Class 10 · English · English medium
Footprints without Feet: Class 10 English companion
An interactive companion to Footprints without Feet (Class 10 English supplementary reader): original summaries, characters, themes and practice questions with answers for every story.
An original companion to Footprints without Feet, NCERT Class 10 English (2026–27 edition). Official textbook ↗ ncert.nic.in
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Chapters
- ENHinglish
Chapter 1: A Triumph of Surgery
Footprints without Feet, Chapter 1. - ENHinglish
Chapter 2: The Thief's Story
Footprints without Feet, Chapter 2: 'The Thief's Story' by Ruskin Bond. - ENHinglish
Chapter 3: The Midnight Visitor
Footprints without Feet, Chapter 3. - ENHinglish
Chapter 4: A Question of Trust
Footprints without Feet, Chapter 4: 'A Question of Trust' by Victor Canning. - ENHinglish
Chapter 5: Footprints without Feet
Footprints without Feet, Chapter 5 (H. - ENHinglish
Chapter 6: The Making of a Scientist
Footprints without Feet, Chapter 6. - ENHinglish
Chapter 7: The Necklace
Footprints without Feet, Chapter 7: 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant (translated from French). - ENHinglish
Chapter 8: Bholi
Footprints without Feet, Chapter 8: 'Bholi' by K. - ENHinglish
Chapter 9: The Book That Saved the Earth
A one-act comic science-fiction play by Claire Boiko.
Also in Hinglish
- Chapter 1: A Triumph of Surgery (Hinglish)
- Chapter 2: The Thief's Story (Hinglish)
- Chapter 3: The Midnight Visitor (Hinglish)
- Chapter 4: A Question of Trust (Hinglish)
- Chapter 5: Footprints without Feet (Hinglish)
- Chapter 6: The Making of a Scientist (Hinglish)
- Chapter 7: The Necklace (Hinglish)
- Chapter 8: Bholi (Hinglish)
- Chapter 9: The Book That Saved the Earth (Hinglish)
A
appealingआकर्षकPleasant and charming, so that people warm to it.Ch 2 · The Thief's Storyapprenticeप्रशिक्षुSomeone who trains on the job under an expert, learning a craft by working for them.Ch 9 · The Book That Saved the EartharroganceअहंकारThe attitude of believing you are better or cleverer than everyone else.Ch 9 · The Book That Saved the EarthB
biographyजीवनीThe true story of a real person's life, written by someone else. A short one that focuses on a few sides of a person is often called a profile.Ch 6 · The Making of a ScientistbluffझाँसाA pretence meant to make someone believe you have or know something that you do not.Ch 3 · The Midnight VisitorburglarसेंधमारA person who breaks into a building to steal.Ch 4 · A Question of TrustC
cell cultureLiving cells kept and grown outside the body, in a dish with nutrients, so that scientists can study them.Ch 6 · The Making of a Scientistcharacter sketchA short description of a character's main qualities, each supported by evidence from the text.Ch 1 · A Triumph of Surgerycharacter sketchचरित्र-चित्रणA short description of a character's qualities, each backed by what the character says or does.Ch 5 · Footprints without Feetcharacter sketchचरित्र-चित्रणA short description of a character's qualities, each backed by evidence from the story.Ch 7 · The Necklacechild sex ratioशिशु लिंगानुपातThe number of girls for every 1,000 boys aged 0–6.Ch 8 · Bholiclimaxचरमोत्कर्षThe most intense moment of a story, where the main conflict comes to a head.Ch 3 · The Midnight Visitorclimaxचरमोत्कर्षThe moment of highest tension in a story, when the main conflict comes to a head.Ch 8 · Bholiconscienceअंतरात्माThe inner sense of right and wrong that makes you uneasy when you do wrong.Ch 2 · The Thief's StoryconvalesceTo recover strength slowly after an illness.Ch 1 · A Triumph of SurgeryculpritअपराधीThe person responsible for a crime or wrongdoing.Ch 4 · A Question of Trustcuriosityजिज्ञासाA strong wish to know or find out about something.Ch 6 · The Making of a ScientistD
