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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. Who is Sherlock Holmes?
(a) A real-life criminal from the nineteenth century.
(b) A fictional criminal influenced by Poe's character.
(c) A fictional detective influenced by Poe's character.
(d) A real-life detective from the nineteenth century.

2. Why didn't Edmund want to leave his sister alone?
(a) Someone threatens to kidnap her.
(b) She is too young.
(c) She is ill.
(d) The neighborhood is unsafe.

3. What does the piece of paper that is slipped under the door of Edmund's room tell Dupin?
(a) An important clue.
(b) To meet Mrs. Whitman.
(c) Not to get involved.
(d) To meet William Arnold at the Hotel American House.

4. What does Edmund call his sister?
(a) Sissy.
(b) Peg.
(c) Meg.
(d) Sis.

5. When Edward goes to the saloon to buy supplies for himself and Dupin, according to the posted sign, who is offering a reward for the location of Mrs. G. Rachett?
(a) Mr. Poley.
(b) The police.
(c) Mr. Rachett.
(d) Mr. Arnold.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the title of one of Edgar Allan Poe's famous mystery books?

2. When Dupin first meets Throck, what does he observes about him?

3. What type of book does Edmund's sister read?

4. What is the children's room like?

5. What street does Edmund live on?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the locked-room mystery engage the reader?

2. Why do you think the author sets up the prologue so that all of Edmund's female family members are missing?

3. How do you think the novel would be different if there were no prologue?

4. What is the significance of the fact that both Edmund and Dupin have an important person in their lives whom they call Sis?

5. What can the reader deduce about the real-life Poe from part one of the novel?

6. Do you think the story would be as effective if it were set in a different time period?

7. Why do you think Edmund continues to trust Dupin, even after reading in Dupin's notebook in Chapter Nine that Dupin thinks his story should end with Sis' death?

8. Do you think Edmund should have stopped to help the old man before returning home?

9. Why do you think Poe chooses to go by the name of his fictional detective?

10. Based on the prologue, what do you think is the author's opinion of Poe as a writer?

(see the answer keys)

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