Worksheets"The Landlady" Review for Test
Total questions: 37
Worksheet time: 20mins
How does the point of view of the story contribute to the suspense?
because the story is written in the first person point of view, the reader understands the apprehension that Billy feels while staying at the bed and breakfast
because the story is written in the third person point of view, tension is created because the reader is unaware of the landlady’s true intentions
because the story is written in the third person point of view, the reader is aware of the landlady’s sinister plans for Billy
because the story is written in the first person point of view, suspense is created because the reader is aware that the landlady has poisoned the tea
Which of the following sentences should NOT be included in a summary of “The Landlady”?
Billy comes to town on business, and he ends up staying at a bed and breakfast.
Originally, Billy was planning on staying at a pub called the Bell and Dragon.
The landlady of the bed and breakfast appears to be kind and gentle, and the place is warm and welcoming.
Billy feels frustrated when he recognizes names of two other men that are on the guestbook because he cannot remember how he knows them.
Billy soon discovers that not everything is as it appears to be when he finds out that all of the animals are stuffed.
How does the following dialogue propel the action?
“But before you go to bed, would you be kind enough to pop into the sitting-room on the ground floor and sign the book? Everyone has to do that because it’s the law of the land, and we don’t want to go breaking any laws at this stage in the proceedings, do we?” She gave him a little wave of the hand and went quickly out of the room and closed the door.
because Billy has to sign the book, he will have to pay the landlady the full amount for the room
because Billy has to sign the book, the landlady will now have the opportunity to find out his name
because Billy has to come downstairs again, he will feel obligated to tell the landlady about his reason for the visit
because Billy has to come downstairs again, the landlady now has an opportunity to give him some tea
What does the word "earnestly" most likely mean in the quote below?
“I’m so glad you appeared,” she said, looking earnestly into his face. “I was beginning to get worried.”
full of sorrow
sincerely and seriously
compassionately and heartfelt
in a confused manner
PART A: What can the reader assume happened to the other guests of the landlady, Mr. Mulholland and Mr. Temple?
They were drafted into the army, and so they had to leave the bed and breakfast.
The landlady married Mr. Mullholland, so Mr. Temple left the bed and breakfast.
The landlady poisoned them and kept their stuffed corpses.
The landlady has kidnapped them, and they are alive on the third floor.
PART B: Which piece of evidence best support the inference in Part A?
“He’s still here. Mr. Temple is also here. They’re on the third floor, both of them together.”
“Oh, it’s the perfect age! Mr Mulholland was also seventeen.”
“Never in my life have I seen anyone drink as much tea as dear, sweet Mr Mulholland.”
Christopher Mulholland, 231 Cathedral Road, Cardiff. Gregory W. Temple, 27 Sycamore Drive, Bristol.
Which of the following TWO lines of text reveal the landlady’s concern for appearance?
“And what about supper, my dear? Did you manage to get anything to eat before you came here?”
“You have the most beautiful teeth, Mr Weaver, did you know that?”
“His skin was just like a baby’s.”
Now, the fact that his landlady appeared to be slightly off her rocker didn’t worry Billy in the least.
Which word could replace the word “lapsed” in the sentence below?
He waited for her to say something else, but she seemed to have lapsed into another of her silences.
continued
learned
finished
fallen
Which of the following lines reveals the landlady’s possible plan to poison Billy?
“How time does fly away from us all, doesn’t it, Mr Wilkins?”
“I’ve put a water bottle between the sheets to air them out, Mr Weaver."
“I’ll leave you now so that you can unpack.”
The tea tasted faintly of bitter almonds, and he didn’t much care for it.
What does the word “tantalising” most likely mean in the passage below?
“I’m almost positive it was in the newspapers I saw them,” Billy said. “I’ll think of it in a second.
I’m sure I will.” There is nothing more tantalising than a thing like this which lingers just outside the
borders of one’s memory. He hated to give up.
exciting; enjoyable
tormenting; teasingly out of reach
delicious; satisfying an urge
depressing; filled with sorrow
What does the phrase “it rings a bell” most likely mean in the excerpt below?
That’s funny, he thought suddenly. Christopher Mulholland. It rings a bell. Now where on earth had he heard that rather unusual name before?
bothers or annoys someone
is factual
is full of opinions
sounds familiar
What does the phrase “off her rocker” most likely mean in the excerpt below?
