NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English (Poorvi) Unit 2: Chapter 7 - The Case of the Fifth Word

Chapter 7, "The Case of the Fifth Word", is a gripping and intellectually stimulating mystery story in the NCERT Class 8 English textbook (Poorvi). This chapter belongs to the detective fiction genre, following the journey of an observant protagonist who must solve a puzzle using linguistic clues and sharp deduction. The "case" revolves around the importance of a single word and how attention to detail can reveal a truth that others have completely overlooked.

This story serves as an excellent exercise in critical thinking and forensic linguistics for young readers. It teaches students that information is often hidden in plain sight and that the key to solving complex problems lies in careful listening and analytical reading. By engaging with this mystery, Class 8 students develop a sharper eye for detail and learn the value of logic over guesswork.

We provide comprehensive NCERT Solutions to help students deconstruct the mystery, track the "clues", and understand the sophisticated vocabulary used in the narrative. These solutions align with the latest NCERT syllabus and provide clear, concise explanations to help students master analytical writing and reading comprehension.

1.0Download NCERT Solutions Class 8 English Chapter 7 - The Case of the Fifth Word: Free PDF

In Class 8 English - Chapter 7, "The Case of the Fifth Word," students learn that every detail, no matter how small, matters. Our NCERT Solutions for Class 8 English provide step-by-step logic for the mystery and solved exercises. Download the free PDF below.

2.0Class 8 English Chapter 7 - The Case of the Fifth Word: Brief Explanation

The narrative centers on a particular statement or piece of evidence where a specific word—the "fifth word"—becomes the turning point of the investigation.¹ The protagonist, acting much like a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, notices a discrepancy in a testimony or a written note. While others focus on the overall story, the detective focuses on the linguistic patterns and the choice of words.

Through a process of elimination and logical reasoning, the detective explains how the presence (or misuse) of that fifth word proves a lie or reveals a hidden location. The story is structured to keep the reader guessing until the very end, making it one of the most engaging chapters in the Unit.

Important Lessons from This Chapter

• The Power of Observation: Success often comes to those who notice what everyone else ignores.
• Accuracy in Communication: The chapter highlights how a single word can change the entire meaning of a sentence or a situation.
• Logical Deduction: It teaches students to form conclusions based on evidence rather than emotions or assumptions.
• Integrity in Truth: The story emphasizes that the truth eventually comes to light when one applies a disciplined mind to the facts.

3.0NCERT Class 8 English Chapter 7 - The Case of the Fifth Word: Detailed Solutions

Let us discuss

1. Complete the following statements with suitable reasons. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.
2. 1. Leroy’s nickname was Encyclopaedia and everyone called him by that name because .
   2. At the dinner table on Tuesday night, Chief Brown stared at his cream-of- mushroom soup as .
   3. Encyclopaedia sat quietly at the dinner table because .
   4. Nolan put the will on the kitchen table because . Answer:
   5. 1. he had read many books and never forgot a fact, making him as knowledgeable as an encyclopaedia.
      2. he was deep in thought, puzzled by the strange four-word message found in Nolan’s

notebook and trying to solve the mystery.

3. he sensed that something serious was troubling his father and was waiting to be invited into the conversation.
4. he wanted to ensure that Davenport received the secret message hidden in the four words, which revealed the location of the stolen jewellery.

2. Do you think Chief Brown would need Leroy’s help to solve this case? If yes, why? If no, why not?

Answer:

Yes, Chief Brown would need Leroy’s help to solve this case because the coded message was cleverly disguised and difficult to understand using conventional reasoning. While both Chief Brown and Mrs. Brown were intelligent adults, they couldn’t decode the meaning behind the four random-seeming words. Leroy, with his sharp mind and habit of thinking outside the box, was able to figure out the trick involving the fifth word on dictionary pages, which led to solving the mystery. His unique way of connecting clues made him essential to cracking the case.

Let us discuss

I A fact is something that can be proven true or false. A fact is not based on people’s 

beliefs. An opinion on the other hand is a belief, feeling, or judgement, and can vary from one person to another. An opinion cannot be proven.

