English Language & Literature — CBSE Class 10 board question

Ausable was fat, wheezy, and far from the typical image of a dashing secret agent. Yet when Max threatened him at gunpoint, Ausable used sharp presence of mind to outsmart him.

He calmly fabricated a convincing story about a non-existent balcony outside his window, complete with a logical explanation. When knocking was heard at the door, he coolly claimed it was the police he had summoned for protection. A panicked Max stepped onto the "balcony" to hide — and fell to his death, as no balcony existed.

Ausable's ability to think quickly, stay composed, and turn circumstances to his advantage proved more powerful than any weapon.

Source: The Midnight Visitor, Chapter 3

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• Examiners look for two key tricks: the balcony lie and the fake police — mention both.
• Connect his unusual appearance (fat, wheezy) to the contrast with his sharp mind — this directly addresses the question's phrasing.
• Avoid retelling the entire story; focus on how presence of mind worked.
• 3-mark answers need a brief intro + 2 clear points + a concluding line — that's the ideal structure here.