English 8e Reading comprehension test 1 November 2016 Novel study: The Hobbit Page 1 École secondaire catholique Sainte-Trinité 2600, Grand Oak Trail Oakville, On, L6M 0R4 Tél. 905-339-0812 Claire Lapierre, Directrice Tiffany Clarke, Directrice-adjointe Site Internet : www.esst.csdccs.edu.on.ca Vincent Charbonneau, Service à l élève Date : Time : 8:25 9:25 Course : ENG 8 Durée : 40-60 minutes Nomber of pages : 6 Teachers name : Mme Danielle Chartrand Students Name: Instructions : 1. PLEASE write your test with a pencil and not a pen. 2. Read each question clearly before answering to make sure that you fully understand the question. 3. Please use FULL sentences and the proper TERMINOLOGY while answering your questions. 4. You MAY NOT use your book to complete this test. 5. Try to answer every question, even if you are unsure of the answer. 6. Once you have finished your test, make sure to re-read all of your answers. 7. Please pay close attention to grammar, punctuation, capital letters and other writing conventions.
Page 2 PART 1 - Knowledge and Understanding 1. What is the author s name (first and last)? Matching (draw a line between the correct answers) 2. A sword, a rapier 3. Confused or perplexed 4. To hit with a blow 5. Writings done in an ancient script 6. One who claims to be able to tell the future; a person who practices black magic or sorcery. A. necromancer B. smite C. runes D. bilbo E. flummoxed Multiple Choice (circle the correct answer) 7. Which of the following races from this story are not magical? a) dwarves b) elves c) hobbits d) goblins 8. How does Bilbo tell the dwarves apart? a) by the different colors of their beards b) by the color of their coats c) by their size d) he can t tell them apart 9. What is the importance of the town of Dale? a) Dale is the town situated near the Mountain b) when the dwarves owned the Mountain, they made money by making wonderful, magical toys c) the town of Dale became rich by selling the toys made by the dwarves d) all of the above
Page 3 10. They could hear the voice of hurrying water in a rocky bed at the bottom. Is an example of which type of literary (and poetic) device? a) foreshadowing b) personification c) simile d) imagery 11. What are the rules that Bilbo and Gollum agreed to for their riddle competition? a) If Bilbo cannot answer the Gollum s riddle, then Gollum get to eat Bilbo. b) If Gollum cannot answer Bilbo s riddle, then Gollum must let Bilbo leave without harm. c) If Bilbo cannot answer the Gollum s riddle, then Gollum get to kill Bilbo. d) If Gollum cannot answer Bilbo s riddle, then Gollum must show Bilbo the way out of the cave. e) both a) and d) f) both b) and c) 12. What are Wargs? a) a type of goblin b) a type of wolf c) a type of eagle
Page 4 PART 2 - Knowledge and Understanding, Thinking, Communication, and Application Short answer questions (please answer with complete sentences) 13. Why is the setting an essential part for any story? How does Tolkien set the stage for the Novel? The setting is the location of the action (time and place). An author should describe the environment or surroundings of the story in such detail that the reader feels that he or she can picture the scene. It can also help a reader to better visualize the story and feel connected to the plot! The setting in the Hobbit, time, is 3 rd age Middle-Earth 2941-2942. Tolkien sets the stage for the Hobbit by introducing his main character Bilbo and his home, The Shire. A description of Bilbo s home is encouraged as a means to support your answer. 14. a) Describe Bilbo Baggins and what a typical hobbit looks like. Use several examples and descriptive words. ALL the possible answers: Hobbits are small creatures with no beards. They re typically 3-4 feet tall and live up to 100-120 years. They are not magical but do have a tendency to be fat. They wear bright colors, no shoes, have brown hair on their heads and feet, have long fingers, happy faces, pleasant laughs, and eat several meals a day. Because Hobbit s are small creatures, they are quite light, quiet, which makes them excellent burglars because they are good at sneaking around undetected. They can also see very well in the dark. Bilbo began as a stubborn Baggins (a predictable hobbit), who was annoyed with the dwarves when they first visited him. He was polite while receiving them, but quite hesitant towards most of their demands (he wasn t happy about them depleting his pantry and handling his utensils and fine china). Because of his Baggins side; he s extremely carful and doesn t take as many risks, fallows the rest of the company and doesn t take the lead. He also complains quite a bit. His Tookish side counters that of the Bagginses, and he slowly becomes more courageous and gives his opinions (later he even takes charge and makes important decisions on his own that help the groups better interest). Answers may vary. b) Why are the Bagginses considered to be respectable hobbits? The Bagginses are rich; they never had any adventures or did anything unexpected.
Page 5 c) Define Tookish. Tookish - a tendency to be less than a respectable hobbit by having adventures. Took is Bilbo s mother s maiden name and the Tooks are famous for having unhobbit-like adventures. It s also said that the Took s may be descendants of Fairy s. 15. a) Describe Foreshadowing and its purpose in the Hobbit. Foreshadowing: when the author leaves signs or hints warning of what is to come in the future. In the Hobbit, foreshadowing is used to proper this adventuring plot and keeps readers guessing what obstacle come next and as a warning to the reader that there are dangers ahead. b) Underline an example of foreshadowing in the fallowing quotation: The end of their argument was that they sent Fili and Kili to look for a better shelter. They had very sharp eyes, and being the youngest of the dwarves by some fifty years they usually got these sort of jobs (when everybody could see that it was absolutely no use sending Bilbo). There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something (or so Thorin said to the young dwarves). You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after. So it proved on this occasion. (p. ) 16. The character Gollum, represents Tolkein s idea of evil. Do you agree or refute this statement? Support your position with several details and examples to properly justify your answer. Gollum lives alone on a slimy island in the middle of the lake. His only purpose in life seems to be to find food for himself. He talks to himself and is totally absorbed in his own needs; even his manner of speech reflects his selfish attitudes. He frequently refers to himself as my precious. Gollum knows the magic of the ring, but only uses its power for his own selfish gains. Tolkien seems to be saying that evil is selfish, greedy, and abuses its resources.
Page 6 17. Write a short riddle that would stump Gollum himself. Do not cheat like Bilbo and ask a question, write a riddle worthy of the book itself. Answers may vary anything BUT those from the book. 18. Why does Thorin refuse to reveal his true mission to the King of the Wood-elves? What evidence is there that the Wood-elves are Good People? The Wood-elves treat Thorin like an enemy and roughly drag him to the cave. Thorin is angry with this rough treatment, so he refuses to reveal anything about the treasure to the King. The Wood-elves are good people because they are reasonably good to their enemies, even after capturing them. Thorin is put in a cell, but he is also well fed. He is not killed or tortured. The Wood-elves are good to every creature, except for the spiders. 19. Why does the Master decide to help the dwarves continue their quest to recover their treasure? The dwarves are expensive to keep and their arrival has make the Men of the lake take a holiday. The Men of the lake believe the arrival of the dwarves is a sign that the prosperity of the olden days will return. They are celebrating the dwarves return to the mountain, so than no real business is being conducted, thus reducing the Master s profits.