CBSE Class 10 English The Hack Driver VBQs

The Hack Driver

Multiple Choice Questions

Question. Why was the lawyer sent to serve summon to Oliver Lutkins?
(a) He was needed as a witness in a law case.
(b) He was a criminal and had to be arrested.
(c) He was summoned to clear the legal matters against him.
(d) None of the above
Answer. (a) 

Question. The village folks used to call the hack driver …………… .
(a) Fraudster
(b) Magnuson
(c) Oliver
(d) Lutkins
Answer. (b) 

Question. Bill initially thought that the narrator had come in search of Lutkins because
(a) He owed fifty cents to Lutkins.
(b) He wanted to serve summons on Lutkins.
(c) He had to collect money from Lutkins.
(d) None of the above
Answer. (c)

Question. Which of the following people were described by Bill while roaming the city with the lawyer?
(a) Minister’s wife who sang the loudest in church.
(b) Boys who came back from college in fancy clothes.
(c) Lawyer whose wife could never succeed in getting him to put on both a collar and a tie on the same day.
(d) All of the above
Answer. (d) 

Question. Where did Lutkins’ friend directed the hack driver and the narrator for Lutkins’ mother’ farm?
(a) Three miles South
(b) Six miles North
(c) Three miles North
(d) Seven miles East
Answer. (c) 

Question. How did Lutkin’s mother react when Bill and the narrator enquired about Lutkins?
(a) She threatened to burn them
(b) She threatened to kill them
(c) She abused them
(d) She chased them away
Answer. (a) 

Question. The Chief hinted that the narrator might do well at …………… .
(a) Serving summons
(b) Digging ditches
(c) Beating up criminals
(d) Getting beaten up by criminals
Answer. (b) 

Question. Why were Lutkins and his mother laughing at the narrator in the end?
(a) Because the narrator was befooled by Lutkins.
(b) Because they were of jovial nature.
(c) Because they were sharing jokes with each other.
(d) None of the above
Answer. (a) 

Question. Why did Lutkins beg the narrator to go with them to a neighbour’s house for a cup of coffee?
(a) They wanted to host an evening snack for the narrator.
(b) They were the only folks in the town that missed seeing the narrator the previous day.
(c) The hack driver wanted to eat at the neighbour’s place.
(d) All of the above
Answer. (b)

Question. What can you infer about the lawyer after reading ‘The Hack Driver’?
(i) Innocent
(ii) Befooled by the hack driver
(iii) Trusts people blindly
(a) Only (i)
(b) (i) and (ii)
(c) (ii) and (iii)
(d) All of these
Answer. (d)

Question. Given below are some adjectives. Choose the ones which can be associated with Oliver Lutkins from ‘The Hack Driver’.
1. Deceptive   2. Clever
3. Cunning     4. Short-tempered
5. Friendly     6. Jolly
7. Quick-witted 8. Hack driver
(a) 3, 4, 7 and 8
(b) 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8
(c) 2, 3, 4 and 5
(d) 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7
Answer. (b) 

Question. Pick the option that correctly classifies Facts (F) and Opinions (O) of the students given below.
1. I feel everyone in the village was making a fool of the narrator.
2. I think the narrator was not happy with his work and city life.
3. I think the narrator should not have trusted anyone blindly.
4. I think Oliver Lutkins took advantage of the narrator’s innocence.
(a) F-1 and O-2, 3 and 4
(b) F-1, 2 and O-3, 4
(c) F-1, 2, 4 and O-3
(d) F-3, 4 and O-1, 2
Answer. (c) 

Extract Based MCQs

1. Read the extract to attempt the questions that follow.

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 self confident ones even beat me up. I hated this unpleasant work, and the side of city life it revealed to me.

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

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. 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 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. 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) 

2. Read the extract to attempt the questions that follow.

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. 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 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)

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. (b)

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

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

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Why did the lawyer hate his work?
or Why did the lawyer call his work ‘unpleasant’
Answer. The narrator called his work unpleasant and hated his work because unlike expectation of practicing law, he was sent to serve summons. He had to go to all sorts of dirty and dangerous places to meet criminals. At times, he was also beaten by those people to whom he had to serve summons.

Question. Why is the lawyer sent to New Mullion? What does he first think about the place? NCERT
Answer. The lawyer was sent to New Mullion to serve summons on Oliver Lutkins, who was needed as a witness in a law case.
The lawyer thought that the place must be a beautiful and peaceful country village.

Question. Explain how the narrator’s expectations fell short of what he’d expected when he was sent to New Mullion?
Answer. The narrator wished to see a sweet and simple country village but when he reached New Mullion, he was disappointed. He saw streets that looked like rivers of mud, with wooden shops, on the side, that were either painted brown or not painted at all.

