Q1. [5]
His landlord disliked him and tried to eject him. In revenge, Griffin set fire to the house. To get away without being seen he had to remove his clothes. Thus it was that he became a homeless wanderer, without clothes, without money and quite invisible — until he happened to step in some mud, and left footprints as he walked!
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
- (i) The landlord tried to eject him because [1]
- (a) he was a lawless person.
- (b) he had set his house on fire.
- (c) he disliked him.
- (d) he was a drug addict.
- (ii) Fill in the blank with one word only.
Griffin deliberately removed his clothes because he wanted to become ________. [1]
- (iii) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the word 'fire' as used in this extract. [1]
- (a) Griffin said that he would fire the manager.
- (b) The soldiers opened fire at the enemy.
- (c) His remarks provoked heavy fire from the political opponents.
- (d) The Amar Palace was completely destroyed by the fire.
- (iv) Griffin's invisibility was revealed because [1]
- (a) he jumped into the water with a splash.
- (b) he wore clothes.
- (c) he left muddy footprints.
- (d) he stepped in mud.
- (v) Which of the following is not true with reference to the given extract? [1]
- (a) Griffin had become penniless.
- (b) Griffin promised to behave himself.
- (c) Griffin revealed himself by his muddy footprints.
- (d) No one could see Griffin when he took off his clothes.
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2023 2/2/1 Q6(B)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 07:18 · grounding stimulus+chapter
Model Answer
(i) (c) he disliked him.
(ii) Griffin deliberately removed his clothes because he wanted to become invisible.
(iii) (d) The Amar Palace was completely destroyed by the fire.
(Here 'fire' is used as a noun meaning actual flames/combustion, same as in the extract.)
(iv) (d) he stepped in mud.
(Stepping in mud caused the footprints, which revealed his presence.)
(v) (b) Griffin promised to behave himself.
(This is not mentioned anywhere in the extract. The extract only states he became a homeless wanderer without clothes or money, and his footprints gave him away.)
Source: Footprints without Feet, Chapter 5 – Introduction and Opening Incident
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Explanation
- (i): The extract clearly states "His landlord disliked him and tried to eject him" — the reason is dislike, not Griffin's actions (fire came after).
- (iii): The word 'fire' in the extract means actual burning flames (noun). Option (d) uses it in the same sense. Options (a) and (b) use 'fire' as a verb; option (c) uses it as a metaphor for criticism.
- (iv): Both (c) and (d) are close — but the cause is stepping in mud; leaving footprints is the effect. The question asks why invisibility was revealed, so (d) is the root cause. Accept either, but (d) is more precise.
- (v): Examiners want the statement not supported by the passage. Griffin making a promise is never mentioned — that is the false option.
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