Question 1 of 12
The reference to 'Medusa' is an example of...
A) A simile — comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'
B) A classical allusion — a reference to Greek mythology used to exaggerate William's horror
C) Personification — giving human qualities to something non-human
D) Onomatopoeia — a word that sounds like what it describes
Question 2 of 12
'Irresistibly and as a magnet' is an example of...
A) A simile — comparing the pull of the barn to a magnet's pull on metal
B) A metaphor — saying the barn IS a magnet
C) Alliteration — repeating the same sound at the start of words
D) Personification — giving the barn human qualities
Question 3 of 12
The phrase 'the bitterness of his soul' is used when William repeats 'A little thing like that!' This is an example of...
A) Understatement — making something sound less important than it is
B) A literal description of William being physically unwell
C) Mock-heroic language — using grand, dramatic words for a small, everyday situation to create humour
D) A rhetorical question — a question that doesn't need an answer
Question 4 of 12
William exits through the bathroom window even when he has nothing to hide. The author includes this detail to show that William...
A) Is scared of using the front door
B) Has been told by his parents never to use the front door
C) Cannot reach the front door handle because he is too short
D) Is naturally adventurous and mischievous — he prefers excitement over simplicity even in everyday things
Question 5 of 12
The baby's babbling is written as 'Blab—blab—blab—blab—blub—blub—blub!' This is an example of...
A) Onomatopoeia — words that imitate sounds, creating a vivid audio picture of the baby's noises
B) Alliteration — repeating the 'bl' sound for poetic effect
C) A metaphor — the baby is being compared to a river
D) Irony — the baby is saying something clever but William doesn't understand
Question 6 of 12
The narrator says the baby 'began to converse' before the babbling. Why is calling babbling 'conversation' funny?
A) Because babies are actually very good at talking
B) Because 'converse' means having a proper conversation, but the baby just goes 'Blab blub blub' — the gap between the formal word and the silly reality is comic
C) Because William can understand baby language
D) Because the baby is speaking in a foreign language
Question 7 of 12
William's mother uses baby talk: 'Willy-Billy' and 'nice ta-ta'. The author includes this to...
A) Show that William's mother is not very intelligent
B) Teach readers how to talk to babies
C) Show exactly WHY William is mortified — being called 'Willy-Billy' and associated with baby talk is humiliating for a boy who sees himself as an Outlaw
D) Show that William is actually a very young child
Question 8 of 12
'The Fates were closing round him' is a reference to...
A) William's friends who are angry with him
B) A weather forecast predicting a storm
C) William's teachers at school
D) Greek mythology — the three Fates who controlled people's destinies, used here to show William feels powerless to escape his terrible task
Question 9 of 12
Robert says 'you know William as well as I do' while retreating to the dining-room. This is funny because...
A) Robert criticises William but refuses to help himself — he's happy to point out problems while running away from responsibility
B) Robert genuinely wants to help but is too busy
C) Robert thinks William will do an excellent job
D) Robert doesn't know William very well
Question 10 of 12
The main source of humour throughout this passage comes from...
A) Slapstick comedy — people falling over and getting hurt
B) The contrast between grand, dramatic language and small, ordinary events — the author treats everything with mock seriousness
C) Rude jokes and toilet humour
D) William telling funny jokes to the other characters
Question 11 of 12
The word 'gingerly' (lifting the baby gingerly) means...
A) Roughly and carelessly
B) With ginger-flavoured hands
C) Very carefully and cautiously, as though something might go wrong
D) Quickly and impatiently
Question 12 of 12
At the very end, the Outlaws go from 'righteous indignation' to 'awed admiration'. This sudden change shows...
A) They are scared of William and don't dare argue with him
B) They have already planned a kidnapping and William has stolen their idea
C) The baby has won them over by being cute
D) William's genius is in REFRAMING the situation — by calling it a 'kidnap', he turns an embarrassment into the ultimate outlaw achievement