CBSE Class 8 English The Case of the Fifth Word Worksheet Set 02

Fill in the Blanks

Question. Davenport will crack the four-word code easily because it was written on a __________ page.
Answer: calendar
Explanation: Since the words were written on a calendar sheet, Davenport would quickly think of the days of the week.

Question. The stolen treasure never __________.
Answer: turned up
Explanation: "Turned up" means appeared or was found, showing that the police could not find the lost diamonds anywhere.

Question. Leroy's actual name was __________, but everyone called him Encyclopedia.
Answer: Leroy
Explanation: Leroy is his real first name, while "Encyclopedia" is just a fun nickname given to him by friends.

Question. Nolan and Davenport __________ the loot for five years.
Answer: got away with
Explanation: "Got away with" means they hid the stolen jewels and avoided getting caught by the police for five whole years.

Question. The old car ........... just outside the town.
Answer: broke down
Explanation: "Broke down" means an engine or car stopped working on the road.

Question. Logical thinking and ........... helped solve the mystery rapidly.
Answer: observation
Explanation: Using your eyes to notice small clues helps you solve big riddles quickly.

Question. Please put the trash in the ........... outside.
Answer: dust bin
Explanation: A dust bin is a big container where we throw waste to keep our surroundings clean.

Question. The court ruled that the company was a ........... due to bad management.
Answer: lost cause
Explanation: A "lost cause" is something that has failed completely and cannot be rescued.

Question. Everyone got a ........... of the cake at the celebration.
Answer: fair share
Explanation: A "fair share" means an equal amount given so that nobody feels left out.

True or False

Question. Encyclopedia assumed the meaning of the words without any clues.
Answer: False
Explanation: Encyclopedia never guessed; he studied the calendar words very carefully and used logic.

Question. The letters D, A, Y were deleted from the names of the weekdays in the message.
Answer: True
Explanation: The letters D-A-Y were taken out from weekday names to make the secret words.

Question. Nolan was instantly arrested after the robbery.
Answer: False
Explanation: The police did not arrest Nolan right away because they did not have enough proof.

Vocabulary Activity - "Guess the Word"

Question. What does the word “confessed” indicate about Mrs Brown’s state of mind?
Answer: It shows that she felt defeated and honestly admitted that she was unable to solve the secret riddle.
Explanation: When someone confesses here, it simply means they openly say, "I give up, I don't know the answer!"

Question. Identify the literary device in the phrase “figure it out”.
Answer: Phrasal verb / Idiom.
Explanation: "Figure it out" is an everyday group of words that means to solve a problem using your brain.

Questions / Short Question Answers

Question. How did Encyclopedia learn there was a young fir tree in Nolan’s nursery?
Answer: After deducing that the fifth word was "Friday" (fir), he asked his father a specific question to confirm its presence in the nursery.
Explanation: Once Leroy figured out the word sounded like "fir," he checked with his dad to see if a fir tree was planted there.

Question. Why did Nolan scribble the four words on a calendar sheet?
Answer: He wanted to leave a secret direction for Davenport about where the jewellery was hidden without the police finding out.
Explanation: Nolan wanted to pass a secret map to his friend without letting the police catch on.

Question. What does the story reveal us about Encyclopedia’s character through the way he solved the case?
Answer: It shows that he is humble, observant, polite, and uses peaceful logic instead of force to uncover the truth.
Explanation: Leroy is smart and kind. He solves crimes quietly with brainpower rather than fighting.

Question. What was discovered on the kitchen table when Tim Nolan died?
Answer: Nolan's legal will leaving everything to Davenport and a desk calendar page with four strange words.
Explanation: Officers found Nolan's will giving away his nursery along with a small paper note.

Question. Who ultimately inherited Nolan’s palm-tree nursery?
Answer: Daniel Davenport inherited the nursery according to Nolan’s will.
Explanation: Nolan gave all his land and trees to his old partner Davenport so Davenport could dig up the loot.

Question. How did Encyclopedia Brown decode the clue “Nom Utes Sweden Hurts”? Explain his reasoning.
Answer: He noticed the words matched Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday without "day"; the unwritten fifth word had to be Friday ("fir"), pointing to the fir tree.
Explanation: The words followed the weekday calendar, so Friday was the missing day, pointing right to the fir tree.

Question. Describe the partnership between Nolan and Davenport. Why is it significant in the story?
Answer: They were close partners in crime who met in prison; their bond explained why Nolan trusted Davenport with the secret code to find the loot.
Explanation: The two men were robber friends who trusted each other to hide and share the stolen gems.