decipherTo work out the meaning of writing or a code that is hard to read.Ch 9 · The Book That Saved the EarthDNAThe chemical inside a cell's nucleus that carries inherited instructions. It decides what the cell is like and what it does.Ch 6 · The Making of a ScientistdowryदहेजMoney or property that a bride's family gives at her marriage. Matilda's family had none to give.Ch 7 · The NecklacedowryदहेजMoney or goods demanded from a bride's family at marriage. Giving or taking it is an offence in India.Ch 8 · Bholidramatic ironyनाटकीय विडंबनाWhen the reader knows something that the characters do not, as we know Griffin's secret while Iping does not.Ch 5 · Footprints without Feetdramatic ironyWhen the audience knows something important that a character on stage does not.Ch 9 · The Book That Saved the EarthE
eccentricसनकीOdd or unusual in behaviour, usually in a harmless way.Ch 5 · Footprints without Feetentomologyकीट विज्ञानThe scientific study of insects. A scientist in this field is an entomologist.Ch 6 · The Making of a ScientistespionageजासूसीThe work of spying: secretly gathering information about an enemy or rival.Ch 3 · The Midnight VisitorethicsनैतिकताIdeas of right and wrong that guide how we act, including how we use knowledge.Ch 5 · Footprints without Feetexperimentप्रयोगA test designed to answer a question, usually by changing one thing and observing what happens.Ch 6 · The Making of a ScientistF
first-person narratorA character who tells the story as “I”, so we see events through that person's eyes.Ch 1 · A Triumph of Surgeryfirst-person narratorकथावाचकA character who tells the story as "I". We share his thoughts but see others only from outside.Ch 2 · The Thief's StoryflashbackA part of a story or play that goes back to show events that happened earlier.Ch 9 · The Book That Saved the EarthflatteryचापलूसीPraise that is not really meant, given to please someone or get something from them.Ch 2 · The Thief's Storyforeshadowingपूर्वाभासHints early in a story about what will happen later.Ch 4 · A Question of Trustfrancफ़्रैंकThe main unit of French money in the story's time.Ch 7 · The NecklaceH
haikuहाइकुA very short Japanese form of poem, usually in three lines, that captures a single moment.Ch 3 · The Midnight Visitorhay feverपरागज ज्वरAn allergic reaction, usually to pollen or house dust, with sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes. It has nothing to do with hay and brings no fever.Ch 4 · A Question of Trusthormoneहॉर्मोनA chemical messenger made in one part of a living body that controls growth or activity elsewhere.Ch 6 · The Making of a ScientisthyperboleDeliberate exaggeration for effect, not meant to be taken literally.Ch 1 · A Triumph of SurgeryI
impostorछद्मवेशीSomeone who pretends to be another person in order to deceive.Ch 4 · A Question of TrustindulgentAllowing someone whatever they want, even when it is bad for them.Ch 1 · A Triumph of Surgeryinvisibleअदृश्यImpossible to see. Griffin's body is invisible, but his clothes and footprints are not.Ch 5 · Footprints without FeetironyविडंबनाA gap between what is said or expected and what is actually true.Ch 1 · A Triumph of SurgeryironyविडंबनाA gap between what is expected and what actually happens, or between what a character believes and the truth.Ch 2 · The Thief's StoryironyविडंबनाA gap between what is expected and what happens. In situational irony, events turn out the opposite of what seemed likely.Ch 3 · The Midnight VisitorironyविडंबनाA gap between what is expected and what actually happens, or between what is said and what is true.Ch 4 · A Question of TrustironyविडंबनाA gap between what is expected and what is true. In situational irony the result is the opposite of what the characters expected.Ch 7 · The NecklaceironyविडंबनाA gap between what is expected and what actually happens or is true.Ch 8 · BholiironyविडंबनाA contrast between what is expected and what actually happens, or between what is said and what is meant.Ch 9 · The Book That Saved the Earthizzatइज़्ज़तHonour or good name, especially a family's standing in society.Ch 8 · BholiL
