CBSE Class 10 English The Hack Driver HOTS

Extract-Based Questions

Q. 1. After graduating with honours, I became a junior assistant clerk in a magnificent law firm. I was sent, not to prepare legal briefs, but to serve summons, like a cheap private detective. I had to go to dirty and shadowy corners of the city to seek out my victims. Some of the larger and more selfconfident ones even beat me up. I hated this unpleasant work, and the side of city life it revealed to me. 

Question. Which of the following options was NOT a part of this unpleasant work?
(a) searching for law-breakers.
(b) serving summons.
(c) getting beaten up.
(d) preparing legal documents.
Answer : D

Question. The law firm that the narrator joined was
(a) splendid.
(b) philanthropic.
(c) reputable.
(d) contemporary.
Answer : A

Question. The shadowy corners of the city conjure up images of places?
(a) with many trees to provide shade.
(b) where crime is not uncommon.
(c) which receive absolutely no sunlight.
(d) with tall buildings and their shadows.
Answer : B

Question. ‘Like a cheap private detective’ is a reference to the fact that the speaker?
(a) wasn’t drawing as good a salary as a detective.
(b) was upset about working in the private sector.
(c) wasn’t trying to be an established detective.
(d) was disappointed with his allotted work.
Answer : D

Question. Choose the option that is NOT TRUE.
The speaker found this side of the city life unpleasant because it revealed people who had
(a) robbed others of their belongings.
(b) threatened others.
(c) swindled the innocent.
(d) served summons for a case.
Answer : A

Q. 2. Fritz looked at me, hiding behind Bill. He hesitated, and then admitted, “Yes, he was in here a little while ago. Guess he’s gone over to Gustaff’s to get a shave.”
“Well, if he comes in, tell him I’m looking for him.” We drove to Gustaff’s barber shop. Again, Bill went in first, and I lingered at the door. He asked not only the Swede but two customers if they had seen Lutkins. The Swede
had not. He said angrily, “I haven’t seen him, and don’t care to. But if you find him you can just collect that dollar thirty-five, he owes me.” One of the customers thought he had seen Lutkins walking down Main Street, this side of the hotel. 

Question. The narrator lingered at the door while Bill went in first and made enquiries.
Pick up the option that does not correctly use the word ‘linger’ in the sentence:
(a) It’s best if you can linger in the lobby while I get my luggage.
(b) I blurted out the final question that had been lingering in my mind.
(c) If a customer lingers over a product, the cameras zoom in to record facial expressions.
(d) Mom reminded us that household business cannot be lingered hastily.
Answer : D

Question. One person mentioned that he had seen Lutkins walking down Main Street. This was an example of
(a) being taken to the cleaners.
(b) sending someone on a wild goose chase.
(c) stretching the truth. (
d) Making scales fall off someone’s eyes.
Answer : D

Question. Fritz’s hesitation was on account of wanting to
(a) take a moment to comprehend and fall in with the prank.
(b) understand what was being asked and answer accordingly.
(c) pretend ignorance at the question asked to waste time.
(d) confirm that it was him being addressed, before replying.
Answer : A

Question. The extract is an example of writing in the style of a/n
(a) personal narrative.
(b) biography.
(c) historical fiction.
(d) research article.
Answer : A

Question. The narrator hovered near the door because he
(a) wanted to eavesdrop on the conversation.
(b) didn’t trust Bill to enquire sternly.
(c) had been asked to remain there by Bill.
(d) found the interior too stuffy.
Answer : C

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Explain how the narrator’s expectations fell short of what he’d expected when he was sent to New Mullion? 
Answer : The narrator expected New Mullion to be a ‘sweet and simple country village! But contrary to his expectations, he encountered ‘rivers of mud’ in its street, with rows of wooden shops, either painted a sour brown or bare without any paint.

