Tracking progress through consistent use of DAV Class 8 English Literature Book Solutions Chapter 8 The Case of the Sharp-Eyed Jeweller is a helpful practice.
DAV Class 8 English Literature Chapter 8 Question Answer – The Case of the Sharp-Eyed Jeweller
Pre-Reading Task
Question 1.
Observe the given picture carefully. Can you make some guesses about the man in the picture by observing him?
Answer:
The man who observes blood stains, cigarettes and the fingSr prints through his magnifying glass seems to be a detective.
Question 2.
Discuss with your friends and list a few qualities that a good detective should possess.
Answer:
A detective should have the following qualities:
- A detective should be intelligent enough to understand the situation.
- He should be alert and sharp. He should never misuse his status.
Question 3.
Have you ever observed strangers while travelling in a train or at a bus stop? Narrate any such incident when you could make some guesses about a stranger by observing him.
Answer:
Once I saw a bearded middle aged man. He had keen eyes. He was observing three ladies sitting in the bus. When the ladies got down he also came and chased them in a very clever way.
I. Understanding the Story
A. Each statement given below contains a wrong word/phrase, which makes it false. Underline the wrong word/phrase and rewrite the correct statement in the space provided.
Question 1.
The narrator owns the Regnier’s jewellery shop.
Answer:
The narrator is an assistant at the Regnier’s jewellery shop.
Question 2.
The Regnier’s sells high-priced modern jewellery.
Answer:
The Regnier’s sells the high priced antique jewellery.
Question 3.
The young woman standing on the opposite side of the Regnier’s was staring at the displayed jewellery.
Answer:
The young woman standing on the opposite side of the Regnier’s was staring at the displayed urns of holding the ashes.
Question 4.
The narrator showed the American five trays of rings in all.
Answer:
The narrator showed the American four trays of rings in all.
Question 5.
The young woman said she had come to the Regnier’s to sell her filigree brooch.
Answer:
The young woman said she had come to the Regnier’s to get repaired her filigree brooch.
Question 6.
The young woman hid the flower ring in the right pocket of her purse.
Answer:
The young woman hid the flower ring in the left pocket of her coat.
B. Answer the following questions in about 30 words each.
Question 1.
‘My hobby is perhaps a little out of the ordinary.’ What is the narrator’s hobby? Why does he consider it ‘out of the ordinary’?
Answer:
The narrator’s hobby is to observe people and their behaviour. He uses his keen eyes and common sense more than an ordinary man. He considers it out of the ordinary because people never do such things like observing people.
Question 2.
Why did the narrator find the behaviour of the woman standing outside the Regnier’s strange?
Answer:
The young woman was staring at the shop of undertaker. There was nothing to be stared at that shop because the window had two urns for holding the ashes of the dead and some photographs of stones. That behaviour of the woman seemed strange to the narrator.
Question 3.
‘Her arrival at this moment struck me as rather strange’. Why did the narrator find the young lady’s arrival at that point of time strange?
Answer:
When the young lady entered into the Regnier’s shop, every one including the American was searching the flower ring that suddenly disappeared from the tray. That was the same lady who was observed by the narrator as a strange woman. That struck the narrator’s mind.
Question 4.
Do you think the young lady had accidentally dropped the paper in which her brooch was wrapped? If not, why did she do so?
Answer:
The young lady intentionally dropped the paper in which the brooch was wrapped. It was her trick. When the narrator bent down to take up the paper, at that time she picked up the flower ring which was placed at the edge of the counter with the help of chewing gum.
Question 5.
Where did the narrator find the ring from? How did he know it would be there?
Answer:
The narrator found the ring from the young lady. She kept it in the left pocket of her coat. He came to know about this by using the common sense that the young lady had cleverly used her left hand. She arrived after the flower ring had disappeared. Then, she played a trick at dropping the paper that allowed the narrator to combine all the incidents together.
C. William Morris noticed certain things about the American and the young lady that put them under suspicion and finally helped him in solving the mystery of the missing ring. Complete the web chart below by filling in the blurbs the observations that the narrator made about the two.
Answer:
D. On the basis of your reading of the story, complete the flow chart by filling in the correct sequence of events.
Answer:
E. What impression do you form of William Morris? (About 80 words)
Answer:
William Morris is an intelligent man. He truly observes the things around him. The young lady was staring at the undertaker’s shop which seemed strange to the narrator. But more than his intelligence, William uses his common sense. His common sense and keen eyes helped him to arrange all the incidents from the beginning to the end. He observed people rightly. He noticed that in the beginning, the American was having chewing gum in his mouth which disappeared just after the flower ring was found missing.
II. HOTS
A. ‘Intelligence is using common sense to the full.’ Discuss with reference to the story.
Answer:
It is a well-accepted saying that intelligence is using common sense to the full. The main character of the story William Morris uses his eyes and common sense more than us. He makes deep study of crime and criminals. It is because of this particular trait he is able to foil robbery bid at the Regnier’s.
B. “But she was not wearing black or any other sign of mourning.
(a) Why is “black’ considered to be a sign of mourning?
