CBSE Class 10 English The Hack Driver Worksheet

The Hack Driver

GIST
In this lesson, a young lawyer is made to serve summons instead of practicing law. He hates his job as sometimes he is beaten up while serving summons in the shadowy corners of the city. Once he is directed by the law firm to serve summons on a man called Bill. Bill, the hack driver, drives him in his horse-carriage around the village. He takes him to the people who know Lutkins, one by one in a quest of finding him. But no results to avail. He returns empty handed to the city. There, he is reprimanded by the chief of his firm and is sent back to New Mullion along with a person who has worked with Lutkins. After reaching at the New Mullion station, the lawyer came to know that the person, who drove him along the village, himself was the Lutkins. Mr. Oliver Lutkins, who lived in a village called New Mullion. The young lawyer goes to the village with some expectations of village life but he is disappointed. He meets a hack driver who is a very helpful man according to him.

CHARACTER SKETCH’s
place, what would have your reaction been towards Bill’s statements?

1 Oliver Lutkins: Oliver Lutkins is a crook who lives in the country town of New Mullion. Though he lives in a small town, he easily cheats the lawyer who comes to serve a summons on him. He pretends to be Bill Magnuson, the hack driver and manages to cheat the narrator of his money. He manages to convey the lawyer that it is very difficult to trace Lutkins. He takes the lawyer too many shops but does not allow the lawyer to directly talk with the people. Over a few hours, Bill takes the narrator all over the town where they keep missing Lutkins by small periods of time. He is also a friendly person. When the lawyer comes to New Multi on a second time, Lutkins invites the lawyer for a cup of coffee in his friend’s house. Bill painted Lutkins as a dishonest person. He owed money to a lot of people. He had a talent for dishonesty. Though he lived in a rural town, he managed to trick and mislead a lawyer belonging to the city.

2. The Narrator: The narrator is a lawyer who hates city life. He thinks of pursuing a career in a small town. He goes to New Mullion to serve a summons on Oliver Lutkins. We find him gullible, and he is easily misled by Lutkins himself, who poses as the hack driver, Bill. Bill takes money from the lawyer and gives misleading information about Lutkins. He visits a number of places in New Mullion with Bill but is not able to meet Lutkins. Since he visited new Mullion for an important matter, he failed to be careful in carrying out his job. The narrator appears to be a novice and not a seasoned legal mind. He had a romantic view of country (rural) life but was easily conned by crooks in New Mullion.

Extract Based:

Read the extract given below and answer the questio ns that follow:

As we climbed back into the hack Bill concluded that since Lutibns had exhausted his credit at GustnfFs he had probably gone to Grays for a shave. At Gray's barber shop we missed Lutbhs by only five minutes. He bad just left — probably for the pockroom. At the poolroom it appeared that he had just bought a pack of cigarettes and gone out. So we pursued him, just behind him but never catching him, for an hour till it was past one o'clock 1 was hungry. But J had so enjoyed Bills rough country opinions about his neighbours that 1 scarcely cared whether 1 found Lutkins or not

Question. The term 'Pursued' means:
(a) followed
(b) Left
(c) gave up
(d) abandoned
Answer. A
 

Question. As we dim bed back into the hack means that the narrator:
(a) climbed a hill
(b) sat on a cart
(c) sat in the back seat of a car
(d) climbedon a tree
Answer. B
 

Question. Which term does NOT mean the same as 'scarcely?
(a) hardly
(b) abundantly
(c) barely
(d) rarely
Answer. B
 

Question. The phrase “Lutkins has exhausted his credit 1 means:
(a) he had paid all the money that he had.
(b) he had lost his cash.
(c) he had used services an credit.
(d) he had used his credit card.
Answer. C
 

Read the given extracts to attempt the questions that follow:

1. “Yes. I want to catch the afternoon train back to the city.” I was very important and secret about it.
“I’ll tell you what. I’ve got a hack. I’ll get it out and we can drive around together and find Lutkins.
I know most of the places he hangs out.”
He was so open and friendly that I glowed with the warmth of his affection. I knew, of course, that he wanted the business, but his kindness was real. I was glad the fare money would go to this good fellow. I managed to bargain down to two dollars an hour, and then he brought from his house nearby a sort of large black box on wheels. He remarked, “Well, young man, here’s the carriage,” and his wide smile made me into an old friend. These villagers are so ready to help a stranger. He had already made it his own task to find Oliver Lutkins for me.

