The Hack Driver SINCLAIR LEWIS - Footprints Without Feet - Class 10 - NCERT - Q&A Solved

Table of Contents

• Word Meanings
• Summary of the Story 'The Hack Driver'
• READ AND FIND OUT (Page 47) Q&A
• READ AND FIND OUT (Page 50) Q&A
• THINK ABOUT IT - Questions and Answers
• TALK ABOUT IT

Word Meanings of 'The Hack Driver'

Following is a list of potentially difficult words from the story "The Hack Driver" along with their simple definitions. The list may differ from student to student.

1. Summons - An official order to appear in court.
2. Magnificent - Extremely beautiful or impressive.
3. Self-confident - Feeling sure about oneself and one’s abilities.
4. Rejoiced - Felt great joy or happiness.
5. Agreeable - Pleasant or enjoyable.
6. Poker - A card game where players bet on the value of their cards.
7. Bargain - To negotiate the price of something.
8. Suspicious - Distrustful, thinking something is wrong.
9. Deceiving - Misleading someone, making them believe something that is not true.
10. Exhausted - Completely used up or tired.
11. Credit - The ability to obtain goods or services before payment.
12. Lingering - Staying in a place longer than necessary.
13. Greasy - Covered with or resembling oil.
14. Carter - A person who transports goods in a cart.
15. Philosophy - A way of thinking or a set of beliefs.
16. Terror - A person or thing that is very difficult or frightening.
17. Retreat - To move back or withdraw.
18. Summons - A legal document ordering someone to appear in court.
19. Gullible - Easily deceived or tricked.
20. Con man - A person who tricks others for personal gain.

Summary of the Story 'The Hack Driver'

"The Hack Driver" is a humorous story about a young lawyer who is sent to a small village called New Mullion to serve a summons to a man named Oliver Lutkins. When the lawyer arrives, he meets a friendly hack driver who offers to help him find Lutkins. The driver takes him around the village, visiting various places where Lutkins is supposed to be, but they never manage to find him. The lawyer enjoys the day, thinking the driver is very helpful and kind. However, in the end, he discovers that the hack driver was actually Lutkins himself, who had been fooling him the entire time.

Question and Answer of 'The Hack Driver'

READ AND FIND OUT (Page 47)

• Why is the lawyer sent to New Mullion? What does he first think about the place?
  The lawyer is sent to New Mullion to serve a summons to Oliver Lutkins. He initially expects the village to be a sweet and simple country place, but is disappointed when he finds it muddy, shabby, and unappealing.

• Who befriends him? Where does he take him?
  A hack driver, who later turns out to be Lutkins, befriends the lawyer. He takes the lawyer around the village, supposedly helping him search for Lutkins.

• What does he say about Lutkins?
  The hack driver describes Lutkins as a tricky fellow who is difficult to catch and often involved in various activities, like playing poker.

READ AND FIND OUT (Page 50)

• What more does Bill say about Lutkins and his family?
  Bill, the hack driver, mentions that Lutkins is known for being dishonest and not paying his debts. He also describes Lutkins' mother as a formidable woman who is quick-tempered and protective of her son.

• Does the narrator serve the summons that day?
  No, the narrator does not serve the summons that day because he never realizes that the hack driver is actually Lutkins himself.

• Who is Lutkins?
  Lutkins is the very hack driver who pretends to help the lawyer search for himself, fooling the lawyer throughout the day.

THINK ABOUT IT

1. When the lawyer reached New Mullion, did ‘Bill’ know that he was looking for Lutkins? When do you think Bill came up with his plan for fooling the lawyer?
   Yes, Bill (Lutkins) likely knew that the lawyer was looking for him from the very beginning. He probably devised the plan to fool the lawyer as soon as he learned the lawyer's purpose.

2. Lutkins openly takes the lawyer all over the village. How is it that no one lets out the secret?
   Lutkins manipulates the situation by always making the lawyer stay out of sight or remain quiet while they search for him. He likely informed others in the village to play along, ensuring that no one revealed his true identity.

3. Why do you think Lutkins’ neighbours were anxious to meet the lawyer?
   Lutkins' neighbors were likely amused by the situation and curious to see the lawyer who had been tricked by Lutkins all day.

4. After his first day’s experience with the hack driver, the lawyer thinks of returning to New Mullion to practice law. Do you think he would have reconsidered this idea after his second visit?
   After realizing that he was deceived by Lutkins, the lawyer would likely reconsider his idea of returning to New Mullion, as the people there were not as simple and honest as he initially thought.

5. Do you think the lawyer was gullible? How could he have avoided being taken for a ride?
   Yes, the lawyer was gullible. He could have avoided being deceived by asking more questions, verifying the information given by the hack driver, or by being more observant and cautious throughout the day.

TALK ABOUT IT

1. Do we come across persons like Lutkins only in fiction, or do we encounter them in real life as well?
   We do encounter people like Lutkins in real life, who are skilled at deceiving others for their benefit. These individuals can be found in various situations, from everyday life to stories in newspapers.

2. Who is a ‘con man’, or a confidence trickster?
   A ‘con man’ or confidence trickster is a person who gains the trust of others to deceive them and take advantage of their gullibility, often for financial gain.