life cycleजीवन चक्रThe series of stages a living thing passes through. A butterfly's stages are egg, caterpillar, pupa and adult.Ch 6 · The Making of a ScientistM
maidanमैदानA large open public ground in a town, used for games, fairs and meetings.Ch 2 · The Thief's Storymentorमार्गदर्शकAn experienced person, often a teacher, who guides and encourages a younger one.Ch 6 · The Making of a Scientistmigrationप्रवासA regular long journey that animals make, often with the seasons, from one region to another and back.Ch 6 · The Making of a ScientistmimicryWhen one kind of animal looks like another kind and gains protection from the resemblance.Ch 6 · The Making of a Scientistmisinterpretग़लत अर्थ लगानाTo understand words, signs or actions in the wrong way.Ch 9 · The Book That Saved the Earthmodestlyविनम्रता सेIn a humble way, without boasting about yourself.Ch 2 · The Thief's StorymotifA detail, image or action that keeps coming back in a story and gathers meaning each time.Ch 2 · The Thief's Storymotiveउद्देश्यThe reason why someone does something.Ch 4 · A Question of TrustN
narratorकथावाचकThe voice that tells a story. A third-person narrator is not a character and calls everyone he, she or they.Ch 7 · The NecklacenumberdarनंबरदारA village headman who collects land revenue for the government.Ch 8 · Bholinursery rhymeबालगीतA short traditional song or verse for small children, with a strong beat and often nonsense words.Ch 9 · The Book That Saved the EarthO
opaqueअपारदर्शीNot letting any light through, like wood or a brick wall.Ch 5 · Footprints without FeetP
pamperTo give someone too much comfort, attention and treats.Ch 1 · A Triumph of SurgeryparodyA funny imitation of a well-known story, poem or style.Ch 9 · The Book That Saved the Earthpasskeyमास्टर चाबीA key that opens many or all of the doors in a building, such as every room in a hotel.Ch 3 · The Midnight Visitorpoint of viewदृष्टिकोणThe position from which a story is seen and told.Ch 3 · The Midnight Visitorpresence of mindप्रत्युत्पन्नमतिThe ability to stay calm in a sudden danger, think clearly and act sensibly at once.Ch 3 · The Midnight VisitorprosaicनीरसPlain, ordinary and dull, with nothing exciting about it.Ch 3 · The Midnight Visitorprotagonistमुख्य पात्रThe main character of a story, whose problems and choices drive the plot.Ch 8 · BholiproverbकहावतA short, well-known saying that states a general truth or piece of advice.Ch 4 · A Question of Trustpupaप्यूपाThe resting stage between caterpillar and adult, when the insect's body is rebuilt inside a case. A butterfly's pupa is also called a chrysalis.Ch 6 · The Making of a ScientistR
redemptionहृदय परिवर्तनTurning away from wrongdoing towards a better life; a change of heart.Ch 2 · The Thief's Storyrefractionअपवर्तनThe bending of light as it passes from one material into another, because its speed changes.Ch 5 · Footprints without Feetrefractive indexअपवर्तनांकA number that measures how strongly a material bends light: about 1.0 for air, 1.33 for water and 1.5 for glass.Ch 5 · Footprints without FeetregimeA fixed plan of diet and exercise that has to be followed.Ch 1 · A Triumph of Surgeryrespectableप्रतिष्ठितSeen by others as decent, honest and socially proper.Ch 4 · A Question of Trustromanticकल्पनाशील(here) Full of exciting but unrealistic ideas about life, the way Fowler imagines spies.Ch 3 · The Midnight VisitorS