A. Multiple Choice Questions

Question. How did the writer feel when he said, “Yes, I want to catch the afternoon train back to the city?”
(a) Boldness
(b) Hurry
(c) Necessity
(d) Confusion
Answer. C

Question. Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are NOT true according to the given extract.
(1) The writer had no importance in the office.
(2) The hack driver was acquainted with most of the places.
(3) The writer found the hack driver open and friendly.
(4) The writer made a good bargain with the hack driver.
(5) The hack driver could make good business with the strangers.
(a) 2, 3, 4 and 5
(b) 3, 2 and 5
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 4 and 5
Answer. A

Question. Pick the option that correctly classifies fact/s (F) and opinion/s (O) of the students below
(1) Certainly the hack driver was a clever man. The writer should not have become friendly with him.
(2) But the writer had to serve summons on Lutkins who was wanted in a law case.
(3) You are right. The writer was a stranger in the village. Besides, he had no idea about Lutkins’ locations.
(4) Absolutely. Man likes the hack driver who is quite familiar with the locality, may be very helpful to the stranger like the writer. So, he did a good job.
(a) F – 1, 3 and O – 2, 4
(b) F – 2, 3 and O – 1, 4
(c) F – 3, 4 and O – 1, 2
(d) F – 1, 4 and O – 2, 3
Answer. B

Question. Which word does ‘glowed with’ NOT correspond to?
(a) Encouraged
(b) Brightened up
(c) Elated
(d) Slowed down
Answer. D

Question. Choose the characteristic displayed by the hack driver when he said, “well, young man, here’s the carriage”.
(a) Authority
(b) Readiness
(c) Hopelessness
(d) Selfishness
Answer. B

B. Very Short Answer Questions

Question. Who offered help to the author in finding Lutkins?
Answer. Bill, the hackdriver.

Question. Why did the author feel glad that the fare would go to the good fellow Bill?
Answer. The author liked Bill because he was open and friendly and his kindness was real.

Question. Was the kindness of Bill in actuality ‘real’?
Answer. The kindness of Bill was not real as he was be-fooling the author to extract out the maximum from him.

Question. What fare was agreed upon?
Answer. Two dollars an hour was agreed upon.

Question. What had Bill already made his task?
Answer. Bill had already made it his own task to find Oliver Lutkins for the author.

2. ‘‘I know Oliver’s mother. She’s a terror,’’ Bill sighed. ‘‘I took a trunk out there for her once, and she almost took my skin off because I didn’t treat it like a box of eggs. She’s about nine feet tall and four feet thick and quick as a cat, and she sure can talk. I’ll bet Oliver heard that somebody’s chasing him, and he’s gone on there to hide behind his mother’s skirts. Well, we’ll try her. But you’d better let me do it, boy. You may be great at literature and law, but you haven’t had real training in swearing.’’

A. Multiple Choice Questions

Question. According to Bill, Oliver’s mother is:
(a) a kind-hearted woman.
(b) a terror.
(c) a soft-spoken woman.
(d) a helpful person.
Answer. B

Question. Bill concludes that Lutkins must have gone to his mother’s place:
(a) to have some good home made food.
(b) to pick up some of his clothes.
(c) to hide behind his mother.
(d) to get some rest.
Answer. C

Question. What is Bill’s mother compared to?
(a) a tiger
(b) a lion
(c) a cat
(d) a rat
Answer. C

Question. In Bill’s opinion, what was the narrator novice at?
(a) making false names
(b) creating legal brief
(c) swearing
(d) making excuse
Answer. C

Question. “…because I didn’t treat it like a box of eggs.” The literary device applied here is:
(a) Hyperbole
(b) Simile
(c) Synecdoche
(d) Alliteration
Answer. B

B. Very Short Answer Questions

Question. Who knows Oliver’s mother and what did he call her?
Answer. Bill the hack driver knows Oliver’s mother and he describes her as a terror.

Question. How does Bill describe her?
Answer. He describes her as nine feet tall, four feet thick, quick as a cat and sure she can talk.

