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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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 her household servants have ever seen the ghost.
(d) Whether Ned has seen the ghost and this is the cause of his strange mood.

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

4. 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 rushes to her side to comfort her.
(c) He quietly tells her to sit back down.
(d) He laughs loudly and tells her to stop being dramatic.

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

6. 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 death of their cousin Hugo.
(c) The Blue Star Mine.
(d) The Waukesha Sentinel.

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

8. When Mary discards her first two ideas about what is bothering Ned, she comes to a conclusion that upsets her. What is it?
(a) Ned is having an affair.
(b) Ned is probably ill.
(c) Ned is keeping a secret from her.
(d) Ned is angry at her.

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

10. What does Ned say, on page 83, must be true for him to believe a house is old?
(a) It must be "practical."
(b) It must be "bought out of an exhibition."
(c) It must be "a registered home."
(d) It must be "thoroughly uncomfortable."

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

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

13. What event causes Mary to temporarily forget about the mysterious man they saw in October?
(a) One of the housemaids quits.
(b) She receives a letter from Alida Stair.
(c) She and Ned climb Meldon Steep.
(d) The greenhouse boiler breaks.

14. When the story refers to "Boyne," who or what is being referred to?
(a) Mary.
(b) The house.
(c) Ned.
(d) Ned's father.

15. When Ned is still gone by the time Mary finishes lunch, where does she decide he must be?
(a) She decides that he must have gone for his afternoon walk a little early.
(b) She decides that he has finally left her.
(c) She decides that he must have gone into town to run an errand.
(d) She decides that he must have walked the visitor back to the train station.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why is the information about Bob Elwell's slow death so significant to Mary?

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

3. What explanation does Ned give Mary at the time of the mysterious visit in October?

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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