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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
English 8e
Reading comprehension test 1
November 2016
Novel study: The Hobbit
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. PLEASEwriteyourtestwithapencilandnotapen.
2. Readeachquestionclearlybeforeansweringtomakesurethatyoufully
understandthequestion.
3. PleaseuseFULLsentencesandtheproperTERMINOLOGYwhileansweringyour
questions.
4. YouMAYNOTuseyourbooktocompletethistest.
5. Trytoanswereveryquestion,evenifyouareunsureoftheanswer.
6. Onceyouhavefinishedyourtest,makesuretore-readallofyouranswers.
7. Pleasepaycloseattentiontogrammar,punctuation,capitallettersandother
writingconventions.
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PART 1 - Knowledge and Understanding
1. What is the author’s name (first and last)?
___________________________________________
Matching (draw a line between the correct answers)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
A sword, a rapier
Confused or perplexed
To hit with a blow
Writings done in an ancient script
One who claims to be able to tell the
future; a person who practices black
magic or sorcery.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
necromancer
smite
runes
bilbo
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
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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
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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 3rd 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.
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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.
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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.