Question. Why does Bill say that Oliver had gone to his mother’s house?
Answer. Bill says that Oliver might have heard someone saying that a lawyer was searching for him and in order to escape the lawyer he was gone to hide behind his mother’s skirts.

Question. Why did Bill say that he would handle Lutkins mother?
Answer. He said so because he assumed that the lawyer would not have had training in swearing.

Question. Why did Lutkins mother once almost took Bill’s skin off?
Answer. Bill once took a trunk out there for her and because he didn’t treat it like a box of eggs she almost took his skin off.

I. Multiple Choice Questions 

Question. At what post did the author work at the law firm after graduating?
(a) As a lawyer
(b) As a partner
(c) As a junior clerk
(d) As the owner
Answer. C

Question. What kind of job was he asked to do?
(a) Serve summons
(b) Fight cases
(c) File reports
(d) Write legal briefs
Answer. A

Question. Where did Fritz send them looking for Lutkins?
(a) To Gray’s barbershop
(b) To Lutkins mother
(c) To Gustaff’s barber shop
(d) To the poolroom
Answer. B

Question. Where did the author have his lunch?
(a) At Bill’s house
(b) At the restaurant
(c) On Wade Hill
(d) At Lutkin’s mother’s house
Answer. D

Question. For what case did the author have to serve summon to Lutkins?
(a) Murder
(b) Cheating
(c) Robbing
(d) As a witness
Answer. D

Short Answer Questions :

Question.’But he was no more dishonest than I’. Elaborate the statement with reference to ‘The Hack Driver’.
Answer. The lawyer charged a handsome amount from his firm to visit new mullion. He was given some amount to expend in the process of searching Lukens. But he paid very little money to the hack driver.Bill already knew that the lawyer was searching for him, still, he made him wander here and there, and even charged him two dollars an hour for six hours, including one hour of his lunchtime. This made the lawyer utter these words.

Question. Why do you think Bill offered to help the narrator find Lukens?
Answer. Bill himself was Lukens. He knew that the lawyer is searching for him. He wanted to play a prank on him and offered to help him find Lukens. Even he made some money in this process and made him wander here and there. He and his mother made a fool of the narrator and had great laughter.

Question. Write the plan suggested by Bill for lunch and state the reason behind it.
Answer. The lawyer felt hungry and wanted to eat something in a restaurant but Bill suggested him to take lunch at his home cooked by his wife. He told him that it will cost him cheaper than the restaurant because she won’t charge him more than half a dollar. He did so because he wanted to make some money out of it. Secondly, it will take nearly cur hour to go there and have lunch so ho will be charged another two dollars for it. Thus it was a good business for him.

Question. Why do you think Lutkins’ neighbours were anxious to meet the lawyer?
Answer. When summons were issued, Lutkins and his mother laughed at the narrator as if he were a boy of seven. He begged the lawyer to accompany them to a neighbour for a cup of coffee. Lutkins told that the whole village knew how gullible and foolish he was. Only one of his neighbours missed meeting such a gullible person like him. Lutkins’ tone was sarcastic and insulting.

Question. What impression did the narrator (the lawyer) form of Bill when he met him for the first time?
Answer. The narrator found the delivery man at the station as the only ‘agreeable sight’ in New Mullion.
The man called himself Bill and he was a hack driver. He was about forty. He looked red-faced and cheerful. He looked thick in the middle. His working clothes were dirty and worn out. His manners were pleasant and friendly. The narrator was happy to meet such a man.

Question. Why did the narrator feel that ‘Bill seemed to admire Lutkins for dishonesty? Why did he feel that if he had been a policeman, he would have regretted sending him to jail?
Answer. Bill told the narrator that Oliver Lutkins was ‘‘not really bad’’. He was a hard fellow to be caught.
He was always upto something or the other. He played a lot of poker. He was good at deceiving people. The narrator felt that Bill seemed to admire Lutkins’ talent for dishonesty. Had he been a policeman, he would have regretted sending Bill to jail.

Question. Why did the narrator feel that Bill's helpfulness for him was not entirely of brotherly love?
Answer. The narrator began to understand that Bill's helpfulness for him was not completely of brotherly love. He was a perfect businessman. The narrator paid him for six hours, including the lunch hour.Bill was paid 2 dollars for an hour. But the narrator realised that Bill was not more dishonest than him. He charged the whole amount from the firm.

