Question 1 of 12
Mr Cramer 'may have looked doddery but he was wily'. What does 'doddery' mean?
A) Angry and short-tempered
B) Smart and well-dressed
C) Shaky and frail-looking, usually because of old age
D) Quiet and shy, avoiding attention
Question 2 of 12
Mr Cramer was described as 'wily'. Which of these animals is most often described as wily?
A) A sheep — because sheep are gentle and follow the flock
B) A fox — because foxes are known for being clever and cunning
C) A tortoise — because tortoises are slow and steady
D) An elephant — because elephants are large and powerful
Question 3 of 12
Toby needed to 'bluff his way into the hall'. What does 'bluff' mean here?
A) To trick or deceive someone by pretending something is true
B) To push past someone using physical strength
C) To ask very politely for permission
D) To walk very quickly before anyone can stop you
Question 4 of 12
Christopher sat on a 'settle'. What is a settle?
A) A soft armchair with deep cushions
B) A low stool without a back
C) A rug or mat on the floor for sitting
D) A long wooden bench with a high back, found in old buildings
Question 5 of 12
Toby 'stole across the polished floor'. What does 'stole' mean in this context?
A) He took something from the floor that belonged to someone else
B) He tripped and stumbled across the floor
C) He moved very quietly and secretly, trying not to be heard
D) He danced lightly across the floor on his toes
Question 6 of 12
It took Toby half an hour to think up his 'scheme'. What does this word suggest about Toby's plan?
A) It was a simple, honest request that anyone could have made
B) It was a clever, cunning plan that involved some deception
C) It was a dangerous plot that could harm other people
D) It was a boring, ordinary idea that required no thought
Question 7 of 12
Christopher sat 'like the statue of an Egyptian pharaoh'. What literary technique is this?
A) A simile — comparing Christopher to a statue using the word 'like'
B) A metaphor — saying Christopher IS a statue
C) Personification — giving the statue human qualities
D) Onomatopoeia — a word that sounds like what it describes
Question 8 of 12
'Matron was the key that opened most doors with teachers.' What literary technique is this, and what does it mean?
A) A simile — Matron is like a key because she is small and shiny
B) Personification — giving the door human qualities
C) Alliteration — repeating the 'k' sound in 'key' and 'doors'
D) A metaphor — Matron's name is compared to a key because mentioning it 'unlocks' permission from teachers
Question 9 of 12
The 'greener teachers' were easier to fool. What does 'greener' mean here?
A) Teachers who care about the environment and nature
B) Newer and less experienced, like unripe fruit that has not fully developed
C) Teachers who feel unwell and look green in the face
D) Teachers who are jealous of Mr Cramer's experience
Question 10 of 12
How does Morpurgo create suspense throughout this extract?
A) By telling us immediately what happens to Christopher in Rudolph's study
B) By using lots of long, complicated sentences that are hard to follow
C) By making us share Toby's experience: planning the escape, risking discovery, and only hearing fragments of the conversation
D) By having a fight break out between Toby and another pupil
Question 11 of 12
The writer uses contrast between Mr Cramer and Madame Lafayette. Why is this effective?
A) It explains why Toby needs a particularly clever plan — the easy teachers are not the problem, Mr Cramer is
B) It shows that all teachers in the school are the same
C) It makes Madame Lafayette seem like a bad teacher who should be fired
D) It has no real purpose and is just padding to make the passage longer
Question 12 of 12
At the end of the extract, Christopher's voice is described as 'quite calm'. What does this detail suggest about his character?
A) He does not care about being at school and is bored by the situation
B) He is too young to understand what is happening
C) He is secretly planning to run away again despite his promise
D) He is remarkably self-controlled and composed, showing maturity beyond his years