Now, the fact that his landlady appeared to be slightly off her rocker didn’t worry Billy in the least. After all, she was not only harmless – there was no question about that – but she was also quite obviously a kind and generous soul.
crazy
jolly
evil
intelligent
Which TWO pieces of evidence support the inference that Billy felt such a strong draw to stay at the bed and breakfast that he could not resist the urge?
The compulsion or, more accurately, the desire to follow after her into that house was extraordinarily strong.
He had stayed a couple of nights in a pub once before and he had liked it.
The room itself, so far as he could see in the half-darkness, was filled with pleasant furniture.
Each word was like a large black eye staring at him through the glass, holding him, compelling him, forcing him to stay where he was and not to walk away from that house.
PART A: How does the following excerpt propel the action in the story?
It was fantastically cheap. It was less than half of what he had been willing to pay.
the cost of the room provokes Billy to decide to go to the pub, The Bell and Dragon, instead
the cost of the room provokes Billy to make the decision to stay at the bed and breakfast and not the pub
the location of the bed and breakfast prompts Billy to stay there so he doesn’t have to walk any farther
the location of the bed and breakfast is inconvenient for Billy, but he decides to stay there anyway because the landlady reminds him of his friend’s mother
PART B: What character trait is displayed by Billy in the excerpt in Part A?
lazy
sentimental
anxious
frugal
How does the description of the setting in the excerpt below impact the tone of the text?
Billy Weaver had travelled down from London on the slow afternoon train, with a change at Swindon on the way, and by the time he got to Bath it was about nine o’clock in the evening and the moon was coming up out of a clear starry sky over the houses opposite the station entrance. But the air was deadly cold and the wind was like a flat blade of ice on his cheeks.
phrases such as “in the evening” and “moon was coming” create a bewildered tone
phrases such as “clear starry sky” and “station entrance” create a peaceful tone
phrases such as “deadly cold” and “blade of ice” create an ominous tone
phrases such as “traveled down” and “slow afternoon train” create an informal tone
Which of the following TWO pieces of evidence support the inference that Billy is a stranger to this town?
There were no shops on this wide street that he was walking along, only a line of tall houses on each side, all them identical.
He didn’t know anyone who lived there.
Certainly it would be more comfortable than The Bell and Dragon.
“...is there a fairly cheap hotel not too far away from here?”
PART A: What does the word “illuminated” mean in the following passage?
Suddenly, in a downstairs window that was brilliantly illuminated by a street-lamp not six yards away, Billy caught sight of a printed notice propped up against the glass in one of the upper panes. It said BED AND BREAKFAST.
clouded
lit
startled
next to
PART B: Which word helps put the word “illuminated” into context?
"window"
"street-lamp"
"notice"
"glass"
Choose one quote that foreshadows that something bad might happen to Billy at the bed and breakfast.
I’m a lucky fellow, he thought, rubbing his hands.
Briskness, he had decided, was the one common characteristic of all successful businessmen.
There was a vase of yellow chrysanthemums, tall and beautiful, standing just underneath the notice.
He had never stayed in any boarding-houses, and, to be perfectly honest, he was a tiny bit frightened of them.
PART A: Which of the following represents a theme of “The Landlady”?
a kind word never goes unnoticed
life is full of surprises when you leave things up to chance
appearances can be deceiving
dishonesty is never the best policy
PART B: Which TWO lines best support the theme?
His landlady wasn’t there, but the fire was glowing in the hearth, and the little dachshund was still sleeping in front of it.
She had a round pink face and very gentle blue eyes.
She took him into a small but charming front bedroom, switching on the light as she went in.
Normally you ring the bell and you have at least a half-minute’s wait before the door opens.
What does the word “inclined” mean in the following sentence?
“Oh, I am, my dear, I am; of course I am. But the trouble is that I’m inclined to be just a teeny weeny bit choosy and particular – if you see what I mean.”
hurried
likely
choosy
troubled
How does the figurative language in the quote below impact the meaning of the text?
But this dame was like a jack-in-the-box. He pressed the bell – and out she popped! It made him jump.
the author describes the landlady as a toy because she seems innocent but is really very evil
the author describes how quickly the landlady opened the door, which gives Billy a sense of ease because he was cold waiting outside
the author describes the landlady’s quickness with words like “popped” and “jump” to illustrate her eagerness to open the door which creates suspicion
the author describes how the landlady jumped when she opened the door, which gives the story a joyful tone
What is the significance of the following line?
