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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Whom does Phoebe meet in the garden?
(a) Ned Higgins.
(b) Holgrave.
(c) Uncle Venner.
(d) Judge Pyncheon.

2. Hepzibah is whose sister?
(a) The Judge’s.
(b) The convicted murderer’s.
(c) Matthew Maule’s.
(d) Uncle Venner’s.

3. Which statement best describes how the relationship between Hepzibah and Phoebe unfolds?
(a) They slowly develop a bond.
(b) They hit it off immediately.
(c) They quietly resent one another.
(d) They never quite trust each other.

4. What is Clifford’s state of health?
(a) He is strong and vital.
(b) He has a contagious disease.
(c) He is old and frail.
(d) He is on death’s door.

5. How does Clifford react to the portrait of the Colonel?
(a) He remembers that he had painted it.
(b) He cannot look at it.
(c) He admires its artistry.
(d) He thinks he has seen the man before.

6. What seems to occur with every generation of Pyncheons?
(a) There is a fire in the House.
(b) They suffer an unexpected financial loss.
(c) The patriarch dies of a mysterious death.
(d) A sensible, level-headed one is born.

7. How does Clifford react to Hepzibah’s welcome?
(a) He acts as if he is entitled to it.
(b) He seems completely indifferent.
(c) He fears it is a dream.
(d) He is shocked and surprised.

8. What is the legend about the well?
(a) That a strange treasure is hidden in it.
(b) That Alice Pyncheon died in it.
(c) That Matthew Maule bewitched it.
(d) That its waters have magical qualities.

9. What does Phoebe find in the garden?
(a) A packet of old documents.
(b) The bones of an animal.
(c) A family of chickens.
(d) A broken down carriage.

10. What does Hepzibah beg Phoebe to do when someone comes to the shop window?
(a) Hide in the garden.
(b) Ignore the new guest.
(c) Be nothing but cheerful.
(d) Avoid Holgrave.

11. At the story’s opening, how many members of the Pyncheon family are left living?
(a) 300.
(b) 1.
(c) 4.
(d) 37.

12. Which of the following best describes the Maules?
(a) Arrogant.
(b) Religious.
(c) Hard working.
(d) They practiced witchcraft.

13. How does Hepzibah feel after her first day running the shop?
(a) Much better.
(b) Much worse.
(c) About the same.
(d) A little bit better.

14. What does the Judge attempt to do when he first meets Phoebe?
(a) Carry her shopping bags.
(b) Kiss her.
(c) Avoid her.
(d) Convince her to leave.

15. How did Matthew Maule die?
(a) He caught smallpox.
(b) He was hanged.
(c) He was shot.
(d) He was drowned.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who passes by the shop but does not enter at the beginning of the novel?

2. Whose portrait hangs on the wall in the parlor of the House?

3. What was Matthew Maule accused of?

4. What has Hepzibah refused to accept?

5. For what crime has Clifford been convicted?

(see the answer keys)

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