English Four Story Test Study Guide

What can you infer about the brother and sister's economic status in House Taken Over?

They have enough money to live comfortably

In House Taken Over, what do the narrator and his sister do when the back section of the house is taken over?

They move into the other part of the house

Which of the following things would most likely be described as obscure?

A rare book

Which of the following would be an example of a tumultuous event?

A storm so loud that it's hard to hear others speaking

When Tom imagined the report of "the contents of the dead man's pocket", he realizes that...

D-his priorities in his life have been foolish

Which answer means the opposite of reveling?

D-miserable

When Tom first goes out on the ledge, he sees his action as mainly...

D-practical

Why does Nuttel try to change the topic from the tragedy?

A- he has weak nerves

Why is Nuttel so surprised to hear that there was a tragedy in the house?

A-The house seems so peaceful

When Mrs. Sappleton exclaims "Here they are at last!", Nuttel thinks she...

A-is crazy

Which answer means the opposite of taut?

A-loose

What does it mean to be duly suspicious?

A-rightfully suspicious

Someone with an infirmity is most likely

A-sick

When Tom reaches the paper and bends to retrieve it, he suddenly realizes...

A-that his life is truly at risk

Give an example of an external conflict in Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket and explain how it effects the plot.

And example of an external conflict is Tom's disagreement with his wife about going to the movie. Because of this conflict, Tom is faced with the choice to go with his wife or stay home and work.

A word that means the same as self possessed is...

B-controlled

Why does Tom want to spend the evening working?

B-he is eager to finish his proposal

Tom decides to take the risk involved in trying to break the window because...

B-he knows he will fall unless he can get inside

Wide, open, rolling, and often marshy land is known as...

B-moor

Which answer means the opposite of improvised?

B-rehearsed

What does Frampton Nuttel know about the Sappleton's when he first arrives?

B-their name and address

In Fall of the House of Usher, what does Usher say is his biggest fear?

Being frightened to death

How are the houses similar in Fall of the House of Usher and House Taken Over? Choose two options

Both are large and reflect the wealth of the owners - AND - both have long been in the owners' families?

What lie does Vera tell her aunt at the end of the story?

C-Nuttel is afraid of dogs

Walking back to the window is more difficult than walking away from it mainly because of a change in...

C-Tom's attitude

According to the story, what quality makes Vera such a good liar?

C-her self possession

An imminent event is likely to happen

C-in the immediate future

Claire's response to Tom's desire to stay home is one of...

C-regret

Which answer means the opposite of pent up?

C-released

At the beginning of House Taken Over, how do the narrator and his sister Irene spend most of the days? Choose two options.

Cleaning - AND - maybe knitting, shopping, sleeping?

Which of the following words best describes the mood, or overall feeling, established in House Taken Over?

Creepy

Who does Nuttel first meet when he arrives at the Sappleton's home?

D-Vera, the niece

Which is the most accurate description of the ending of Fall of the House of Usher?

During a storm, the barely perceptible fissure in the facade of the house widens until the house collapses

How do Fall of the House of Usher and House Taken Over differ in their approach to describing events, characters, and places?

Fall of the House of Usher vividly depicts frightening events, while House Taken Over calmly depicts a growing threat

Which aspects of Roderick Usher's character most clearly illustrate elements of Gothic literature? Choose two options.

Roderick fears that unnatural forces control his home - AND - Rodrick lives in a gloomy ancestral home far from populated areas?

Read the following excerpt from House Taken Over. "I went down to the kitchen, heated the kettle, and when I got back with the tray of mate, I told Irene, "I had to shut the door to the passage. They've taken over the back part."" After reading this excerpt, how would you describe the narrator's reaction after the back section of the house is taken over?

He is surprisingly calm

At the beginning of Fall of the House of Usher, what does the narrator do?

He travels to visit Roderick at the Usher's family home

Read the following quotation from near the end of House Taken Over. "We had we had. I remembered fifteen thousand pesos in the wardrobe in my bedroom. Too late now." What does this detail suggest about the force or creature that has invaded the house of the narrator and his sister?

It is terrifying enough to make them forget valued possessions

If a room can be accurately described as spacious, which of the following must be true?

Many people must be able to fit in the room

What is the narrative tone of House Taken Over that contributes most clearly to the magical realism of the story?

Matter of fact even when describing mysterious events

Which phrase best describes Usher's state of mind in Fall of the House of Usher?

Nervous and agitated

Which of the following is the most accurate description of what happens to Madeline Usher?

She appears to die, is mistakenly entombed but then revives and forces her way to freedom before dying

Which excerpt from the story best supports the answer to the previous question? (Roderick's disturbing idea that house has awareness)

The belief was connected... with the gray stones of the home of his forefathers. The conditions of the sentience had been here, he imagined, fulfilled in the method of collection of these stones...

What is realistic about House Taken Over?

The brother and sister keep cleaning house and working on hobbies

If a storm were to annihilate a building, which of the following would most likely be the result?

The building would be reduced to small fragments

The Open Window contains two flashbacks. One flashback describes the discussion between Nuttel and his sister; the other describes a great tragedy. What are two differences between the flashbacks?

The flashback of the discussion between Nuttel and her sister is a true event that is told by a narrator. The flashback of the great tragedy is a false event told by a character.

What happens in House Taken Over that demonstrates most clearly that it is a story of magical realism?

The routine, ordinary lives of the characters contrast with the unreal and frightening takeover of the house

In House Taken Over, which of the following details most clearly suggest that the narrator and his sister are nervous and afraid? Choose two options

They prefer to spend time in their rooms - AND - they often can't fall asleep and have trouble sleeping peacefully?

Give an example of an internal conflict in Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket and explain its effect on the plot.

Tom's guilt over choosing to stay home and work on a project rather than go with his wife is an internal conflict. This conflict confuses Tom, leading him to ignore his own safety and go out on the ledge to get the paper.

In Fall of the House of Usher, which of the following is one of Roderick Usher's disturbing ideas?

Usher believes that house has awareness, like a living thing

In Fall of the House of Usher, which details of the house's interior seem to reflect Usher's appearance and the condition of his mind?

Usher's physical and mental deterioration is reflected in the gloomy darkness, lack of comfort, and old, worn out possessions

Which of the following is a defining element of Gothic literature that is clearly illustrated by Fall of the House of Usher?

Weird or otherworldly occurrences