Each word was like a large black eye starring at him through the glass, holding him, compelling him, forcing him to stay where he was and not to walk away from that house…
The figurative language describing the sign creates an eerie tone because Billy is drawn to the Bed and Breakfast even though he had decided to check out the pub first
The figurative language describing the sign foreshadows the large black eyes of the dachshund
The use of words such as “holding” and “forcing” foreshadow the struggle between the landlady and Billy
The metaphor comparing the landlady to the large black eye provides foreshadowing of the unusual things to come in the story
How does the following passage help refine the theme of the story?
The room itself, so far as he could see in the half-darkness, was filled with pleasant furniture. There was a baby-grand piano and a big sofa and several plump armchairs; and in one corner he spotted a large parrot in a cage. Animals were usually a good sign in a place like this, Billy told himself; and all in all, it looked to him as though it would be a pretty decent house to stay in.
by showing Billy's confusion about the decor of the bed and breakfast
by conveying Billy’s sense of uneasiness about staying at the bed and breakfast
by illustrating the Billy’s hope that the Bell and Dragon will also be open
by having Billy believe that the animals are alive when they actually are not
Which of the following is an example of an oxymoron that contributes to the tension in the story?
The name itself conjured up images of watery cabbage, rapacious landladies, and a powerful smell of kippers in the living-room.
Everything is always ready day and night in this house just on the off-chance that an acceptable young gentleman will come along.
The room was wonderfully warm and cosy.
She seemed terribly nice.
PART A: What about the guest list is Billy concerned about?
the names are from a long time ago which means the landlady does not run a good business
the names are of Billy’s brothers who went missing a few years ago
the names seem familiar to Billy and he wants to remember how he knows them
the names were difficult to pronounce which made him suspicious that they were made up
PART B: Which of the following quotes supports your answer to Part A?
He was positive now that he had seen them in the newspapers – in the headlines.
“They were tall and young and handsome, my dear, just exactly like you.”
“Such charming boys,” a voice behind him answered, and he turned and saw his landlady sailing into the room with a large silver tea-tray in her hands.
But Mr. Greenslade at the Head Office in London had told him it was a splendid city.
PART C: What does the answer in Part B reveal about Billy?
he is observant
he is conscientious
he is distrusting
he is condescending
The words queer, peculiar, and strange are used throughout the story. What tone do these words give the story?
these words give the story an outrageous tone
these words give the story an ominous tone
these words give the story a celebratory tone
these words give the story a reverent tone
How does the metaphor below impact the meaning of the text?
“You see, it isn’t very often that I have the pleasure of taking a visitor into my little nest.”
it describes the landlady like a bird which demonstrates her malicious nature
it describes the landlady like a bird which creates an amusing tone
it describes the landlady like a spider which illustrates how she traps her victims
it describes the landlady like a spider which illustrates how she cares for her guest
PART A: What does the word “compulsion” mean in the following line?
The compulsion, or more accurately, the desire to follow after her into that house was extremely strong.
need
confrontation
accuracy
creation
PART B: Which word in the line helps the reader to determine the meaning of the word compulsion?
The compulsion, or more accurately, the desire to follow after her into that house was extremely strong.
"desire"
"accurately"
"strong"
"house"
What does the word “façade” mean in the following sentence?
But now, even in the darkness, he could see that the paint was peeling from the woodwork on their doors and windows, and that the handsome white façades were cracked and blotchy from neglect.
windows
doors
fronts
owners
What does the word “emanate” mean in the following sentence?
Now and then, he caught a whiff of a peculiar smell that seemed to emanate from her person.
change
odor
strange
come off of
What character trait best describes Billy in the excerpt below?
Billy was seventeen years old. He was wearing a new navy-blue overcoat, a new brown trilby hat, and a new brown suit, and he was feeling fine. He walked briskly down the street. He was trying to do everything briskly these days. Briskness, he had decided, was the one common characteristic of all successful businessmen. The big shots up at Head Office were absolutely fantastically brisk all the time. They were amazing.
ambitious
malicious
regretful
apathetic
