Tamilnadu Board Class 10 English Solutions Prose Chapter 7 The Dying Detective

Tamilnadu State Board Class 10 English Solutions Prose Chapter 7 The Dying Detective

The Dying Detective In Text Questions

The Dying Detective Questions and Answers Class 10 Question a.
How did Watson feel when he heard of Holmes illness?
Answer:
Watson felt horrified when he heard of Holmes illness because he had hot heard about it before.

Question b.
Why didn’t the landlady call the doctor?
Answer:
The landlady didn’t call the doctor because Holmes would not allow her to bring one.

Question c.
What was the condition of Holmes when Watson saw him?
Answer:
Holmes had a gaunt face. His eyes had a brightness of fever, his cheeks were flushed and his hand twitched all the time. He lay listless.

Question d.
According to Holmes what was the disease he was suffering from?
Answer:
Holmes was suffering from Tarpaunli fever or black Formosa plague.

Question e.
Who did Watson see when he entered the room?
Answer:
Watson saw Culverton Smiths butler at the doorway. On entering the room, he saw a thin man with bald head, Mr. Culverton Smith.

Question f.
What were the instructions given by Holmes to Watson?
Answer:
Holmes did not want Watson to go before six. He asked Watson to persuade Smith to come, to tell Smith that Holmes was dying and force Smith to come. Watson should return to Holmes’ house, before Smith’s arrival. He asked Watson to light the gas and keep it half-on.

Question g.
Why did Holmes plead with Smith?
Answer:
Holmes pleaded with Smith to cure him of his disease.

Question h.
Who was responsible for Victor Savage’s death? What was the evidence for it?
Answer:
Culverton Smith was responsible for Victor Savage’s death. The ivory box was the last piece of evidence of it.

Question i.
What explanation did Holmes give for speaking rudely to Watson?
Answer:
Holmes explained that he spoke rudely to Watson because he wanted to bring Smith there and he didn’t want Watson to know that he wasn’t ill.

Question j.
How was Holmes able to look sick?
Answer:
Holmes starved for three days without food and water to look really sick.

The Dying Detective Textual Questions

A. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.

Question 1.
Who was Mrs. Hudson? Why was she worried?
Answer:
Mrs. Hudson was the landlady of Sherlock Holmes. She was worried because Holmes was very sick.

Question 2.
Why didn’t Holmes let Watson examine him?
Answer:
Holmes didn’t let Watson examine him by telling that he was suffering from a deadly and contagious disease. In fact Holmes was acting as if he was a sick person. If Watson examined him, he would know that Holmes was not ill.

Question 3.
Why did Holmes warn Watson against touching his things? What was Watson’s reaction?
Answer:
Holmes warned Watson against touching his things because he disliked others touching his things and the box was an important evidence. Watson sat down silently.

Question 4.
What did Watson find on the table near the mantelpiece?
Answer:
Watson found a small black and white ivory box with sliding lid, on the mantelpiece.

Question 5.
Who is Mr. Culverton Smith?
Answer:
Mr. Culverton Smith is the man who has the knowledge of the disease, Holmes was suffering from. He is a planter. He lives in Sumatra, now visiting London.

Question 6.
What did Holmes ask Watson to do before leaving his room?
Answer:
Holmes asked Watson to put the money in his pockets, light the gas lamp half on, and place some letters and paper on the table. He also asked him to place the ivory box within his reach.

Question 7.
What instructions did Holmes give Watson to get Mr. Smith?
Answer:
Holmes asked Watson to persuade Mr. Culverton Smith of 13, Lower Burke Street to come and to tell him that Holmes was dying. He asked him to plead with Smith to save him.

Question 8.
Why did Holmes want Smith to treat him?
Answer:
Holmes wanted Smith, to treat him because he was the only man with the knowledge of the disease Holmes was suffering from.

Question 9.
According to Smith how did Holmes get the disease?
Answer:
According to Smith, Holmes got the disease from the spring in the ivory box, that drew blood.

Question 10.
Who arrested Smith? What were the charges against him?
Answer:
Inspector Morton arrested Smith on charges of murder of Victor Savage.

Short Questions & Answers – Additional

Question 1.
How did Watson know Holmes was sick?
Answer:
Mrs. Hudson, the landlady of Sherlock Holmes told Watson that Holmes had been sinking for three days and he would not allow any doctor to come in. After she had insisted Holmes accepted that Watson could see him.

