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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In the opening of the story, what is Mary waiting for?
(a) She is waiting for dinner to be announced.
(b) She is waiting for Ned to arrive.
(c) She is waiting for the mail to be brought in.
(d) She is waiting for the lamps to be brought in.

2. 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.

3. On that evening in the library in section "II," what does Mary see has happened when she looks up from preparing the tea?
(a) Somehow, all of the lamps have been blown out at once.
(b) Trimmle has been standing in the doorway, eavesdropping.
(c) Ned's face has changed and he looks completely himself again.
(d) Ned is staring in horror out the library window.

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

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

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) Alida is laughing along, but Mary suspects that for some reason Alida does not find the subject as funny as everyone else does.
(c) Mary suspects that Alida feels embarrassed because she is lying about the ghost.
(d) Mary recognizes that Alida is probably jealous of their good fortune and is trying to hide it.

7. Where is Mary and Ned's house located?
(a) Shropshire.
(b) Devon.
(c) Dorsetshire.
(d) Kent.

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

9. When Ned speeds off to talk with the mysterious visitor on that day in October, why does it take Mary so long to follow?
(a) Ned tells her not to follow him.
(b) She is too frightened of the ghost to move, at first.
(c) She is dizzy and has to move carefully.
(d) One of the heels of her shoes has come loose.

10. Why does Mary believe that people should not talk about seeing ghosts?
(a) It is dangerous.
(b) It makes people wonder about your sanity.
(c) It is bad manners.
(d) It frightens the ghosts away.

11. Why is Mary unsure what Ned has or has not already told her about Beb Elwell?
(a) Because Ned has a habit of lying about what he has or has not told her.
(b) Because she does not pay much attention when he talks about work.
(c) Because the Bob Elwell story is very similar to another incident in their past.
(d) Because ever since they moved into the house, her memory is getting weaker.

12. What is the name of Mary and Ned's house?
(a) Lyng.
(b) Pangbourne.
(c) Boyne.
(d) Merton.

13. 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 he is having an affair.
(c) She asks whether he has given up trying to see the ghost.
(d) She asks whether it was a good idea to move into this particular house.

14. Why does the narrator say that Ned and Mary are "two romantic Americans" (83)?
(a) Because they tell Alida a far-fetched story about their previous home.
(b) Because they are not being practical about their search for a house.
(c) Because neither one has any common sense.
(d) Because they are clearly deeply in love.

15. In section "V," who comes to visit Mary?
(a) Bob Elwell's widow.
(b) Parvis.
(c) Hugo.
(d) Alida.

Short Answer Questions

1. What causes Mary to finally be certain that the ghost was Bob Elwell?

2. When Mary finally catches up with Ned on that October day, what is he doing?

3. What does Mary conclude she needs to do in order to see the ghost?

4. After Mary thinks more about the house and its ghost, what does she begin to wonder?

5. What does Mary learn from the contents of the envelope?

(see the answer keys)

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