option that displays the correct analogy.
a. crafty : fox :: menacing : gun
b. report : missile :: management : devil
c. crafty : fox :: management : balcony
d. armchair : grim :: balcony : nuisance
Ans. Option (a)
iii. Choose the part of the house through which Ausable thought Maxwell had entered his room.
a. Option 1
b. Option 2
c. Option 3
d. Option 4
Ans. Option (b)
iv. Delnaaz is a new tenant in her locality and Mrs. Mehta is the landlady. Choose the option that lists an action that would require Mrs. Mehta to ‘raise the devil’ with Delnaaz.
- She uses the elevator five times a day.
- She feeds the stray dogs in the street.
- She works late at night and stays home in the afternoon only.
- She plays music louder than is necessary late into the night.
a. Option 1
b. Option 2
c. Option 3
d. Option 4
Ans. Option (d)
v. Which word replaces ‘sat down heavily’ in the sentence—'Ausable moved to an armchair and sat down heavily’?
a. dumped.
b. flumped.
c. pumped.
d. jumped.
Ans. Option (b)
vi. Ausable’s annoyance at the balcony when he says, “…nuisance of a balcony…” could be called fake, keeping in mind that
a. Max was the second person to enter the room through it.
b. his balcony was easy enough that anyone could break through it.
c. he later admitted that there was no balcony at all.
d. he wanted to make a spy-like impression in front of Fowler.
Ans. Option (c)
Q. No. 3) Discuss, briefly, the reasons owing to which Fowler was interested in meeting Ausable.
Ans. Fowler was curious about meeting Ausable because he had heard intriguing stories about Ausable's incredible skills as a spy and his ability to solve challenging problems. Fowler wanted to witness Ausable's legendary talents firsthand and learn from him.
Q. No. 4) Ausable was always one step ahead of everyone. Highlight any two instances from “The Midnight Visitor” when this holds true.
Ans. Ausable was always one step ahead of everyone in the story "The Midnight Visitor". Here are two instances when this holds true:
- When Max arrives at Ausable's hotel room, Ausable is already expecting him. He has already called the police and they are waiting outside the room. Max is surprised by this and eventually jumps off the balcony to his death.
- Ausable's prior knowledge of the balcony's layout allows him to mislead Max, exploiting his lack of awareness and revealing his advanced thinking.
Q. No. 5) Henry unintentionally saved Ausable’s life. Briefly comment.
Ans. Henry's arrival with the tray unintentionally saves Ausable's life. The noise of the door opening and the waiter's presence spooks Max, who mistakes it for the police. Max's hasty escape plan is disrupted due to this unexpected interruption, leading to his downfall.
Q. No. 6) Ausable displays an acute sense of awareness of his surroundings. Justify with any two instances from the text.
Ans. Ausable's keen awareness is evident when he explains the balcony's layout to Fowler, revealing his understanding of the surroundings. Moreover, his anticipation of Max's actions showcases his acute perception as he accurately predicts Max's intention to shoot and escape, which ultimately leads to Max's defeat.
Q. No. 7) Fowler’s day took a one-eighty-degree turn by the end of the evening. Examine the statement with reference to “The Midnight Visitor”.
Ans. Fowler's day dramatically reversed when he initially felt disappointed meeting Ausable, expecting a glamorous spy encounter. However, as the evening unfolded, Fowler was immersed in a real-life spy situation, experiencing tension and intrigue. This unexpected turn transformed his ordinary expectations into an exciting and unforeseen adventure.
Q. No. 8) “Stereotypes are often misleading”. Elaborate on the given quote in the context of “The Midnight Visitor”.
Ans. In "The Midnight Visitor," the quote holds true as Fowler's preconceived stereotypes about secret agents clash with the reality of Ausable's appearance and methods. Ausable defies the typical spy image by being overweight and employing unexpected tactics, illustrating that assumptions based on stereotypes can be far from accurate.
Q. No. 9) Max was unprepared for his mission. Discuss with reference to the chapter “The Midnight Visitor”.
Ans. In "The Midnight Visitor," Max's lack of preparation is evident in his surprise at the balcony's existence and his unawareness of Ausable's knowledge about it. His panicked reaction to Henry's interruption and his failure to anticipate Ausable's counteractions highlight his unpreparedness for the mission, leading to his eventual failure.
Q. No. 10) “Attack is the secret of defense.” Justify the statement in the case of Ausable.
Ans. The statement "Attack is the secret of defense" means that the best way to protect oneself is to be proactive and take the initiative. This is certainly true in the case of Ausable, the protagonist of the story "The Midnight Visitor".
When Max, a rival secret agent, arrives at Ausable's hotel room late at night, Ausable does not panic. Instead, he quickly thinks of a plan to outwit Max. He tells Max that there are police officers outside the room and that they are waiting to arrest him. Max is so scared that he jumps off the balcony to his death.
Ausable's victory over Max shows that the best way to defend oneself is to attack first. By taking the initiative, Ausable was able to surprise Max and defeat him. This is a valuable lesson for anyone who wants to protect themselves from danger.
In addition to this, Ausable also used his intelligence and cunning to defend himself against Max. He was able to trick Max into believing that there were police officers outside the room, even though there were none. This shows that Ausable was not only quick-thinking but also very good at manipulating people.