Question 2.
How did Holmes react when Watson came to see him?
Answer:
Holmes stopped Watson from entering his room, stating that he was suffering from a deadly disease that he got from Sumatra. When Watson tried to force himself to go near Holmes, Holmes told him that he would only allow a doctor in, when he had confidence and Watson wasn’t a specialist in that field. Holmes wanted Culverton Smith, who was knowledgeable about the Eastern Diseases to deal with him.

Question 3.
What happened when Watson waited behind the locked door?
Answer:
Watson was asked to wait till 6 O’ clock to bring a doctor of Holmes’ choice. Holmes suggested that Watson could read some books. Unable to read, Watson walked around the room and happened to see a black and white ivory box on the mantelpiece. When he held it to see it, Holmes gave a dreadful cry. He asked Watson not to touch any of his things. So Watson sat in dejection until 6’0 clock.

Question 4.
Describe the character of Mr. Culverton Smith.
Answer:
Culverton Smith was the only man who had the knowledge of the disease, Formosa plague. He was not a medical man. He was a planter. He lived in Sumatra. He lived at 13, Lower Burke Street. He was frail with a bald head. He killed his nephew, Victor Savage. Holmes as the dying detective pretended to be sick to bring the truth out of Culverton Smith.

B. Answer the following questions in a paragraph of about 100-150 words.

Question 1.
How did Holmes trap Mr. Culverton Smith to confess the murder?
Answer:
Holmes sent Watson to bring Culverton Smith who was the only man who knew how to cure Eastern diseases. Holmes pretended to be seriously ill with black Formosa Plague. He had starved for 3 days, very sick and dying. When Watson pleaded with Smith to save Holmes, the shocked Smith rushed to Holmes. There Holmes spoke about the ivory box that confirmed the disease to Smith.

Holmes also said that he very well knew that Smith was behind the murder of Victor Savage, who was a victim of the same disease. Smith confessed and said none could prove it. Smith also told that Holmes’ end is nearing. Holmes asked Smith to brighten the lamp so that he could see him better. Holmes was only acting as if he was sick. Thus he made Smith confess the truth about the murder of Victor Savage.

Question 2.
How did Watson help his friend to arrest the criminal?
Answer:
Holmes sent Watson was sent by Holmes to 13 Lower Burke Street, where Culverton Smith lived. Watson pleaded with Smith to save Holmes, who was suffering from plague. On hearing Holmes’ name, Smith was shocked. Before Smith could come along, Watson left, to meet Holmes to inform about Smith’s arrival. He disappeared to the next room before Smith came. As Holmes and Smith were speaking about the dangerous ivory box and the spring that drew blood, Smith said that Holmes would die of it, as Victor had died.

But Holmes stated he was sure Smith was behind the murder of Victor. But Smith told that none could prove it. When Smith tried to get away with the ivory box, which was the last piece of evidence, Inspector Morton came in to arrest him on charges of murder. Thus Watson brought Smith to Holmes and made way for the arrest.

Paragraph Question & Answer Additional

Question 1.
Describe Sherlock Holmes as the dying detective.
Answer:
Mrs.Hudson the landlady of Holmes told Watson that Holmes of was dying of a dreadful disease, he had contracted from Rotherhithe while working on a case. He had been sinking for three days without eating or drinking. He could not allow any doctor to take care of him. His face was gaunt, his eyes had the brightness of fever and his cheeks were flushed. His hands twitched all the time and he was listless. The disease being contagious, he did not even allow Watson, his close friend and a doctor to come close to him.

He only wanted Culverton Smith who had the knowledge of Eastern disease to treat him. He pretended to be sick in order to bring out the truth behind the murder of Victor Savage. While Culverton Smith was in conservation with Holmes regarding the death of Victor Savage, Holmes pleaded with Culverton Smith to cure him. Smith heard about the box and tried to take it away as it was the last evidence to prove the murder. Meanwhile the police arrest Smith on charges of murder. Thus the dying detective successfully pretends to bring out the truth behind the murder.

Vocabulary

C. Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct options given.

1. Niteesh bought a ………………. (knew / new) cricket bat.
Answer:
new

2. The shepherd ……………… (herd / heard) the cry of his sheep.
Answer:
heard

3. Lakshmi completed her baking ……………… (course / coarse) successfully.
Answer:
course

4. Priya has broken her …………………. (four / fore) limbs.
Answer:
fore

5. Leaders of the world must work towards the (peace/piece) of human race.
Answer:
peace

Use the given examples and make sentences of your own. Commonly confused words.

