NCERT Solutions Class 10 English Literature Reader Chapter 4 A Shady Plot

Question 1. The title of the story is ‘A Shady PW. The dictionary defines the words as

Shady adjective
(a) Full of shade; shaded.
(b) Casting shade; a shady grove.
(c) Quiet, dark, or concealed; hidden.
(d) Of dubious character or Of questionable honesty.

Plot noun
(a) (i) a small piece of ground, generally used for a specific purpose; a garden plot
. (ii) a measured area Of land

(b) a ground plan, as for a building, a diagram.
(c) storyline-the plan scheme, or main story of a literacy or dramatic work, as a play, novel, or short,
or.
(d) a secret plan to accomplish a hostile or illegal purpose; a scheme.

Based on the definitions above can you predict what the story will be about? Make a brief note Of your prediction in your notebook.

Answer :
Based on the definitions of the words, we can guess that the story will be about some concealed or hidden matter, whether natural or supernatural. This may be covered up by a hidden plot made by some

people to achieve an evil and sinister end. It can also relate to a crime or for harassing someone.

Question 3.Based on your reading of the story above, the following questions by ticking the correct options.

1. The narrator earns his living by
(a) writing ghost stories
(b) working as a reader for a magazine
(c) working as a stenographer
(d) working as an accountant in a lumber company

Answer :
(d)

Question 2. The writer was overconfident about his ability to write ghost stories because
(a) whenever magazines wanted a ghost story, they got in touch with
(b) he was always able to write a ghost story whenever he had to write one
(c) the readers appreciated his ghost stories
(d) he knew the ghost lady would help him write a good ghost story

Answer :
(a)

Question 3. The sight of the ghost materializing in his room filled the narrator with
(a) fear
(b) excitement
(c) joy
(d) anticipation

Answer :
(d)

Question 4. The ghost wanted John to
(a) stop his wife from using the Ouija board
(b) stop suing the Ouija board himself
(c) stop his guests from using the Ouija board
(d) stop people from using the Ouija board

Answer :
(d)

Question 5. John wants the ghost to disappear before his wife the room and waves his arms at the ghost with something of the motion of a beginner when learning to swim. His movement shows his
(a) fear
(b) amusement
(c) desperation
(d) anxiety

Answer :
(c)

Question 6. When the narrator says his wife is never so pretty as when she’s doing something she knows he disapproves of, his tone IS
(a) amused
(b) ironic
(c) angry
(d) irritated

Answer :
(b)

Question 7. The ghost says “it’s all your fault. ‘it’ here refers to”
(a) the narrator’s wife’s anger
(b) the ghost’s anger
(c) the narrator’s wife leaving him
(d) the ghost materialising in sections

Answer :
(d)

Question 8. Gladolia wishes to leave the narrator’s house as
(a) she does not like the Quija boards
(b) she is afraid of the ghost
(c) she is afraid of magic and hoodoo
(d) she likes Quija boards nd hoodoo

Answer :
(c)

Question 4. Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) What genre of stories does Jenkins want the narrator to write? Why?

Answer :
Jenkins wants the narrator to write ghost stories. He wants him to write stories on supernatural elements because the public likes horror. He offers him to write because he thinks he is good at it and his ghosts are very lively.

Question (b) Does the narrator like writing ghost stories? Support your answer with evidence form the stow.

Answer :
The narrator likes to write ghost stories but not every time. He himself says that he could not contradict Jenkins because his magazine had been the only one to print his stuff. Thus we can say that he has no choice but to write ghost stories.

Question (c) What makes Helen, the ghost, and her other co-ghosts organise. The writer’s inspiration Bureau’?

Answer :
In her other life Helen used to write and to become a reader in a magazine. She remembers those days as the most terrible ones, where they used to work in very tough conditions Now when she became a ghost she planned to do something for all those who have suffered on the same grounds. It was this-inspiration that let her and her co-ghosts Organise ‘The Writer’s Inspiration Bureau’.

Question (d) Why had Helen, the ghost, been helping the narrator write ghost stories? Why she going on strike? What did she place for providing continued help?

Answer :
Helen the ghost the narrator to write ghost stories because he did not have ideas to write a story. She was going on strike because she and her Other co-ghosts had to work in very tough conditions. In the recent years they had even been called off from their beds. She said she would help him further if he would all his friends and acquaintances from using the Ouija board.

Question (e) How does the ghost undermine the narrator’s faith in his ability to write ghost stories?

Answer :
The ghost undermines the narrator’s faith in his ability to write ghost stories by telling him that she would help him to write ghost stories only if he Stops his friends and acquaintances from using the Ouija board.

Question (f) Why does John want the ghost to disappear before his wife appears on the scene? What impression of his wife’s Character do you form from his words?

Answer :
John does not want to lose his wife’s faith in him, and neither he wants his wife to get scared by seeing a ghost, because like all sensitive women, Lavinia was subject to hysterics. This is the reason why he wants the ghost to disappear before his wife appears on the scene. His wife is like any other possessive and jealous women who would never like to see her man with any other woman.

Question (g) Why does the narrator hesitate to be a partner to Laura Hinkle during the Ouija Board Party?

Answer :
The narrator hesitates to be a partner to Hinkle during the Ouija Board Party because neither did he wish to use the Ouija board because of the ghosts warning nor did he like the flirtatious behaviour of Laura Hinkle.

Question (h) What message does the ghost convey to the group that had assembled in the narrator’s house? What is their reaction to the message?

Answer :
The ghost called John as a ‘traitor’ when the group had assembled at the narrator’s house. Everyone was given the impression that the narrator was cheating on his wife because he had an affair with Helen.

Question (i) Do you agree with the narrator calling the assembly of women “manipulators”? Give reasons.

Answer :
Here the meaning the word ‘manipulators’ is people who control skilfully anyone or anything. The author wants to Say that the ladies were controlling the Ouija board indicator to spell out his name and so called them manipulators. Which is correct.

Question (j) Why is John’s wife angry? What” does she decide to do?

Answer :
John’s wife is angry because the Ouija board was conveying a message from Helen (a woman) to her husband, which filled her with suspicion about his unfaithfulness to her. She was also getting jealous of John’s closeness with Laura Hinkle. She decided to leave her husband.

Question (k) Why does John wish he were dead?

Answer :
After John received ‘the letter from his wife he wishes he were dead because he did not want to annoy his wife. He loved her and did want her to leave him.