Short & Long Questions: A Shady Plot | Short & Long Answer Questions for Class 10 PDF Download

Short Answer Type

Q1: Bring out the irony in the statement: “I didn’t specialise in ghost stories, but more or less they seemed to specialise in me.”
Ans: The narrator did not write ghost stories out of choice. He wanted to write other genres. But it was his ghost stories that were popular and so he got into writing those. Ironically, it was the ghost, Helen, who helped him write these stories.

Q2: What does the narrator mean by “And I had never found it healthy to contradict Jenkins”?
Ans: The narrator said that he had realised that when Jenkins gave him work to do, it was better to agree to what he said. He could not risk Jenkins getting angry and withdrawing the offer or not giving him any work in the future.

Q3: Though the narrator did not particularly like writing ghost stories, why did he do so?
Ans: The narrator’s ghost stories were popular with the readers and Jenkins preferred him to write ghost stories. Moreover, no other magazine was ready to publish his writing. He needed this extra income from writing to pay the rent or the grocer’s bill.

Q4: What was the narrator’s attitude towards his writing ability? Was it justified?
Ans: The narrator had become overconfident and cocky about his writing ability. He did not realise that the plots were being put in his mind by the ghost.

Q5: Briefly describe the ghost.
Ans: The ghost was long and angular, with enormous fishy eyes behind big bone-rimmed spectacles, with her hair in a tight wad at the back of her head and a solid jaw. She wore a stiff white shirtwaist and a plaid skirt.

Q6: Why did the ghost materialise?
Ans: The narrator had not been able to think of a plot for his story and had been calling on heaven and earth all afternoon to help him write a story. The ghost had materialised as a result of his call for help to tell him that no help would be forthcoming as the ghosts were going on strike.

Q7: Why were the ghosts created by Helen in the narrator’s mind different from her? Do you think her estimation was correct?
Ans: Helen felt that if she created ghosts like herself, the readers may not like them. She was correct because the narrator’s ghost stories are very popular.

Q8: What condition did she place on the narrator for providing him help?
Ans: Helen wanted the narrator to get the fanatics using Ouija boards to stop asking questions. The ghosts have had to give up haunting almost entirely as they were really busy answering questions the Ouija board users were asking.

Q9: What impression do you form of Lavinia before you meet her?
Ans: We learn that Lavinia, John’s wife likes to go shopping. She also had the tendency to take on every new fad that came along and perform it so often that people became tired of it. We further learn that she was very sensitive.

Q10: What was the narrator’s reaction when he was nervous or excited? When does Lavinia encounter this reaction?
Ans: When the narrator was nervous or excited, a muscle in his face twitched pulling up one comer of his mouth into an idiotic grin. He had managed to conceal this affliction from Lavinia. But when Helen sent a message to him on all the Ouija boards, he felt his face twitch in the spasm of that idiotic grin.

Long Answer Type
Q1: Write a brief character sketch of John Hallock.
Ans: John Hallock was cocky and overconfident about his ability to write ghost stories and he did not believe in Helen and was sceptical about ghosts. He was creative as he was able to write stories and also protective of his wife. He was gentle and kind with Gladolia.

Q2: Write a brief character sketch of Lavinia Hallock.
Ans: Lavinia Hallock was whimsical and loved novelty and thrills. She picked up fads with enthusiasm. She was also suspicious and jealous and got upset with John and Laura. Lavinia was manipulative and did not let John have his way. She was strong as a person and took the appearance of the ghost in her stride.

Q3: Imagine that you are Gladolia. Write a letter to your friend describing the events at the Hallock household.
Ans: The mistress got an Ouija board and called her friends over for ^ session. The ghosts began sending messages through the Ouija board. I wanted to leave as the Ouija board contraptions and hoodoos scare me. Thankfully the mistress burnt the board and I think I will stay here for now.

Q4: Imagine you are one of the members of the Book Club. Write a brief account of the incident of the Ouija boards.
Ans: I was invited to Lavinia Hallock’s place for a session with the Ouija board. The session started and the message ‘traitor’ appeared on it. I wanted to ask John Hallock the reason behind this message as I found that he behaved in a suspicious manner. I am sure there was a mystery behind this message.

Q5: Imagine that you are the ghost of Helen of Troy. Report to the others how you have got Lavinia Hallock to get rid of the Ouija board.
Ans: I think that the Ouija board is a new fad, which is catching on really fast. Ghosts waste lot of time answering questions from these people. I had warned John Hallock to stop his friends and acquaintances from using the Outa board as it is an utter waste of our time. But he took part in this session with his wife. The message which appeared on the Ouija board called him a traitor. His wife was angry and I met her and she was convinced that the board should be burnt.

Q6: You are a regular reader of the magazine John Hallock writes for. Review his story A Shady Plot.
Ans: The name of the story is A Shady Plot. It is about a writer of ghost stories who is helped by a ghost to write his plots. His wife gets an Ouija board and he is warned by the ghost to get rid of it. A ghost sends messages during an Ouija board session and she gets rid of the Ouija board. Among the characters, John is shown to be a man who loves his wife Lavinia and is tolerant of her foibles. Lavinia is shown to be a whimsical, jealous and suspicious person. The character of the ghost is interesting and she materialises at times. The story is an interesting read as it has humorous touches.

Q7: You are John Hallock. Write a diary entry after the day’s events are over and your wife has burnt the Ouija board.
Ans: The day started badly. Lavinia slept in the guest room as she was angry and even threatened me with divorce. Next was the appearance of the ghost and she was angry too.
Gladolia warned me against using hoodoos and magic. Lavinia encountered Helen and finally decided to get rid of the Ouija board and now things are back to normal.

Q8: You are Lavinia Hallock. Write a diary entry on the day’s events when your friends come for the Ouija board party.
Ans: I bought an Ouija board as it is the latest craze and my friends came over for a party. I was bothered by John and his behaviour. Lately his behaviour has been suspicious and I found him talking to himself. He has been, returning late from office. In the Ouija board session I had told him to partner Laura Hinkle and he tried to flirt with her. I think I will divorce him and then he can do what he wants.

Q9: What lesson does John Hancock learn from his encounter with the ghost?
Ans: John Hancock, a reluctant writer of ghost stories, starts getting cocky about his ability to write ghost stories at will. One day, he is’visited by a ghost, who is part of a writers’ inspiration bureau, members of which inspire authors like Hancock to write. The ghost demands a favour from him. She tells the writer that they are on a strike because of constant use of ouija boards and requests the writer to stop people from using the board.
Later, Hancock’s wife brings an ouija board, and hosts an ouija board party. The writer is forced to use the board by his wife. The angry ghost then plays havoc with his married life, leading to a big dispute with his wife. Hancock realises his ideas come as inspiration from the ghosts and writes about the incident. The value that one can derive from this story is that one should not be overconfident about one’s own ability.