The Elevator
1. Who is the protagonist of the story?
a) Martin’s father
b) The fat lady
c) Mrs. Ullman
d) Martin
2. How old is Martin?
a) 10 years old
b) 12 years old
c) 14 years old
d) 16 years old
3. How many people can the elevator in the story hold?
a) Two
b) Three
c) Four
d) Five
4. According to the story, which of these is NOT a reason why the stairs were no better than
the elevator?
a) There were no windows.
b) Echoing footsteps and a feeling of someone following
c) The lights were not working.
d) Fear of encountering other people on the stairs
5. Why did Martin feel nervous in the elevator?
a) Because it was too small
b) Because it might fall
c) Because it might stop suddenly
d) All of the above
6. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between statements (i) and (ii) from
‘The Elevator’.
i. Martin felt nervous in his building’s old elevator. ii. Martin was always afraid that the
elevator would stop suddenly and he would be trapped inside it for hours by himself.
a) (ii) is an example of (i)
b) (i) is the cause for (ii)
c) (ii) is a contradiction of (i)
d) (i) is independent of (ii)
7. On which floor did Martin live?
a) Fourteenth floor
b) Fifteenth floor
c) Sixteenth floor
d) Seventeenth floor
8. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between statements (i) and (ii) from
‘The
Elevator’
i. Martin tried the stairs one day after school.
ii. By the time Martin reached his home on the seventeenth floor, he was gasping for
breath. a) (i) is an example of (ii)
b) (i) is the cause for (ii)
c) (i) is a contradiction of (ii)
d) (i) is independent of (ii)
9. Where did Martin’s father work?
a) in an office downtown
b) At home
c) At a construction site
d) At a school
10. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between statements (i) and (ii) from
‘The Elevator’.
i. Martin told himself that he would have to get used to the
elevator, just like he got used tο being bullied at school
ii. But Martin did not get used to it. a) (i) is an example of (ii)
b) (i) is the cause for (ii)
c) (ii) is a contradiction of (i)
d) (ii) is independent of (i)
11. From which floor did the fat lady get on the elevator for the first time?
a) Tenth floor
b) Fourteenth floor
c) Sixteenth floor
d) Eighteenth floor
12. What was the colour of the coat worn by the fat lady?
a) Red
b) Blue
c) Green
d) Black
13. What did the fat lady do when she got into the elevator with Martin?
a) She talked to him.
b) She ignored him.
c) She stared at him.
d) She pushed him.
14. How are the fat lady’s eyes described in the story?
a) Large and dull
b) Tiny but sharp
c) Big but friendly
d) Small and sad
15. Which of these did Martin want to do after looking away when the fat lady stared at him?
a) Close his eyes
b) Turn around
c) Stare into the comer
d) All of the above
16. How did the fat lady behave in the elevator?
a) She talked continuously.
b) She was very quiet.
c) She was hostile towards Martin.
d) She was friendly to everyone.
17. Which floor did the fat lady get off at when she got on the elevator for the first time?
a) The first floor
b) The third floor
c) The fourteenth floor
d) The eighteenth floor
18. What did Martin do after his encounter with the fat lady in the morning?
a) He skipped school.
b) He ran nearly all the way to school.
c) He went back to his apartment.
d) He introduced himself.
19. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order.
i. Martin wanted to run past the fat lady, but there was no room.
ii. The fat lady quietly watched Martin until the elevator reached the first floor at last.
iii. Martin waited as the fat lady turned and moved slowly out into the lobby.
iv. Martin ran nearly all the way to
school a) (iii), (ii), (i), (iv)
b) (i), (iii), (ii), (iv)
c) (ii), (i), (iii), (iv)
d) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
20. What were Martin’s feelings towards the fat lady?
a) He found her funny.
b) He was intrigued by her
c) He was afraid of her.
d) He liked her.
21. On which floor did the elevator stop, leading Martin to meet the fat lady for the second
time?
a) The third floor
b) The fourteenth floor
c) The tenth floor
d) The seventeenth floor
22. How did the fat lady react when Martin told her he was ‘going up’ in the elevator?
a) She laughed.
b) She nodded and stepped on.
c) She ignored him.
d) She stepped back.
23. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order.
i. Martin pressed the button and stepped into the elevator, hoping that it would not stop.
ii. Martin told the fat lady that he was going up.
iii. Martin watched the door slide open, revealing a green coat, a piggish face and blue eyes.
iv. The fat lady nodded and stepped on.
a) (iii), (i), (ii), (iv)
b) (iv), (iii), (ii), (i)
c) (i), (iii), (ii), (iv)
d) (ii), (iii), (iv), (i)
24. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order.
i. The fat lady pressed the top floor. ii.
The elevater trembled and began to go
up.
iii. Martin watched the fat lady’s pudgy hand move towards the buttons.
iv. The door slammed.
a) (iv), (i), (ii), (iii)
b) (iii), (i), (iv), (ii)
c) (i), (iv), (ii), (iii)
d) (iv), (iii), (i), (ii)
25. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between statements (i) and (ii) from
‘The Elevator’
i. When the elevator stopped on Martin’s floor, the fat lady hardly moved out of his
way. ii. Martin had to squeeze past her, rubbing against her horrible scratchy coat. a)
(i) is an example of (ii)
b) (i) is the case for (ii)
c) (i) is a contradiction of (ii)
d) (i) is independent of (ii)
26. Whom did Martin speak to about his encounters with the fat lady?
a) His father
b) Mrs. Ullman
c) His friends at school
d) No one
27. How did Martin’s father react when Martin told him about the fat lady?
a) He laughed
b) He was concerned.
c) He ignored Martin.
d) He scolded Martin.
28. What did Martin's father think of his son’s fears?
a) He dismissed them.
b) He supported Martin.
c) He found them funny.
d) He did not know about them.
29. What did Martin’s father suggest he should do about his fear?
a) Confront it
b) Ignore it
c) Share it with a friend
d) Write about it
30. What was the reaction of the fat lady when Martin refused to get into the elevator with
her? a) She got angry.
b) She smiled.
c) She was surprised.
d) She did not care.
31. How did Martin react when the elevator’s door slammed after the fat lady inside smiled at
him?
a) He returned to his apartment.
b) He waited for the elevator to come up.
c) He started running down the stairs.
d) He fainted.
32. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order.
i. Martin stood there, unable to move.
ii. In the morning the fat lady was waiting for Martin. iii. The fat
lady smiled as the door slammed. iv. Martin started running down the
stairs. a) (iv), (iii), (i), (ii)
b) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
c) (ii), (i), (iii), (iv)
d) (iii), (iv), (ii), (i)
33. How did Martin injure himself?
a) He fell down the stairs.
b) The elevator he was in had crashed.
c) The fat lady pushed him.
d) He had an accident at school.
34. Which of the following ended up happening to Martin after he fell down the stairs?
a) He broke his hand
b) He broke his leg
c) He broke his nose.
d) None of the above.
35. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between statements (i) and (ii) from
‘The Elevator’.
i. Martin did not want to cry in front of his father, so he waited until he got to his room. ii.
Martin’s father was silent on the way to hospital, disappointed and angry with him for being
a coward and a fool.
a) (ii) is an example of (i)
b) (ii) is the cause for (i)
c) (i) is a contradiction of (ii)
d) (i) is independent of (ii)
36. Who did Martin’s father go to visit in the building?
a) Mrs. Ullman
b) The fat lady
c) A friend
d) Mr. Graham
37. What happened when Martin tried to press the button for the ninth floor?
a) The elevator did not stop.
b) The fat lady stopped him.
c) He could not reach the button.
d) The elevator got stuck
38. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order.
i. Martin hobbled to the buttons and pressed nine. ii. The door
closed and the elevator began to move. iii. Martin could not get past
her in time to get out of the elevator. iv. The elevator stopped at ten,
where the fat lady was waiting for him. a) (iv), (iii), (ii), (i)
b) (i), (iv), (iii), (ii)
c) (ii), (i), (iv), (iii)
d) (iv), (iii), (i), (ii)
39. Which of these is the theme of ‘The Elevator’.
a) Isolation and loneliness
b) Fear and anxiety
c) Parental expectations
d) All of the above
40. In the sentence, “Martin’s footsteps echoed behind him on the cement, as though
there was another person climbing, getting closer,” what does echoed imply?
a) The sound of Martin’s steps was loud and clear.
b) The sound of Martin’s steps was soft and almost unheard.
c) The sound of Martin’s steps was magnified and seemed to follow him.
d) The sound of Martin’s steps was faint and distant
41. What does the phrase gasping for breath imply about Martin’s condition after climbing
the stairs?
a) He was exhausted and out of breath.
b) He was energised and rejuvenated.
c) He was calm and composed.
d) He was excited and eager.
