The Secret of the Old Clock, Chapter XV. A Desperate Situation quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. What is Nancy about to do when she sees the robber coming?

   • Call Helen from the bungalow telephone
   • Search the attic one more time
   • Correct answer: Leave and report the robbery to the police
   • Look for the caretaker in the woods behind the house

   She decides to drive to the nearest town and report the robbery, and is heading for the door.

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2. 2

   Question 2. Why does Nancy end up hiding in the closet?

   • She wants to listen to the robbers' plans
   • The front door is locked from the outside
   • She thinks the clock might be inside it
   • Correct answer: The bedroom has no outside door and the man has reached the porch

   She runs into the bedroom, finds no outside door, and the man is already at the steps.

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3. 3

   Question 3. Where have the robbers hidden their van?

   • Correct answer: In the bushes
   • Behind the boathouse
   • On the far side of the lake
   • In the Tophams' garage

   One man complains the leader made them leave it hidden in the bushes so no one on the road would see.

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4. 4

   Question 4. What gives Nancy away to the robber leader?

   • Her roadster parked out by the road
   • Correct answer: A muffled sneeze from the closet
   • Her handkerchief left on the floor
   • A creaking board under her feet

   At that fateful moment there came a muffled sneeze from the closet.

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5. 5

   Question 5. What does Nancy call the robber after he catches her?

   • Correct answer: A common thief she will turn over to the police
   • A friend of the Topham family
   • A liar who will surely be punished by the courts someday
   • A coward who runs from children

   She cries, "You're nothing but a common thief, and if I get the chance I'll turn you and your gang over to the police!"

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6. 6

   Question 6. What threat does the robber make about the caretaker?

   • That the caretaker is one of his gang
   • That the caretaker will guard her closet
   • Correct answer: That he will do with Nancy as he did the caretaker
   • That the caretaker has already called the police

   He says, "I'll do with you as I did the caretaker," but won't explain what he means.

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7. 7

   Question 7. How does Nancy try to escape?

   • She throws the old fur cap in his face and hides
   • She calls loudly for Helen and the other campers
   • She climbs out through the closet window
   • Correct answer: She jerks her wrists free and runs for the door

   With a quick upward jerk she frees her wrists and darts for the door, but he catches her.

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8. 8

   Question 8. What does 'refuge' mean in: 'The bedroom closet offered the only possible refuge'?

   • A place to store clothes
   • Correct answer: A safe place to hide
   • A way out of the house
   • A place to rest and sleep

   The closet is the only place where Nancy can hide from the robber.

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9. 9

   Question 9. What does 'berated' mean in: 'he berated them savagely'?

   • Correct answer: Scolded angrily
   • Paid
   • Helped
   • Praised warmly and often

   The leader angrily scolds his men for not moving fast enough.

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10. 10

    Question 10. Which of these events happen in Chapter 15?

    • Nancy watches the robbers through a crack in the closet door.

      Happened

    • Nancy escapes through a window and runs to her car.

      Didn't happen

    • The robber leader locks and bolts the closet door.

      Happened

    • The robbers carry the Crowley clock out in front of Nancy.

      Didn't happen

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