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PRACTICE TEST 3 (DETECTIVE STORY)
Section A: Reading Read the extract from the short story ‘The Red-Headed League’, then answer questions 1–6.
Mr Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us down a dark
passage, and into a huge cellar, which was piled with crates and massive boxes. Holmes fell upon his knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens, began to examine the cracks between the stones. 5 ‘Mr Merryweather will explain to you why the criminals of London take a considerable interest in this cellar.’ ‘It is our French gold,’ whispered the director. ‘The crate upon which I sit contains 2,000 napoleons.’ ‘I expect that within an hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime 10 Mr Merryweather, we must put the screen over that lantern.’ ‘And sit in the dark?’ ‘These are daring men, and may do us harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind this crate, and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a light upon them, close in swiftly.’ 15 Holmes left us in pitch darkness – such an absolute darkness as I have never before experienced. To me, there was something depressing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the vault. ‘They have but one retreat,’ whispered Holmes. ‘That is back through the house. I hope that you have done what I asked you, Jones?’ 20 ‘I have two officers waiting at the front door.’ ‘Then now we must be silent and wait.’ What a time it seemed! My limbs were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my position; yet my nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension.
1 Give one word from lines 1–4 that means ‘guided’.
[1]
2 Suggest two ways that the writer uses the setting to create fear in lines 1–4.
Remember to give a clear example from the text for each suggestion.
[2]
1 3 Identify the main reason for the visit to the cellar.
Tick () one box.
to prevent a robbery occurring
to catch the criminals in the act
to show how clever Holmes is
to prove that crime doesn’t pay [1]
4 ‘Holmes left us in pitch darkness – such an absolute darkness as I have never before experienced. To me, there was something depressing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold dank air of the vault.’
a Give two single words from these that show how dark it is in the cellar.
_________________________________ and __________________________________ [1]
b What does the phrase ‘cold dank air’ add to your impression of the cellar?
[1]
5 Give two ways that Sherlock Holmes comes across as a typical detective in this extract. Support each idea with a quotation from the extract.
[2]
6 Suggest two impressions of the narrator’s feelings created by the final paragraph of the extract. Give a short quotation to support each one.
[2]
2 SECTION B: WRITING 1 Write the opening of a detective story. You could include: a description of your detective the mystery that they need to solve other characters such as the detective’s assistant and the victim How the mystery is eventually solved [25]
Get Books on Early American History and Culture 1981 1985 An Annotated Bibliography Bibliographies and Indexes in American History Raymond D. Irwin free all chapters
Get Books on Early American History and Culture 1981 1985 An Annotated Bibliography Bibliographies and Indexes in American History Raymond D. Irwin free all chapters
