CBSE Class 10 English Chapter 8 The Hack Driver NCERT Solutions

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NCERT Solutions PDF Class 10 PDF

This section provides detailed NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English, Chapter 8, 'The Hack Driver'. It covers the narrative of a lawyer's visit to New Mullion to serve a summons on Oliver Lutkins, only to be cleverly deceived by the very hack driver who offers to help him find Lutkins. The solutions break down the story's events, character interactions, and the subtle manipulation employed by Lutkins. Students will find explanations for why the lawyer was sent, the initial impressions of the village, the unfolding of Bill's (Lutkins') plan, and the reasons behind the villagers' complicity. These solutions are designed to help students grasp the nuances of the story, analyze character motivations, and prepare effectively for their exams by offering clear, step-by-step answers to all chapter-related questions.

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BoardCBSE
ClassClass 10
SubjectEnglish
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
Chapter8. The Hack Driver

Chapter summary

This chapter's NCERT Solutions focus on 'The Hack Driver', detailing a lawyer's unsuccessful attempt to serve a summons on Oliver Lutkins. The solutions explore the lawyer's initial perceptions of New Mullion, his encounter with the hack driver 'Bill' (who is actually Lutkins), and the elaborate deception orchestrated by Lutkins with the help of the villagers. Key questions address Lutkins' character, his family, and the clever ways he avoids the lawyer, providing a thorough understanding of the narrative's plot and themes.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the plot and key events of 'The Hack Driver'.
  • Analyze the character of Oliver Lutkins and his deceptive tactics.
  • Identify the role of the villagers in Lutkins' scheme.
  • Explain the lawyer's initial impressions and his eventual realization.
  • Interpret the theme of deception and trust in the story.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • The Hack Driver story summary
  • Character analysis of Oliver Lutkins
  • Character analysis of the lawyer
  • Themes of deception and trust
  • Setting: New Mullion
  • Plot development
  • Villagers' role in the story
  • Lawyer's initial perceptions
  • Lutkins' evasive tactics
  • Serving summons
  • Humor in the story
  • Narrative structure

Important topics

  • Oliver Lutkins' deception
  • The lawyer's perspective
  • Villagers' complicity
  • Lutkins' character traits
  • The theme of being fooled

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Questions and Solutions

Question 1. (Page 47)

Why is the lawyer sent to New Mullion? What does he first think about the place?
Solution: The lawyer was dispatched to the town of New Mullion with the specific purpose of serving legal documents, known as a summons, upon a man named Oliver Lutkins. Lutkins was required to appear as a witness in an upcoming court case.

Upon his arrival, the lawyer's initial perception of New Mullion was that it appeared to be a charming and uncomplicated rural village, a stark contrast to the bustling city life he was accustomed to.

Question 2. (Page 47)

Who befriends lawyer? Where does he take him?
Solution: A hack driver at the railway station, who introduced himself as Bill Magnuson, approached and befriended the lawyer. Bill claimed to know Oliver Lutkins well and offered his assistance in locating him.

Bill then took the lawyer on a tour of the village, driving him to various places where Lutkins was known to frequent. These included Fritz's shop, a popular spot for Lutkins' poker games; Gustaff's and Gray's barber shops; a poolroom; and several other locations. Ultimately, Bill drove the lawyer to the farm of Lutkins' mother. Despite these efforts, Oliver Lutkins could not be found throughout the day.

Question 3. (Page 47)

What does Bill say about Lutkins?
Solution: Bill described Lutkins as a rather elusive individual, making him difficult to track down because he was constantly engaged in various activities. Bill mentioned that Lutkins owed money to many people, including himself, and had a reputation for not repaying his debts. He also characterized Lutkins as someone who enjoyed playing poker and was adept at deceiving others.

Question 1. (Page 50)

What more does Bill say about Lutkins and his family?
Solution: Bill further elaborated on Lutkins' family, specifically mentioning his mother, whom he described as a formidable and intimidating woman. He recounted an incident where he had delivered a trunk to her house and she had become extremely angry, almost physically harming him, because he hadn't handled the trunk with sufficient care. Bill noted that she was tall, large, and very talkative.

He suggested that Lutkins might have gone into hiding at his mother's place, possibly because he had heard that someone was searching for him.

Question 2. (Page 50)

Does the narrator serve the summons that day?
Solution: No, the narrator, who is the lawyer, was unable to serve the summons on Oliver Lutkins on that particular day. The extensive search throughout the village proved unsuccessful in locating Lutkins.

