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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. 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.

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

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

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

5. 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.

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

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

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 an obvious breach of etiquette.
(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 clearly unlucky.

9. 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.

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

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

12. 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) Alida is laughing along, but Mary suspects that for some reason Alida does not find the subject as funny as everyone else does.
(b) Mary suspects that Alida feels embarrassed because she is lying about the ghost.
(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.

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

14. 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 her household servants have ever seen the ghost.
(c) Whether it is possible that Alida lied to them about the ghost.
(d) Whether Ned has seen the ghost and this is the cause of his strange mood.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. While she is thinking it over in the library, where does Mary finally decide the blame lies for Ned's distracted, anxious mood?

2. Why does Mary ask the mysterious young man whether he has an appointment with Ned?

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

4. What have Mary's new neighbors told her about the ghost?

5. What does Ned's motive seem to be when he first brings up the subject of whether the house has a ghost?

(see the answer keys)

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