L-2 The Thief's story

I was still a thief when I met Anil. And though only 15, I was an experienced and fairly successful hand. Anil was watching a wrestling match when I approached him.

1.What is he a "fairly successful hand" at?

• A) wrestling

• B) Stealing

• C) Deceiving

• D) Working hard

Anil was watching a wrestling match when I approached him. He was about 25 — a tall, lean fellow — and he looked easy-going, kind and simple enough for my purpose. I hadn't had much luck of late and thought I might be able to get into the young man’s confidence.

2. How has the narrator described Anil?

• A) simple

• B) Kind

• C) Easy going

• D) all of the above

I hadn't had much luck of late and thought I might be able to get into the young man’s confidence. “You look a bit of a wrestler yourself,” I said. A little flattery helps in making friends.

3) How did the narrator attempt at being friends with Anil?

• A) flattering him

• B) introducing himself

• C) teasing him

• D)none of the above

Anil walked away. I followed casually. “Hello again,” he said. I gave him my most appealing smile. “I want to work for you,” I said. “But I can’t pay you.”

4. What did the boy ask Anil for?

• A) to give him food.

• B) to employ him

• C) To give him money

• D) To teach him

“Well,” I said modestly, “I do wrestle a bit.” “What’s your name?” “Hari Singh,” I lied. I took a new name every month. That kept me ahead of the police and my former employers.

5. How often did he change his name?

• A) every day

• B) every week

• C) every month

• D) every year

He took me to his room over the Jumna Sweet Shop and told me I could sleep on the balcony. But the meal I cooked that night must have been terrible because Anil gave it to a stray dog and told me to be off.

6. How was the meal he cooked first night?

• A) delicious.

• B) mouth-watering

• C) finger-licking good

• D) terrible.

But I just hung around, smiling in my most appealing way, and he couldn’t help laughing. Later, he patted me on the head and said never mind, he’d teach me to cook.He also taught me to write my name and said he would soon teach me to write whole sentences and to add numbers.

7. What did Anil promise him to teach?

• A) write his name

• B) cook

• C) Write full sentences

• D) all of the above

I made the tea in the morning and then would take my time buying the day’s supplies, usually making a profit of about a rupee a day. I think he knew I made a little money this way but he did not seem to mind.

8. Did Anil really mind his petty ways of earning money?

• A) yes

• B) no

• C) maybe

• D) he didn't earn through petty ways

Anil had given me a key to the door, and I could come and go as I pleased. He was the most trusting person I had ever met. And that is why it was so difficult to rob him.

9. Who was the most trusting person narrator had ever met ?

• A) Anil.

• B) publisher

• C) Anil's friends

• D) none of the above

It’s easy to rob a greedy man because he can afford to be robbed, but it’s difficult to rob a careless man — sometimes he doesn’t even notice he’s been robbed and that takes all the pleasure out of the work.

10. Who is easier to rob?

• A) a careless man

• B) a greedy man

• C) a trusting man

• D) Anil