The Hobbit, Chapter 14: Fire and Water quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. When the grim-voiced man runs hotfoot to the Master, what does he urge the town to do?

   • Correct answer: Cut the bridges and take up arms at once
   • Sail every boat out onto the lake
   • Ring the bells to welcome the returning King
   • Light signal fires and send riders to the Elves

   He cries that the dragon is coming and shouts, Cut the bridges! To arms! Trumpets then sound the warning.

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2. 2

   Question 2. Why does Smaug not plunge into the lake to reach the people on their island town?

   • He fears the archers lined up along the shore
   • He is too weary from his long flight to swim
   • He wants to keep his jewelled belly from rusting
   • Correct answer: The deep, cool lake would quench his fire first

   The narrator says the lake was mightier than he and would quench him before he could pass through, so he attacks from the air.

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3. 3

   Question 3. Why is Bard able to understand what the old thrush tells him?

   • The thrush speaks the Lake-men's language
   • He wears an elf-made ring that lets him hear what birds say
   • Correct answer: He is of the race of Dale, so he knows its tongue
   • A wizard once taught him the speech of all beasts and birds

   The text says he could understand its tongue because he was of the race of Dale.

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4. 4

   Question 4. When the crowd cheers for King Bard, what does the Master say Bard should do?

   • Lead the army north at once to claim the treasure for the town
   • Correct answer: Return to his own kingdom of Dale, now freed by his valour
   • Wait for the Elvenking to decide who should rule over the lake
   • Become captain of the whole town guard, serving under the Master

   The Master says Girion was lord of Dale, not king of Esgaroth, so King Bard should go back to Dale with any who wish to follow.

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5. 5

   Question 5. When the people turn on Thorin's company, what does Bard say about the dwarves?

   • They are hiding in the Mountain with all of the gold
   • Correct answer: They surely perished in fire before Smaug came to the lake
   • They should be hunted down and made to pay for the town
   • They stole the black arrow from his father long ago

   Bard calls the crowd fools and says the unhappy dwarves doubtless perished in fire before Smaug came to them.

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6. 6

   Question 6. About how many of the town's people escaped alive from the ruin of Esgaroth?

   • Nearly every one of them
   • About a quarter of them
   • Roughly half of them
   • Correct answer: About three quarters

   The narrator says three quarters of the people had at least escaped alive, along with most of their boats, fields and cattle.

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7. 7

   Question 7. How do most of the Elvenking's host travel from the Forest to the Long Lake?

   • Correct answer: On foot, while great store of goods goes ahead by water
   • On the backs of eagles summoned from the mountains
   • In boats borrowed from the Lake-men's own fleet
   • On rafts of barrels floated down the Forest River

   He had not boats or rafts enough for his host, so they went the slower way by foot, sending goods ahead by water.

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8. 8

   Question 8. Which of these events actually happen in Chapter 14?

   • A sweep of Smaug's tail brings down the roof of the Great House.

     Happened

     As Smaug sweeps back over the town, a sweep of his tail makes the roof of the Great House crumble and smash down.

   • The Master stays among the burning houses to fight beside the archers.

     Didn't happen

     The Master turns to his great gilded boat, hoping to row away and save himself, and the people later blame him for leaving the town so soon.

   • Bard dives from the town into the lake and survives the dragon's fall.

     Happened

     Bard later steps from the shadows, drenched with water, and says he dived from Esgaroth when the enemy was slain.

   • Smaug lands on the town bridge, which collapses under his weight.

     Didn't happen

     The bridge to the land was thrown down before Smaug came, and when the black arrow strikes him the dragon falls full on the town itself.

   • The elves reach the ruined town the very next morning after Smaug dies.

     Didn't happen

     The elves come upon the shores of the lake only five days after the death of the dragon.

   • The survivors begin building huts on the shore against the coming winter.

     Happened

     Those who stay behind with the Master fell trees and raise many huts by the shore against the oncoming winter.

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9. 9

   Question 9. What does 'hotfoot' mean in 'the grim-voiced fellow ran hotfoot to the Master'?

   • Barefoot over the hot ground
   • Slowly and with great care
   • Correct answer: In great haste, very fast
   • Quietly, trying to hide

   Hotfoot means in great haste. Bard rushes to warn the Master that the dragon is coming.

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10. 10

    Question 10. What does 'foiled' mean in 'swept towards the bridges and was foiled!'?

    • Correct answer: Stopped from carrying out his plan
    • Covered in a thin layer of shining metal
    • Badly wounded by a great many arrows
    • Greatly pleased by what he saw below

    Foiled means prevented from succeeding. Smaug cannot attack across the bridge because it has been destroyed.

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11. 11

    Question 11. What does 'deposed' mean when the Master asks, 'For what fault am I to be deposed?'

    • Made to pay for a loss or damage
    • Questioned under oath in a court
    • Correct answer: Removed from his position of power
    • Praised in public for his service

    To be deposed is to be removed from office. The crowd wants Bard as king instead of the Master.

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