Lord of the Flies, Chapter 7: Shadows and Tall Trees quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. What does Ralph experience for the first time in Chapter 7?

   • Speaking against Jack in front of the group
   • Correct answer: The thrill of participating in a hunt
   • Swimming in the ocean at night
   • Climbing the mountain alone

   Ralph strikes a boar with his spear for the first time and feels an unexpected rush of excitement and pride, revealing his susceptibility to the same savage impulses as the other boys.

   Read the passage
2. 2

   Question 2. What reassurance does Simon give Ralph?

   • Correct answer: That Ralph will get back to where he came from
   • That Jack will eventually give up his rebellion
   • That a ship will come within the week
   • That the beast is not real

   Simon quietly tells Ralph, 'You'll get back to where you came from,' demonstrating his intuitive, almost prophetic nature.

   Read the passage
3. 3

   Question 3. Who plays the role of the pig in the boys' mock hunt?

   • Roger
   • Maurice
   • Piggy
   • Correct answer: Robert

   Robert acts as the boar in the reenactment of the hunt. The game escalates into real violence and Robert is genuinely hurt before the boys stop.

   Read the passage
4. 4

   Question 4. What do Ralph, Jack, and Roger find at the top of the mountain?

   • The wreckage of the plane that brought them to the island
   • A signal fire still burning
   • Correct answer: A dead parachutist whose chute moves in the wind
   • A large wild pig asleep in the rocks

   The dead parachutist's body and billowing parachute create the illusion of a living creature, which the boys mistake for the beast.

   Read the passage
5. 5

   Question 5. How does Jack undermine Ralph's authority in this chapter?

   • Correct answer: By questioning Ralph's courage and goading him into climbing the mountain at night
   • By sending Simon off alone through the forest so that Ralph has fewer supporters
   • By refusing to share the pig meat with anyone who had not joined in the hunting
   • By persuading Piggy and the littluns to abandon the shelters and follow the hunters

   Jack manipulates Ralph by calling his bravery into question, forcing Ralph to abandon his cautious approach and act recklessly to prove himself.

   Read the passage
6. 6

   Question 6. What does the ocean symbolize when Ralph contemplates it in Chapter 7?

   • The possibility of rescue lying just beyond the horizon
   • Unlimited freedom and adventure without adult supervision
   • Correct answer: The boys' isolation and the impossibility of rescue
   • Nature's generosity in providing the boys with food

   Ralph stares at the vast, indifferent ocean and feels deep despair, recognizing it as an impenetrable barrier between the boys and civilization.

   Read the passage
7. 7

   Question 7. Why does Simon set off alone through the forest late in the day?

   • To search the mountain for the beast before the others
   • Correct answer: To tell Piggy that the others will be back after dark
   • To fetch Piggy's glasses so the fire can be relit
   • To find the pig-run that Jack followed to castle rock

   Stopped by a cliff far from the shelters, Ralph decides that someone must cross the island and tell Piggy they will be back after dark. Simon volunteers at once and climbs into the forest before Ralph can reply.

   Read the passage
8. 8

   Question 8. Which of these events actually happened in this chapter?

   • In Chapter 7, the boys successfully kill the boar they are tracking.

     Didn't happen

     Although Ralph hits the boar on the snout with his spear, the animal escapes. The boys then reenact the hunt using Robert as a stand-in for the pig.

   • Ralph, Jack, and Roger all flee in terror after seeing the figure on the mountaintop.

     Happened

     All three boys are terrified by the sight of the dead parachutist moving in the wind and run back down the mountain, convinced they have seen the beast.

   Read the passage
9. 9

   Question 9. What does 'bravado' mean as used to describe Ralph's voice in Chapter 7?

   • Reckless foolishness that ignores obvious danger through poor judgment
   • Timid hesitation, usually disguised behind polite excuses or delay
   • Genuine, unshakable courage that remains steady when real danger arrives
   • Correct answer: A bold manner or display of courage, often intended to impress or mislead

   When Ralph says "We'll go and look," he surprises himself with the bravado of its intention -- a show of courage he does not fully feel, since moments earlier fear had left him shaken.

   Read the passage
10. 10

    Question 10. What does 'antagonism' mean?

    • Correct answer: Active hostility or opposition between people or sides
    • Nervous apprehension about what might happen next
    • Loyal cooperation between partners or allies
    • Extreme suffering of mind or body; anguish

    When Jack sneers at him about the mountain, Ralph senses "the rising antagonism" and understands that this is how Jack feels as soon as he stops being the leader.

    Read the passage
11. 11

    Question 11. What does 'furtive' mean?

    • Relaxed and composed, showing no anxiety under pressure
    • Openly defiant, as if daring others to notice and object
    • Correct answer: Attempting to avoid notice, typically due to guilt or fear
    • Deliberately noisy, intended to attract everyone's attention

    After muttering that he will be sucking his thumb next, Ralph looks round furtively -- secretly and nervously -- hoping no one has heard him.

    Read the passage