1. My friend had brought many things from his native place.
2. My grandfather had bought a pair of spectacles from the shop.
3. Bad weather affected the health of the people.
4. Some bacteria have good effects on the human system.

D. Complete the tabular column by finding the meaning of both the words given in the boxes. Use them in sentences of your own.

Listening

E. Listen to the story and answer the questions given below.

Question 1.
Where does this story take place?
(a) in a bakery
(b) at the police station
(c) in Ms. Gervis’ house
(d) in Ms. Gervis’ apartment
Answer:
(d) in Ms. Gervis’ apartment

Dying Detective Question 2.
Near the beginning of the story, “Ms. Gervis’ eyes are full of tears. Her hands are shaking.” How does Ms. Gervis probably feel?
(a) She is upset
(b) She is tired
(c) She is hungry
(d) She is confused
Answer:
(a) She is upset

Question 3.
What makes the detective sure that the robber did not come through the windows?
(a) The windows are locked
(b) The windows face the police station.
(c) The windows have not been used in months.
(d) The windows are too small for a person to fit through.
Answer:
(c) The windows have not been used in months

Question 4.
What else was stolen from the apartment?
(a) crystal
(b) jewelry
(c) money
(d) nothing
Answer:
(d) nothing

Question 5.
“And the robber definitely did not use the front door.” Which is the best way to rewrite this sentence?
(a) “And the robber may not have used the front door.”
(b) “And the robber probably did not use the front door.”
(c) “And the robber was not able to use the front door.”
(d) “And the robber certainly did not use the front door.”
Answer:
(b) “And the robber probably did not use the front door”

Question 6.
What does Ms. Gervis do with her cakes?
(a) She eats them
(b) She sells them
(c) She hides them
(d) She gives them away
Answer:
(d) She gives them away

Question 7.
What does the detective seem to think will happen if he solves the mystery?
(a) Ms. Gervis will start baking cakes again
(b) Ms. Gervis will bake him extra cakes
(c) Ms. Gervis will give him her secret recipe
(d) Ms. Gervis will give him money and jewels
Answer:
(a) Ms. Gervis will start baking cakes again

Question 8.
Do you like mysteries? What is your favorite kind of story? Explain.
Answer:
I like mysteries which are not dangerous and frightening. The stores like what we have read just now is good to listen with no negative or criminal mind at work. Stories, where boys try to hunt he treasure and land themselves in mysterious surrounding, search for the treasure with a lot of difficulty for a long time and finally succeed are interesting to read.

Speaking

F. Exercise

Question 1.
Present the review of a movie that you have watched recently.
Answer:
Good Morning Friends. Recently I watched the movie TITANIC. I was thrilled to see the size of the ship that was built in such a way that it would not sink. The interiors and all the advanced and aristocratic machinery used, attracted my attention. Unfortunately, it strikes an iceberg and sinks. Many get killed and the only survivor is an old lady, who narrates the entire story of the ship and she was a passenger when she was around twenty years. They have taken great efforts to make the movie which was a real incident.

Question 2.
Give the review of a book that has interested you a lot.
Answer:
I enjoyed reading, Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice”. The way the playwright uses disguise to make the story interesting. The value of friendship is also a highlight here. How each friend helps the other at the time of need and how Portia disguised as a lawyer to save Antonio who had helped them by borrowing money, from Shylock. Shakespeare employs clever argument through Portia who saves Antonio by telling that he could take a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body without shedding a drop of Christian blood. And then Shylock realises his mistake. That is a good story, which teaches one not to be greedy.

Question 3.
Review an event which your school has hosted recently.
Answer:
Recently our school hosted an inter-school cultural event. About 20 schools from the city participated in many competitions conducted on stage and off stage. It proved to be a platform to show case the talents of students from various schools. We enjoyed watching various performances.