Identify which of the following statements from part I and II of the story are facts or opinions. One example has been done for you. Share your answers with your classmates and teacher.

1. Encyclopaedia’s father was the Chief of Police. Fact
2. Everyone thought that Chief Brown must be the smartest police chief in the country.
3. An encyclopaedia is a book or set of books filled with facts from A to Z.
4. Leroy’s friends said that he was like a library and computer rolled into one, and

more user-friendly.

5. Two masked men held up the Diamond Mart on Sixth Avenue.
6. Nolan and Davenport had met while both were in prison in South Carolina.
7. Chief Brown’s hunch was that Davenport and Nolan decided to hide the loot until

things cooled down.

8. Nolan wrote a four words code to tell Davenport where he had hidden the stolen jewellery.

Answer:

1. Fact
2. Opinion
3. Fact
4. Opinion
5. Fact
6. Fact
7. Fact
8. Fact

II Complete the table by choosing the character traits of Leroy given in the

box below. There is an extra word that you do not need. One example has been done for you.

cleverness listener knowledgeable gentle keen humble

Answer:

1. Read the given extracts and answer the questions that follow.
2. 1. Chief Brown would have liked to tell everyone about his only child. But who would believe him? Who would believe that the best detective alive was an eighth grader? So, he said nothing.

Encyclopaedia never spoke of the help he gave his father. He didn’t want

to seem different from other boys. But there was nothing he could do

about his nickname. He was stuck with it.

Only his parents and teachers called him by his real name, Leroy. Everyone else called him Encyclopaedia.

1. Complete the following sentence with a suitable reason.

Chief Brown’s dilemma can be called unique because .

Answer: he knew his son was the best detective around, but no one would believe that a young boy could solve serious cases better than trained adults.

2. What can be inferred about why Encyclopaedia never spoke of the help he gave his father?
3. 1. He is shy and lacks confidence in his abilities to share his insights.
   2. He wants to avoid the jealousy others might feel about his skills.
   3. He desires to blend with the other boys to prevent seeming different.
   4. He is embarrassed about being smarter than most adults around him. Answer: C. He desires to blend with the other boys to prevent seeming different.
3. The parents choose not to call their son ‘Encyclopaedia’. Select the reason that is

false.

1. For them he is more than his unique abilities; he is their child, with a personal identity.
2. Calling him by his real name reflects their affection and the desire to acknowledge him as an ordinary boy.
3. They want him to be remembered as different from the others around. Answer: C. They want him to be remembered as different from the others around.
4. What does the writer mean by the fact that Leroy was ‘stuck with’ the name Encyclopaedia?

Answer: It means that although Leroy didn’t choose the nickname or necessarily like it, everyone around him used it so often that he had no choice but to accept it.

2. Chief Brown studied the four words: Nom Utes Sweden Hurts. He shook

his head and passed the notebook to Mrs. Brown again. “Can you figure

it out?”

“Nom is a shortening of nominative, a grammatical term,” stated

Mrs. Brown, who had taught English and other subjects in high school.

“Utes is an American Indian tribe. Sweden is a country in northern Europe. Hurts is hurts.”

She lifted her gaze to Encyclopaedia and shook her head.

“I can’t figure it out,” she confessed.

“Davenport disappeared right after the hold-up,” Encyclopaedia reminded her.

1. What does Chief Brown’s reaction of shaking his head suggest about his

understanding of the four words?

1. He is confident that the words are a clue.
2. He is confused, unable to make sense of the words.
3. He believes the words are random and meaningless.
4. He thinks the words are unrelated to the case.

Answer: B. He is confused, unable to make sense of the words.

2. Identify whether the given statement is true or false.

Mrs. Brown explained the actual meanings of the individual words rather than decoding the hidden message behind them.

Answer: True

3. What does Mrs. Brown’s inability to decode the words suggest about the message?

Answer: It suggests that the message is cleverly disguised and not easily interpreted using the literal meanings of the words. It requires lateral thinking or a deeper understanding of the context.

