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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

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) Ned's face has changed and he looks completely himself again.
(b) Somehow, all of the lamps have been blown out at once.
(c) Trimmle has been standing in the doorway, eavesdropping.
(d) Ned is staring in horror out the library window.

4. Why does Mary ask the mysterious young man whether he has an appointment with Ned?
(a) Ned has specifically asked her to turn away visitors.
(b) She instinctively mistrusts the young man.
(c) She is trying to protect Ned's writing time.
(d) She is actually not sure that she knows where Ned is at the moment.

5. 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 has seen the ghost.
(b) She thinks that he regrets moving to England.
(c) She thinks that he misses having a regular job to go to.
(d) She thinks that his book is not going very well.

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 suspects that Alida feels embarrassed because she is lying about the ghost.
(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 recognizes that Alida is probably jealous of their good fortune and is trying to hide it.
(d) Mary has only just realized that Alida is using this discussion as an opportunity to make fun of Mary and Ned.

7. What detail does the narrator relate as evidence of how much Ned and Mary have yearned for a life like the one they have in England?
(a) They made an agreement with one another that they would do "anything" it took to make their dream come true.
(b) They had a map of England pinned over their kitchen table at their old house in America.
(c) They had already pre-planned every detail of how they would spend their days.
(d) They were discussing a move to England even before they got married.

8. 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.

9. Who is the author of "Afterward"?
(a) O. Henry.
(b) Shirley Jackson.
(c) Edith Wharton.
(d) Henry James.

10. 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.

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

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

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

14. For how many years did Ned and Mary live in the American Midwest while Ned worked as an engineer?
(a) 34.
(b) 4.
(c) 24.
(d) 14.

15. 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) Ned cheated Bob Elwell in order to make more money from it.
(c) Ned committed a crime in order to make the deal.
(d) It was not nearly as lucrative a deal as Ned pretended.

Short Answer Questions

1. Ned asks Alida a question about the ghost's "signalement" (84). What is he asking about?

2. Why are Ned and Mary so interested in living in an isolated location?

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

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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