The Hidden Staircase, Chapter XIII. Another Surprise quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. Why does Nancy think her father should have reached Cliffwood already?

   • Correct answer: Even the slowest train would have brought him by now
   • He always telephones the moment he arrives anywhere
   • Hannah told her that he planned to drive straight there
   • The Chicago firm said he would arrive that very morning

   If he left Chicago two days before, he would have reached Cliffwood even on the slowest train.

   Read the passage
2. 2

   Question 2. When were Floretta's dresses taken from her room?

   • While Nancy was away in Cliffwood
   • While the iceman was in the kitchen
   • During the night, while everyone slept
   • Correct answer: While the sisters were at breakfast

   Floretta says someone entered her room and took the dresses while they were at breakfast.

   Read the passage
3. 3

   Question 3. What does Nancy say about canaries when Floretta is afraid of them?

   • They carry diseases and must be kept outdoors
   • They belong to someone who lives in Cliffwood
   • Correct answer: They are rather happy birds, and these are tame
   • They are a sign that the ghost has gone away

   Nancy says she never heard of a canary called an omen of bad luck; a canary is a rather happy little bird.

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4. 4

   Question 4. Why might real estate men want to buy The Mansion cheaply?

   • To give it to their own families as a home
   • Correct answer: To sell it to the city for a museum at a profit
   • To tear it down and build new houses on the land
   • To turn it into a hotel for summer visitors

   Nancy says they hope to get it cheap and sell it to the city, which may want a historical museum.

   Read the passage
5. 5

   Question 5. What happened when Gombet said he would sue the sisters over the option?

   • A judge fined him for telling lies about them
   • The sisters paid him money to drop the matter
   • Correct answer: Nothing ever came of his threat to sue
   • He won in court and took part of their land

   Rosemary says the matter never went to court; Gombet threatened to sue, but nothing came of it.

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6. 6

   Question 6. Why does Rosemary doubt that Gombet could be behind the trouble?

   • The sheriff has promised to watch his house
   • He made the sisters a fair offer last spring
   • She knows he is away on a trip to Chicago
   • Correct answer: He has not been near them for some time

   Rosemary says she does not see what opportunity he has had, since he has not been near them.

   Read the passage
7. 7

   Question 7. Why does Nancy decide Gombet is the best lead to follow?

   • The real estate men warned her to watch him
   • Correct answer: He has a motive and no sense of honor to stop him
   • He sent the sisters an angry letter earlier this week
   • The sheriff told her he had been caught stealing

   Nancy says Gombet has the motive and lacks any sense of honor that would keep him from hurting the sisters.

   Read the passage
8. 8

   Question 8. What does 'assailed' mean in: 'Worry assailed her anew.'?

   • Correct answer: Attacked her strongly
   • Made her feel sleepy
   • Made her laugh again
   • Left her for a while

   Worry hits Nancy hard all over again after she reads the telegram.

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9. 9

   Question 9. What does 'shrewdly' mean in: 'Nancy summarized shrewdly'?

   • Correct answer: In a clever, sharp-minded way
   • In a loud and angry voice
   • In a shy and quiet manner
   • In a cruel and mocking tone

   Nancy quickly and cleverly sees why the real estate men want the house cheap.

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10. 10

    Question 10. Which of these events happen in Chapter 13?

    • Nancy sets two canaries free through the window.

      Happened

    • Floretta finds her missing dresses folded in the attic.

      Didn't happen

    • Rosemary tells Nancy that Gombet once threatened them.

      Happened

    • Nancy writes a letter to John O'Conley about the house.

      Didn't happen

    Read the passage