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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What type of man does Edmund meet on his way home in the prologue?
(a) Elderly.
(b) Frightening.
(c) A detective.
(d) Youthful.

2. When Edmund sees the corpse at the docks, at the beginning of the story, who does he identify her as?
(a) His mother.
(b) His sister.
(c) His father.
(d) His aunt.

3. What promise does Sis make to Edmund before he leaves her alone in the room?
(a) If their aunt returns, Sis will take responsibility for his leaving.
(b) She'll let him have most of the food he buys.
(c) She'll call a neighbor if she needs help.
(d) She won't go out while he's gone.

4. On his way to the saloon to buy supplies for himself and Dupin, who follow Edward?
(a) Throck.
(b) Dupin.
(c) Fortnoy.
(d) A ghost.

5. When Edward goes to the saloon to buy supplies for himself and Dupin, according to the posted sign, who is offering a reward for the location of Mrs. G. Rachett?
(a) Mr. Rachett.
(b) The police.
(c) Mr. Arnold.
(d) Mr. Poley.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is Sherlock Holmes?

2. Where does Edmund take the man he encounters on the street at the beginning of the story?

3. How much money does Edmund have at the beginning of the story?

4. How are the children feeling when the novel begins?

5. In what month does the story begin?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the setting reflect Edmund's emotional state?

2. When Edmund sees Dupin asleep, surrounded by empty liquor bottles, in Chapter Three, what conflict does it bring about it Edmund's thinking?

3. Why do you think the author sets up the prologue so that all of Edmund's female family members are missing?

4. Based on the prologue, what do you think is the author's opinion of Poe as a writer?

5. What does it reveal about Dupin's character when he tells Edmund in Chapter Two, "There is a difference between what happens and what we would like to have happen"?

6. How does the locked-room mystery engage the reader?

7. Why do you think the author chose not to reveal Sis's true name?

8. Why do you think the author has Dupin tell Edmund that he has certain critical information, but refuses to share it with him?

9. Do you think the story would be as effective if it were set in a different time period?

10. What did Edgar Allan Poe do in his mystery stories that no one had done before, and how does this impact future mystery writers?

(see the answer keys)

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