"Let 'Em Play God" Assessment

Which sentence shows that Hitchcock believed suspense was more enjoyable for the audience than surprise? (TEK 6C)

• “People like to be scared when they know it isn’t really going to hurt them.” (paragraph 1)

• “The audience likes to play God.” (paragraph 2)

• “Surprise is all right, but suspense is much more fun.” (paragraph 3)

• “The more ordinary and believable the characters, the more the audience becomes involved.” (paragraph 5)

Read the information about the origin of the word motive.

from Latin motivus, meaning “moving” or “causing to move”

Based on this information, what is the meaning of motive in paragraph 13? (TEK 2C)

• A mistake that causes confusion

• A reason behind a character’s actions

• 1. A sudden change in the plot

• A conversation between two characters

What is the best paraphrase of paragraph 5? (TEK 6D)

• Hitchcock says suspense works best when the audience knows something the characters don’t, especially if the characters are average people who seem believable.

• Hitchcock believes the best suspense scenes happen when characters are confused, and the audience figures out the ending before they do.

• 1. The author explains that confusing the audience is the best way to build suspense because it makes the story more exciting.

• Hitchcock says that putting famous or heroic characters in danger makes suspense more effective for the audience.

In paragraphs 4 through 9, how is the information organized to help develop the author’s point about creating suspense? (TEK 8Diii)

• By listing the benefits of using famous actors in suspense films to show how popularity improves storytelling

• By comparing suspense with surprise to show why suspense has a stronger emotional impact

• 1. By explaining how the use of detailed dialogue creates confusion for the audience

• By describing how the audience’s lack of knowledge leads to increased tension in suspense scenes

Based on information throughout the selection, what can the reader conclude about suspense in storytelling? (TEK 5H)
Select TWO correct answers

• 1. Suspense is more effective than surprise because it keeps the audience emotionally involved.

• 1. Suspense works best when the story includes a shocking twist with no clues.

• 1. The audience becomes more engaged when they know something the characters do not.

• 1. Suspense requires the story to move quickly and avoid slowing down for details.

• Hitchcock believes ordinary characters make suspense more believable for the audience.

Part A: What is the main effect of Hitchcock revealing his own filmmaking techniques in the article? (TEK 9A)

• 1. It makes the article more persuasive by showing his success.

• 1. It builds suspense for the audience as they read.

• 1. It helps readers clearly understand how suspense works.

• 1. It adds mystery to his role as a director.

Part A: Which sentence from the passage best supports the answer to Part A? (TEK 6C)

• 1. “The audience likes to play God.”

• 1. “Surprise is all right, but suspense is much more fun.”

• 1. “I try to put suspense into an ordinary situation.”

• 1. “You build them up and let the suspense come out of their reactions.”

How does the information in paragraph 6 contribute to the author’s overall explanation of how suspense works in storytelling? (TEK 8Di)

• 1. By showing that the audience loses interest when they are confused by too many characters
     

• 1. By emphasizing that a suspenseful story must keep the audience completely in the dark

• 1. By highlighting the importance of making the audience emotionally connected to believable characters

• 1. By arguing that suspense can only be created through the use of dramatic music and sound effects

Which idea is most emphasized through Hitchcock’s explanation of using “phony clues”? (TEK 5G)

• 1. Suspense relies on misleading the audience to keep them interested.

• 1. Stories should never be too predictable for the audience to follow.

• 1. Red herrings should only be used at the beginning of a story.

• 1. Suspense stories should always have complex villains.

How does Hitchcock structure the article to make his ideas about suspense easier to understand? (TEK 9B)

• 1. He uses a question-and-answer format to test the reader’s knowledge.

• 1. He builds suspense in the article the same way he does in his films.

• 1. He introduces a key idea and supports it with multiple real-world examples.

• 1. He presents opposing viewpoints and asks the reader to decide which is best.