Comprehension Test

A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens
1 Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)? TF
a

Scrooge only cared about money.

Scrooges nephew was mean and hard too.

Scrooge laughed at Marleys ghost.

When Scrooge saw his old school, he cried.

The ghost of Christmas Present was specially interested in poor people.

Mrs Cratchit liked Scrooge.

The ghost of Christmas Yet to Come never spoke to Scrooge.

Everybody was sad when Scrooge died.

When Scrooge woke up on Christmas Day, he decided to change his life.

When Bob Cratchit was late for work, Scrooge pretended to be angry.
20 marks

2 Who said this in the story? Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, Marleys ghost, Scrooge, the ghost of
Christmas Present.
a God bless us, every one! ...............
b Christmas is humbug! ...............
c Do you, Ebenezer Scrooge, recognize my chain? ...............
d These miserable children are Mans. ...............
e None of us will ever forget Tiny Tim, will we? ...............
10 marks
3 What did Scrooge see on the grave stone?
...........................................................................
...........................................................................
...........................................................................
10 marks
4 Match a number from A with a letter from B to make complete sentences. B
A
A
1

Marley couldnt rest after his death ...

Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3

It was the most exciting moment ...

The ghost of Christmas Past came to Scrooge ...

The ghost of Christmas Yet to Come pointed with one hand ...

Scrooge became a good and cheerful person ...

B
a ... but it never spoke.
b ... because he was never good or kind in life.
c ... to help him change his life.
d ... when Mrs Cratchit carried in the Christmas pudding.
e ... after he met the three spirits.
20 marks
5 Which things go with which ghost? black robe, white robe, Christmas food, torch, silence,
extinguisher, cheerful smile, white hair, pointing hand, green robe.
Ghost of Christmas Past: ..............., ..............., ...............
Ghost of Christmas Present: ..............., ..............., ..............., ...............
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: ..............., ..............., ...............
20 marks

6 Put the following events in the story in the right order. Number them 15.

He sent a big turkey to the Cratchits.

He had Christmas dinner with his nephew.

He promised to give Bob Cratchit more money.

He told the old gentleman that he wanted to give money to the poor.

Scrooge woke up feeling happy and excited.

20 marks

Totalmarks

Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3

Multiple-choice Test

A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens

Setting
Choose the best answer.
1 Scrooge and Marley were _____ for many years.
a [ ] business partners

b [ ] neighbours

c [ ] friends

d [ ] ghosts

2 Scrooges main interest in life was _____.

a [ ] making friends

b [ ] being horrible

c [ ] making money

d [ ] helping people

3 _____ were afraid of him.

a [ ] People

b [ ] Animals

c [ ] His family

d [ ] People and animals

4 Bob Cratchit worked in _____.

a [ ] a big dark office

b [ ] a dark little room

c [ ] a kitchen cupboard

d [ ] Scrooges office

5 Scrooges nephew came to the office to _____.

a [ ] ask for money

b [ ] ask for a job

c [ ] invite Scrooge to Christmas dinner

d [ ] invite Scrooge to the pub

6 Scrooge thought that poor people should _____.

a [ ] have a merry Christmas

b [ ] stay in prisons and workhouses

c [ ] stay with rich people at Christmas

d [ ] have a free Christmas dinner

7 Scrooge lived in rooms which had once belonged to _____.

a [ ] Jacob Marley

b [ ] his father

c [ ] his nephew

d [ ] a rich businessman

8 When he arrived home that evening, the _____ became the face of Jacob Marley.
a [ ] letter box

b [ ] mirror

c [ ] bedpost

d [ ] door knocker

9 Marleys ghost could not rest because _____.

a [ ] he was never kind in life
c [ ] his chains kept him awake

b [ ] other ghosts were too noisy

d [ ] he was always cross

10 The ghost told Scrooge _____.

a [ ] he had to visit three spirits

b [ ] he must never change

c [ ] three spirits would visit him d [ ] four spirits would visit him
20 marks
Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3

Characters
Choose the best answer.
11 At the beginning of the story, Scrooge was a _____ old man.
a [ ] generous, silly

b [ ] clever, mean

c [ ] kind, clever

d [ ] cheerful, kind

12 Bob Cratchit was Scrooges _____.

a [ ] clerk

b [ ] nephew

c [ ] lawyer

d [ ] partner

13 Marley had been _____ Scrooge.

a [ ] more generous than

b [ ] meaner than

c [ ] more cheerful than

d [ ] just as mean as

14 The ghost of Christmas Past was _____.

a [ ] like a child

b [ ] like a child and an old man

c [ ] like an old man

d [ ] like Marley

15 Scrooge had _____.

a [ ] a brother who died

b [ ] two brothers

c [ ] a sister who died

d [ ] two sisters

16 _____ was a large, kind-looking old gentleman.

