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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Billy describe the landlady's hands as they are together in the sitting room?

2. According to the landlady, how had she been feeling prior to Billy's arrival?

3. Upon showing Billy around the bed and breakfast, how does the landlady describe her home?

4. As Billy waits in the sitting room, how does he view himself?

5. According to the landlady, why do so few people stay at the bed and breakfast?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Billy, where did he see the names of the previous guests? What does he believe about the two men?

2. What refreshments does the landlady offer Billy in the sitting room?

3. According to Billy, what is odd about the dates of the previous entries in the guestbook?

4. When the landlady comes into the sitting room, what is odd about the manner in which she is carrying the object? What might the narrator be trying to tell the reader?

5. What request does the landlady make of Billy before he goes to bed?

6. As Billy waits in the sitting room for the landlady, how does he consider his surroundings? How does he consider himself?

7. According to the landlady, why does she always keep a room ready?

8. How much does it cost to stay at the bed and breakfast? What does Billy think of the price?

9. According to the landlady, where had one of the previous guests gone to school? What odd verb does she use to describe his arrival at the bed and breakfast?

10. What does Billy believe about the landlady's past that explains her current behavior?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What, in your opinion, caused Billy’s downfall? Answer using support from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the character of Billy. How does he illustrate both childhood and adulthood?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the importance of briskness and how it helps to explain Billy’s character. How does the idea of briskness contribute to his fate in the story?

(see the answer keys)

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