The Hobbit, Chapter 10: A Warm Welcome quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. What do some of the people along the river blame the recent earthquakes on?

   • The Wood-elves digging new cellars
   • Correct answer: The dragon in the Mountain
   • Goblins tunnelling under the hills
   • The great floods and rains

   Some were inclined to blame the earthquakes on the dragon, mentioning him with a curse and an ominous nod toward the Mountain.

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2. 2

   Question 2. When Thorin tells the captain the company carries no weapons, what is Bilbo keeping quiet about?

   • Correct answer: His short sword, hidden as usual
   • A bow and arrows that Beorn gave them
   • A small dagger borrowed from Kili
   • The great sword Orcrist

   The elves had taken the dwarves' knives and Orcrist, but Bilbo still had his short sword hidden and said nothing about it.

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3. 3

   Question 3. Which dwarf loses patience with the captain and tells him to hurry to the Master?

   • Balin
   • Kili
   • Dwalin
   • Correct answer: Fili

   Fili, impatient at the formalities, says they are worn and famished and have sick comrades, and warns the captain to make haste.

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4. 4

   Question 4. How does Thorin answer the elves who call the dwarves escaped prisoners?

   • He offers to pay the Elvenking for the barrels
   • He says Bilbo alone planned the whole escape
   • Correct answer: He says the town is not in the Wood-elves' realm
   • He claims the Elvenking set them free that very morning

   Thorin says they were wrongly imprisoned and that he speaks to the Master of the Men of the Lake, not to the elves, since the town is not in the Wood-elves' realm.

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5. 5

   Question 5. What does the market-place of Lake-town turn out to be?

   • A covered hall at the end of the bridge
   • A paved square beside the great bridge
   • Correct answer: A wide circle of quiet water among tall piles
   • A row of stalls along the lake shore

   The market-place is a wide circle of quiet water ringed by the tall piles of the greater houses and by wooden quays.

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6. 6

   Question 6. While the dwarves stay in Lake-town, what is Bilbo careful never to do?

   • Sing the old songs
   • Correct answer: Become invisible
   • Mention Gandalf
   • Leave the house

   Nothing was said about keys or barrels, and Bilbo was careful never to become invisible, so he stayed a bit of a mystery.

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7. 7

   Question 7. How does the Master feel when Thorin says the company must go on to the Mountain?

   • Correct answer: Surprised and a little frightened, for the first time
   • Eager to send his own soldiers along with them
   • Disappointed that the long holiday is ending
   • Angry that the dwarves will not pay their bill

   He had expected the dwarves to be exposed as frauds, so for the first time he wonders whether Thorin really descends from the old kings.

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8. 8

   Question 8. In his farewell speech, what does the Master say he trusts Thorin to give in return for the town's help?

   • A promise to make peace with the Elvenking
   • Dwarf soldiers to guard the town's bridge
   • A share of the hoard paid in advance
   • Correct answer: His gratitude once his kingdom is regained

   The Master offers what help the town can give and adds that they trust to Thorin's gratitude when his kingdom is regained.

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9. 9

   Question 9. Which of these events actually happen in Chapter 10?

   • Bilbo frees the dwarves after the elves of the raft go off to feast in town.

     Happened

     After the elves of the raft and the boatmen went off to feast in Lake-town, Bilbo cut a barrel loose that night and began getting the dwarves out.

   • The guards at the bridge recognise Thorin as their king the moment they see him.

     Didn't happen

     The guards were drinking by their fire and were astonished when Thorin stepped in, shouting to ask who he was and groping for weapons.

   • The Elvenking sends spies about the lake shores and toward the Mountain.

     Happened

     The Elvenking sent out his spies about the shores of the lake and as far northward toward the Mountain as they would go, and waited.

   • The Master offers to guide the company to the Mountain himself.

     Didn't happen

     The Master offered what help the town could give, but he only bade the company farewell from the great steps of the town-hall.

   • Bilbo's cold keeps him from going out for three days.

     Happened

     Bilbo had a shocking cold, and for three days he sneezed and coughed and could not go out.

   • The company leaves Lake-town on ponies by way of the great bridge.

     Didn't happen

     The company left in three large boats going north up the lake, while horses and ponies were sent round by other paths to meet them.

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10. 10

    Question 10. What does 'ominous' mean in: 'an ominous nod in the direction of the Mountain'?

    • Proud and full of respect
    • Friendly and welcoming
    • Correct answer: Hinting that trouble is coming
    • Quick and hard to notice

    Ominous means suggesting that something bad will happen; the nod toward the Mountain points at the dragon.

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11. 11

    Question 11. What does 'enmity' mean in: 'the Master wished for no enmity with him'?

    • A debt of money owed to someone
    • A trade agreement
    • A formal visit
    • Correct answer: Hostility or ill will

    Enmity is hostility between people; the Master did not want the powerful Elvenking as an enemy.

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12. 12

    Question 12. What does 'clamour' mean in: 'to obey the general clamour'?

    • Correct answer: A loud public outcry or demand
    • A written law of the town council
    • A quiet agreement among leaders
    • A secret vote held by the guards

    Clamour is a loud, insistent demand from many people; the whole town was shouting for Thorin.

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