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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Mary learn about the Blue Star Mine deal from her visitor in section "V"?
(a) It was not nearly as lucrative a deal as Ned pretended.
(b) Ned's actions caused the mine to go bankrupt.
(c) Ned cheated Bob Elwell in order to make more money from it.
(d) Ned committed a crime in order to make the deal.

2. What does Ned's motive seem to be when he first brings up the subject of whether the house has a ghost?
(a) He thinks that living in a "haunted" house will add to his reputation as a writer.
(b) He is joking about how old the house is.
(c) He is trying to frighten Mary.
(d) He is looking for an excuse to back out of buying the house.

3. Mary thinks about the "latent" significance of a piece of information on page 83. What kind of meaning does this information have?
(a) Meaning that was always there but takes time to emerge.
(b) Meaning that stays with a person and is hard to "shake."
(c) Meaning that seems positive at first but later reveals a negative side.
(d) Meaning that reveals a hidden aspect of the speaker.

4. When Mary and Ned see the man coming toward the hosue in October, what does Mary assume?
(a) It is their cousin Hugo.
(b) It is one of their workmen.
(c) It is a friend of Timmle's.
(d) It is the ghost.

5. When the story opens, in which room of her house is Mary waiting?
(a) The library.
(b) Her bedroom.
(c) The front parlor.
(d) The dining room.

6. What does Ned say, on page 83, must be true for him to believe a house is old?
(a) It must be "bought out of an exhibition."
(b) It must be "a registered home."
(c) It must be "thoroughly uncomfortable."
(d) It must be "practical."

7. In Mary's mind, what is the only possible source of information about what has happened to Ned?
(a) Parvis.
(b) Lyng.
(c) Ned's papers.
(d) Trimmle.

8. What aspect of the house does Alida mention that finally convinces Ned and Mary that it is as old as they are hoping?
(a) It has no central heating system.
(b) It has no electrical system.
(c) It has a very unreliable water supply.
(d) It is in the official register of historic homes.

9. What have Mary's new neighbors told her about the ghost?
(a) That she will not know when she sees it.
(b) That it is often absent for long stretches of time.
(c) Nothing.
(d) That it can only be seen at night.

10. When section "III" opens, Mary is spending the morning working outdoors. She goes into the area where the "espaliered" pear trees are (89). What kind of pear trees are these?
(a) They are trained to grow flat against the wall.
(b) They are miniature pear trees.
(c) They are grafted with many different kinds of pears on each tree.
(d) They are draped with nets to keep the birds away from the fruit.

11. When Ned is still gone by the time Mary finishes lunch, where does she decide he must be?
(a) She decides that he must have walked the visitor back to the train station.
(b) She decides that he must have gone for his afternoon walk a little early.
(c) She decides that he must have gone into town to run an errand.
(d) She decides that he has finally left her.

12. When does Mary first realize that Ned is missing?
(a) When she tries to find him to tell him that lunch is ready.
(b) When Trimmle comes in to ask her whether she has seen Ned.
(c) When the stranger reappears and asks for him again.
(d) When the boiler repairman asks to speak with him.

13. What is the only descriptive detail that the maid is able to give Mary about the stranger's appearance?
(a) He wore foreign clothing.
(b) He walked with a limp.
(c) He had an unusual hat.
(d) He was not very tall.

14. When the story refers to "Boyne," who or what is being referred to?
(a) The house.
(b) Ned's father.
(c) Mary.
(d) Ned.

15. As Mary thinks back over the events of October, she sees a figure coming toward the house again. Who is it?
(a) The boiler repairman.
(b) Ned.
(c) The ghost.
(d) The letter carrier, delivering their mail.

Short Answer Questions

1. When the young man appears behind Mary, who does she at first assume that he is?

2. For how many years did Ned and Mary live in the American Midwest while Ned worked as an engineer?

3. When Mary searches Ned's desk, to whom does she find he has been writing?

4. What does Mary find in the envelope addressed to her?

5. Where is Mary and Ned's house located?

(see the answer keys)

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