IES IGNACIO ELLACURA

READING: THE MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE (BB)

NAME: ____________________________________________________
GROUP: ________________

DATE: _______________

PART A: VOCABULARY

(10 points)

1. Fill in the gaps with a suitable word from the box. (1 point each).
shutters

strap
spiced

to death
dizziness

dripping
shivered

grabbed

bruised

take hold

1.! The stranger was terrible to look at and there was blood ______________ from his forehead.
2.! Prince Prospero ____________ his sword and ran towards the stranger.
3.! The dancers danced round and round so fast that they began to experience ______________.
4.! Some of the dancers wanted to ___________of the stranger, but they were afraid to touch him.
5.! Most people ______________ in horror when they saw the two bodies.
6.! Camiles chin was cut, her eyes were bulgin and her body was badly _________________.
7. ! Many houses in Paris have got _____________ to keep out the hot sun.
8.! I was sick _____________ with that long agony.
9.! I was securely tied by a long leather ________________.
10.! The food on the plate was heavily _________________.

PART B: READING COMPREHENSION

(18 points)

1. Choose the correct answer (1 point each correct answer; - 0.5 each incorrect answer).
1. Prince Prospero invited his friends to his castle because....
a. he wanted them to admire his magnificient home and his excellent taste.
b. he had planned a special masked ball to celebrate the building of the castle.
c. he thought that they would be safe from illness in the castle.
2. When the stranger arrived at the masked ball...
a. the guests were horrified.
b. everyone agreed that his costume was by far the best.
c. all the other guests continued dancing and laughing.
3. When the prisoner in The Pit and the Pendulum first opened his eyes in his cell....
a. he saw a deep pit in the centre of the room.
b. he could see nothing because the cell was completely dark.
c. he was terrified because a huge pendulum was swinging close to his head.
4. At the very end of The Pit and the Pendulum, the prisoner....
a. lost his balance and fell into the pit.
b. was saved from death at the last moment.
c. was pushed up against the walls, which were on fire.
5. Monsieur Dupin knew that a human being had not committed the Rue Morgue murders because...
a. the people the police interviewed all said the voices they heard were not human.
b. no human being could have opened the windows, which were tighly locked.
c. the fingerprints and hair that were found were rather stange.
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6. When the orang-utang saw the sailors face at the window...

a. he suddenly became scared.
b. he looked for somewhere to hide from his master.
c. he threw Camiles body out of the window.

2. Answer the questions using full sentences (2 points each).

The Masque of the Red Death
a. What used to happen when the clock in the black room struck the hour? ................................................
!

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b. Who was the stranger who appeared at the end of the story? .................................................................

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The Pit and the Pendulum

c. What sentence did the court pronounce on the prisoner? ........................................................................
!

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d. What did the prisoner learn about his cell when he fell? ..........................................................................

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The Murders in the Rue Morgue

e. What did Dupin find when he examined the two windows?.......................................................................
!

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f. What happened to the murderer? .............................................................................................................

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PART C: REFLECTION ON READING

(7 points)

1. Imagine that you are Prince Prospero. Would you have acted differently at any point in the
story? Why / Why not? Write a paragraph explaining your reasons (3 points).
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2. The theme of the Pit and the Pendulum is mans inhumanity to man. How is this theme shown
in the story? Mention examples from the text (3 points).
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3. OPINION (1 point).
Did you like the book? Why / Why not? ...............................................................................................................
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What story did you like the most? Why? ..............................................................................................................
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Did you find it easy or difficult to read? Why? ....................................................................................................
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