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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. According to Beetle, why is the midwife's surname Sharp?
(a) She always brings knives with her in case she needs to perform a surgery.
(b) She has a piercing voice.
(c) She is quick-witted.
(d) She has a pointed nose and sharp features.

2. Why is Thomas At-the-Bridge called upon in Chapter 7?
(a) To oversee a trial.
(b) To have a look at the strange tracks found in the village.
(c) To fix the village bridge.
(d) To investigate a case of missing produce.

3. What washes up on shore at the end of Chapter 7?
(a) A woman's ring.
(b) Two blocks of carved wood.
(c) A pair of boots.
(d) A dead fish.

4. Where does Beetle take the cat after saving it in Chapter 2?
(a) To the side of the river to clean.
(b) To an abandoned shed.
(c) To the forest.
(d) To the dung heap.

5. Why does Beetle become fearful of the miller's wife in Chapter 4?
(a) The miller's wife laughs loudly at everyone who comes near.
(b) The miller's wife becomes very drunk.
(c) The miller's wife begins shouting and throwing things.
(d) The miller's wife cries whenever her husband enters the room.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the merchant tell Beetle when he gives her the comb for free?

2. Who is Kate?

3. What does a man ask Beetle to do when he believes she is someone else in Chapter 5?

4. What is the only name that the protagonist is known by when the novel begins?

5. What does Alyce do to help Will in Chapter 6?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why doesn't Brat dream while she sleeps?

2. What does Beetle say to the injured cat when she takes it from the sack in Chapter 2?

3. Why is Beetle able to enjoy the fair so much in Chapter 5?

4. What is discovered in the village one morning in Chapter 7?

5. Who does a man mistake Beetle for at the fair? What amazes Beetle about this?

6. Why is Alyce made to deliver messages and run errands after dark? Why doesn't this bother her?

7. Where does Alyce hear frightening noises coming from in Chapter 8? What do they turn out to be?

8. What does Beetle do when the miller drags her to deliver his wife's baby?

9. Where does Brat try to keep warm at the beginning of the story?

10. What accident does Jane have in Chapter 5? What does she make Beetle do as a result?

(see the answer keys)

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