Answer:
‘Black’ is considered to a be a sign of mourning because in the particular religion, especially in the Christian world it is believed that we pay homage to the departed soul by wearing black clothes.
(b) Why do you think some people wear “white’ also for the same reason?
Answer:
Some people wear “white’ also for the same reason because it is considered pious and we are able to remember the departed soul, by thinking of his deeds.
(c) Should colour be given more importance or heart felt feelings?
Answer:
It is certainly the heart felt feelings which should be given more importance because no matter what colour you wear, it is the feeling you keep for the person that matters the most.
III. Life Skills
A. Why did William Morris make a sign to Miss Susskind before speaking to the American about the flower ring?
Answer:
William Morris made a sign to Miss Susskind before speaking to the American about the flower ring, he asked her to come and stand beside him, so that she can keep a watchful eye on him.
B. Why was it important to conduct a thorough search on the American before reporting the matter to the Insurance Company?
Answer:
Before reporting the matter to the Insurance Company it was very important that the staff at the Regnier’s does a through search, because blaming someone without a proof would prove detrimental to the company.
C. Why were the American and his accomplice not handed over to the police?
Answer:
The American and his accomplice were not handed over to the police because Mr. Morris noticed that they were very frightened and nervous and hence he pitied them.
IV. Values
Miss Susskind is mostly seen to be calm and composed throughout the story. She does not react impulsively. Do you think she is right in doing so? Why/Why not?
Answer:
For Self-attempt.
V. Writing Skills
Imagine yourself to be the young lady. Write a diary entry relating how the jeweller’s vigilant assistant foiled your well-made plan to steal the ring.
Answer:
18th July, 20XX
Sunday
What an unlucky day it was for me and my friend! I alongwith my friends made a solid plan to steal a ring from the Regnier’s. I decided to stand at the opposite of the shop. My friend went inside and he managed to steal the ring. According to our plan, he had stuck the ring with the help of a chewing gum that he parted at the edge of the counter. I went after some time and pretended as a customer to get my brooch repaired. Then cleverly, I threw the paper on the floor. An assistant took it up at the same time. I took the ring and put it in my left pocket of the coat. But I never imagined about the keen eyes of the assistant.
He saw the mark of chewing gum while picking up the paper and stopped me.
I had no other choice except giving him the ring back and I ran back saving my skin.
XYZ
DAV Class 8 English Literature Chapter 8 Solutions – The Case of the Sharp-Eyed Jeweller
Question 1.
Do you think a criminal always leave an evidence of his crime? Justify on the basis of the story, “The Case of the Sharp-eyed Jeweller.”
Answer:
A criminal, a thief or a lawless person always remains in a hurry to get his or her work done. In a hurry, he or she always leaves an evidence, which helps the police or detective to prove his or her crime as in the story the mark of chewing gum was observed by Morris and thieves were caught red handed.
Question 2.
Whom do you think more clever-Morris or the American customer? Give your opinion.
Answer:
Both Morris and the American customer seem to be clever. The American customer cleverly sticks the ring at the edge of the counter and starts helping them in searching the ring, but Mr. Morris is more clever. He finds the mark of chewing gum and forces the lady friend of the American to return the ring. It is his cleverness that without being violent towards the thieves he forces them to return the ring.
Word Power
Find words from the text which are similar in meaning to the following.
(a) very old : a _____________
(b) something that is not original : i _____________
(c) surprise : a _____________
(d) breathing with open mouth expressing disbelief or surprise : g _____________
Answer:
(a) very old : antique
(b) something that is not original : imaginary
(c) surprise : astonishment
(d) breathing with open mouth expressing disbelief or surprise : gasped
The Case of the Sharp-Eyed Jeweller Summary in English
William Morris uses his eyes and common sense more than us. He makes deep study of crimes and criminals. He observes men, women and their behaviour. Nothing can be escaped from his keen eyes. It is an interesting part time for him.
He works as a jeweller’s assistant. Regnier’s which is famous for its antique jewellery especially are meant only for the rich.
One day while putting jewellery in the window, he saw a woman, standing on the opposite side of the road watching the window. She was staring at two urns for holding the ashes of the dead, and photographs of grave-stones. William kept watching her because it was a strange thing for him. A strongly built person around thirty five years came to William’s shop. He asked, for some rings. He saw a few and asked their prices. He kn£w nothing about precious stones.
The man saw a ring with diamond and rubies which was 300 years old. Regnier’s had already set a high price of that ring because he did not want to sell that. The man’s eyes were fixed at fourth tray which was in the safe. When William turned back, he found that the ring with diamond and ruby was missing. He called another assistant Miss Susskind. William asked the man to give back the ring and asked whether he had decided that he would take that flower ring. But he told that his wife would decide that. William began to search for the flower ring and the man too. It made Mr. Regneir very upset. The man understood that William and other persons present there were thinking that he had stolen the ring. But nothing was found in search.
A woman soon entered the shop. She was the same who was standing out in the morning. She wanted to have a repair of a piece of jewellery, a brooch. But William denied. Suddenly, by accident the piece of paper fell down in which brooch was wrapped. It was not an accident but a trick. William understood everything and made a single picture. He returned the wrapping paper to the woman. But as she began to move out, William stopped her but she didn’t. He threatened to raise the alarm and asked her to give the ring back to him. The woman took out and gave that back and ran out of the shop.
