Important Questions for Class 10 English The Midnight Visitors Chapter 3 (Footprints Without Feet)
Short-Questions (40-50 Words)
Question 1:
What purpose did the ‘balcony’ serve in the story, ‘The Midnight Visitor’?
Answer
The ‘balcony’ served as a clever trick invented by Ausable. He falsely told Max that there was a balcony outside his window. When someone knocked at the door, Max panicked and jumped out through the window to escape. Since no balcony actually existed, he fell and was eliminated. Thus, the imaginary balcony helped Ausable outwit the spy and save himself without using any weapon.
Question 2:
How is Ausable different from other secret agents?
Answer
Ausable is different from other secret agents because he does not look smart, slim, or athletic. He is fat and speaks with a strong accent. However, he is intelligent, calm, and quick-witted. He uses his presence of mind rather than physical strength to defeat his enemy.
Question 3:
How did Ausable get rid of Max ?
Answer
Ausable got rid of Max by using his presence of mind and intelligence. He invented a story about a balcony outside his window and pretended that police were about to enter. Panicked, Max tried to escape through the window and fell, as there was no balcony.
Question 4:
Describe Ausable’s fabricated tale regarding the balcony.
Answer
Ausable tells Max that his room has a balcony outside the window, which has been a source of trouble earlier. He claims that a man once used it to enter his room, and that he has already complained to the police about it, making the story sound convincing and believable.
Question 5:
Though Max was very cunning, he was still but a little spy before Ausable. Justify the statement with reference to the lesson, ‘The Midnight Visitor’.
Answer
Though Max is a trained and armed spy, he lacks Ausable’s quick intelligence and presence of mind. Ausable remains calm under threat and invents a convincing story about a balcony and the police. Panicked, Max believes him and falls to his death, proving Ausable’s mental superiority.
Question 6:
Examine the witty strategy used by Ausable in emerging as a super spy.
Answer
Ausable uses wit and presence of mind to defeat Max. He calmly invents a believable story about a balcony and the police arriving. His confident manner makes Max panic and act hastily, proving that intelligence and calm thinking make Ausable a superior spy.
Important Questions for Class 10 English The Midnight Visitors Chapter 3 (Footprints Without Feet)
Long-Questions (100-120 Words)
Question 1:
The non-existent balcony plays a crucial role in ‘The Midnight Visitor’. How ? Examine the witty strategy used by Ausable in emerging as a super spy.
Answer
The non-existent balcony is central to Ausable’s clever plan in “The Midnight Visitor.” When Max threatens him with a gun, Ausable remains calm and invents a convincing story about a balcony outside his window. He claims that the police have been informed about a suspicious man using the balcony to enter his room, making Max believe that capture is imminent. Panicked by this fabricated danger, Max tries to escape through the window, only to fall because there is no balcony. Ausable’s quick thinking, calmness under pressure, and ability to use deception effectively show his superiority as a spy. This witty strategy allows him to turn a dangerous situation to his advantage and emerge victorious without violence.
Question 2:
A character arc is the transformation or development of a character throughout a story and refers to the changes a character undergoes as a result of their experiences, challenges, and interactions with other characters. In the light of the above information, trace the character arc of Ausable from the Midnight Visitor.
Answer
In “The Midnight Visitor,” Ausable’s character arc shows his transformation from a seemingly ordinary and calm man to a clever and confident spy. Initially, he appears mild and unthreatening, which makes Max, the enemy spy, underestimate him. However, as the story progresses, Ausable reveals his sharp intellect and quick thinking by inventing the story of the nonexistent balcony. His ability to stay composed under pressure and use wit to outsmart Max highlights his growth from a passive individual to an active problem-solver. This development shows how Ausable’s intelligence and calm demeanor help him overcome danger, proving that true strength lies in mental agility rather than physical force.
Important Questions for Class 10 English The Midnight Visitors Chapter 3 (Footprints Without Feet)