Question. What do you think inspired the minister’s wife to sing the loudest in church when she was most in debt?
Answer : In the story, the hack driver, the minister’s wife starts singing the loudest in Church, because she was in debt and her situation compelled her to do so. Seeking her singing everybody was shocked because people generally behave so when they are in debt.

Question. Explain why Bill’s offer wasn’t ‘entirely a matter of brotherly love’?
Answer : The narrator was aware that Bill’s helpful services were not merely a matter of brotherly love. I t was his way of making money from him. As he changed him for every service he offered him whether it was taking him around village or lunch from his love.

Question. The young man earned for himself the ire of his office people on his return from New Mullion. Explain why.
Answer : The lawyer’s employers reacted angrily when he returned, empty handed from New Mullion. He told him in a murdering tone that he deserved to dig ditches and not get trained as a lawyer.

Question. What about the delivery man appealed to the young junior assistant clerk from the city?
Answer : The delivery man was the only possible and agreeable sight for the lawyer in New Mullion. He introduced himself as the hack driver. He was around forty years of age and looked friendly and amiable took longer around the town.

Short Answer Type Questions 

Question. ‘Bill made me sound very important, and the woman was impressed.’
(a) Why did this particularly gladden the narrator’s heart?
(b) What does it tell us about human nature and the young man in particular?
Answer : (a) The narrator had always wanted to be a real lawyer and make it big in life, rather than train as a junior assistant clerk, serving summons to people. When he was introduced by Bill as a representative of the court, it particularly made him happy because Bill made it sound like he was a very important person.
(b) The incident in the story the Hack Driver tells us that humans are easily impressed and can be made happy by appreciation, even if it is exaggerated and not based on reality. This tells us that the narrator was a narcissist. He sought appreciation and was impressed when he received it, though it was a false one.

Question. Do you agree that the expression—taken for a ride— fits this story like a glove? Why/why not?
Answer : Yes, we totally agree that lawyer was gullible and his behaviour was that of immature and unprofessional person. Being a lawyer, he should have kept the secret to himself about his visit to the village. His such, dependence on the hack drive shows his naivety. He should have sensed the situation and behave accordingly.

Question. Oliver Lutkins had to be served summons to appear as a witness in a law case. Why do you think he had ignored all their letters thus far and successfully thwarted their attempt at serving summons?
Answer : Oliver Lutkins was hot a simpleton but a very sharp minded person who thevarted every attempt by the law firm to serve summons to him because he never wanted to appear in the court as a witness.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. Lutkins’ neighbours had missed seeing the narrator on his first visit. Create a dialogue between the neighbour,
Jasper and Lutkins wherein Jasper expresses his disappointment and Lutkins shares his insights and opinions
about the narrator.
Answer : The dialogue between the neighbour and Lutkins can go like this ______
The neighbour – Well! Lutkins where is that young punk from the city. Whom came to serve you summons.
Lutkins - Ha! Ha! He is back to the city like a fool. You know me, I had to send him back for my own good.
The neighbour - Oh! I missed out meeting him……..
Lutkins - Why you wanted to meet him? Was there anything interesting about him?
The neighbour – Well! He was the hot topic of discussion through the entire village these days. So! the natural curiosity………. You see.
Lutkins - I see! But he was an ignorant person, who didn’t knew his job too well. Total failure!
The neighbour – How?
Lutkins - He believed in whatever I said. Could not guess that all through that I myself – Lutkins was with him.
The neighbour – Oh!
Lutkins - Yeah! I befooled by me.

Question. It would have been very easy for anyone to spoil Lutkins’ game, but no one did.
(a) Why do you think everyone joined hands with him?
(b) What does it reveal about Oliver?
Answer : (a) The people in the village were sharp-minded, Witty, fun-loving and joyful. They are adept in tricking and befooling strangers. Not a single person lets the cat out of the bag. Everyone of these village men understood that Lutkins was having fun at the cost of this new person to the village.
(b) It shows that Oliver was a very sharp, intelligent person. He was very popular in his village and everybody joins him to befool the young Lawyer.