The Thief’s Story
ENGLISH WORKSHOP
1. Complete the web diagram.
Anil’s virtues
- Trusting
- Kind
- Easy-going
- Helpful
Hari’s vices
- Dishonesty
- Stealing
- Lying
- Cheating
2. Insert the appropriate word/phrase given below, in the sentences that follow.
(flattery, appealing, by fits and starts, dashed to, undetected, spirits rose)
(a) I dashed to the school gate when I heard the school-bell ring.
(b) After the death of my pet dog, my spirits rose when dad got me a new pup.
(c) Do not stoop to flattery just to gain something from someone.
(d) The artist completes his paintings by fits and starts.
(e) The crime went undetected for 11 years.
(f) When the baby saw its mother it gave an appealing smile.
3. (a) Find from the text the collocation for the following.
(i) dog – stray dog
(ii) man – greedy man
(iii) ticket – ticket office
(iv) slowly – walked slowly
(v) drizzle – light drizzle
(vi) sentences – whole sentences
(vii) spirits – spirits rose
(b) Complete the compound words from the story.
(i) oil-rich
(ii) fifty-rupee
(iii) easy-going
(iv) tower-clock (clock tower)
(v) moon-light
(c) Pick out from the story 3 or 4 examples of Code-mixing (Indian words used in English).
- “Jumna Sweet Shop” (Jumna is an Indian name)
- “Rupee” (Indian currency)
- “Pyjamas” (Indian clothing word used in English)
- “Bazaar” (Indian market term)
4. Read the story carefully and complete the table.
| Total no. of characters | Names | Age | Physical appearance | Earned money by | Qualities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Anil | 25 | Tall, lean | Writing for magazines | Trusting, kind, simple |
| Hari Singh | 15 | Thin, with scars on face | Stealing, cheating on shopping | Dishonest, clever, brave |
5. Complete the given sentences.
(a) Anil kept Hari as a cook because he felt Hari could learn and improve, even though he couldn’t pay him.
(b) Hari was grateful because Anil taught him to cook, write, and trusted him with a key.
(c) Hari continued making money by cheating a little while buying supplies for Anil.
(d) Anil didn’t hand Hari over to the police because he wanted to give him a chance to change.
(e) The moral of the story is honesty and trust can transform a person’s life.
6. Think and write in your own words, in your notebook.
(a) Why did Anil employ Hari as a cook, although he could not afford to pay him?
- Anil employed Hari because he saw potential in him and wanted to help, even though he had little money himself.
(b) What did Hari learn from Anil in the beginning?
- Hari learned to cook, write his name, and the value of trust from Anil at the start.
(c) Why didn’t Anil hand over Hari to the police? What effect would it have had on Hari?
- Anil didn’t call the police because he believed in Hari’s goodness. If he had, Hari might have lost hope and stayed a thief.
(d) Do you feel Anil’s way of handling a thief like Hari was effective? Justify your answer.
- Yes, it was effective because Hari changed after Anil’s kindness. It showed Hari that trust is more powerful than punishment.
(e) What tact had Anil used to change Hari’s dishonest ways? Anil used kindness, trust, and teaching skills to make Hari feel valued, encouraging him to leave dishonesty behind.
(f) ‘And the smile came by itself without any effort.’ Say why. When do people give fake smiles?
- Hari smiled naturally because he felt happy and relieved that Anil forgave him. People give fake smiles when they hide their true feelings or want to please someone.
7. Write a character sketch of ‘Hari Singh’ with the help of the following points, using the paragraph format.
Hari Singh is a young thief, only 15 years old, with a tough background that likely pushed him into stealing to survive. He is dishonest at first, lying about his name every month and cheating Anil by stealing money and profits from shopping. Despite this, Hari has big aspirations-he wants to become an educated and respected man, which shows when he values learning to write sentences. His courage to change himself shines through when he returns the stolen money to Anil, choosing a better path after realizing the worth of trust. Hari’s journey from a cunning thief to someone who smiles genuinely shows his ability to grow and transform with the right guidance.
8. Frame ‘Wh’ questions to get the answers underlined below.
(a) I hurried back to the room.
- Why did you hurry back to the room?
(b) I had made a study of men’s faces.
- What had you made a study of?
(c) I drew them out, without a sound.
- How did you draw them out?
(d) The poor man showed acceptance.
- What did the poor man show?
(e) I made tea in the morning.
- When did you make tea?
9. Imagine that Anil catches Hari red-handed when Hari is stealing the money from under the mattress. Compose a short dialogue between the two, which reflects Anil’s shock and Hari’s repeated apologies.
Anil: “Hari! What are you doing with your hand under my mattress?”
Hari: “Anil, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to betray you.”
Anil: “I trusted you with everything-how could you do this?”
Hari: “Please forgive me, I was wrong. I’m really sorry!”
Anil: “This is unbelievable, Hari. I thought you were different.”
Hari: “I swear I’ll never do it again. I’m ashamed-please, forgive me!”
Leave a Reply