Question 1 of 12
The passage contains the simile 'Cold gnawed on him like a rat'. What effect does this have?
A) It shows that there are rats in the dormitory.
B) It suggests the cold is mild and easy to ignore.
C) It makes the cold feel aggressive, painful, and persistent, like being bitten.
D) It tells us Nathan is afraid of rats.
Question 2 of 12
Which of these is a simile from the passage?
A) "As many nightmares as moths had fluttered towards Nathan."
B) "The other boys began groaning and wriggling under their brown blankets, like moles who burrow away from noise."
C) "The boys' boots were all out in the courtyard... as if they had set out early for breakfast."
D) "Then came the clanging of the morning bell."
Question 3 of 12
The gown is described as 'like the ghost of a hanging man, swaying in the draughts'. What literary technique is this, and what mood does it create?
A) A simile that creates a dark, frightening, and ghostly mood.
B) A metaphor that creates a calm, peaceful mood.
C) Alliteration that creates a musical, flowing mood.
D) Onomatopoeia that creates a loud, noisy mood.
Question 4 of 12
The boots are described 'as if they had set out early for breakfast without waiting for their owners'. This is an example of...
A) A simile – comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'.
B) A metaphor – saying one thing IS another.
C) Onomatopoeia – words that sound like what they describe.
D) Personification – giving human qualities or actions to non-human things.
Question 5 of 12
The word 'threadbare' tells us the gown is...
A) Made from expensive thread.
B) So old and worn that the threads of the fabric show through.
C) Decorated with colourful threads.
D) Brand new and freshly made.
Question 6 of 12
Why does the author describe the boys' heads as 'convict-shaven'?
A) Because the boys are actual criminals sent to a reform school.
B) Because it was fashionable to have short hair in 1717.
C) To suggest that the school is harsh and prison-like, stripping the boys of individuality.
D) To show that the boys are very clean and hygienic.
Question 7 of 12
The author writes that 'housewifely duties had settled on Maud like an inch of dust'. What does this simile tell us?
A) That her chores have silently piled up and hidden her true personality.
B) That Maud is a poor housekeeper and the house is dirty.
C) That Maud enjoys cleaning and has been dusting the house.
D) That Maud is very old and dusty.
Question 8 of 12
The 'clanging' of the morning bell is an example of which literary technique?
A) A simile – comparing the bell to something else.
B) Onomatopoeia – a word that sounds like the noise it describes.
C) Personification – giving the bell human qualities.
D) A metaphor – saying the bell IS something else.
Question 9 of 12
Nathan thinks that to mention Maud 'would be like referring to his nursery wooden horse or teething ring'. What does this tell us about the school culture?
A) The boys are not allowed to bring toys to school.
B) Nathan still plays with toys from his nursery.
C) The boys enjoy talking about their childhood memories.
D) Talking about sisters or family would be seen as babyish and embarrassing by the other boys.
Question 10 of 12
The word 'drab' is used to describe the parlour curtains. What does this word choice reveal about Maud's life?
A) Her life is dull and colourless, just like the curtains she blends into.
B) She chose the curtains herself because she likes plain colours.
C) The family is wealthy but prefers simple decoration.
D) Maud keeps the curtains very clean and well-maintained.
Question 11 of 12
Throughout the passage, the author uses many 'similes' (comparisons using 'like' or 'as'). Why does the author use so many?
A) Because similes are easy to write and fill up space.
B) Because the story is meant to be a poem, not prose.
C) To create vivid images that help the reader feel the cold, harsh, and frightening atmosphere of the school.
D) Because the characters in the story speak in similes.
Question 12 of 12
The author describes Nathan's sleep using the 'waterline' metaphor. What is the effect of this extended water imagery?
A) It tells us the dormitory is near the sea.
B) It connects to the earlier simile of blankets 'like the swell of a sea', creating a consistent image of being lost in a cold, bleak ocean of sleep.
C) It shows that Nathan enjoys swimming.
D) It suggests that the dormitory is flooded with water.