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Question
“I may be very obtuse, Holmes, but I fail to see what this suggests.” Justify the statement by highlighting the difference in deducing the case.
Solution
When Holmes took over the case of Mary Morston, he immediately went through the clues that he received from her, did some of his own research work and within a few hours he was able to come up with some suggestive facts about the events that happened 10 years ago. Major Sholto died on the 28th of April, 1882. Dr. Watson fails to connect this fact with Mary's case. But Holmes deduces that Mary's father who disappeared knew Sholto in London and that only after Sholto's death did Mary start receiving the pearl and finally the letter. Hearing the details from Holmes, Dr. Watson is a little confused. He is a little slow in understanding what Holmes was saying and fails to see where it was leading to. This shows that while Dr. Watson is obtuse, Sherlock is astute and could quickly deduce certain facts from just a few clues.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
Read the extract again and complete the web by highlighting the qualities of the following character:
Read the extract again and complete the web by highlighting the qualities of the following character:
Dr. Watson, the narrator, is one of the major characters in the novel. Illustrate
Holmes is always one step ahead of Dr. Watson in solving cases. Elucidate.
Arrange the sentences in the correct sequence as per their occurrence in the extract:
| Jumbled Incidents | Correct sequence |
| (1) Holmes put a revolver in his pocket. | (a) ____________ |
| (2) Holmes gave Winwood’s book ‘Martyrdom of Man’ to Dr. Watson. | (b) ____________ |
| (3) Mary received a large and lustrous pearl through the post. | (c) ____________ |
| (4) Mary’s father was an officer in an Indian regiment. | (d) ____________ |
| (5) Mary Morstan was a well-dressed young lady. | (e) ____________ |
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| Lines | Time and period |
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Describe in brief the importance of the following place in the extract.
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Describe in brief the importance of the following place in the extract.
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Describe in brief the importance of the following place in the extract.
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Describe in brief the importance of the following place in the extract.
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| India | Importance | London | Importance |
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Write the central idea of the given extract of the novel, “The Sign of Four”.
Give reasons:
| Statement | Reason/s |
| (a) Miss Morstan plans to meet Sherlock Holmes | |
| (b) Miss Morstan gives the reference of Mrs. Cecil Forrester | |
| (c) It’s a singular case | |
| (d) Holmes needed some references | |
| (e) Miss Morstan received a pearl every year | |
| (f) The coachman confirmed that neither of Miss Morstan’s companion was a police officer |
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“The letter speaks of giving her justice. What justice can she have?”
Elaborate the following line in the light of the novel/extract, “The Sign of Four” -
“Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions.”
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| Dialogue | Speaker | To Whom it is said | Tone, Style, Significance, etc. |
| “….you have once enabled my employer, Mrs. Cecil Forrester, to unravel a little domestic complication. She was much impressed by your kindness and skill.” | |||
| “You will, I am sure, excuse me.” | |||
| “Your statement is most interesting. Has anything else occurred to you?” | |||
| “Are you the parties who come with Miss Morstan?” | |||
| “The Sahib awaits you.” |
The reception of six pearls helps the story to move forward by providing some connection with the other happenings. Illustrate.
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Answer in about 50 words to the question given below:
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Holmes, Dr. Watson and Mary Morstan reached at the third pillar of the Lyceum Theatre. Describe the state of mind of the trio.
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Answer in about 50 words to the questions given below:
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