42. What does the word waddled suggest about the fat lady’s movement?
a) She walked swiftly.
b) She walked slowly and with a clumsy, swaying motion.
c) She walked with grace.
d) She walked quickly.
43. What does the phrase piggy eyes imply about the fat lady’s appearance?
a) She has large, round eyes.
b) She has small and unattractive eyes.
c) She has bright and alert eyes.
d) She has long, fluttering eyelashes.
44. What does the word pudgy mean, as used in the story?
a) Slim
b) Small
c) Slightly fat
d) Tall and skinny
45. What is the meaning of the word timid, as used in the story?
a) Brave
b) Easily frightened
c) Angry
d) Happy
46. Which literary device is used in the sentence, “She smiled as the door slammed.”?
a) Metaphor
b) Irony
c) Foreshadowing
d) Simile
47. When Martin’s father steps out of the elevator to go visit Mrs. Ullman,
Martin exclaims, “Let me go with you. I want to visit her too!?” Which of the following
words best describe Martin’s mood?
a) Excited
b) Desperate
c) Sad
d) Curious
1. Martin was a _____ boy.
(a) smart
(b) skinny
(c) jolly
(d) brave
48. Of course, he was always uncomfortable in elevators, but this one was especially
_______ (a) pleasant
(b) fast
(c) irksome
(d) spacious
49. How were the stairs?
(a) wide and well lighted
(b) narrow and dark
(c) well lighted and spiral
(d) windowless and dark
50. The face of Martin's father seemed to say that his son was a
(a) coward
(b) affectionate
(c) brilliant
(d) loner
51. Martin's great fear about the elevator was _______
(a) that he would fall out of it.
(b) that it would stop suddenly and he would be trapped inside it.
(c) that the elevator would not obey his command.
(d) that he would not be able to come out on time.
52. Martin lived on the _____ floor.
(a) eighteenth
(b) ninth
(c) thirteenth
(d) seventeenth
53. Which description best suits the lady?
(a) She had strange manners.
(b) She had fleshy cheeks, no chin and a huge mass of neck.
(c) She was large enough to occupy the elevator on her own.
(d) She had a pleasant appearance.
54. The second encounter happened on the ____ floor.
(a) ninth
(b) thirteenth
(c) third
(d) eighteenth
55. What about the lady unnerved Martin the most?
(a) her girth
(b) her large-size
(c) her constant stare
(d) her wicked smile
56. What shows that Martin and his father did not get
along? (a) His father said, "Why didn't you take the
elevator?" (b) Martin pleaded, "Let me go with you".
(c) "I promised to visit Mrs. Ullman," said his father.
(d) "What am I going to do with you, Martin?"
57. Why could not Martin run past the lady on the first floor?
(a) The gate of the elevator was stuck.
(b) Martin was overpowered with fear.
(c) The fat lady grabbed his shoulder.
(d) There was no room as the fat lady had blocked the gate.
58. By the time Martin reached home, he was gasping for breath. Which of the
following statements shows the reason for this ? (a) Martin had seen a ghost in the
elevator
(b) The elevator had broken down
(c) Martin was scolded by the fat lady
(d) He was always afraid and uncomfortable in elevators.
59. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order.
1. The elevator stopped at the fourteenth floor, and a fat lady got on.
2. Martin's father wanted to know why Martin was out of breath.
3. The fat lady only watched him, breathing loudly.
4. Martin did not like to be close to the other passengers in the elevator.
(a) 2, 4, 1, 3
(b) 1, 2, 4, 3
(c) 2, 1, 4, 3
(d) 1,4, 3, 2
60. "Why didn't you take the elevator?" he asked, frowning at Martin. Which of the following
words best describes the tone of the speaker.
(a) joyful
(b) frustrated
(c) angry
(d) satirical
61. Choose the option that shows the correct relationship between statement (1) and statement
(2)
(1) There were several reasons of Martin's fears of the elevator
(2) Poor lighting, the door which never stayed open.
(a) 2 is an example of 1
(b) 1 is in contradiction of 2
(c) 1 is independent of 2
(d) 2 is the result of 1
62. "Can't say I have," "he replied, not looking away from the television.