Question. What does Bill say about Lutkins?
Answer. Bill told the lawyer that Lutkins was a hard person to find as he was always busy in some activity or the other. He owed money to many people, including Bill himself but he had never paid back anybody. He also tells the lawyer that Lutkins played a lot of poker and was good at deceiving people.

Question. ‘But he was no more dishonest than I’. Explain.
Answer. The lawyer says the following words because the hack driver was charging him a large amount to search for Lutkins.
However, just like the hack driver, he was also going to charge the firm for the expenses of visiting New Mullion.
Therefore, both of them were equally dishonest.

Question. What does the hack driver do to help the lawyer to look for Oliver Lutkins? 
Answer. A hack driver at the station, who called himself Bill Magnuson, befriends the lawyer. Bill told the lawyer that he knew Lutkins and would help in finding him.
Bill took him to all the places where Lutkins was known to be present. He took the lawyer to Fritz’s shop, where Lutkins played a lot of poker; to Gustaff ’s barber shop and then to Gray’s barber shop; to the poolroom and several other places before finally taking him to Lutkins’ mother’s farm. However, Oliver Lutkins was not found any where.

Question. What about the delivery man appealed to the young junior assistant clerk from the city?
Answer. When the narrator reach New Mullion, the delivery man was the only agreeable sight to the narrator. His presence appealed the narrator for he had a friendly and open manner. It filled the young junior assistant clerk with warmth. This kindness and his smile made the clerk feel like he was an old friend.

Question. Why did Lutkins pretend to be Bill Magnuson?
Answer. Lutkins pretended to be Bill Magnuson as he did not want to accept the summons and be a witness in the case.
So, he pretended to help the lawyer in finding Lutkins and wandered everywhere.

Question. Explain why Bill’s offer wasn’t ‘entirely a matter of brotherly love’. 
Answer. When the narrator became hungry, Bill offered to bring lunch that his wife would make. It was not entirely a matter of brotherly love because he was charging money from the narrator. The narrator was paying Bill for his time and also for the lunch.

Question. Why do you think Lutkins’ neighbours were anxious to meet the lawyer? 
Answer. Lutkins’ neighbours were anxious to meet the lawyer because almost the entire village had enjoyed Lutkins making a fool of the lawyer. Only they (Lutkins’ neighbours) had not seen the lawyer but had come to know what had happened. They wanted to see the gullible man whom Lutkins had taken for a ride.

Question. Why did the young lawyer wish to return to New Mullion? 
Answer. The young lawyer wished to return to New Mullion to practice law. He was overjoyed by the ride given by hack driver. He was happy with Bill’s wisdom and quick wittedness. He thought of living with wise neighbours in New Mullion. He pictured an honest and happy life beyond the strict limits of universities and law firms.

Question. What do you think inspired the minister’s wife to sing the loudest in church when she was most in debt? 
Answer. Bill told the narrator that the minister's wife sang the loudest when she was most in debt. It was probably so that God would hear her first and help her settle the debt as soon as possible.

Question. The young man earned for himself the ire of his office people on his return from New Mullion.
Explain why. 
Answer. The young man earned for himself the ire of his office people on his return from New Mullion because his task remained incomplete. He went to New Mullion to serve summons on Oliver Lutkins, who was needed as a witness. When he failed to find him, everybody in the office got upset with him.

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. When the lawyer reached the station, ‘Bill’ at once got to know that the lawyer was looking for him. When the lawyer told and confirmed Bill’s opinion that he was looking for Oliver Lutkins, he made a plan to fool the lawyer.

Question. Do you think the lawyer was gullible? How could he have avoided being taken for a ride? NCERT
Answer. Yes, the lawyer was gullible (innocent).
He believed every word of what Oliver Lutkins said. He should have asked about Lutkins from other villagers also. instead of depending completely on the hack driver.

Long Answer Type Questions

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 true that in life people who easily trust others are easily made to look foolish. One must remember that not everyone is honest and thus one should not trust everyone blindly.
In the story, ‘the Hack Driver’, Oliver Lutkins using this characteristic of the lawyer makes him a fool, throughout his first visit to the village.
First, he introduced himself as Bill at the railway station and assured the lawyer that they would together search for Lutkins. He told the lawyer that he knew most of the places where Lutkins used to hang out.
In succession, he took the narrator to Fritz, then to the barber’s shop, then to Gray’s shop and finally to Lutkins’ mother, whom he called a ‘terror’. He deceived the lawyer throughout and also made money by taking the lawyer around. Thus, because of Lutkins’ desire to not be a witness to a case, he made a plan to fool the gullible lawyer and broke his trust.