Question. What kind of a job was the narrator usually entrusted with? Why wasn't he satisfied with his job in the city?
Answer. The narrator was a junior assistant clerk in a magnificent law firm. He was sent, not to prepare legal briefs but to serve summons. He had to act like a cheap private detective. It wasn't easy and safe to go to the ‘dirty’ and ‘shadowy’ corners of the city. Sometimes he was even beaten up by toughs.He hated his job and working in such a hostile environment in the city.

Question. Why was the narrator disppointed when he got to New Mullion? What was the only 'agreeable sight' about the place?
Answer. The narrator had formed quite a romantic and pleasant picture of this country town called New Mullion. When he reached there, his eager expectations were belied. He was very much disappointed.Its streets were narrow rivers of mud. Its shops were either badly painted or not painted at all. The only agreeable sight about the place was the delivery man at the station who called himself Bill.

Question. Why did the narrator feel that Bill had already made it his own task to find Oliver Lutkins for him?
Answer. The narrator found Bill very open and friendly. He ‘glowed with warmth’ of his affection. Bill wanted the business but his kindness was real. He offered his carriage for two dollars an hour. The narrator was happy to pay to such a good fellow. Bill assured the narrator that he knew about all the places where Lutkins usually could be found out. The narrator began to feel that Bill had made it his own task to find Oliver Lutkins for him.

Question. What information did the narrator get after visiting Gustaff's and Gray's barber shops and other places in New Mullion?
Answer. They drove to Gustaff's barber shop. Again Bill entered first. The lawyer remained at the door.Gustaff replied angrily that he hadn't seen him. If they found him, they could collect the money he owed him. Then, Bill took him to Gray's shop. Perhaps, Lutkins had gone there for a shave. They were told that they missed Lutkins by only five minutes. They got the same answer at the pool room and elsewhere in the town.

Question. Describe the narrator's encounter with Lutkins' terrible mother. Why was he asked to move out immediately by Bill?
Answer. Bill drove the narrator into a poor farmyard. There they were faced by a huge and cheerful old woman. Bill bravely went up to her and asked about her son, Oliver Lutkins. She shouted that she didn't know anything about him. Bill told her that they had a legal right to search the house. This made her furious. She went inside and came out with an iron rod from the hearth. She threatened to burn them alive if they dared to do such a thing. Bill asked the narrator to go out at once before she could murder them.

Question. Why did the narrator worry very little about his failure and considered returning to New Mullion to practise law?
Answer. The narrator worried very little about his failure to trace Oliver Lutkins. He was busy thinking about Bill Magnuson. He considered returning to New Mullion to practise law. After all, he could find such honest and human people like Bill only in New Mullion. He would feel honoured to have soft-spoken and wise neighbours like Fritz and Gustaff and a hundred others. He pictured an honest, happy and a new way of life there.

Question. What happened at the railway platform when the narrator saw Bill standing with Oliver's mother on his second visit to New Mullion?
Answer. The narrator was on his second visit to New Mullion. He was with a man who had worked with Lutkins. When the train arrived at the station, the narrator saw Bill standing at the platform with Oliver Lutkins’ mother. They were talking and laughing freely. He introduced his companion to Bill and praised him for helping him in hunting Oliver Lutkins. The man recognised Lutkins. He declared that the hack driver was not Bill but Oliver Lutkins himself.

Question. Why did Oliver Lutkins and his mother laugh at the lawyer (the narrator) when he served the summons? Why did Lutkins take him to his neighbours house for a cup of coffee?
Answer. When the narrator served summons, Lutkins was not at all worried. On the other hand, the narrator was hurt that they laughed at him as if he were a seven-year-old boy. Then, Lutkins begged the narrator to accompany them to one of his neighbours for a cup of coffee. He said sarcastically that all the people of New Mullion had met such a (gullible and novice) person like the narrator. They were the only people in the town that missed seeing him.

Question. What does the narrator describe as ―pretty disrespectful treatment‖? 
Answer. The narrator describes the treatment given to them by Lutkins‘ mother as a pretty disrespected treatment.
She insulted them. She marched towards them with a hot iron rod. She laughed at them when they retreated with a fear from there.

