Worksheets“The Most Dangerous Game”
Total questions: 17
Worksheet time: 9mins
In the very beginning of the story, Whitney tells Rainsford that “evil is a tangible thing…” What does he mean?
He means evil is a thing/idea that is real and physical, and can be touched and felt.
He means evil is just an imaginary thing that isn’t real.
Read the following passage from “The Most Dangerous Game” and answer the question that follows An apprehensive night crawled slowly by like a wounded snake, and sleep did not visit Rainsford, although the silence of a dead world was on the jungle. Toward morning when a dingy gray was varnishing the sky, the cry of some startled bird focused Rainsford’s attention in that direction. Something was coming through the bush, coming slowly, carefully, coming by the same winding way Rainsford had come. He flattened himself down on the limb, and through a screen of leaves almost as thick as tapestry, he watched…That which was coming was a man. How does the above passage heighten (or build) the level of suspense in the story?
The passage builds suspense primarily through vivid sensory imagery and slow, deliberate pacing that hints at an approaching threat before revealing it.
Suspense arises because the narrator directly explains the villain’s motives and immediately identifies the man in the bushes.
Suspense is created by comic relief and lighthearted dialogue that distracts the reader from the danger.
The passage reduces suspense by explaining that the jungle is harmless and the night is restful.
Read the following passage from “The Most Dangerous Game” and answer the question that follows.
General Zaroff had an exceedingly good dinner in his great paneled dining hall that evening. With it he had a bottle of Pol Roger and Chambertin. Two slight annoyances kept him from perfect enjoyment. One was the thought that it would be difficult to replace Ivan; the other was that his quarry had escaped him; of course the American hadn’t played the game-
Based on the above passage what does the reader learn about Zaroff’s character?
Zaroff is humble and remorseful, upset that hunting has harmed others.
Zaroff is refined and callous; he enjoys luxury while treating the hunt for humans as a game and is annoyed only by inconveniences.
Zaroff is inexperienced and fearful, avoiding difficult challenges.
Zaroff is generous and caring, focused on helping his guests feel comfortable.
Read the excerpt: "Rainsford’s second thought was even more terrible. It sent a shudder of cold horror through his whole being. Why had the general smiled? Why had he turned back? Rainsford did not want to believe what his reason told him was true, but the truth was evident as the sun that had by now pushed through the morning mists. The general was playing with him! The general was saving him for another day’s sport! The Cossack was the cat; he was the mouse. Then it was that Rainsford knew the full meaning of terror." Which statement best explains who is the cat and who is the mouse and why the metaphor fits their hunt?
Zaroff is the cat that toys with prey; Rainsford is the mouse being spared for sport, showing predator dominance.
Zaroff and Rainsford are equally matched competitors, so the metaphor shows two animals of equal power.
Rainsford is the cat stalking Zaroff, and Zaroff is the mouse hiding from the stronger hunter.
Zaroff and Rainsford cooperate like animals sharing food, so the metaphor shows teamwork.
The title is "The Most Dangerous Game." Which interpretation best explains how the title connects to a theme of the story?
It means hunting humans is treated as the ultimate sport, revealing a theme about the dehumanizing cruelty of viewing people as prey.
It means the island’s storms are perilous, emphasizing a theme that nature’s power is the greatest danger.
It means the story is a puzzle game, reflecting a theme that cleverness wins over strength through riddles.
It means wild animals are the most dangerous, emphasizing a theme that humans must dominate nature.
Protagonist — Who is it and what is he like (personality)?
Sanger Rainsford, a skilled, resourceful hunter who is confident and pragmatic
General Zaroff, a refined aristocrat obsessed with hunting humans
Ivan, a deaf‑mute servant who is brutish and imposing
Whitney, a superstitious sailor who fears Ship‑Trap Island
Antagonist — Who is it and what is he like (personality)?
General Zaroff, a cultured aristocrat whose thrill is hunting humans
Sanger Rainsford, a pragmatic hunter focused on survival
Whitney, a cautious sailor uneasy about Ship‑Trap Island
Captain Nielsen, a worried ship’s captain concerned about the weather
Conflict — Identify the central conflict in the story.
Rainsford struggles to survive while being hunted by General Zaroff
Whitney debates the ethics of hunting with Rainsford on the yacht
Ivan tries to communicate despite being deaf‑mute
Zaroff attempts to repair his mansion after a storm
Trick #1 — Select the trap or trick used by Rainsford.
A Malay mancatcher that drops a heavy tree on the pursuer
Setting poisoned food to incapacitate Zaroff
Hiding in the cellar beneath the chateau
Calling for help using a secret radio
Trick #2 — Select the trap or trick used by Rainsford.
A Burmese tiger pit camouflaged with stakes
Forging a passport to escape the island
Setting a tripwire inside Zaroff’s bedroom
Disguising himself as Ivan to walk out the gate
Trick #3 — Select the trap or trick used by Rainsford.
An Ugandan knife spring that launches a blade and kills Ivan
A snare that captures Zaroff’s pack of hounds
A deadfall of rocks near the shoreline
Explosives planted around the chateau
Climax — What was the exact moment?
Rainsford appears in Zaroff’s bedroom and challenges him to a final fight
Rainsford falls off the yacht and swims toward Ship‑Trap Island
Zaroff decides to hunt Rainsford instead of letting him leave
Rainsford sleeps in Zaroff’s bed after winning the game
Read the passage and answer: Following the trail with the sureness of a bloodhound came General Zaroff. Nothing escaped those searching black eyes, no crushed blade of grass, no bent twig, no mark, no matter how faint, in the moss. So intent was the Cossack on his stalking that he was upon the thing Rainsford had made before he saw it. His foot touched the protruding bough that was the trigger. Even as he touched it, the general sensed his danger and leaped back with the agility of an ape. But he was not quite quick enough; the dead tree, delicately adjusted to rest on the cut living one, crashed down and struck the general a glancing blow on the shoulder as it fell… He stood there, rubbing his injured shoulder, and Rainsford, with fear again gripping his heart, heard the general’s mocking laugh ring through the jungle. Which lines from the passage are examples of simile? Select all that apply.
leaped back with the agility of an ape
with the sureness of a bloodhound came General Zaroff
with fear again gripping his heart
it was upon the thing Rainsford had made before he saw it
Read the passage and answer: Then, as he stepped forward, his foot sank into the ooze. He tried to wrench it back, but the muck sucked viciously at his foot as if it were a giant leech. With a violent effort, he tore his feet loose. He knew where he was now. Death Swamp and its quicksand. Which line contains a simile?
the muck sucked viciously at his foot as if it were a giant leech
his foot sank into the ooze
he tore his feet loose
he knew where he was now
Read the passage and answer: His hands were tight closed as if his nerve were something tangible that someone in the darkness was trying to tear from his grip. The softness of the earth had given him an idea. He stepped back from the quicksand a dozen feet or so and, like some huge prehistoric beaver, he began to dig. Which lines are examples of personification? Select all that apply.
his nerve were something tangible that someone in the darkness was trying to tear from his grip
the softness of the earth had given him an idea
like some huge prehistoric beaver, he began to dig
he stepped back from the quicksand a dozen feet or so
Read the passage and answer: Following the trail with the sureness of a bloodhound came General Zaroff. Which figurative device is used in this line?
metaphor
simile
alliteration
hyperbole
Read the passage and answer: He stepped back from the quicksand a dozen feet or so and, like some huge prehistoric beaver, he began to dig. Which figurative device is used in this line?
simile
metaphor
personification
onomatopoeia