Reading

G. Match the following.

Answers:

1. c
2. e
3. d
4. a
5. b

H. State whether the given statements are true or false. If false correct the statements.

1. Mathew is a very busy man.
2. He woke up very late in the morning.
3. He always had lunch with his family.
Correct Statement: He always had lunch with Lalli and Lolly.
4. He exercised with Louise every day.
Correct Statement: He exercised with Basky every day.
5. He preferred handling mail by himself.
Correct Statement: He preferred handling mail with Louise.
Answers:
1. True
2. True
3. False
4. False
5. False

I. Create a pamphlet for the following

Question 1.
Make a pamphlet on ‘Dengue Awareness’ (Focus on its causes, preventions, symptoms and precautions).
Answer:

Question 2.
Make an attractive pamphlet for your school’s Fair organised for raising funds for (any) relief (Specify the date, time, types of stalls and the reasons for the fair).
Answer:

Question 3.
Make a pamplet on the latest gadgets (Mention the variety of models, uses, need and avability).
Answer:

J. Write a letter of enquiry for the following

Question 1.
You are a librarian in a newly established school. Write a letter to the book dealer inquiring about the list of newly arrived English children’s story books and various subject books relevant to 10-14 age groups.
Answer:

Question 2.
Venkat hails from a remote village of Kancheepuram district, Tamil Nadu who inspires to become an IAS officer. currently, he is in x. He notices an advertisement on free classes for the IAS aspirants by a trust in a newspaper. He writes a letter to the coordinator of the trust inquiring for further details.
Answer:

Question 3.
Write a letter to the head of the BSNL office enquiring regarding the internet broadband scheme launched recently.
Answer:

A. Transform of the following sentences

Question 1.
On seeing the teacher, the children stood up. (into Complex)
Answer:
When the children saw the teacher, they stood up.

Question 2.
At the age of six, Varsha started learning music, (into Complex)
Answer:
Varsha started learning music when she was six years old.

Question 3.
As Varun is a voracious reader, he buys a lot of books, (into Simple)
Answer:
Varun, being a voracious reader, buys a lot of books.

Question 4.
4. Walk carefully lest you will fall down, (into Complex)
Answer:
Unless you walk carefully, you will fall down.

Question 5.
Besides being a dancer, she is a singer, (into Compound)
Answer:
RASI She is both a dancer and a singer.

Question 6.
He is sick but he attends the rehearsal, (into Simple)
Answer:
In spite of being sick he attends the rehearsal.

Question 7.
If Meena reads more, she will become proficient in the language, (into Compound)
Answer:
ESI Meena must read more otherwise she will not become proficient. (or)
Meena should read more and then only she will become proficient.

Question 8.
He confessed that he was guilty, (into Simple)
Answer:
He confessed his guilt.

Question 9.
The boy could not attend the special classes due to his mothers illness, (into Compound)
Answer:
The boy’s mother was sick and so he could not attend the special classes.

Question 10.
He followed my suggestion, (into Complex)
Answer:
He followed what I suggested.

B. Combine the pairs of sentences below into simple, complex and compound.

Question 1.
Radha was ill. She was not hospitalised.
Answer:
Simple: Being ill Radha was hospitalised.
Complex: As Radha was ill she was hospitalised.
Compound: Radha was ill and so she was hospitalised.

Question 2.
The students were intelligent. They could answer the questions correctly.
Answer:
Simple: The intelligent students could answer the questions correctly.
Complex: The students, who were intelligent, could answer the questions correctly.
Compound: The students were intelligent and so they could answer the questions correctly

Question 3.
I must get a visa. I can travel abroad
Answer:
Simple: I must get a visa to travel abroad.
Complex: If I get a visa, I can travel abroad.
Compound: I must get a visa then only I can travel abroad

Question 4.
I saw a tiger it was wounded.
Answer:
Simple: I saw a wounded tiger.
Complex: I saw a tiger which was wounded.
Compound: I saw a tiger it was wounded.

Question 5.
There was a bandh. The shops remained closed.
Answer:
Simple: The shops remained closed due to bandh.
Complex: since there was a bandh the shops remained closed.
Compound: There was a bandh and so the shops remained closed

The Dying Detective BY Arthur Conan Doyle

sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 – 1930) was a British detective fiction writer featuring the character of Sherlock Holmes. Doyle has written over forty-six such short stories, the notable works include “Stories of Sherlock Holmes” and “The Lost World”.

