wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

NEW

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Sherlock Holmes Review

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 1hrs 3mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Read this sentence from paragraph 236:

"For half an hour I sat with straining ears."


Which meaning of the word "straining" best fits this context?

a)

Stretching

b)

Filtering

c)

Hard-working

d)

Painful

2.

Select the paragraph that BEST shows the slow passage of time during the vigil.

a)
b)
c)
3.

Read this sentence from paragraph 238:

"At the moment when Holmes struck the light I heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my weary eyes made it impossible for me to tell what it was at which my friend lashed so savagely.”


What does the word "weary" suggest about Watson?

a)

He is physically exhausted.

b)

He is tired of trying to solve the case.

c)

He has always had poor vision.

d)

He has always had perfect vision.

4.

If "The Speckled Band" were staged as a play, at what point would there MOST likely be a change of scene?

a)

Between paragraphs 243 and 244

b)

Between paragraphs 240 and 241

c)

Between paragraphs 246 and 247

d)

Between paragraphs 250 and 251

5.

Which background sounds would add the MOST important clue about the murder if included in an audio recording of this story?

a)

“the occasional cry of a night bird, and once at our very window a long drawn catlike whine” (235)

b)

“the deep tones of the parish clock, which boomed out every quarter of an hour” (235)

c)

“a gentle sound of movement, and then all was silent once more” (236)

d)

“a very gentle, soothing sound, like that of a small jet of steam escaping continually from a kettle” (236)

6.

This question has two parts.Part 1: Reread paragraphs 245 and 246. What is the meaning of the word "den" in paragraph 245?

a)

A TV room

b)

An animal whip

c)

To burrow into

d)

An animal's home

7.

Part 2: Which word from these paragraphs provides the best context clue to help you to know what "den" means in this passage?

a)

Pit

b)

Safe

c)

Lap

d)

Perch

e)

Shelter

8.

How does paragraph 248 contribute to the story?

a)

It establishes the setting.

b)

It resolves the conflict.

c)

It explains how Sherlock Holmes solves the case.

d)

It shows Watson’s reaction to Holmes’ impressive detective work.

9.

Read this excerpt from paragraph 248:

“My attention was speedily drawn, as I have already remarked to you, to this ventilator, and to the bell-rope which hung down to the bed. The discovery that this was a dummy, and that the bed was clamped to the floor, instantly gave rise to the suspicion that the rope was there as a bridge for something passing through the hole and coming to the bed.”


Which meaning of the word "dummy" best fits this context?

a)

Stupid

b)

Silent

c)

Fake

d)

Mannequin

10.

Read this sentence from paragraph 248:

“The idea of using a form of poison which could not possibly be discovered by any chemical test was just such a one as would occur to a clever and ruthless man who had had an Eastern training.”


The word "ruthless" suggests that Dr. Grimesby Roylott was cruel. Which word could replace "ruthless"?

a)

Intelligent

b)

Destructive

c)

Incompetent

d)

Heartless

11.

This question has two parts.

Part 1: Read this excerpt from paragraph 248:

“Of course he must recall the snake before the morning light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned.”


In this context, "recall" is used to mean which of the following?

a)

Remember

b)

Bring back

c)

Begin again

d)

Explain

12.

Part 2: Which word from the excerpt provides the BEST context clue for the meaning of "recall"?

“Of course he must recall the snake before the morning light revealed it to the victim. He had trained it, probably by the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned.”

a)

Morning

b)

Revealed

c)

Trained

d)

Return

13.

Which of the following is NOT an important clue that helped Sherlock Holmes to solve the case?

a)

The “gipsies” camping nearby

b)

The footprints on the chair

c)

The saucer of milk

d)

The ventilator between rooms

14.

What does comparison mean?

a)

To find differences

b)

To find similarities

15.

What does contrast mean?

a)

To find similarities

b)

To find differences

16.

What does context mean?

a)

an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.

b)

the circumstances that form the setting for an event, statement, or idea, and in terms of which it can be fully understood and assessed.

17.

What is a scene?

a)

the place where an incident in real life or fiction occurs or occurred.

b)

a brief statement or account of the main points of something

18.

What is plot?

a)

the main events of a play, novel, movie, or similar work, devised and presented by the writer as an interrelated sequence.

b)

the atmosphere or pervading tone of something, especially a work of art.

19.

What is theme?

a)

a set of principles on which the practice of an activity is based.

b)

the subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person's thoughts, or an exhibition; a topic.

20.

What is a character?

a)

a person in a novel, play, or movie.

b)

the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.