4. Complete the following sentence suitably.

The purpose of Encyclopaedia’s reminder in the last line of the extract was to

. (refocus the discussion on the context of the crime/suggest that the coded message was meant for Davenport/imply that the message was likely a clue about the location of the stolen jewellery)

Answer: imply that the message was likely a clue about the location of the stolen jewellery.

2. Answer the following questions.
3. 1. Nolan and Davenport were very close. Support this statement with evidence from the text.

Answer: Nolan and Davenport were described as having met while in prison and becoming close during that time. After their release, they worked together on a jewellery heist. Nolan trusted Davenport enough to leave him a secret four-word coded message about the location of the hidden loot, showing a high level of trust and closeness.

2. Why did Davenport disappear right after the jewellery hold-up? What might his plans have been if, Nolan had not died?

Answer: Davenport disappeared to avoid being caught and to lay low while the police were actively investigating the robbery. If Nolan had not died, Davenport likely planned to meet him later, use the coded message to retrieve the stolen jewellery, and then split the loot once the search had died down.

3. What does Mrs. Brown’s interest in the case tell us about her?

Answer: Mrs. Brown’s interest shows that she is . intelligent, curious, and enjoys intellectual challenges. Her background as a teacher of English and other subjects indicates she is analytical and observant. Although she couldn’t solve the puzzle, her willingness to engage in the case shows she values logic and deductive thinking, and supports her family’s interest in solving crimes.

4. Explain why Chief Brown was proud of his son.

Answer: Chief Brown was proud of Encyclopaedia because of his extraordinary intelligence, keen observation, and logical reasoning skills. Despite being just an eighth grader, Encyclopaedia was often able to crack tough cases that stumped experienced

adults. His humility and quiet support in helping his father also earned his father’s deep

respect and admiration.

5. Why were Chief Brown’s suspicions regarding Nolan and Davenport justified, even when there was a lack of concrete proof?

Answer: Chief Brown’s suspicions were based on solid circumstantial evidence. Nolan and Davenport’s criminal history, their sudden disappearance after the robbery, and the cryptic note found in Nolan’s notebook all pointed toward their involvement. Even without direct proof, these clues made his hunch reasonable and logical.

6. Analyse the role of the four-word coded message in the story.

Answer: The four-word coded message—“Nomutes Sweden Hurts”—was the central puzzle of the mystery. It appeared meaningless at first, but Encyclopedia’s clever analysis revealed that the fifth word on the corresponding page in the dictionary for each word gave the hidden message: “Under steps,” the clue to where the stolen jewellery was hidden. The code added a layer of complexity to the mystery and showcased Encyclopaedia’s deductive brilliance.

7. Write a character sketch on Leroy with the help of the character traits table given in ‘Let us discuss’ section.

You may begin it like this:

Encyclopaedia was a knowledgeable eighth grader who never forgot a fact that he read.

Answer: Encyclopaedia was a knowledgeable eighth grader who never forgot a fact that he read. He was extremely observant and had a logical mind, which made him an excellent young detective. Despite his extraordinary intelligence, he was modest and didn’t like to brag about the help he gave his father in solving police cases. He preferred to stay grounded and blend in with other boys his age. Known by the nickname

“Encyclopaedia” because of his vast knowledge, he approached problems with calm reasoning and was always able to spot clues that others overlooked. His quiet confidence, humility, and sharp mind made him not only a great detective but also a likable and dependable character.

4.0Key Features of the Story and Solutions

• Structural Analysis: The solutions break down the "crime" and the "solution" into clear, logical steps, helping students follow the detective's train of thought.
• Vocabulary Enrichment: Includes explanations for mystery-related terms such as discrepancy, deduction, testimony, alibi, and linguistics.
• Focus on Inference: Many questions in this chapter require students to "read between the lines." Our solutions guide students on how to find textual evidence for their answers.
• Grammar & Syntax: Exercises focus on how word order and sentence structure affect meaning, directly relating to the theme of the "fifth word."
• Creative Writing Prompts: Includes tips on how to write a short mystery story or a detective's report.
• Reading Comprehension: Practice sets for "Extract-based Questions" help students prepare for the specific format of school board exams.