The Elevator by William Sleator – MCQs (25 Questions)
- How old is Martin at the beginning of the story?
a) Ten years old
b) Twelve years old
c) Fourteen years old
d) Sixteen years old - What type of building do Martin and his father move into?
a) A new modern apartment building
b) A small residential house
c) An old apartment building
d) A commercial office building - What is Martin's main fear regarding elevators?
a) The elevator is too crowded
b) The elevator might fall and kill him
c) The elevator smells bad
d) The elevator is too slow - How many people can Martin's elevator carry?
a) One person
b) Two people
c) Three people
d) Five people - What does the elevator look like when described?
a) Modern and clean
b) Small, old, with poor lights and dirty walls
c) Large and spacious
d) Well-maintained and pleasant - On which floor does Martin live?
a) Fifth floor
b) Ninth floor
c) Tenth floor
d) Seventeenth floor - What is Martin's father's initial reaction to Martin's elevator fear?
a) He is sympathetic and supportive
b) He dismisses it and tells Martin to grow up
c) He arranges alternative transportation
d) He takes the stairs with Martin - What does the fat lady wear when she first enters the elevator?
a) A red dress
b) An old green coat
c) A blue suit
d) A black jacket - What is the fat lady's most noticeable characteristic during her first elevator encounter with Martin?
a) She speaks loudly
b) She stares intensely at Martin
c) She laughs continuously
d) She asks him questions - On which floor does the fat lady first get on the elevator with Martin?
a) Third floor
b) Eighth floor
c) Fourteenth floor
d) Sixteenth floor - What does the fat lady press instead of the button for her floor?
a) Button for tenth floor
b) Button for fifteenth floor
c) Button for seventeenth floor
d) Button for eighteenth floor - How does Martin react to the fat lady's stare on their first encounter?
a) He smiles back
b) He ignores her
c) He becomes very unsettled and nervous
d) He says hello to her - What does Martin think about the fat lady's presence in the building?
a) She definitely lives in the building
b) She is a maid working there
c) She might be visiting someone or living there
d) She is a security guard - What does Martin do to try to avoid the fat lady?
a) Takes a different route to school
b) Waits for someone to accompany him
c) Tries to run down the dark stairs instead
d) Asks his father for help - What happens to Martin while running down the stairs?
a) He gets lost
b) He meets another person
c) He falls in the darkness and breaks his leg
d) He reaches the ground floor safely - How does Martin's father react when he learns about Martin's injury?
a) He shows sympathy and care
b) He is disappointed and angry that Martin is a coward
c) He takes Martin to the hospital immediately
d) He scolds the elevator company - Why is Martin unable to use the stairs after his accident?
a) He is frightened of the stairs
b) The stairs are blocked
c) He has a broken leg and needs to use crutches
d) His father forbids him to use them - Who is the fat lady in the story?
a) Martin's mother
b) Martin's neighbor who lives on the ninth floor
c) The building manager
d) A mysterious woman whose true identity is never revealed - Where does Martin's father say he has to go after they return from the hospital?
a) Back to work
b) To visit someone on the ninth floor
c) To buy groceries
d) To the doctor's office - How does Martin plead with his father when his father is about to leave the elevator?
a) He asks his father to come back later
b) He struggles to move on crutches wanting to go with him
c) He cries for help
d) He refuses to let his father leave - What does Martin's father say to Martin before leaving him alone in the elevator?
a) "Be brave, Martin"
b) "I'll be right back"
c) "Afraid to be in the elevator alone? Grow up, Martin"
d) "Don't worry, it's safe" - Which floor does the elevator go to despite Martin pressing button nine?
a) Eighth floor
b) Tenth floor
c) Ninth floor
d) Eleventh floor - What does the fat lady say to Martin when she enters the elevator at the end?
a) "Hello, stranger"
b) "Hello, Martin" and she laughs
c) "Are you Martin?"
d) She says nothing - What is the last action the fat lady takes in the story?
a) She exits the elevator
b) She laughs at Martin
c) She presses the Stop button, trapping the elevator
d) She presses a button to go up - What is the central theme of "The Elevator"?
a) The importance of building maintenance
b) The dangers of urban living
c) Fear, anxiety, isolation, and the manifestation of psychological dread
d) The relationship between father and son
Answer Keys
1. b) Twelve years old
2. c) An old apartment building
3. b) The elevator might fall and kill him
4. b) Two people
5. b) Small, old, with poor lights and dirty walls
6. d) Seventeenth floor
7. b) He dismisses it and tells Martin to grow up
8. b) An old green coat
9. b) She stares intensely at Martin
10. c) Fourteenth floor
11. c) Button for seventeenth floor
12. c) He becomes very unsettled and nervous
13. c) She might be visiting someone or living there
14. c) Tries to run down the dark stairs instead
15. c) He falls in the darkness and breaks his leg
16. a) He shows sympathy and care
17. c) He has a broken leg and needs to use crutches
18. d) A mysterious woman whose true identity is never revealed
19. a) Back to work
20. b) He struggles to move on crutches wanting to go with him
21. c) "Afraid to be in the elevator alone? Grow up, Martin"
22. b) Tenth floor
23. b) "Hello, Martin" and she laughs
24. c) She presses the Stop button, trapping the elevator
25. c) Fear, anxiety, isolation, and the manifestation of psychological dread