Q1. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

A.” Eh? What of it, then? Has it returned to life and flapped off through the kitchen window? “See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!” He held out his hand and displayed  a brilliantly scintillating blue stone upon the centre of the palm, rather smaller than a bean in size but of such purity and radiance that twinkled like an electric point in the dark hollow of his hand.

a. What did the speaker do when he heard about the goose?
(i) He expressed surprise that the goose had returned life.

(ii)He asked if the goose had flown away through the kitchen window.

(iii)He wondered if the goose had been stolen.

(iv)He suggested that the goose must be hiding somewhere in the house.

Answer. (ii) He asked if the goose had flown away through the kitchen window.

b. Complete the following sentence.

  Peterson bring the goose to Sherlock Holmes because he wanted to __________

Answer. Peterson brought the goose to Sherlock Holmes because he wanted to seek Holmes’ help in understanding the peculiar discovery of the blue stone inside the bird.

c. Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the extract.

Yellow sun: bright _______: scintillating.

Answer. Yellow sun::bright blue stone :scintillating

d. Select the reason that signifies how the blue stone the investigation.

(i) It leads to the capture of the thief.

(ii)It reveals the location of a hidden treasure.

(iii)It releases the accused suspect.

(iv)It sparks Sherlock Holme’s interest in the case.

Answer. (iv) It sparks Sherlock Holmes’ interest in the case.

e. Give a suitable synonym for the word displayed_____

Answer. Presented

B.” That the man was highly intellectual is of course obvious upon the face of it, and also that he was fairly well-to-do within the last three years, although he has now fallen upon evil days.”

a. Who is the speaker of these lines? Whom is the speaker referring to?

Answer. The speaker is Sherlock Holmes. He is referring to an unknown man whose hat and possessions he examines.

b. On what was the speaker basing his deductions?

Answer. Holmes based his deductions on the physical condition of the hat and other belongings, inferring past affluence and recent decline.

c. How did Sherlock Holmes deduce that the unknown man was highly intellectual?

Answer. Holmes noted the quality of the man’s hat and its size, suggesting a large brain capacity, which he associated with intellect.

d. How did the speaker deduce that there was decline in the man’s fortunes?

Answer. Holmes observed that the hat was well-made but had fallen into disrepair, suggesting that the owner had once been well-off but could no longer afford to maintain his possessions.

e. Find a phrase which  is an antonym of ‘destitute’

Answer. Presented

Q2.Answer the following questions in 30-40 words each.

(a). How did Holmes find out that Henry Baker was innocent?

Answer. Holmes deduced Henry Baker’s innocence by observing his behaviour. Baker’s lack of interest in the blue stone indicated he had no knowledge of its existence inside the goose, thus proving he had no connection to the theft.

(b).What facts do we know about the goose in the story?

Answer. The goose in question was brought to Sherlock Holmes by Peterson. Inside the goose’s crop, a rare blue stone was found. It was part of a stolen jewel, making the bird central to solving the case.

(c). Why does Holmes let Ryder go?

Answer. Holmes allows Ryder to leave as he believes that Ryder’s extreme fear and desperation to escape justice are punishment enough. Holmes feels that a reformed life might be better served without a formal punishment.

(d). Why did Ryder choose to lay the blame of stealing the jewel on the plumber?

Answer. Ryder accused the plumber of theft to divert suspicion away from himself, hoping that the false accusation would protect him while he planned to escape with the valuable blue stone.

Q3. Answer the following questions in 80 -100 words each.

(a). How did the commissionaire come into the possession of a hat and a goose?

Answer. The commissionaire, Peterson, came across the hat and goose after a scuffle in the street where a man carrying the items was chased away. During the commotion, the man dropped both the hat and the goose, which Peterson then took home. As the goose was intended for dinner, his wife discovered the valuable blue stone hidden inside it, prompting Peterson to seek out Sherlock Holmes for assistance.

(b).Which chance meeting give Holmes a leading clue to solving the case?

Answer. The commissionaire, Peterson, came across the hat and goose after a scuffle in the street where a man carrying the items was chased away. During the commotion, the man dropped both the hat and the goose, which Peterson then took home. As the goose was intended for dinner, his wife discovered the valuable blue stone hidden inside it, prompting Peterson to seek out Sherlock Holmes for assistance.