Question 3. (Page 50)

Who is Lutkins?
Solution: Lutkins is revealed to be the hack driver himself, who had been posing as 'Bill Magnuson' throughout the day. He deliberately tricked the lawyer and pretended to help him search, all while avoiding the service of the summons because he did not wish to testify in court.

Question 1. (Page 53)

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?
Solution: Initially, when the lawyer first arrived in New Mullion, 'Bill' (Lutkins) likely did not know that the lawyer was specifically looking for him. However, the moment the lawyer explained his purpose – searching for Oliver Lutkins – 'Bill' must have quickly realized the situation.

It is probable that 'Bill' conceived his plan to deceive the lawyer immediately after the lawyer revealed he was looking for Lutkins. Knowing he was wanted as a witness and wishing to avoid it, Lutkins saw an opportunity to play a prank and avoid his legal obligation by pretending to be someone else and leading the lawyer on a fruitless chase.

Question 2. (Page 53)

Lutkins openly takes the lawyer all over the village. How is that no one lets out the secret? (Hint: Notice that the hack driver asks the lawyer to keep out of sight behind him when they go into Fritz's.) Can you find other such subtle ways in which Lutkins manipulates the tour?
Solution: Lutkins masterfully manipulated the situation by ensuring the lawyer never actually reached the places where Lutkins was supposedly present at any given time. He skillfully wove narratives about Lutkins' unpredictable and wandering nature, and he used the intimidating reputation of Lutkins' mother to deter the lawyer.

Furthermore, Lutkins prevented the lawyer from directly inquiring about Lutkins himself; instead, Lutkins would pretend to ask about Lutkins, creating a charade. The villagers, aware of this pretense, played along, joining in the elaborate deception. The hint about keeping out of sight at Fritz's suggests Lutkins wanted to prevent the lawyer from potentially spotting the real Lutkins or anyone who might recognize him, thus maintaining the illusion.

Question 3. (Page 53)

Why do you think Lufkin's neighbours were anxious to meet the lawyer?
Solution: The neighbours were likely eager to meet the lawyer not out of genuine concern, but because they had been privy to and amused by Lutkins' elaborate scheme to fool the outsider. They had enjoyed watching Lutkins make a fool of the lawyer throughout the day and probably wanted to share in the joke or see the lawyer's reaction firsthand. The text implies that almost the entire village was in on the prank and found enjoyment in Lutkins' cleverness at the lawyer's expense.

Common mistakes

  • Misidentifying the hack driver's true identity.
  • Underestimating the villagers' complicity in the deception.
  • Failing to recognize Lutkins' subtle manipulation techniques.
  • Not understanding the lawyer's naivety and trust.

Revision tips

  • Reread the story, paying close attention to the dialogue between the lawyer and Bill.
  • List the places Bill took the lawyer and analyze why Lutkins was never found.
  • Consider the motivations of Lutkins and the villagers.
  • Think about how the lawyer's perception of the village changes throughout the day.
  • Discuss the story with classmates to understand different interpretations.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Why was the lawyer sent to New Mullion?

Q2. Who is 'Bill Magnuson' in reality?

Q3. What was the lawyer's initial impression of New Mullion?

Q4. How did Bill (Lutkins) manage to fool the lawyer?

Q5. Why did the villagers help Lutkins in deceiving the lawyer?

Frequently asked questions

What is the main plot of 'The Hack Driver'?

The main plot revolves around a lawyer who travels to New Mullion to serve a summons on Oliver Lutkins but is cleverly deceived by the hack driver, who is Lutkins himself, and the complicit villagers.

Who is Oliver Lutkins and why is he important in the story?

Oliver Lutkins is the central character who avoids being served a summons by pretending to be a helpful hack driver named Bill. His cleverness and the villagers' participation drive the story's plot.

Why did the hack driver, Bill, help the lawyer?

Bill, who is actually Lutkins, pretended to help the lawyer as a way to deceive him and avoid being served the summons. He used this opportunity to play a prank on the lawyer.

How did the villagers contribute to Lutkins' plan?

The villagers were aware that the hack driver was Lutkins and actively participated in the deception by pretending not to know Lutkins or by corroborating Bill's stories, enjoying the prank.

What does the story teach us about trust?

The story highlights the dangers of misplaced trust. The lawyer trusts the hack driver implicitly, only to be thoroughly fooled, suggesting that one should be cautious and not always believe appearances.

What was the lawyer's initial impression of New Mullion?

The lawyer initially thought New Mullion was a pleasant and simple country village, which made the eventual deception by its inhabitants even more surprising.

Important links

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