PSEB Class 10 English Chapter 4: The Dying Detective - Questions and Answers

 

Class-10^TH

^{Chapter 4}
THE DYING DETECTIVE

Arthur Conan Doyle

QUESTION’S/ANSWER’S

                         

Q. 1. Who was Mrs. Hundson? Why did she go to waston’s house?

Ans. Mrs. Hundson was Sherlock Holmes’ landlady. She went to Watson’s house to tell him that his friend, Sherlock Holmes, was critically ill. She wanted Waston to come and save his friend life.

Q. 2. Where did Holmes get the illness from? When did he get it?

Ans. Holmes got the illness from some Chinese sailors. He got it when he was working on a case at a place near a river. But as we know, it was all a made-up story.

Q. 3. What was Holmes’ condition when Waston saw him?

Ans. Holmes’ eye had the brightness of fever. There was red flush on his cheeks. His thin hands were twitching all the time.

Q. 4. Why did Holmes not let Watson examine him?

Ans. Holmes’ illness was a feigned one. Watson was a doctor by profession. He would have known the truth if he had examined Holmes. That was why, Holmes did not let Watson examine him.

Q. 5. Till when was Waston asked to stay in Holmes’ house?

Ans. He was asked to stay in there till 6 o’ clock.

Q. 6. Why did Holmes not le Waston touch his thing? What did Watson think about Holmes then?

Ans. Wastson picked up an ivory box. Holmes knew it has a poisonous spring in it. Therefore, Holmes told him to put it down. He said that he hated to have his things touched. Waston thought that illness had affected Homes’ mind.

Q. 7. What did Holmes ask Waston to do before leaving his room?

Ans. He asked Wastson to light the gas-lamp, but only half on. Then he asked him to put on the table some letters, paper and the ivory box and the tongs.

Q. 8. Who was Culverton Smith? Why did Holmes want him for the treatment of his disease?

Ans. Culverton Smith was a resident of Sumatra and a tea planter. Holmes wanted him for the treatment of his disease only to have him in his trap.

Q. 9. What did Holmes ask Watson to say to Mr. Smith?

Ans. Holmes asked Watson to tell Mr. Smith how critically Holmes was ill and was at the point of death. Holmes wanted Wastson to persuade Mr. Smith to come to Holmes house.

Q. 10. Did Smith welcome Watson calling on him ? How do you know?

Ans. Smith did not welcome Watson calling on him. He asked his butler to tell Watson that he was not at home. 

Q. 11. Why did Watson not come back with Smith?

Ans. Watson did not come with Smith because Holmes had asked him to do so. Watson pretended that he had some other appointment.

Q. 12. What did Smith ask Watson when he finally met him?

Ans. Smith asked Watson if he was coming from Holmes’. He also asked him how Holmes was.

Q. 13. Did Smith go near Holmes to examine him? How do you know?

Ans. Smith did not go near Holmes to examine him. He well knew what had happened and only wanted Holmes to die.

Q. 14. Who was Victor Smith? What had happened to him and how?

Ans. Victor was Culverton Smith’s nephew. He had been murdered by Culverton Smith by the use of a poisonous spring.

Q. 15. “You did it. I’ll forget everything,” Holmes said to smith. What did Smith do and how? Did Holmes really mean what he said? Give examples in support of your answer.

Ans. Smith had conspired to kill Homes by sending him a poisoned spring box by post. Holmes did not really mean what he said. He was not ill at all. He was only laying a trap for Smith and trying to make him confess his crime

Q. 16. Why did Smith send an infected sharp spring in an ivory box?

Ans. Smith had killed his nephew. Holmes knew this fact. He was gathering evidence to prove it. That was why Smith sent him an infected spring to kill him.

Q. 17. Why did Holmes ask Smith to turn up the gas?

Ans. Holmes asked Smith to turn up the gas. It was in fact a signal for Inspector Morton to come in and arrest Smith.

Q. 18. Who arrested Smith? What were the charges against him?

Ans. Inspector Morton arrested Smith. The charges against Smith were the murder of Victor and the attempted murder of Sherlock Holmes.

Q. 19. Why did Holmes pretend to be ill? What did he do and say to appear ill?

Ans. Holmes pretended illness was all a trap laid for Mr. Smith. In order to look ill, he did not eat for three days. He also applied a little make up on his face. He also talked deliriously.

Q. 20. Should Holmes have spoken so rudely to Watson? Why?

Ans. Holmes show of rudeness was a dramatic necessity. It was necessary to make Watson believe that Holmes was really critically ill and ay the point of death.