Term 1 - Supplementary · Class 7 English · Chapter 2

Samacheer Class 7 English - The Red-Headed League

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Chapter-wise textbook exercise answers for The Red-Headed League with validation-aware solutions.

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The Red-Headed League — key concepts & quick answers

Who wrote 'The Red-Headed League'?
It is a Sherlock Holmes detective story written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
What is 'The Red-Headed League' about?
Jabez Wilson is hired for an odd, well-paid 'Red-Headed League' job that keeps him away from his shop. Sherlock Holmes uncovers that it is a trick by his assistant Spaulding, who is digging a tunnel from the cellar to rob a nearby bank/jewellery vault.
What is the theme of the story?
It celebrates sharp observation and logical reasoning — Holmes solves the mystery by noticing small clues that reveal the real plan behind the strange job.
How does Holmes solve the case?
By reasoning from clues such as the assistant's eagerness to work cheaply and the dirt on his trousers, Holmes deduces the tunnel-digging plot and catches the thieves in the act.
Sections in this chapter
Textual Exercise (Text Book Page No. 133) 10
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1Textual Exercise (Text Book Page No. 133)10 questions
Q.1Photography was Vincent Spaulding’s hobby.v
Answer:

False

Q.2Mr. Ross did not want to hire Mr. Wilson.v
Answer:

False

Q.3Mr. Wilson worked for Mr. Ross for six weeks.v
Answer:

False. Mr. Wilson did not work for Mr. Ross for six weeks. According to the story, Mr. Wilson worked for Mr. Ross for a much longer period before joining the Red-Headed League. The Red-Headed League itself was the temporary position that lasted only a short time, during which Wilson was paid to copy the Encyclopaedia. This job was actually a scheme created by the criminals to keep Wilson occupied and away from his pawnshop while they dug the tunnel.

Q.4Mr. Jones was a lawyer.v
Answer:

False

Q.5Spaulding dug a tunnel from the cellar of the shop to the jewellery shop.v
Answer:

False. Spaulding did not dig a tunnel from the cellar of the shop to the jewellery shop. Instead, he dug a tunnel from the cellar of Wilson's pawnshop to the Bank of England, which was located at the back of the pawnshop. The purpose of this tunnel was to gain access to the Bank's strong room so that Spaulding and his accomplices could steal the valuable items stored there. Mr. Holmes discovered evidence of this tunnel when he found the cellar behind the shop was disturbed and noticed that Spaulding's trousers were dirty from digging. The Bank being at the back of the shop made it possible for the criminals to plan this elaborate scheme. Holmes and the police inspector Mr. Jones were able to catch Spaulding and prevent the robbery by understanding the true purpose of the tunnel and the Red-Headed League advertisement, which was merely a distraction to keep Wilson away from his shop during the digging operations.

Q.1Why did Jabez Wilson meet Mr. Holmes?v
Answer:

Jabez Wilson met Mr. Holmes because he was deeply disturbed and confused by the mysterious closure of the Red-Headed League. Someone had been playing what appeared to be a practical joke on him, and he could not understand why the League had suddenly ended without explanation. Wilson was worried and anxious about this strange situation, so he sought Holmes's help to investigate the matter and find out what was really happening behind the scenes.

Q.2Describe Vincent Spaulding.v
Answer:

Vincent Spaulding is the assistant who works in Jabez Wilson's pawnshop. However, his real name is John Clay, and he is actually a criminal mastermind. Spaulding deliberately took the job at Wilson's pawnshop for half wages, which should have been a suspicious sign to Wilson. His true purpose was to gain access to the cellar of the pawnshop so that he could dig a tunnel connecting it to the Bank of England, which was located at the back of the shop. Spaulding spent considerable time in the cellar under the pretense of doing work, but he was actually excavating the tunnel to enable a bank robbery. Mr. Holmes discovered the truth about Spaulding by noticing clues such as his dirty trousers, which indicated he had been digging. Eventually, Spaulding is caught by Mr. Holmes and the police inspector Mr. Jones, and his criminal scheme is foiled before the robbery can take place.

Q.3Why did Spaulding spend a lot of time in the cellar?v
Answer:

Spaulding spent a lot of time in the cellar because he was secretly digging a tunnel that connected the cellar of Wilson's pawnshop to the Bank of England, which was situated at the back of the shop. Under the guise of being a hardworking assistant, Spaulding used his access to the cellar to carry out this criminal plan. His frequent visits to the cellar were part of the elaborate scheme to rob the bank's strong room.

Q.4Why was Mr. Wilson hired to copy the Encyclopaedia?v
Answer:

Mr. Wilson was hired to copy the Encyclopaedia as part of an elaborate scheme created by the criminals. The Red-Headed League advertisement specifically required applicants to have red hair, which was the distinguishing feature that made Wilson eligible for the job. However, the real purpose of hiring Wilson was not to have the Encyclopaedia copied, but rather to keep him occupied and away from his pawnshop during the day. This allowed Spaulding and his accomplices to work undisturbed in the cellar, digging the tunnel that would lead to the Bank of England. The job was essentially a distraction and a cover-up for the criminal activities taking place behind the scenes.

Q.5How did Holmes’ team catch the thieves?v
Answer:

Holmes suspected that there was a cellar at the back of the pawn shop connecting to the Bank room. He along with Jones waited at the Bank room to catch the thief red-handed when they came through the stoned floor.
D. Based on your reading of the text complete the pyramid by arranging the sequence in the correct order.Holmes found the tunnel from the cellar to the bank’s strong room.
Wilson was assigned to copy the encyclopedia.
Wilson asked Sherlock Holmes for help.
Wilson got the job in The Red-Headed League.
Spaulding and Ross were caught by the famous detective.
One day he found the notice that ‘The Red-Headed League’ was dissolved.
Holmes recognised Spaulding who was actually John Clay, a notorious criminal.