A Ladder to the Sky Quiz

Take our free A Ladder to the Sky quiz below, with 25 multiple choice questions that help you test your knowledge. Determine which chapters, themes and styles you already know and what you need to study for your upcoming essay, midterm, or final exam. Take the free quiz now!

Why is Henrietta so upset with Maurice for rejecting her second story, if he published the first story that got her a book deal? (from Interlude: The Threatened Animal)

She needs the piece to be in Stori in order to publicize her novel.

Henrietta is worried that Maurice hates her and feels she needs his approval to survive in publishing.

She feels the second story is even better than the first and thinks Maurice is losing his touch.

Now that she is a published author, she expects Maurice to be delighted with all her work.

How does Maurice feel about not having Daniel with him anymore? (from Part 3: Other People's Stories)

He feels both guilt over losing his son and contentment that he can live life on his own.

He misses him very much and has dreams about him all the time.

He is glad that Daniel is not around to act as his moral conscience all the time.

He wonders if he could have become a grandparent some day.

Maurice's description of Theo "tapping the the tip of his index finger against his thumb rapidly, like a woodpecker attacking an oak tree" (296) is an example of which literary device? (from Part 3: Other People's Stories)

Personification.

A metaphor.

An allusion.

A simile.

What does the author suggest as Dash Hardy passes Erich in the hallway with a bottle of champagne and two glasses? (from Part 1: Before the Wall Came Down)

Dash is heading to a party meant only for the younger writers.

Dash is heading off to have a romantic liaison with Maurice.

Dash is heading to his room to meet the Spanish novelist.

Dash is celebrating the signing of a new book deal.

What does it mean that Dash "heard the young man rising in the night as he went about the business of ambition" (115)? (from Interlude: The Swallow's Nest)

Dash was aware that Maurice got out of bed to propose a sexual encounter to Gore in hopes of gaining his favor.

Dash heard Maurice head upstairs to the library to read and work.

Dash heard Maurice and Gore talking late into the night.

Dash heard Maurice working on his novel in his room during the night.