Question. With what impression did the lawyer come back to the city?
Answer. The lawyer returned to the city with a good impression. He liked the people of the village. He found them simple, wise and soft-spoken. He thought of practising law there. He was excited. He had found a treasure and a new way of life in New Mullion.

Question. How did the people at the law firm receive narrator? 
Answer. The narrator could not find Lutkins. He could not serve the Summons on him so everyone at the firm was angry with him. They scolded and disgraced him,. His chief considered him as a useless fool. He was asked to go back to serve the summons on Lutkins.

Question. Why was the lawyer sent back to New Mullion? Who went with him? 
Answer. The lawyer was sent back to New Mullion to serve summons on Lutkins. He had failed in his mission earlier. This time another man who had worked with Lutkins was also sent with him.

Question. Who was the hack driver? What really hurt the feelings of the narrator in the end?
Answer. The hack driver was Lutkins himself. He had driven the lawyer previous day. The narrator was really hurt when Lutkins and his mother were laughing at him as if he were a bright boy of seven.

Long Answer questions :

Question. Give the character sketch of the hack driver.
Answer. The narrator met the hack driver on reaching New Mullion. He was Lutkins himself. When he came to know the purpose of the narrator’s visit, he offered help in finding Lutkins at a charge of two pounds per hour. He was a red- faced, forty year-old man having a cheerful and pleasant personality. He impressed the lawyer by his cheerful and pleasant personality. He was a fun –loving and jolly type of person. He succeeded in befooling the lawyer easily. When he came to know that the lawyer did not identify Lutkins, he introduced himself as Bill. He was neither honest nor helpful. He was very clever. But he was creative, humorous and witty. He presented the people of New Mullion in an entertaining and humorous manner, reflecting his cheerful wisdom. He exhibited a nice hospitality.

Question. In life, people who easily trust others are sometimes made to look foolish. One should not be too trusting. Describe how Oliver Lutkins made a fool of the young lawyer.
Answer. It is often seen that those who easily trust others are honest and simple-hearted. They are also the persons who are easily cheated. People take advantage of their simplicity. This is fully agreeable to the young lawyer. He easily trusts the hack driver who is himself Oliver Lutkins. The young lawyer comes to New Mullion to serve summons on Lutkins. But Lutkins traps him in his trap.
The lawyer never doubts on him, though the hack driver tells lies after lies about Lutkins. He tells the young lawyer that he will be available at Fritz’s shop. He takes him there. When he is not there he tells that Lutkins will be at Gustaff’s barber shop. He then takes him to his mother. She is such a ferocious woman that she threatens to burn him alive. Thus Lutkins makes the young lawyer a fool of himself.

Question.Why do you think the lawyer was happy to take summons to New Mullion? How did the lawyer develop a perception about Lutkins? If you had been in lawyer
Answer. The narrator was happy to go to New Mullion because he thought that it must be a beautiful and calm village. He considered Lutkins to be a friendly person. He liked his frankness, warmth and affection. He took his kindness to be real. He was impressed by him notwithstanding the hack driver was doing his business and earning handsome money from the lawyer. He never doubted on him. He developed a kind of trust on him. He thought that villagers are very honest and decent people. If I had been in the lawyer’s place, I would never have considered Bill’s statement true. I would have counter checked his statement by talking to other persons of the village. I would have spent the day by consulting different people to find Lutkins. I never let Lutkins do the findings and questioning, rather I would have done it myself.

Question. Give a character-sketch of the narrator or the lawyer of the story, ‘The Hack Driver’?
Answer. The narrator was a junior assitant clerk in a magnificient law firm. His work was not to prepare legal briefs but to serve summons. The narrator was fed up with his job as he had to visit many dirty and shadowy corners of the city. On several ocassions, he was attacked and beaten up by musclemen and toughs of these areas. He even considered fleeing to his country town. The narrator was highly gullible. He didn't behave like a seasoned legal mind. He was so much impressed with Bill that he became totally dependent on him. He failed to keep his mission a secret to himself. By disclosing that he had come to serve summons on Oliver Lutkins, he gave the crafty and clever Bill enough space and time to confuse and misdirect his search. Bill, who was Oliver Lutkins himself, drove him aimlessly without allowing the narrator to talk directly to the people. He feared lest he should be exposed.
The narrator had a romantic yearning for country life and its people. After his first visit, he didn't mind his failure but planned to come to New Mullion again to start his legal practice there. The narrator proved himself a novice and not a seasoned legal mind. When he served summons, Lutkins and his mother laughed at him as if he were a seven-year-old boy.

