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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What can a reader infer is one of the devil's conditions in the bargain he makes with Tom?
(a) Tom will not tell anyone where he got the money.
(b) Tom will bring the devil other people to make bargains with.
(c) Tom will give his soul to the devil.
(d) Tom will not get the money until he makes a sacrifice to the devil.

2. What does Tom find in the mud of the swamp?
(a) The remains of a sacrifice to the devil.
(b) A piece of gold.
(c) A serpent.
(d) A human skull.

3. Where is the pirate treasure buried?
(a) In an abandoned fort.
(b) Under a fallen hemlock.
(c) On an island in the Charles Bay.
(d) Beneath a tall oak.

4. Why is Tom happy to see the apron?
(a) He believes that it means his wife is dead.
(b) He believes that it contains valuable items.
(c) He thinks it means his wife may be nearby.
(d) He thinks that his wife left it as a sign to him.

5. What tradition does Tom say should be revived?
(a) The persecution of other religious sects.
(b) The witch trials.
(c) Public hangings.
(d) War with Native tribes.

6. What unusual slang word does the devil use for money?
(a) Poppet.
(b) Skins.
(c) Rhino.
(d) Bobbin.

7. What part of the fort remains standing?
(a) Some mounded up earth.
(b) An alter to the devil.
(c) A cellar.
(d) Some partial walls.

8. What is Tom's reaction to the idea of being a usurer?
(a) He is strongly opposed but finally agrees.
(b) He is enthusiastic and willing to do even more than the devil asks.
(c) He is reluctant but understands that it is an important service to the community.
(d) He agrees but only because he misunderstands the devil's intentions.

9. What does Tom notice about the tallest trees in the swamp?
(a) They are all rotten inside.
(b) They have all been cut down.
(c) They each bear the name of a prominent citizen.
(d) They all have the marks of a recent fire.

10. Why does the devil stay away from Tom for a while after Tom's wife disappears?
(a) The devil is trying to create a bargaining advantage.
(b) The devil is giving Tom time to get over his fear.
(c) The devil knows that Tom is furious.
(d) The devil has other business to attend to in a nearby town.

11. What does the narrator say his third attempt to evade the devil shows about Tom?
(a) He is a very persistent man.
(b) He is unusually clever.
(c) He is extremely naive.
(d) He has lost his mind.

12. What is the reason the narrator gives for Tom not fearing the devil?
(a) Tom does not believe in the devil.
(b) After fighting in several battles with Natives, Tom is too hardened to be afraid.
(c) Tom thinks that he can outsmart the devil.
(d) Nothing scares Tom after having to deal with his wife.

13. How does Tom treat his most needy clients?
(a) He breaks the rules of his bargain with the devil to help them.
(b) He takes advantage of their need to drive especially hard bargains with them.
(c) He pretends that he will help them, then refuses to do business with them.
(d) He mocks them and is openly rude.

14. Part of the story is set in a morass. What kind of location is this?
(a) A flat area where a river enters the sea.
(b) An overgrown field.
(c) A mountaintop.
(d) A muddy or boggy area.

15. By what name does Tom call the devil?
(a) Old Nick.
(b) Old Scratch.
(c) Satan.
(d) Mephistopheles.

Short Answer Questions

1. To what does the narrator compare the sound of Tom's carriage wheels?

2. What does Tom begin keeping on the desk in his office?

3. What is financial speculation?

4. What does Tom's wife take with her when she goes into the swamp for the second time?

5. What is Tom's reaction to the disappearance and likely death of his wife?

(see the answer keys)

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