Q. No. 11) Describe the twist in the plot in 'The Midnight Visitor'. Analyze how Fowler's opinion of Ausable must have undergone a change after the plot twist.
Ans. Plot twist –
- The knock on the hotel room door was not really a policeman, but a waiter who had been asked to bring up drinks.
- The room did not have an attached balcony, as described by Ausable, so when Max stepped out, he was injured since he landed on the hard ground below instead of a balcony.
- The unexpected twist at the end made the story more exciting/unpredictable ending and unpredictable protagonist.
Fowler's changed impression of Ausable –
- Ausable was nothing like the typical spy that Fowler had seen portrayed in the movies and novels.
- The day had been a most ordinary one rather than one full of car chases and gun-slinging criminals.
- Ausable's interaction with Max and how he outwits him really impressed Fowler/realized that first impressions could be wrong/'Never judge a book by its cover/first impression should not be the last impression/appearances can be deceptive/Ausable outwit Max with his intelligence by telling a believable story to create a trap.
- To summarise – While Fowler was initially disappointed and unimpressed by Ausable, his opinion is most likely to have changed to one of respect and awe after Ausable was able to outwit Max.
Q. No. 12) State one likely reason the writer of The Midnight Visitor chose to characterize Ausable as short and fat.
Ans. Ausable-- characterized as short and fat as the writer wants to draw attention to and emphasize his wits and mental ability to handle any grave situation
[Ausable was able to successfully plant a story of a non-existent balcony and also made the agile and smart, Max believe it ---didn’t require an attractive physique to do this.]
The writer, perhaps, wanted to give a strong message that the brain is what counts more than brawn/ muscle power, OR brain power is far more potent/effective than any other type of power muscle/arms, etc.
Q. No. 13) A new secret agent has asked Ausable’s opinion on the traits they should be looking for in a person filling in his shoes. Create a conversation between Ausable and the new agent about indispensable traits that a secret agent must have.
Ans.
New Agent: Ausable, I'm honored to seek your guidance. What qualities should a secret agent possess to be as successful as you?
Ausable: It's not just about skills, my friend. First, intuition – the ability to read situations swiftly. Next, adaptability – blending in effortlessly while maintaining focus. Courage and composure under pressure are crucial. A keen observer – details reveal more than the obvious. A creative thinker – unconventional solutions can save the day. Effective communication – knowing what to say and when. Trust your instincts, but rely on facts. And remember, humility – ego can be a dangerous liability. Keep these traits in your arsenal, and you'll navigate the shadows with finesse.
New Agent: Thank you, Ausable. Your wisdom will guide my path in this shadowy world of secrets and intrigue.
Q. No. 14) The various elements of Robert Arthur's writing style work together to create a sense of tension, uncertainty, and suspense, well-suited to the mystery and suspense genre of the story, The Midnight Visitor. Comment, with reference to any one element.
Ans. The author employs various elements of writing style to create a sense of tension, uncertainty, and suspense, well-suited to the story's mystery and suspense genre.
Skillful use of language to create tension-- Throughout the story, he employs short, punchy sentences that create a sense of urgency and a feeling that events are unfolding quickly and unpredictably. This helps to build momentum and keep the reader engaged, while also conveying a sense of unease and urgency.
Use of dialogue - The conversation between Ausable and Max is filled with half-truths and mystification, which creates a sense of ambiguity and heightens the story's sense of mystery. The reader is left wondering about Max's true motives and intentions, which adds to the sense of uncertainty and tension in the story.
Pacing and plot development - contribute to the story's sense of suspense, as the author carefully builds the tension throughout the story, gradually revealing new information and plot twists that keep the reader guessing and on edge.
Q. No. 15) Ausable’s employer has been asked to write a recommendation letter for Ausable so that he may be promoted to a higher rank in secret services. As his manager, draft the letter detailing his personality traits with reference to the instance in the chapter as a prime example of Ausable’s genius.
You may begin this way:
22, rue Nationale
Paris
26 March’ 78
The General Director
Department for Internal Security
11-A, Rue de Dunkerque
Paris
Subject: Letter of Recommendation
This is to state that Monsieur Ausable has been a committed employee with us for the past two years. During this time, he has
………………………………(continue)…………………………
Yours sincerely
ABC
Ans.
22, rue Nationale
Paris
26 March ’78
The General Director
Department for Internal Security
11-A, Rue de Dunkerque
Paris
Subject: Letter of Recommendation
This is to state that Monsieur Ausable has been a committed employee with us for the past two years. In this time, he has demonstrated exceptional qualities that make him stand out in the world of covert operations.
Ausable possesses an innate ability to outthink and outmaneuver adversaries. A prime example of his genius occurred during an intricate operation involving sensitive intelligence retrieval. Facing imminent danger, he anticipated the movements of a skilled infiltrator and discreetly positioned himself in a situation of advantage. Through his quick thinking and resourcefulness, he apprehended the infiltrator, securing crucial data and preventing a potential breach.
Ausable's remarkable intuition, analytical prowess, and tactical acumen have consistently proven invaluable to our agency's success. His exemplary traits include adaptability, clear-headedness under pressure, and the capacity to make swift, calculated decisions.
Therefore, I wholeheartedly recommend Monsieur Ausable for a promotion to a higher rank within our secret services. His contributions and exceptional skills make him a vital asset to our team.
Yours sincerely,
ABC
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