View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When Ethan and Mattie arrive at home, they cannot find _______________________.
(a) The key to the barn.
(b) The sled.
(c) The key to the house.
(d) The keys to the car.

2. Ethan tries to disguise Mattie's unskilled efforts at housekeeping by ______________________________.
(a) Quietly asking her to do her chores over again.
(b) Claiming that she should not be asked to work.
(c) Doing most of her chores for her.
(d) Sneaking downstairs to clean up during the night.

3. Though Ethan's studies were brief, the author states that he became aware of
(a) Absolute truth and literal meanings.
(b) The several dimensions of life.
(c) Cloudy meanings behind the daily face of things.
(d) The many levels of consciousness.

4. Ethan tries to avoid accompanying his wife to bed by claiming ________________________________.
(a) He has to tend to the horses.
(b) He has work to do in his study.
(c) He has to go over the mill accounts.
(d) He has to rebuild the fire.

5. What is happening at the church at midnight?
(a) A town meeting is taking place.
(b) The church services are taking place.
(c) The church social is taking place.
(d) Christmas Eve is being celebrated.

6. Zeena believes Mattie will leave soon because ______________________________.
(a) Mattie has grown tired of Ethan's advances.
(b) Mattie will return to live with her own family.
(c) Mattie has found another post in town.
(d) Mattie will get married to Denis Eady.

7. When Ethan arrives, he ____________________________.
(a) Interrupts Mattie's dance with a man from town.
(b) Hides in the shadows outside the church.
(c) Enters the dance and enjoys watching the revelers.
(d) Interrupts the dance to find Mattie.

8. Ethan and Mattie do not go sledding that evening because ___________________________.
(a) Mattie forgot their plans to go sledding.
(b) It is too dark outside.
(c) Ethan forgot their plans to go sledding.
(d) It is too cold outside.

9. At the end of the chapter, Ethan's last thoughts are about _____________________________.
(a) Marrying Zeena.
(b) Returning to starkfield.
(c) Kissing Mattie in the living room.
(d) Not daring to touch Mattie's hand.

10. Ethan now sees the cemetery as ____________________________.
(a) The threat of death.
(b) The promise of continuance and stability.
(c) The threat of stagnancy.
(d) The promise of excitement and the unknown.

11. Zeena believes Mattie enjoys living in Starkfield only because ______________________________.
(a) Mattie can live rent-free with Zeena and Ethan.
(b) Mattie is in love with Ethan.
(c) Mattie has no other place to go.
(d) Mattie has her sights set on marriage.

12. Ethan claims he continues to mention Mattie's eventual marriage because __________________________________.
(a) He wants her to swear she will never marry.
(b) Zeena wants him to encourage Mattie to leave.
(c) He is burning with jealousy.
(d) He is trying to get used to the idea.

13. Ethan claims sledding is dangerous on a night like this one because ___________________________________.
(a) It is so cold that he would not be able to steer the sled.
(b) It is bad luck to sled when there is no moon outside.
(c) It is so dark that they might not find their way home.
(d) It is so dark that they might hit the elm tree.

14. While Ethan warms himself by the stove, Mattie _______________________.
(a) Polishes the pickle dish.
(b) Sews near the lamp.
(c) Glues the dish back together.
(d) Sews in the kitchen.

15. Zeena is described as an old woman, although she is ____________________________.
(a) Only thirty-five years old.
(b) Only twenty-eight years old.
(c) Only twenty-five years old.
(d) Only twenty-seven years old.

Short Answer Questions

1. Ethan is dismayed to find ________________________.

2. What motif continues to suggest a promise of happiness or well-being for Ethan at the start of Chapter 4?

3. When Ethan asks Andrew Hale for money, __________________________________________.

4. Ethan feels too constrained to try to touch Mattie inside the house because ____________________________________________.

5. Ethan is unpleasantly surprised when his wife notices __________________________________.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 730 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample