The Fall of the House of Usher Quiz

Why did the man feel sad and scared when he looked at the House of Usher?

• The house had a gloomy atmosphere that made everyone feel sad.

• Roderick Usher looked very different than he did when they were friends.

• The house crumbled into the dark lake after Roderick's death.

• The painting of the underground room looked creepy with its bright light.

Answer explanation

The man felt sad and scared when he looked at the House of Usher because the house had a gloomy atmosphere that affected everyone's emotions. The dark and dreary appearance of the house contributed to the overall sense of unease and sadness experienced by the man upon seeing it.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

What did Roderick believe had a strong hold on his spirit?

• The impending death of his sister, Madeline.

• The decaying trees and gray walls of the house.

• The strange sounds coming from the house.

• The haunting paintings in the house.

Answer explanation

In Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Fall of the House of Usher,' Roderick believes that the decaying trees and gray walls of the house have a strong hold on his spirit. The gloomy and oppressive atmosphere of the house contributes to his deteriorating mental state, making this the correct choice.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

What happened to Roderick when Lady Madeline entered the room?

• He started to panic and heard his sister's footsteps.

• He crumbled into the dark lake after his sister's death.

• He felt a complete sadness that was not a healthy, earthly feeling.

• He covered his face with his hands and cried.

Answer explanation

In the story, when Lady Madeline enters the room, Roderick is overcome with emotion and covers his face with his hands, crying. This reaction shows his deep connection to his sister and the impact her presence has on him. The other options do not accurately describe Roderick's response in this scene.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

What evidence does the text provide to support the claim that Roderick Usher is not a normal person?

• Roderick seemed like a ghost.

• Roderick's family was famous for art and helping the poor.

• Roderick's paintings and music were strange.

• Roderick's sister, Madeline, was also very sick.

Answer explanation

The text provides evidence that Roderick Usher is not a normal person through the description of his paintings and music, which are characterized as strange. This suggests that his artistic expressions deviate from what is considered typical or conventional, indicating that Roderick himself may not be a normal person.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

CCSS.W.9-10.9

What was the cause of Roderick Usher's fear?

• The impending death of his sister, Madeline.

• The decaying trees and gray walls of the house.

• The strange sounds coming from the house.

• The haunting paintings in the house.

Answer explanation

Roderick Usher's fear was primarily caused by the impending death of his sister, Madeline. This situation heightened his anxiety and made him more susceptible to the eerie atmosphere of the decaying house, the strange sounds, and the haunting paintings. However, it was Madeline's impending death that was the root cause of his fear.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

What led to Lady Madeline's sickness?

• Hereditary disease in her family

• The gloomy environment of her home

• The peculiar fascination of her physicians

• The distant cemetery where her ancestors were laid to rest

Answer explanation

Lady Madeline's illness was caused by her family's sickness. The other options, such as the decaying trees and gray walls of the house, her doctors' strange interest, and the faraway graveyard where her family was buried, are not directly related to her illness. It is the family's sickness that is the primary cause of her ailment.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

Why did Roderick Usher invite the narrator to his house?

• To help him with his illness

• To paint together

• To listen to music

• To distract him from his fears

Answer explanation

In the story 'The Fall of the House of Usher,' Roderick Usher invites the narrator to his house because he is suffering from a mysterious illness and believes that the narrator's companionship might help alleviate his condition. The other options, such as painting together, listening to music, or distracting him from his fears, are not the primary reasons for the invitation.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

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The cause of Lady Madeline's illness was her family's sickness.

(a)  

• Her family's sickness
• Her own mental state
• A curse
• An unknown disease

Answer explanation

Lady Madeline's illness was caused by her family's sickness. This option is the correct choice because it directly addresses the cause of her illness, while the other options focus on external factors that may have contributed to her overall health but were not the primary cause.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.1

What is the main idea of this passage?

• The man visited his old friend Roderick Usher in a sad and scary house.

• Roderick Usher was afraid of something terrible happening to him.

• Roderick Usher's paintings and music were strange and made the man feel scared.

• The man tried to distract Roderick Usher from his fears.

Answer explanation

The main idea of the passage is that the man visited his old friend Roderick Usher in a sad and scary house. This is highlighted in the correct choice, which focuses on the setting and the relationship between the two characters. The other options discuss Roderick's fears, his art, and the man's attempts to distract him, but these are secondary details and not the main idea of the passage.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What was the cause of Lady Madeline's illness?

• Her family's sickness

• The decaying trees and gray walls of the house

• Her doctors' strange interest

• The faraway graveyard where her family was buried

Answer explanation

The cause of Lady Madeline's illness was her family's sickness. This is evident from the correct option provided. The other options, such as the decaying trees and gray walls of the house, her doctors' strange interest, and the faraway graveyard where her family was buried, do not directly relate to her illness.

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.1