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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When the story opens, in which room of her house is Mary waiting?
(a) Her bedroom.
(b) The front parlor.
(c) The library.
(d) The dining room.

2. Why does the narrator say that Ned and Mary are "two romantic Americans" (83)?
(a) Because they are clearly deeply in love.
(b) Because they tell Alida a far-fetched story about their previous home.
(c) Because they are not being practical about their search for a house.
(d) Because neither one has any common sense.

3. Why are Ned and Mary so interested in living in an isolated location?
(a) They want peace and quiet to enjoy their new hobbies.
(b) They are afraid of the crime associated with larger populations.
(c) They want to avoid questions about their money.
(d) They are very introverted.

4. What is the name of Mary and Ned's house?
(a) Lyng.
(b) Boyne.
(c) Pangbourne.
(d) Merton.

5. What aspect of the house does Alida mention that finally convinces Ned and Mary that it is as old as they are hoping?
(a) It is in the official register of historic homes.
(b) It has no electrical system.
(c) It has a very unreliable water supply.
(d) It has no central heating system.

6. When they are all laughing about the idea of a ghost, what does it mean that Mary "noted a certain flatness of tone in Alida's answering hilarity" (83)?
(a) Mary recognizes that Alida is probably jealous of their good fortune and is trying to hide it.
(b) Mary suspects that Alida feels embarrassed because she is lying about the ghost.
(c) Alida is laughing along, but Mary suspects that for some reason Alida does not find the subject as funny as everyone else does.
(d) Mary has only just realized that Alida is using this discussion as an opportunity to make fun of Mary and Ned.

7. When Mary thinks back on the October visit from the mysterious man, she thinks that it "had no mark of the portentous" (86). What does this mean she felt about the visit at the time that it happened?
(a) It was clearly unlucky.
(b) It was an obvious breach of etiquette.
(c) It did not seem to have any significant meaning for the future.
(d) It did not seem as confusing at the time as it would later become.

8. What does Mary learn from the contents of the envelope?
(a) Her husband is being sued.
(b) All of their money is gone.
(c) Bob Elwell is dead.
(d) Her husband is a criminal.

9. Why is the information about Bob Elwell's slow death so significant to Mary?
(a) She is devastated about how much suffering her husband caused.
(b) She cannot help being glad that the man who made her husband suffer also suffered.
(c) She realizes that Ned lied when he told her that everything was resolved.
(d) She realizes that the timing lines up with the sightings of the ghost.

10. From what period is Ned and Mary's new home?
(a) Tudor.
(b) Edwardian.
(c) Georgian.
(d) Regency.

11. What event causes Mary to temporarily forget about the mysterious man they saw in October?
(a) She and Ned climb Meldon Steep.
(b) The greenhouse boiler breaks.
(c) She receives a letter from Alida Stair.
(d) One of the housemaids quits.

12. Where is Mary and Ned's house located?
(a) Kent.
(b) Devon.
(c) Shropshire.
(d) Dorsetshire.

13. What does Ned's motive seem to be when he first brings up the subject of whether the house has a ghost?
(a) He is looking for an excuse to back out of buying the house.
(b) He is joking about how old the house is.
(c) He thinks that living in a "haunted" house will add to his reputation as a writer.
(d) He is trying to frighten Mary.

14. On page 95, Mary mentions the "fun of the frisson." What is a frisson?
(a) A teasing remark.
(b) The feeling of "butterflies" in one's stomach.
(c) A sensation of chills or prickling down one's back.
(d) A frightening story.

15. What does Ned say, on page 83, must be true for him to believe a house is old?
(a) It must be "bought out of an exhibition."
(b) It must be "a registered home."
(c) It must be "practical."
(d) It must be "thoroughly uncomfortable."

Short Answer Questions

1. When Mary, startled by the envelope's contents, cries out and rises to her feet, how does Ned react?

2. Which character opens the story on page 83 by saying "Oh, there is one, of course, but you'll never know it"?

3. On page 84, the narrator links isolated environments to "acuities of emotion." What are "acuities of emotion"?

4. Why does Mary believe that people should not talk about seeing ghosts?

5. In Mary's mind, what is the only possible source of information about what has happened to Ned?

(see the answer keys)

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