The Screaming Staircase

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Identify the correct sequence of events:

A) The team escapes the Red Room; the team encounters the monk spirits; the team exposes Fairfax.

B) The team encounters the monk spirits; the team escapes the Red Room; the team exposes Fairfax.

C) The team escapes the Red Room; the team exposes Fairfax; the team encounters the monk spirits.

D) The team exposes Fairfax; the team escapes the Red Room; the team encounters the monk spirits.

2. Why does Lucy initially dislike George?

A) She thought he was a terrible researcher.

B) She thought he was rude and unkempt.

C) She thought he was after Lockwood’s fortune.

D) She thought he was unintelligent.

3. Which adjective best describes the atmosphere at 35 Portland Row?

A) Cold

B) Tranquil

C) Intriguing

D) Desolate

4. How does Lockwood save his team from the spirits of the monks?

A) He slashes them with his rapier.

B) He throws an explosive flare.

C) He convinces them to return to where they came from.

D) He spreads the iron chains around the team.

5. What can be inferred about Lucy based on her experiences with the agency that trained her?

A) Lucy dislikes ghost hunting and only does it because she has to.

B) Lucy is an expert ghost hunter who doesn’t need to learn anything from Lockwood and George.

C) Lucy has always had the support of strong adults to guide her.

D) Lucy is a courageous person who persists in her craft despite painful experiences.

6. The message reading “Home Sweet Home” (Chapter 2) is an example of:

A) Irony

B) Foreshadowing

C) Simile

D) Aphorism

7. How is Stroud’s novel different from traditional ghost stories?

A) It features children as capable heroes.

B) It features the use of vindictive ghosts.

C) It features a slow build-up of suspense.

D) It features the use of weapons against ghosts.

8. Why does Lucy most likely want to help Annabel?

A) She hates Hugo Blake after meeting him face to face.

B) She relates to Annabel’s experiences of abuse.

C) She wants to impress Lockwood and George.

D) She believes that Annabel can help her.

9. How does Lockwood show his support for Lucy despite her mistakes?

A) He trusts her instincts regarding Annabel.

B) He promotes her to a higher position.

C) He allows her to lead the Fairfax mission.

D) He gives Lucy access to his private room.

10. Why is Lockwood determined to take the Fairfax case?

A) He wants to take revenge against Fairfax.

B) He wants to prove his team is better than the Fittes Agency.

C) He wants to make a name for himself and his company.

D) He wants to give Lucy one final test.

11. Which medieval weapon is used to battle angry spirits?

A) Mace

B) Lance

C) Rapier

D) Halberd

12. Which example of setting best illustrates the dystopian aspects of the novel?

A) The reliance on newspaper

B) The horrors of Combe Carey Hall

C) The Lockwood home, 35 Portland Row

D) The curfew at night

13. What do the ghost-lamps that are scattered around London symbolize?

A) The presence of danger

B) The children’s hope and resolve

C) The loneliness of the night

D) The power of the ghosts

14. How does Lockwood & Co. change as a team during the course of the novel?

A) They start out dysfunctional and become cohesive.

B) They start out confrontational and become agreeable.

C) They start out hopeful and become disenchanted.

D) They start out solid and become unstable.

15. What change of attitude towards spirits does Lucy’s ability inspire in people?

A) People start to empathize with ghosts.

B) People start to fear ghosts more than ever.

C) People become closed off to the idea of ghost hunting.

D) People become curious about the origins of ghosts.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. What sets the children apart from the adults in the novel? How do Lockwood, Lucy, and George each act like a hero?

2. Why are Lockwood & Co. able to take on the case of Combe Carey Hall while all others failed?