Choose the best answer for each question. At the end of the quiz, your score will appear here. Note: this quiz is based on the original story. Some of the questions and answers may not be applicable to our simplified story.
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What was the narrator (story teller) doing by the swimming pool?
Watching his daughter swim with the sailors.
Getting ready to go for a swim.
Enjoying the evening sun.
Visiting the hotel with the sailors.
What did the narrator notice about the old man as he walked around the edge of the pool?
He was bouncing a ball as he walked.
He did not walk the way that most people do.
He was well dressed but had holes in his shoes.
He had small, uneven teeth that were slightly yellow.
After the old man told the young sailor about the bet, the boy sat quite still looking at the swimmers in the pool. What was he most likely thinking as he did this?
That maybe he should accept the bet because he was sure about his lighter.
That his little finger was worth much more than a near new car.
That the English girl may not like him if he loses his little finger.
That he wasn't interested because it was a silly bet.
When they got to the old man's room, he said that the first thing they would do was to have a Martini. What is the most likely reason that he did this?
He wanted them all to relax before they started..
He had a drinking problem and needed a drink.
It was very hot when they came into the room.
He was feeling nervous about having to cut off the boy's finger.
The term 'irony' is used in literature to refer to a situation that is strange or funny because things happen in a way that seems to be the opposite of what is expected. The narrator talks about a number of things as the four people are standing in the room drinking Martinis. Which of the following is the best example of irony?
The English girl, wearing a light blue swimsuit, was watching the boy over the top of her glass.
If the boy lost, they would have to drive him to the hospital in the Cadillac that he hadn’t won.
The little man, wearing a spotless white suit, was watching the girl over the top of his glass.
The boy, wearing a pair of brown swimming shorts, was standing there sipping his martini.
What did the narrator think to himself as he watched the old man prepare the table for the bet?
That the old man might cut off more than a finger if the boy tries to move his hand away.
That the old man was moving too quickly and might make a mistake.
That the old man did not hammer the nails in far enough for them to be firm.
That the old man knew exactly what to do and must have done it in the past.
Who was it that finally stopped the bet?
The Spanish maid.
An old woman.
The English girl.
The referee.
What do people most likely think about the old man in his own country?
That he may be mentally ill and should be put in a mental hospital.
That he likes to have little bets and is quite harmless.
That he is a dangerous criminal and should be put in prison.
That it is OK for him to bet because has given away more cars than the fingers he has taken.
Which of these statements is NOT true about the old woman?
She has played the game a number of times.
She hasn't got a thing left in the world.
She is prepared to work long and hard to get what she wants.
She doesn't like to leave the old man alone.
The story has a number of possible themes or central messages. Which of the following is NOT a possible theme?
That you can't win against an experienced gambler.
That greed can sometimes make you do silly things.
That you should not blindly trust everyone you meet.
That gambling can cause major problems in your life.