Question. Draw a character sketch of Oliver Lutkins as told by the hack driver, Bill.
OR
How did the hack driver sketch the character of Lutkins?
Answer. The hack driver, Bill, who was Oliver Lutkins himself, does help us drawing a character-sketch of Oliver Lutkins. Being a good talker, Bill gave a detailed description of Oliver Lutkins and his activities to the narrator. Bill told the narrator that Lutkins was a hard fellow to be caught. He was always up to something or the other. He was deeply interested in poker. Probably, he was trying to start up a poker game in the back of Fritz's shop.
Bill told that Oliver Lutkins never paid anybody a cent. He still owed Bill fifty cents on a poker game. Lutkins was not really bad, but it was hard to make him part with his money. Bill also told that Lutkins had talent for dishonesty. Lutkins' mother was a terror and he had gone to his mother's farm to hide behind his mother's skirts,
Oliver Lutkins' real character was exposed when his real identity was revealed. Bill was actually acting as Oliver Lutkins. When summons were served, Lutkins and his mother laughed at the narrator as if he were a seven-year-old boy. Lutkins outwitted, outsmarted and outmanoevured the narrator. Clever and cunning, Lutkins proved that the gullible narrator was just a novice before a seasoned crook like him.

Question. How did the hack driver outwit and befool the lawyer (the narrator)? What impression do you form of the narrator after his both visits to New Mullion?
OR
Bill or Oliver Lutkins was a complete contrast to the narrator. How did a seasoned crook like Lutkins outwit the gullible lawyer proving him a novice and just a bright boy of seven?
Answer. Certainly, both the main characters of the story are totaly different. Bill or Lutkins manoeuvres and plots under the garb of friendliness. The narrator is outwitted and deceived due to his gullibility. Bill (Lutkins) knows how to confuse and misdirect the narrator's search for Oliver Lutkins. He befriends the lawyer convincing him that he is the only person in New Mullion who can help him in finding out Oliver Lutkins. He overpowers the narrator's capacity for reasoning and thinking. The narrator becomes a soft target of cunning Lutkins. He allows to give Lutkins all the space and time that he needed to plan out and scheme things. The narrator became just a willing puppet in Bill's hands. Actually, he danced to his tunes. Bill's pretensions clouded the narrator's wisdom and sense of discretion. Bill (Lutkins) was not a crook and fraud but an honest man full of human values for him. The cunning Lutkins had the last laugh. When the narrator served summons, Lutkins and his mother laughed as if he were a seven-year-old boy.

Question. Describe the narrator's encounter with Oliver Lutkins' mother at her farm. Was it a planned and fake drama? Give a reasoned answer.
Answer. When they couldn't trace Oliver Lutkins anywhere in New Mullion, Bill directed the lawyer to his last visit to Oliver Lutkins' mother. Her farm was three miles north to the town. Bill told the lawyer that Lutkins must have heard that somebody was chasing him. Perhaps, Lutkins had gone to his mother's farm “to hide behind his mother's skirts. Bill also told him that Lutkins' mother was a terrible woman.
They drove to the farmhouse. They were faced by an enormous and cheerful old woman. Bill bravely went to her. He informed her that her son, Oliver Lutkins, was needed as a witness in a legal case.
The woman told bluntly that she didn't know anything about Lutkins. Bill pressed for searching the house as it was their legal right. Lutkins' mother went inside and came out with an iron rod from the old stove to attack them. Bill advised the lawyer to get out of there to avoid being murdered by her. So, the last hope of tracing Oliver Lutkins also ended in smoke.
The encounter was staged by the cunning Bill himself. As he was Oliver Lutkins himself, playing the role of Bill, he didn't want to be traced. This drama was enacted only to confuse and misdirect the lawyer from his real search.

