The Sign of Four

Arthur Conan Doyle

Question Book
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Class:
Teacher:
 Chapter 1 – The Science of Deduction

1. Where had Doctor Watson returned from?

2. Why was Holmes bored?
3. What do you think an unofficial consulting detective is?
4. How did Holmes deduce that Watson had been to the Post Office?
5. Why does Watson get upset when Holmes looks at his watch?
6. Who is Holmes’ new client?

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 Chapter 2 – The Statement of the Case

1. Name 5 things Conan Doyle uses to describe Miss Morstan

2. When did Captain Morstan disappear?
3. What was Captain Morstan’s job in India?
4. Who was Major Sholto?
5. What appeared in The Times?
6. Miss Morstan received a small cardboard box. What was in the box?
How often did she receive a similar box?
7. Miss Morstan had received a note. Where did she need to go? When?
Who could she bring? How was it signed?
8. What did Holmes decide to do?

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 Chapter 3 – In Quest of a Solution

1. Why does Holmes think that Sholto’s death is important?

2. Miss Morstan showed Holmes a piece of paper. Where had she
found it? What was drawn on it? How was it signed?
3. Who did they meet at the Lyceum Theatre?
4. Where were they taken?

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 Chapter 4 – The Story of the Bald-Headed Man

1. Name 3 things we learn about him in the description of Thaddeus

Sholto.
2. Why is Dr Watson angry with Thaddeus Sholto?
3. What was Major Sholto particularly afraid of?
4. Why did Major Sholto become ill?
5. Why did Captain Morstan and Major Sholto argue and how did it
end?
6. What did Major Sholto ask his sons to do?
7. What caused Major Sholto to die before he had finished his story?
8. What was written on the note by his body?

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 Chapter 5 – The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge

1. Why are they allowed to finally enter the house?

2. Who do they hear screaming in the house?
3. What do Holmes and Watson see through the keyhole?
4. What do they think is the cause of death?
5. What else made Thaddeus Sholto upset?

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 Chapter 6 – Sherlock Holmes Gives a Demonstration

1. How had someone got into the room?

2. What was different about the person who had been in the room?
3. What was strange about the second footprints in the dust?
4. What does Watson deduce about the cause of the murder?
5. Why does Athelney Jones not listen to Sherlock?
6. Who does Athelney Jones think has committed the murder?
7. What does Sherlock ask Watson to go and collect?

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 Chapter 7 – The Episode of the Barrel

1. What is the name of the dog Watson collects?

2. How did the man get onto the roof of Pondicherry Lodge?
3. What has Holmes deduced that Jonathan Small and the associates
were?
4. Name 3 things Holmes deduces about Small’s appearance.
5. Where does the dog lead them to?

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 Chapter 8 – The Baker Street Irregulars

1. What is the name on the boatyard?

2. Where has Mr Smith gone?
3. Who has gone with him?
4. What is the name of the boat?
5. Who does Holmes send a telegram to?
6. Who does the newspaper say that Jones has arrested?
7. What does Holmes tell the Baker Street Irregulars to do?
8. Who had Holmes deduced the ‘small man’ is?

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 Chapter 9 – A Break in the Chain

1. Who came to visit Holmes whilst Watson was asleep?

2. What is Watson happy to see when he visits Mary Morstan?
3. What is Mrs Hudson worried about?
4. Where does Holmes say he is going?
5. What advertisement does Watson see in the paper?
6. Why has Jones had to let Thaddeus Sholto go?
7. Why is Jones at Baker Street?
8. Who does the old man turn out to be?
9. What does Holmes tell Jones he needs from him
if he is to help out?

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 Chapter 10 – The End of the Islander

1. What do they do before they go out that evening?

2. Where does Holmes tell the boat to head to?
3. Where had Holmes seen Smith?
4. What gets in their way as they try to catch the Aurora?
5. Who do they see on the Aurora as they get closer?
6. Find 3 ways that Watson describes the small man.
7. What happens to the small man?
8. What do they find on the boat with the men?

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 Chapter 11 – The Great Agra Treasure

1. List 4 ways Jonathan Small is described.

2. What does Small insist that he didn’t do?
3. What does Holmes say that Small must do before he goes away with
Jones?
4. What doers Watson think that Jones is already starting to do?
5. What does Jones allow Watson to do?
6. What does Watson admit to Mary?

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 Chapter 12 – The Strange Story of Jonathan Small

1. Where does Jonathan Small say the treasure is?

2. What happened to Small which lost him his leg?
3. What job did Small have after he lost his leg?
4. Who were the Sign Of Four? Where did they meet?
5. Where did they get the Agra treasure from?
6. How did Small end up in prison?
7. How did Small meet Captain Morstan and Major Sholto?
8. What was Small’s plan to get the treasure back? What happened?
9. How did Small meet Tonga?
10.Who killed Bartholomew Sholto?

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