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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In section "III," when Mary looks at the house from across the property, what does she feel about the house?
(a) That it seems to be laughing at her, somehow, almost mockingly.
(b) That it is like a kindly older person that keeps secrets for the good of others.
(c) That is is like an evil creature squatting in the landcape.
(d) That it seems to be trying to communicate something urgent to her.

2. When Mary, startled by the envelope's contents, cries out and rises to her feet, how does Ned react?
(a) He looks cornered and guilty.
(b) He quietly tells her to sit back down.
(c) He laughs loudly and tells her to stop being dramatic.
(d) He rushes to her side to comfort her.

3. On page 84, the narrator links isolated environments to "acuities of emotion." What are "acuities of emotion"?
(a) Bluntness or dulling of emotion.
(b) Quickly changing emotions.
(c) Exaggerated emotion that is difficult to control.
(d) The ability to perceive emotion with sharp accuracy.

4. In section "II," what question does Mary repeatedly ask Ned that evening in the library?
(a) She asks whether he has given up trying to see the ghost.
(b) She asks whether it was a good idea to move into this particular house.
(c) She asks whether he is having an affair.
(d) She asks him what secret he is keeping from her.

5. 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 letter carrier, delivering their mail.
(d) The ghost.

6. When they are all laughing about the idea of a ghost, what does it mean that Mary "noted a certain flatness of tone in Alida's answering hilarity" (83)?
(a) Mary has only just realized that Alida is using this discussion as an opportunity to make fun of Mary and Ned.
(b) Mary recognizes that Alida is probably jealous of their good fortune and is trying to hide it.
(c) Mary suspects that Alida feels embarrassed because she is lying about the ghost.
(d) Alida is laughing along, but Mary suspects that for some reason Alida does not find the subject as funny as everyone else does.

7. What explanation does Ned give Mary at the time of the mysterious visit in October?
(a) It was the boyfriend of Trimmle, the parlor maid.
(b) It was a tourist who had heard stories about their ghost.
(c) He refuses to talk about the incident.
(d) It was Peters, the man working on their stable drains.

8. On page 84, the reader learns about the "prodigious windfall" that Ned and Mary experienced. Where did this "prodigious windfall" come from?
(a) The death of their cousin Hugo.
(b) The Blue Star Mine.
(c) Ned's engineering job.
(d) The Waukesha Sentinel.

9. What does Mary learn from the contents of the envelope?
(a) Bob Elwell is dead.
(b) Her husband is being sued.
(c) Her husband is a criminal.
(d) All of their money is gone.

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

11. When Mary is waiting in the library at the beginning of the story, where is Ned?
(a) Taking a walk.
(b) Working in his office.
(c) Finishing his lunch.
(d) In town on an errand.

12. While she is thinking it over in the library, where does Mary finally decide the blame lies for Ned's distracted, anxious mood?
(a) With the house and its ghost.
(b) With Ned.
(c) With Ned's business affairs.
(d) With herself.

13. When the young man appears behind Mary, who does she at first assume that he is?
(a) A tourist.
(b) The boiler repairman.
(c) The ghost.
(d) Bob Elwell.

14. For the past week, what has Mary been assuming is the cause for Ned's need to be alone and his odd mood?
(a) She thinks that he misses having a regular job to go to.
(b) She thinks that he has seen the ghost.
(c) She thinks that his book is not going very well.
(d) She thinks that he regrets moving to England.

15. What does Mary find in the envelope addressed to her?
(a) A photograph.
(b) A letter from Parvis.
(c) An anonymous note.
(d) A newspaper clipping.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Mary thinks back on the October visit from the mysterious man, she thinks that it "had no mark of the portentous" (86). What does this mean she felt about the visit at the time that it happened?

2. What aspect of the house does Alida mention that finally convinces Ned and Mary that it is as old as they are hoping?

3. To what do Mary and Ned attribute the great beauty they see in England?

4. When Ned is still gone by the time Mary finishes lunch, where does she decide he must be?

5. Why does Mary believe that people should not talk about seeing ghosts?

(see the answer keys)

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