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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. On page 95, Mary mentions the "fun of the frisson." What is a frisson?
(a) A sensation of chills or prickling down one's back.
(b) The feeling of "butterflies" in one's stomach.
(c) A teasing remark.
(d) A frightening story.

2. After Mary thinks more about the house and its ghost, what does she begin to wonder?
(a) Whether she might actually already know the identity of the ghost.
(b) Whether it is possible that Alida lied to them about the ghost.
(c) Whether Ned has seen the ghost and this is the cause of his strange mood.
(d) Whether her household servants have ever seen the ghost.

3. From what period is Ned and Mary's new home?
(a) Georgian.
(b) Regency.
(c) Edwardian.
(d) Tudor.

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

5. Ned asks Alida a question about the ghost's "signalement" (84). What is he asking about?
(a) Its background.
(b) Its physical description.
(c) Its movements and habits.
(d) Its motivations.

6. Which character opens the story on page 83 by saying "Oh, there is one, of course, but you'll never know it"?
(a) Ned Boyne.
(b) Mary Boyne.
(c) Trimmle.
(d) Alida Stair.

7. When Mary finally catches up with Ned on that October day, what is he doing?
(a) Looking through his papers in the library.
(b) Staring out the front door.
(c) Pacing in front of the library fireplace.
(d) Searching the lower floor for the intruder.

8. Why does Mary have a hard time seeing the details of the man's appearance on that day in October?
(a) The man is deliberately keeping himself in the shadows.
(b) Ned quickly moves to block her view.
(c) Her eyesight is not very good.
(d) The sun is behind the man.

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

10. 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 electrical system.
(b) It is in the official register of historic homes.
(c) It has a very unreliable water supply.
(d) It has no central heating system.

11. 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?
(a) It was an obvious breach of etiquette.
(b) It did not seem as confusing at the time as it would later become.
(c) It was clearly unlucky.
(d) It did not seem to have any significant meaning for the future.

12. What causes Mary to finally be certain that the ghost was Bob Elwell?
(a) She sees a picture of Elwell.
(b) She reads a letter that Elwell wrote.
(c) Her visitor sees the ghost and knows that it is Elwell.
(d) Her visitor recognizes him from her description.

13. According to Alida, what is unusual about the ghost at Ned and Mary's new house?
(a) It can take different forms depending on who is living in the house.
(b) It can come and go--it is not "bound" to the house itself.
(c) It can assume a physical form.
(d) No one knows they have seen it until quite a while after they actually see it.

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

15. When Mary tells Ned what she has learned from her mail, how does Ned react?
(a) He snatches the mail from her and throws it into the fire.
(b) He looks guilty and immediately leaves the room.
(c) He relaxes and tells her it is nothing to worry about.
(d) He gets angry at her and asks whether she trusts him.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why is Mary unsure what Ned has or has not already told her about Beb Elwell?

2. As Mary thinks back over the events of October, she sees a figure coming toward the house again. Who is it?

3. What is the only descriptive detail that the maid is able to give Mary about the stranger's appearance?

4. When Mary and Ned see the man coming toward the hosue in October, what does Mary assume?

5. What event causes Mary to temporarily forget about the mysterious man they saw in October?

(see the answer keys)

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