Question. What personal traits made Leroy a successful detective despite his young age?
Answer: His wide book knowledge, sharp memory, keen listening skills, and ability to stay calm and think logically made him successful.
Explanation: Leroy reads tons of books, listens very carefully, and uses neat logic to solve problems.

Question. Why did Chief Brown believe that the jewellery was still hidden somewhere?
Answer: Because no trace of the stolen jewellery had ever surfaced on the market, showing that the thieves were waiting for things to cool down.
Explanation: Nobody ever saw the stolen diamonds being sold, so the police chief knew they were still buried somewhere safe.

Question. “Encyclopedia was an educated eighth-grader who never forgot a fact that he read.” Write a character sketch of Leroy Brown in 100–120 words.
Answer: Leroy Brown, known as "Encyclopedia," is an exceptional eighth-grade student living in Idaville, USA. His father is the Chief of Police. Leroy is famous for his vast knowledge and remarkable memory, having read countless books without ever forgetting a single fact. Despite his rare brilliance, he is thoroughly modest, kind, and polite, never boasting or showing off his skills. Instead of seeking fame, he quietly helps his father solve perplexing cases at the dinner table by listening attentively and connecting subtle clues. His success proves that sharp observation, clear reasoning, and humility are far more valuable than physical strength or pride.
Explanation: Leroy is an extremely smart and humble boy who loves reading and quietly helps his father crack difficult cases.

Question. How does the story prove that observation and logical thinking can solve even the most puzzling mysteries? Explain with reference to the case of the fifth word.
Answer: The story demonstrates the power of logic when adult police officers are baffled by four strange words left on a calendar sheet. Mrs. Brown analyzes them literally as grammar and geography, while the Chief finds no sense in them at all. In contrast, Encyclopedia looks at the context of the calendar and observes a hidden pattern representing the days of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. By deducing that the missing fifth day must be Friday, he links the sound "Fri" to the fir tree in the nursery. Through simple, calm reasoning rather than force, he successfully locates the hidden loot.
Explanation: While adults were completely puzzled, Leroy paid close attention to small clues and cracked the code using easy, step-by-step logic.

Question. Rewrite in Reported Speech: “Where did you put the notes?” asked Raj’s mother.
Answer: Raj’s mother asked where I had put the notes.
Explanation: The question mark is removed and the verb moves back to "had put."

Question. Rewrite in Reported Speech: “I will help you with the assignment,” said Neha.
Answer: Neha said that she would help me with the assignment.
Explanation: When reporting what someone said earlier, "will" changes to "would."

Question. Rewrite in Reported Speech: “Can you join us for dinner this evening?” asked Ravi.
Answer: Ravi asked if I could join them for dinner that evening.
Explanation: "Can" changes into "could," and "this evening" becomes "that evening."

Question. Rewrite in Reported Speech: “Why are you worried?” asked the teacher.
Answer: The teacher asked why I was worried.
Explanation: In indirect speech, the present verb "are" changes to the past verb "was."

Question. Why do you think the author selected a child protagonist for this detective story?
Answer: Having a young detective makes the story relatable and shows that anyone, regardless of age, can be clever and observant.
Explanation: Children love reading about smart young detectives who can solve puzzles better than adults!

Question. How does the story challenge assumptions about young people?
Answer: By showing that an eighth-grader can solve complex cases that stumped adult police officers through logic and patience.
Explanation: It proves that being young does not stop you from having a brilliant and powerful mind.

Question. Analyse the deeper meaning of the fir tree in the story.
Answer: The fir tree symbolizes hidden truths that lie concealed within ordinary surroundings waiting to be uncovered by careful thinkers.
Explanation: The fir tree looked ordinary, but underneath it rested the secret treasure.

Question. Comment on the family bonding between Chief Brown, Mrs. Brown, and Encyclopedia.
Answer: The Browns treat crime-solving as a shared interest, creating an intellectually engaging and supportive family environment.
Explanation: The parents and son work together like a friendly team, respecting each other's ideas at dinner.

Question. Explain how small details can be vital in detective work.
Answer: Small clues, such as words on a calendar page, hold vital answers when noticed and connected with logical reasoning.
Explanation: Even tiny scraps of paper can tell a huge story if you pay close attention.

Question. How does the story inspire readers to think critically and logically in everyday situations?
Answer: It demonstrates that breaking problems down into smaller pieces and observing facts calmly leads to practical solutions.
Explanation: When you face a tough problem, staying calm and thinking step-by-step always works best.