Question. When the lawyer reached New Mullion, did ‘Bill’ know that he was looking for Lutkins?
When do you think Bill came up with his plan for fooling the lawyer?
Answer. No, it doesn't seem that Bill knew that the narrator was looking for Lutkins. It was just a coincidence that Bill met him at the station with his cab when the narrator reached New Mullion. But when the narrator told Bill the purpose of his visit, he came to know of it. The narrator clearly told Bill that he had come to New Mullion to serve summons on a person named Oliver Lutkins. He was needed as a witness in a legal case. Bill came up with the plan of fooling the lawyer the moment he came to know that he was searching for Oliver Lutkins. Bill, being Oliver Lutkins himself, tried to befool him by being friendly and creating confidence in the lawyer. He made him wander aimlessly all over the village to different places and people in search of Oliver. Very cleverly, he used to keep the narrator behind him when he made people tell lies about Oliver.

Question. Do you think the lawyer was gullible? How could he have avoided being taken for a ride?
Answer. Certainly, the lawyer was gullible. He behaved not like a mature and seasoned lawyer. Actually, he proved himself just a novice who could be outwitted and outmanoeuvred by clever and cunning people like Oliver Lutkins and his terrible mother. He behaved like a seven-year-old boy before a seasoned crook like Bill (Lutkins). Yes, the lawyer could have avoided himselft from being taken for a ride. He should have done his spade work more thoroughly before leaving for New Mullion. He should have sought more information from his companion who had already worked with Lutkins. He should have kept the purpose of his visit a secret not to be shared by anyone. The lawyer allowed himself to be a puppet in the hands of Lutkins. He gave him time and space to befool him by misguiding him at every step.
The laywer's gullibility helped Lutkins to make every move that would outwit and befool him. So easily did he believe in Bill that he allowed himself to be taken for a ride.

Question. Intelligence or cleverness cannot be identified only on the basis of our work or profession but it comes from our inside. Explain it with reference to the chapter, The Hack Driver‘.
Answer. Yes, it is quite right that intelligence and cleverness come automatically from our inside because it is our birth quality, it cannot be created, that‘s why our intelligence or cleverness cannot be identified only on the basis of our work or profession. Many times, in our daily life, we can find such examples. For example, a policeman is always considered brave and fighter because he has to face many difficulties daily and if he is not like that, he cannot defeat criminals, dacoits, burglars and cheaters. But sometimes we find some policemen opposite to it. Some policemen nm away from the place where the people need them very much. Such policemen never think about their duty. They think only to save their lives. Such examples can easily be found in many different fields like medical, political. Some doctors don‘t fulfill expectation of the common people, they think only for their families. So, it is clear that our work or profession cannot disclose our internal quality like intelligence or cleverness. As we find in this story, the lawyer is not so clever or intelligent but the hackman is very cunning.

Question. Give a brief character sketch of Oliver Lutkins.
Answer. Oliver Lutkins was a jolly natured and fun-loving person. He had a pleasant appearance. He impressed the lawyer at the railway station by his friendliness and simplicity. But he was not so simple and honest as he appeared to be. He knew about the lawyer‘s ignorance and his purpose. He decided to be fool him. He introduced himself as Bill. He had a lot of fun out of his ignorance. But Oliver had no other intention to befool the narrator besides having simple fun and enjoyment. He had a good understanding with the town folks who helped him in his plan. He loved poker. Lutkins never harmed anybody. He was very kind and well-mannered too. He was a talented actor who made fun of an intelligent lawyer. He was very clever and sinart to plan at the moment and include everyone in his plan right before the narrator‘s eyes.

Question. Do we come across persons like Lutkins only in fiction or do we encounter them in real life as well? You can give examples from fiction, or narrate an incident that you have read in the newspaper or an incident from real life.
Answer. Yes, we do come across persons like Lutkins in fiction as well as in real life. Literature is full of instances where appearance is different from reality. In real life also we find that what appears may be quite contrary to what it turns out to be. That is why, it is said that all that glitters is not gold. A person who appears to be very gentle, may, later on, turns out to be a rogue. We read in newspapers many instances of so-called false holy men deceiving the people and turning out later as frauds. Once I was taken for a ride. One night I got a telephonic message that my brother would be coming by morning flight. The person who was calling told me personally. He told me that my brother would be waiting for us at the airport. As my father was not feeling well, he asked me to go there to receive my brother. After reaching the airport, I looked for my brother, but he was nowhere to be found. I contacted the enquiry counter and was told that the flight was in. After two hours, I got a call on my mobile. It was my friend who laughed and said that they were successful in making me the first April fool!