Mr. Regnier was surprised to see the ring.
William told that the man who came, did not know about jewellery while the shop was famous for jewellery. When he came he was having a chewing gum in his mouth but suddenly he stopped chewing the gum. No body knew where he had thrown the chewing gum. The woman who came in was doing every work with her left hand while she was not a left hander. While picking the paper, William saw the mark of chewing gum that the man had put on the ring with the help of gum under the edge of the counter that woman knew and she took out the ring. That is how William unrevealed the theft.
The Case of the Sharp-Eyed Jeweller Summary in Hindi
विलियम मौरिस को अपने तेज दिमाग और पैनी नजर के लिए जाना जाता है। वह अपराध तथा अपराधियों के विषय में गहन अध्ययन करता है। वह आदमियों, औरतों तथा उनके व्यवहारों का भी अध्ययन करता है। उसकी पैनी नजरों से कुछ नहीं बच सकता। यह उनके लिए एक अतिरिक्त रोमांचकारी कार्य है । वह गहनों की दुकान पर एक सहायक का काम करता है। रैग्नर प्राचीनतम गहनों के लिए प्रसिद्ध है जो सिर्फ धनी लोगों के लिए ही है।
एक दिन गहनों को शीशे में लगाते समय वह एक औरत को देखता है जो सड़क के दूसरी ओर की दुकान में देख रही थी । वह मुर्दों को दफनाने आदि का काम करती थी । विलियम उसे लगातार देखता रहा जो उसे अजीब लगा। तभी एक 35 वर्षीय सेहतमन्द आदमी अंगूठियाँ देखने के लिए दुकान पर आया। उसने कुछ अंगूठियों के बारे में पूछा। उसने कुछ को देखा और उनकी कीमतों के बारे में पूछा। उसे कीमती पत्थरों के बारे में कोई जानकारी नहीं थी ।
उस आदमी ने 300 वर्ष पुरानी हीरे और रुबी की अंगूठी देखी थी। इसका मूल्य बहुत ज्यादा था क्योंकि वे उसे बेचना नहीं चाहते थे। आदमी लगातार चौथी ट्रे पर देख रहा था। जैसे ही विलियम मुड़ा तो वह अंगूठी गायब हो गई। उसने मिस सस्किड को बुलाया। विलियम ने उस आदमी से पूछा कि वह अपनी अंगूठी वापस कर दे और उसने निर्णय किया कि वह अंगूठी लेगा। लेकिन उसने कहा कि यह उसकी पत्नी तय करेगी।
विलियम और सभी लोग अंगूठी ढूंढने लगे। मि० रैग्नर बहुत दुःखी हुए। विलियम ने उस आदमी की तलाशी ली, परन्तु कुछ नहीं मिला।
एक औरत दुकान के अंदर आयी । यह वही औरत थी जो कि सुबह में खड़ी थी। उसी समय वह दुकान पर अपने ब्रोच को ठीक करवाने के लिए आयी। विलियम ने मना कर दिया। तभी अचानक वह कागज जिसमें ब्रोच रखा था उसके हाथ से गिरा । विलियम समझ गया कि यह एक चाल थी। उसने कागज उठाकर महिला को दे दिया। महिला जैसे ही वापस जाने लगी विलियम ने उसे रोका। जब वह नहीं रुकी तो विलियम ने उसे धमकी दी। उसके बाद महिला से अंगूठी मांगने पर उसने अंगूठी दे दी। वह आदमी तथा औरत दुकान से चले गये ।
मि० रैग्नर अंगूठी को देखकर आश्चर्यचकित हो गए । विलियम ने सारा वृतान्त बताया। उसने बताया कि वह व्यक्ति कीमती गहनों के विषय में कुछ नहीं जानता था। जब वह आया तब वह च्वुइंगम चबा रहा था। अचानक उसका मुँह चलना बन्द हो गया। फिर वह औरत आई । वह उल्टे हाथ से काम कर रही थी जबकि वह सीधे हाथ से काम करती थी। अचानक कागज गिरने से विलियम ने उसे उठाते समय च्वुइंगम का निशान देखा । उस आदमी ने अंगूठी को काउंटर के कोने पर च्युइंगम के साथ चिपका दिया था जिसे उल्टे हाथ से महिला ने निकाल लिया। इस प्रकार विलियम ने चोरी पकड़ ली।
- Ordinary – common – साधारण;
- Crime – an illegal act – अपराध;
- Fortune – luck – भाग्य;
- Assistant – helper – सहायक;
- Antique – very old – बहुत पुरानी;
- Exceedingly – in a great degree – बहुत;
- Undertaker – a person whose work is to prepare dead bodies for cremation – अंत्येष्टि प्रबंधक;
- Yankee – American;
- Suspect – a person who is thought to be guilty of a crime – संदिग्ध;
- Turquoise – a bluish green stone – फिरोजा;
- Trinkets – small items of jewellery – छोटे-छोटे जेवरात;
- Attempted – made an effort to do something – प्रयत्न किया