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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. As Mary thinks back over the events of October, she sees a figure coming toward the house again. Who is it?
(a) The letter carrier, delivering their mail.
(b) The boiler repairman.
(c) Ned.
(d) The ghost.

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

3. 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 lamps to be brought in.
(c) She is waiting for dinner to be announced.
(d) She is waiting for the mail to be brought in.

4. 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 a friend of Timmle's.
(c) It is the ghost.
(d) It is one of their workmen.

5. 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.

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 the boyfriend of Trimmle, the parlor maid.
(c) It was Peters, the man working on their stable drains.
(d) He refuses to talk about the incident.

7. 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) Trimmle has been standing in the doorway, eavesdropping.
(c) Ned is staring in horror out the library window.
(d) Somehow, all of the lamps have been blown out at once.

8. To what do Mary and Ned attribute the great beauty they see in England?
(a) Their own hatred for the American Midwest.
(b) Its history.
(c) Its small size.
(d) New places always seem attractive at first.

9. What did Mary and Ned discover about their roof?
(a) It appears to be a different color over the library.
(b) It has a hidden walkway.
(c) There is a recently replaced section.
(d) It has one more chimney than they have fireplaces inside.

10. What does Ned's motive seem to be when he first brings up the subject of whether the house has a ghost?
(a) He is joking about how old the house is.
(b) He thinks that living in a "haunted" house will add to his reputation as a writer.
(c) He is looking for an excuse to back out of buying the house.
(d) He is trying to frighten Mary.

11. What does Mary suddenly remember finding one day in October?
(a) A mysterious portrait.
(b) A letter addressed to a previous occupant of the house.
(c) A hidden staircase.
(d) A book on the house's history.

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

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

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

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

Short Answer Questions

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

2. When section "III" opens, Mary is spending the morning working outdoors. She goes into the area where the "espaliered" pear trees are (89). What kind of pear trees are these?

3. When Mary discards her first two ideas about what is bothering Ned, she comes to a conclusion that upsets her. What is it?

4. For how many years did Ned and Mary live in the American Midwest while Ned worked as an engineer?

5. In section "V," who comes to visit Mary?

(see the answer keys)

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