Question. Lutkins openly takes the lawyer all over the village.
How is that no one lets out the secret? (Hint : Notice that the hack driver asks the lawyer to keep out of sight behind him when they go into Fritz’s).
Can you find other such subtle ways in which Lutkins manipulates the tour? 
Answer. Lutkins never allows the lawyer to reach the place where the imaginary Lutkins is supposed to be present at a given time. The way he weaves stories about Lutkins’ vagabond nature and the way he scares the lawyer about Lutkins’ mother are ways of fooling the lawyer devised by the hack driver. Everywhere he does not allow the lawyer to ask about Lutkins but he himself pretends to ask about him, which the villagers are knowing is a pretence. So, the villagers also join in the whole drama. Lutkins it can be said manipulates the tour cleverly. At every place he takes the lawyer, he asks him to either stay outside or stay behind him. With his effective place he is able to prove his honesty and Lutkins dishonesty.

Question. Write a character sketch of the hack driver.
Answer. Cheerful and Friendly The hack driver, named Bill was a red-faced, fourty years old man with a cheerful and a pleasant personality. The narrator met the hack driver when he had come to New Mullion to serve summons on Oliver Lutkins. Initially, the narrator found Bill to be a friendly, wise and an agreeable fellow. 
Helful A great schemerWhen the narrator informed Bill about his visit, Bill readily accepted to help him and took him to all the places where Lutkins could be found. However, later the narrator get to know that Bill was a clever fellow. Bill had all the arts with him to win the confidence of gullible (innocent) people like the lawyers and fool them.
A Great Schemer Bill himself was Oliver Lutkins and as soon as he got to know about the lawyer’s visit, he devised a plan. He pretended to help the lawyers. All of this show that Bill was a great schemer. He cleverly fooled the lawyer into believing that he was trying to help. But in reality, he never allowed the lawyer to come directly in touch with the people. Therefore, Bill perfectly played a double role and outwitted the narrator.

Question. What did the hack driver tell the narrator about Lutkins’ mother? How did she treat the narrator?
Answer. While going to Lutkins’ mothers house, the hack driver informed the narrator that Lutkins’ mother was a terror.
He told him that she was about nine feet tall and four feet thick lady who was as quick as a cat.
He also told him that once he had taken a trunk for her at her farmhouse and she had almost taken his skin off. All this information frightened the narrator but he still went to look for Lutkins at his mother’s place.
When they reached Lutkins mother’s house, they were faced with an enormous and cheerful old woman. Bill went to her and informed her about their visit. Lutkins’ mother bluntly told them that shee did not know anything about Lutkins. When Bill pressed for searching the house as it was their legal right, she went inside and came out with a hot iron rod to attack them. Consequently, both of them ran away from the location.

Extract Based Questions

1. Read the extract to attempt the questions that follow.

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 widesmile 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.

Question. Who is ‘he’ in these lines?
Answer. ‘He’ in these lines is Bill Magnuson, the hack driver.

Question. Give an instance of his kindness.
Answer. He offered to take the narrator through the village and find Lutkins.

Question. Find a word from the extract which means ‘a gentle feeling of fondness’.
Answer. ‘Affection’ from the extract means ‘a gentle feeling of fondness’.

Question. Pick out the qualities of the hack driver with context to the above extract.
Answer. The hack driver was open, friendly, affectionate, kind and ready to help the narrator.

Question. What did the narrator mean by saying “these villagers are so ready to help a stranger”?
Answer. The narrator means that the village people are friendly and they made strange people’s task as their own in order to help them heartily.

2. Read the extract to attempt the questions that follow.

So we pursued him, just behind him, but never catching him, for an hour till it was past one o’ clock. I was hungry. But I had so enjoyed Bill’s rough country opinions about his neighbours that I scarcely cared whether I found Lutkins or not. “How about something to eat?” I suggested. “Let’s go to a restaurant and I’ll buy you lunch.” “Well, I ought to go home to the wife. I don’t care much for these restaurants — only four of them and they’re all bad. Tell you what we’ll do. We’ll get the wife to pack up a lunch for us.

Question. Who was pursuing whom?
Answer. The narrator and Bill were pursuing Lutkins.

Question. Why were they pursuing him?
Answer. They were pursuing him because the lawyer had to serve him summons.

Question. What do you understand by Bill’s rough country opinions?
Answer. Bill’s rough country opinions means the opinions he had for the people of his town and the way he pictured the image of everyone in the town.

Question. Why do you think Bill suggested the narrator to get their lunch packed by Bill’s wife?
Answer. Bill suggested so in order to earn more money from the narrator.

Question. How much charge did Bill tell for getting the lunch packed by his wife?
Answer. Bill told that his wife would not charge more than a dollar