Which of the following words best describes the speaker's attitude.
(a) serious
(b) full of surprise
(c) indifferent
(d) showing concern
63. The story ‘The Elevator’ is written by _____
(a) Joseph Conrad
(b) William Sleator
(c) Katherine Mansfield
(d) Stephen Leacock
64. The elevator could carry ____ persons.
(a) two
(b) three (c) four (d) only one.
65. Martin's father worked ______
(a) in a factory
(b) in an office
(c) at home
(d) in his fields
66. Martin was ____ boy.
(a) a brave
(b) a skinny boy
(c) a fat
(d) a fearless
67. Martin lived on the _____ floor.
(a) third
(b) fourth
(c) seventeenth
(d) eighteenth
68. Martin first met the fat lady on the _____ floor.
(a) ninth
(b) thirteenth
(c) tenth
(d) fourteenth
69. The fat lady looked at Martin _________.
(a) affectionately
(b) scornfully
(c) threateningly
(d) closely
70. The old lady was wearing a _____ coat.
(a) red
(b) brown (c) green (d) black.
71. What was Martin’s father doing when he was told about the fat lady?
(a) watching television
(b) speaking to someone on mobile
(c) reading a book
(d) talking to a friend
72. On which floor was Martin’s father going to meet Mrs. Ullman?
(a) 4th
(b) 9th
(c) 14th
(d) 3rd
73. Which of the following statements about the elevator in Martin's building is NOT correct?
(a) There was poor lighting
(b) Its walls were dirty
(c) Its door could stay open for long
(d) It could carry only three people
74. Why was the narrator gasping for breath when he reached his home?
(a) He was scared that old lady was following him
(b) He used the stairs to reach his home on seventeenth floor (c) He ran as
fast as he could to escape from the fat lady (d) He was thin and weak.
75. What was Martin's fear about the elevator in his building?
(a) It would stop suddenly
(b) He would be trapped inside it for hours.
(c) He would be bullied by others in the elevator.
(d) Both (a) and (b).
76. Which of the following is incorrect about the lady who entered the elevator?
(a) She had no chin but a huge mass of neck
(b) She had sharp brown eyes
(c) She was wearing an old green coat
(d) She had tiny but sharp eyes
77. Why did Martin feel ashamed of himself when he returned home after school?
(a) For being afraid of an old lady
(b) For being scared of the staircase
(c) For not using the elevator
(d) None of the above
78. Martin said, ‘It wasn't possible.' What was it that Martin felt like a nightmare?
(a) Being trapped in the elevator
(b) Using the stairs to reach seventeenth floor (c) Seeing the lady for the
second time in the elevator (d) None of the above.
79. What did Martin's father say when he told him about the lady?
(a) Martin would remain timid all his life
(b) Martin should ignore the old lady
(c) Martin should talk to her
(d) None of the above
80. How did Martin's father feel when he (Martin) fell down and broke his
leg?
(a) Sympathy for Martin
(b) Angry and disappointed
(c) Silent and apathetic
(d) None of the above
81. Why did Martin feel secure in the elevator after he returned from the hospital?
(a) The old lady was not in the elevator
(b) His father was with him in the elevator (c) He could hit the lady
with his crutches (d) None of the above.
82. What did Martin plead with his father when he left him alone in the elevator?
(a) To let Martin accompany him.
(b) To reach him to their house (c) To meet the fat lady (d)
None of the above.
82. Choose the option that lists the sequence of events in the correct order.
1. Martin watched the door slide open, revealing a green coat, a piggish face and the blue
eyes which were already staring at him as if she knew he would be there.
2. Martin stood there, unable to move, then backed away. As she saw him, her expression
changed. She smiled as the door slammed.
3. One morning the elevator stopped at the fourteenth floor and a fat lady got on.
4. The door closed and the elevator began to move. “Hello, Martin”, she said and laughed and
pushed the stop button.
(a) 4,2,3,1
(b) 3,1,2,4
(c) 3,2,1,4
(d) 4,3,2,1
83. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between statement (1) and (2)
1. “What am I going to do with you, Martin? Honestly, now you're afraid of some poor old
lady."
2. Martin started running down the stairs. The stairs were dark and he fell.
(a) 1 is the cause for 2
(b) 1 is an example of 2
(c) 1 is independent of 2
(d) 1 is a contradiction of 2