The Dying Detective Key Points

• Dr. Watson, the narrator is informed of Mr. Holmes’ serious illness by Mrs. Hudson, Holmes’ Landlady.
• Holmes contracts the deadly and contagious disease Formosa plague from the Chinese sailors while at work at Rotherhithe.
• Holmes doesn’t allow even a doctor in to cure him. Starves for three days and looks deathly ill.
• Watson offers to bring Dr. Ainstree but Holmes only locks the door and keeps Watson in for two hours – till 6 O’clock to get the only person – Culverton Smith, of 13 Lower Burke Street – who knows all about the deadly disease.
• Watson meets Inspector Morton who enquires about Holmes sickness.
• Watson goes to Smith’s house,
• Watson pleads with Smith to save Holmes.
• On hearing about Holmes, Smith readily goes to meet him.
• Watson leaves on a pretext of an appointment.
• Smith meets Holmes who knew that he alone had a high knowledge of Eastern Diseases.
• Smith, informs Holmes of Victor’s death due to the same disease on the fourth day.
• Holmes is sure that Smith was behind victor’s death. But Smith is sure none could prove it.
• Holmes, unable to recall incidents pleads with Smith to cure him.
• Smith questions whether he received any box by post. Holmes accepts he got a box with a spring that drew blood.
• Smith tries his level best to take away the last piece of evidence the box, and tells it isn’t a joke but it is deathly and Holmes would die of it.
• But Holmes asks Smith to save him.
• Holmes asks him to light the gas to see him better.
• Smith comes to know that Holmes has acted very well by starving for 3 days and seeming sick.
• In the meantime, Inspector Mortan arrives to arrest Smith on the charges of murder of Victor.
• Thus Holmes plays the role of a dying detective, in identifying Smith as the murderer of Victor Savage

The Dying Detective Summary

The narrator Mr. Watson is informed by Mr. Holmes’ landlady that Holmes is seriously ill. He has contracted a deadly contagious disease, Formosa plague from the Chinese sailors while at work at Rotherhithe. Everyone expresses shock over his illness including Inspector Morton who meets Watson and enquires about Holmes.

Holmes starves for three days without food and water and looks deathly pale. He does not permit even a doctor to come close to him. Watson offers to help Holmes but he refuses and doesn’t even want Dr. Ainstree to be brought.

Holmes locks the door and asks Watson to wait for two hours. In the mean time he asks him to read. Unable to read, Watson walks around to find a small black and white ivory box with sliding lid. But Holmes does not permit him even to touch it.

After some time, Holmes asks him to put his money in the watch pocket and light the gas only half on. He asks Watson to place some papers within Holmes’ reach, before Watson leaves to bring Mr. Culverton Smith of 13 Lower Burke Street, who according to Holmes, is the only highly knowledgeable person about Eastern Diseases.

Overhearing Mr. Culverton Smith telling his butler that he was not here, Watson rushes to plead with Smith to save Holmes. As soon as Smith heard the name of Holmes he rushes to visit him Waston goes away on a pretext of an appointment. Holmes meets Mr. Smith and informs him that he knows everything about the symptoms of the disease. Mr. Smith also speaks of Victor Savage who died of the same disease on the fourth day.

But Holmes insists that it was only Smith who killed him. But Smith is sure it can’t be proved. As Holmes pleads with Smith to cure him, Smith asks Holmes whether he received a box by post. Holmes said he received a box with a spring that sucked blood and it was a joke. Smith clearly states that it wasn’t a joke and that in spite of knowing so much about Victor’s death he shouldn’t have crossed Smith’s path and added Holmes death was near.

Holmes asks Smith to turn up the gas to have a better look at him, and Smith is shocked to see Holmes who admits that he was only acting all the while. Footsteps are heard by the narrator and inspector Morton arrests Smith on charges of murder.

Holmes apologises to Watson for having undermined his capabilities as a doctor. He did it only to bring in Smith who had killed his nephew. He wanted to kill Holmes, too to avoid imprisonment. Holmes gets ready to have nutritious food at Simpsons’ and thanks Watson.

The Dying Detective Glossary

advancing – moving forward
aroused – awaken
bald – without hair
bolted – closed the door with a latch
bulter – waiter
coincidence – instance of things happening at the same time
Confidence – self-trust
contagious – spreading of a disease from one person to another
crowns – former British coins
dejection – sadness
delirious – disturbed state of mind
dreadful – fearful appearance
evidence – proof
flushed – become red in the face
frail – weak and delicate
gaunt – lean, because of suffering or age
groaned – made a painful noise
hesitant – slow to act or speak
horrified – filled with shock or fear
ignorant – not knowing facts
listless – lacking energy
mental piece – a structure of wood above a fireplace
persuade – force
plague – a contagions bacterial disease
plead – beg
pretending – acting
startled – felt sudden shock or alarm
stipulated – within limit
scuffle – to have a sudden short fight
symptoms – signs
tongs – a device with two long pieces free at one
twitched – give sudden jerking movement

Tamilnadu Board Class 10 English Solutions