a [ ] Dick Wilkins

b [ ] Scrooge

c [ ] Mr Fezziwig

d [ ] Fred

17 Scrooges fiance _____.

a [ ] never married

b [ ] died when she was young

c [ ] married but had no children

d [ ] married someone else

18 The ghost of Christmas Present was dressed in _____.

a [ ] green

b [ ] white

c [ ] brown

d [ ] black

19 Martha was Bob Cratchits _____.

a [ ] second daughter

b [ ] youngest sister

c [ ] wife

20 The third spirit was _____.

a [ ] tall and silent
c [ ] short and noisy

b [ ] tall and kind

d [ ] short and silent

20 marks

Dialogue
Who said this?
21 Youre too rich to be unhappy.
a [ ] Scrooge

b [ ] Bob

c [ ] Fred

d [ ] Belle

22 Why didnt I think of people as my business?

Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3

d [ ] eldest daughter

a [ ] Bob

b [ ] Scrooge

c [ ] Mr Fezziwig

d [ ] Marley

23 Ive come here to bring you home, dear brother!

a [ ] Scrooges brother

b [ ] Fred

c [ ] Scrooges sister

d [ ] Bob

24 Be happy in the life that youve chosen!

a [ ] Belle

b [ ] Marley

c [ ] the third spirit

d [ ] Scrooge

25 I cant watch any more! Its too awful!

a [ ] Fred

b [ ] Scrooge

c [ ] Bob

d [ ] Scrooges sister

26 Its the best chicken Ive ever tasted!

a [ ] Tiny Tim

b [ ] Bob

c [ ] Fred

d [ ] Scrooge

27 My life in this world ends at midnight tonight.

a [ ] the second spirit

b [ ] the first spirit

c [ ] the third spirit

28 I promised him that we would go there every Sunday.

a [ ] Bobs wife

b [ ] Martha

c [ ] Bob

d [ ] Tiny Tim

29 Im going to pay you twice as much!

a [ ] Bob

b [ ] Mr Fezziwig

c [ ] Fred

d [ ] Scrooge

30 God bless us, every one!

a [ ] Scrooge

b [ ] Fred

c [ ] Tiny Tim

d [ ] Bob

20 marks

Vocabulary
Choose the best answer.
31 a special song which people sing at Christmas
a [ ] humbug

b [ ] crowd

c [ ] poem

d [ ] carol

32 happy, cheerful
a [ ] contented

b [ ] merry

c [ ] delighted

d [ ] pleased

33 a coin in old British money

a [ ] dollar

b [ ] shilling

c [ ] pound

d [ ] euro

34 thick low cloud which stops you seeing clearly

a [ ] fog

b [ ] rain

c [ ] ice

d [ ] frost

35 to look hard at somebody or something for a long time

a [ ] watch

b [ ] see

c [ ] stare

d [ ] pretend

36 to show where something is with your finger or arm

a [ ] touch

b [ ] pick

c [ ] explain

d [ ] point

37 someone who works in an office, writing letters, etc.

Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3

d [ ] Scrooge

a [ ] clerk

b [ ] partner

c [ ] nephew

d [ ] extinguisher

38 very small
a [ ] little

b [ ] low

c [ ] tiny

d [ ] short

39 a large bird which people often eat at Christmas

a [ ] turkey

b [ ] cart

c [ ] torch

d [ ] humbug

40 very pleased and happy

a [ ] surprised

b [ ] cheerful

c [ ] afraid

d [ ] delighted

20 marks

Plot
Choose the best answer.
41 The first spirit showed Scrooge _____.
a [ ] Christmases from Scrooges past
c [ ] Scrooges birthday

b [ ] last Christmas

d [ ] Scrooges death

42 Mr Fezziwig used to _____ on Christmas Eve.

a [ ] play the fiddle

b [ ] invite his clerks to a party

c [ ] make his clerks work

d [ ] give his clerks extra money

43 Belle didnt marry Scrooge because she _____.

a [ ] wanted to marry a richer man

b [ ] wanted to marry a poor man

c [ ] knew he cared more about money

d [ ] didnt like him

44 The second spirits torch _____.

a [ ] helped to light up dark houses
b [ ] made cold rooms feel warmer
c [ ] showed people where to go at night
d [ ] made poor peoples dinners taste better
45 Bob Cratchits son, Tiny Tim, had never _____.
a [ ] spoken

b [ ] liked food

c [ ] walked

d [ ] eaten Christmas pudding

46 _____ drank to Scrooges health.

a [ ] All the Cratchits
c [ ] Nobody

b [ ] Bob Cratchit

d [ ] All Freds family

47 The two ghost children represented _____.

a [ ] Hunger and Thirst

b [ ] Crime and Need

c [ ] Boredom and Sadness

d [ ] Poverty and Jealousy

48 Scrooge saw that _____ about the dead man.

Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3

a [ ] nobody cared

b [ ] everyone cared

c [ ] Tiny Tim cried

d [ ] Fred wasnt sad

49 The ghost of the future showed Scrooge _____.

a [ ] Tiny Tims grave
c [ ] his own grave

b [ ] his old office

d [ ] his old home

50 Scrooge kept his promises to the spirits and _____.

a [ ] made friends with Belle
c [ ] lived a happy life

b [ ] sold his business

d [ ] gave Tiny Tim a job

20 marks

Totalmarks

Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3

A Christmas Carol
1 a T
b F
c F
d T
e T
f F
g T
h F
i T
j T
2 a Tiny Tim
b Scrooge
c Marleys ghost
d the ghost of Christmas Present
e Bob Cratchit
3 His own name (Ebenezer Scrooge)
4 1 b
2 d
3 c
4 a
5 e
5 Ghost of Christmas Past: white robe, extinguisher, white hair
Ghost of Christmas Present: Christmas food, torch, cheerful smile, green robe
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: black robe, silence, pointing hand
6 a 2
b 4
c 5
d 3
e 1

Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3

A Christmas Carol
Setting
1

10

Characters
11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

Dialogue
21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3

Vocabulary
31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

Plot
41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3

10