safeतिजोरीA strong metal cupboard or box with a special lock, used to keep money and jewels.Ch 4 · A Question of Trustsatireव्यंग्यWriting that uses humour and exaggeration to mock foolish or wrong behaviour.Ch 9 · The Book That Saved the Earthscience fictionविज्ञान कथाStories that imagine what would happen if a scientific idea or invention, real or not yet possible, came true.Ch 5 · Footprints without FeetsimileA comparison that uses like or as.Ch 1 · A Triumph of SurgeryslapstickComedy built on physical actions: bumps, falls, silly faces and clumsy movements.Ch 9 · The Book That Saved the EarthsouसूAn old French coin worth very little; twenty sous made one franc.Ch 7 · The Necklacespeciesप्रजातिOne particular kind of living thing. Members of a species can breed with one another.Ch 6 · The Making of a Scientiststage directionरंगमंच निर्देशAn instruction in a play script, usually in brackets or italics, that tells actors where to move or how to speak. It is not spoken aloud.Ch 9 · The Book That Saved the EarthstammerहकलानाA speech difficulty in which a speaker repeats or gets stuck on sounds. It has nothing to do with intelligence.Ch 8 · Bholisurgeryशल्य चिकित्साTreatment by an operation. In British English it is also the name for a doctor's or vet's clinic.Ch 1 · A Triumph of Surgerysuspenseउत्कंठाThe tense, eager feeling of a reader waiting to find out what will happen next.Ch 3 · The Midnight VisitorsuspenseकौतूहलThe excited uncertainty a reader feels while waiting to find out what will happen.Ch 5 · Footprints without Feetsymbolप्रतीकAn object, action or name that stands for a bigger idea, such as a garland thrown into a fire standing for rejection.Ch 8 · BholiT
tactSkill in handling people and delicate situations without hurting or offending anyone.Ch 1 · A Triumph of Surgerytactव्यवहार-कुशलताThe skill of saying something difficult without hurting or offending the listener.Ch 9 · The Book That Saved the EarthTehsildarतहसीलदारThe revenue officer in charge of a tehsil, a division of a district.Ch 8 · BholithemeA central idea or message that a story explores.Ch 1 · A Triumph of Surgerythemeमूल भावA central idea about life that a story explores, such as trust or forgiveness.Ch 2 · The Thief's Storythemeविषय-वस्तुA big idea that a story makes the reader think about, such as the misuse of science.Ch 5 · Footprints without Feetthemeकेंद्रीय भावA big idea that a story explores, such as pride or honesty.Ch 7 · The Necklacethemeकेंद्रीय भावA central idea that a story explores, such as the power of education.Ch 8 · Bholitheoryसिद्धांतA carefully reasoned explanation of how something works, which can be tested by experiments.Ch 6 · The Making of a ScientisttranslucentपारभासीLetting light through but scattering it, so shapes behind look blurred, like frosted glass.Ch 5 · Footprints without Feettransparentपारदर्शीLetting light pass through clearly, so objects behind can be seen, like clear glass or water.Ch 5 · Footprints without Feettwist endingअप्रत्याशित अंतAn ending that suddenly reveals something unexpected and changes how we see the whole story.Ch 3 · The Midnight Visitortwist endingA surprise at the end of a story that changes how the reader understands what came before.Ch 4 · A Question of Trusttwist endingअप्रत्याशित अंतA surprise at the end of a story that changes how you see everything before it.Ch 7 · The NecklaceU
understatementMaking something sound smaller or less important than it really is.Ch 1 · A Triumph of SurgeryunlinedचिंतारहितHere, a face that is smooth and shows no marks of worry.Ch 2 · The Thief's StoryusurerसूदखोरA moneylender who charges a very high rate of interest.Ch 7 · The NecklaceV
vanityमिथ्याभिमानToo much pride in your looks or in how others see you.Ch 7 · The Necklaceveterinary surgeonपशु चिकित्सकA doctor trained to treat animals; usually shortened to vet.Ch 1 · A Triumph of Surgeryncert.ai is an independent learning companion aligned to the NCERT curriculum. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by NCERT.