The Thief's Story Class 10 PYQs help you practise extract, short-answer, and analytical questions for the 2026-27 CBSE syllabus. The chapter tests trust, kindness, guilt, and the chance to change. Use the solved PDF to learn how one story event can support a clear inference.
- Best focus: Hari Singh's change, Anil's trust, and the stolen money.
- Question types: extracts, 40-50 word answers, and analytical responses.
- Study order: recall the event, explain its meaning, then check the answer.

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The Thief's Story Previous Year Question Patterns for Class 10
CBSE questions often ask why Hari Singh returned after stealing Anil's money. They may also test why Anil's quiet response matters. The turning point is Hari's decision to choose education and trust over easy money.
| Question pattern | What to revise | Answer focus |
|---|---|---|
| Extract-based | Speaker, setting, and word meaning | Use clues from the given lines |
| Short answer | Cause, choice, and result | Give one event and one inference |
| Long answer | Character and theme | Support each point with story evidence |
| Value-based | Trust, reform, and education | Explain how kindness changes Hari |
The Thief's Story Important Questions
Source: Magnet Brains on YouTube
Hari Singh and Anil: Evidence Needed in PYQ Answers
Most answers need evidence about both main characters. Hari is an experienced young thief who changes his name often. Anil is a kind, trusting writer with an irregular income. Their choices move the story from theft to reform.
- Hari Singh: approaches Anil, cooks for him, steals the money, and later returns it.
- Anil: gives Hari food, shelter, work, and a promise to teach him.
- The railway station: forces Hari to choose between escape and a better future.
- The damp notes: suggest that Anil knows the truth but forgives Hari.
A strong answer explains what an action reveals about a character. Avoid retelling the entire plot when the question asks for a judgment.
How to Write High-Scoring The Thief's Story PYQ Answers

Begin with a direct response to the task word. Add one or two exact events. End by explaining how those events show trust, conflict, guilt, or change.
- Find the task word: explain, justify, compare, or evaluate.
- State the main point: answer the question in the first sentence.
- Add story evidence: use the theft, the train, or the damp notes.
- Make an inference: explain what the event shows about Hari or Anil.
- Check the limit: remove plot details that do not support your point.
For a six-mark response, use two or three short paragraphs. Relevant evidence scores better than a long story summary.
Frequently Tested Themes in The Thief's Story Class 10 PYQs

Ruskin Bond shows that patient trust can awaken a person's conscience. Anil does not punish Hari or demand a confession. His quiet acceptance gives Hari a safe path back.
- Trust: Anil accepts Hari without checking his story.
- Reform: Hari returns the money because he values Anil's faith in him.
- Education: learning to read and write promises an honest future.
- Inner conflict: Hari wants the money but also wants respect and belonging.
- Kindness: Anil's understanding works better than open punishment.
Hari's real gain is the chance to become educated. This idea is useful in title, theme, and character questions.
Common Mistakes in The Thief's Story Previous Year Questions
Weak answers often say Hari returns only because he feels afraid. His decision is more complex. He understands that stealing will cost him Anil's trust and the education that could change his life.
- Do not say that Hari boards the Lucknow Express; he misses the chance and stays behind.
- Do not claim that Anil openly confronts or punishes Hari.
- Do not confuse the stolen amount: Hari takes six hundred rupees.
- Do not treat Hari as fully reformed from the first meeting.
- Do not describe Anil as foolish without discussing his understanding and kindness.
Use the correct event, result, and inference. Check the spelling of Hari Singh, Anil, and Lucknow before finishing.
The Thief's Story Revision Plan Before the Class 10 Exam
Revise the chapter in three rounds. First, recall the plot and turning point. Next, solve the PYQs without help. Finally, compare your response with the PDF and add any missing evidence.
| Time | Task | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | Recall six events in order | A clear plot outline |
| 15 minutes | Attempt one extract and two short answers | Better speed and accuracy |
| 15 minutes | Write one analytical answer | Theme supported by evidence |
| 5 minutes | Check names, task word, and word limit | A final error list |
Rewrite any answer that lacks a clear inference. A careful second attempt improves both structure and accuracy.
Related The Thief's Story Class 10 Resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| The Thief's Story Class 10 NCERT Solutions | Check textbook question answers. |
| The Thief's Story Class 10 Notes | Revise the plot, themes, and characters. |
| The Thief's Story NCERT Book PDF | Read the official chapter text. |
| The Thief's Story Handwritten Notes | Use a quick revision sheet. |
Class 10 English Footprints Without Feet Chapter-wise PYQs
| Chapter | PYQ practice |
|---|---|
| Chapter 1 | A Triumph of Surgery PYQs |
| Chapter 2 | The Thief's Story PYQs |
| Chapter 3 | The Midnight Visitor PYQs |
| Chapter 4 | A Question of Trust PYQs |
| Chapter 5 | Footprints Without Feet PYQs |
The Thief's Story Class 10 English PYQ FAQs
Ques. Why did Hari Singh return the stolen money?
Ans. Hari realised that the money would soon be spent. Anil's trust and promise of education offered him a better future.
Ques. How did Anil know that Hari had stolen the money?
Ans. The notes were damp from the rain. Anil's knowing smile and the wet fifty-rupee note suggest that he understood what happened.
Ques. Why was education important to Hari Singh?
Ans. Hari believed that reading, writing, and adding numbers could help him earn respect and make an honest living.
Ques. What is the main message of The Thief's Story?
Ans. Trust, kindness, and education can encourage reform. Anil gives Hari the chance to change without humiliating him.
Ques. How should students prepare The Thief's Story PYQs?
Ans. Revise the turning points and character motives. Then practise extracts, short answers, and analytical questions within the word limits.







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