Review of "The Elevator" by William Sleator

1.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

“Hello Martin,” she said, and laughed, and pushed the Stop button. This is the last line of our story. At what precise part of the plot does this story end?

Resolution

Rising Action

Climax

Falling Action

2.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Many students have suggested that Martin suffered from extreme anxiety (constantly worrying, nervousness). Which lines would serve as the best textual evidence to prove this inference?

Coming home from school the day after they moved in, Martin tried the stairs. But they were almost as bad, windowless, shadowy, with several dark landings where the light bulbs had burned out.

But he was condemned to the elevator now. Was that why the fat lady had smiled? Had she known it would happen this way?

Until the morning, the elevator stopped at the fourteenth floor, and the fat lady got on. She wore a threadbare green coat that ballooned around her; her ankles bulged above dirty sneakers.

He felt her eyes on him as he stared at the numbers slowly blinking on and off—slower than usual it seemed to him. Maybe the elevator was having trouble because of how heavy she was. It was supposed to carry three adults, but it was old. What if it got stuck between floors? What if it fell?

3.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

What manners does the lady violate according to the main character?

The antagonist constantly looks at her watch when you are talking to her as if she wants you to hurry.

She uses her hands instead of utensils when eating.

Elevator etiquette: she does not face the elevator door and stares at Martin while on the elevator.

The fat lady is never on time for work which greatly inconveniences her fellow employees.

4.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

His father, who worked at home, wanted to know why he was so out of breath. “But why didn’t you take the elevator?” he asked, frowning at Martin when he explained he’d taken the stairs. Not only are you skinny and weak, his expression seemed to say, but you’re also a coward. After that, Martin forced himself to take the elevator.

What could a reader reasonably infer from a close reading of the text above?

Martin’s father believes Martin is one of the bravest children he knows.

Martin believes his father thinks he is afraid of too many things in life.

Martin’s father wants Martin to take the elevator because they pay a monthly fee to use it.

Martin’s father preferred (liked) his other son over Martin.

5.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The elevator was an undeniable fact of life.”

According to this line from the story, what does the elevator most likely symbolize (stand for) in Sleator’s story?

Fears or problems that must be overcome in life

The aging process

Older machines which must be replaced

Life in an apartment instead of a single family home

6.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which parts of the plot are missing from this story?

Exposition and Rising Action

Climax

Rising Action

Falling Action and Resolution

7.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

What information do we learn in the story’s exposition?

The identity of Martin’s father’s ex-wife.

Martin’s father works from home.

The description of Martin, the elevator, and the building.

The identity of the antagonist.

8.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

How might Martin describe his father in a private journal/diary?

Rich, friendly, kind

Weird, unique, intelligent

Unsupportive, mean, cruel

Loving, gentle, loyal

9.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

When the elevator stopped on his floor, she barely moved out of the way. He had to inch past her, rubbing against her horrible scratchy coat, terrified the door would close before he made it through. She quickly turned and watched him as the door slammed shut. And he thought, Now she knows I live on seventeen.

Why might the author, William Sleator, have chosen to italicize the last lines of the above?

Sleator wanted the readers to understand that Martin was really seventeen.

Sleator wanted to emphasize Martin’s growing paranoia and nervousness about what the fat lady wanted with him.

Sleator italicized the last line of every paragraph in the story; it was part of his craft and structure (or what he was known for in his writing).

Sleator wanted the reader to figure out that the lady must have been Martin’s mother if she knew the floor he lived on in the old building.

10.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

She did nothing. She only watched him, breathing audibly, until the elevator reached the first floor at last. Martin would have rushed past to her get out, but there was no room. He could only wait as she turned— reluctantly it seemed to him—and moved slowly out into the lobby. And they he ran. He didn’t care what she thought. He ran past her, outside into the fresh air, and then he ran almost all the way to school. He had never felt such relief in his life.

According to the excerpt above, from which point of view or perspective is this story told?

First person

Second person

Third Person

None of the Above

11.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

What is a direct character trait of the fat lady?

beautiful

fat

sympathetic

unusual

12.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

What effect do the continuous questions from the following part of the story have on the reader?

"So why was she on three, going up to eighteen now? The only floors he ever went on were seventeen and one. What was she doing? Had she been waiting for him? Was she riding with him on purpose?"

The reader comes to a great understanding of the ever present anxiety Martin experiences by hearing his thoughts.

The reader receives vital information necessary to understand the plot that isn’t stated anywhere else in the text by having a window into Martin’s thoughts.

Through these questions, the reader begins to understand that Martin does not exist and is just in the imagination of the lady in the story.

The reader gets increased insight into how the setting of the story affects the characters’ actions.

13.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

How old is Martin in the beginning of the story and what might the author be saying about boys this age?

16; teenagers at this age cannot be trusted.

12; boys this age are often expected to act more mature and confident than they really feel at the time.

18; young men often engage in risky behaviors that can affect their families.

9; boys benefit from having a mother figure at home and will create one in their imaginations if necessary.

14.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Why does Martin have no choice but to take the elevator later in the story?

He’s going to prove to his father once and for all that he is brave.

He never does take the elevator again.

He falls on a patch of ice at school and breaks his leg.

He falls down the stairs and breaks his leg in the apartment building.

15.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Using context clues to determine the meaning of an unfamiliar word is an important skill to have and practice. What is the meaning of the word in bold print in the excerpt below based on context clues?

“You’re afraid,” his father said, with total assurance. “When are you going to grow up and act like a man? Are you going to be timid all your life?”

Ridiculously loud

Painfully shy

Extremely unfriendly

Always blaming others

16.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Who is the protagonist of the story?

Martin’s father

The fat lady

Terry Ullman

Martin

17.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Who is the antagonist of the story?

William Sleator

The fat lady

Terry Ullman

Martin

18.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

After breaking his leg, Martin realizes, "...he was condemned to the elevator now." What does the word 'condemned' suggest about how Martin feels about having no choice but to take the elevator.

It's a relief

It's a trap

It's an inconvenience

It could be a death sentence

19.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

When Martin first meets the fat lady, the line in the story, "As she waddled into the elevator, Martin was sure he felt it sink under her weight." may create what kind of mood in the reader? Hint: focus on Sleator's word choice.

serious

terrifying

comical

sad

20.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The author of the story is:

William Shakespeare

William Sleator

Sandra Cisneros

Gary Paulsen

21.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The main setting of the story is:

the stairs

the school

the garden behind the apartments

the elevator in the apartment building

22.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The protagonist of the story is:

Martin

The bullies at Martin's school

Martin's father

The Old Lady

23.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

The main antagonist of the story is:

The school bullies

Martin's dad

The Old Lady

Martin's ELAR teacher

24.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Martin's main internal conflict in the story is:

wrestling with his many doubts and fears

trying to climb the stairs with a broken leg

feeling afraid of the elevator

being bullied at school

25.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Martin's main external conflict is:

feeling like a coward

being stuck in the elevator with the creepy old lady

confronting the bullies at school

getting better and faster at running up the 17 flights of stairs

26.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

We mostly get to know Martin through the description of his thoughts and actions.

True

False

27.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

We mostly get to know the Old Lady through the description of her appearance and actions.

True

False

28.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which events happen during the rising action of the story?

Martin overcomes his fear of the Old Lady.

We find out Martin's dad isn't very kind to him.

The Old Lady speaks.

We meet Martin for the first time.

29.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which piece of text evidence MOST CLEARLY shows the reader that Martin and his father did not get along?

"He felt too close to any other rider; too intimate."

"But if she were only visiting someone, why was she leaving the building at 7:30 in the morning?"

"His father said, with a look of total scorn, 'Grow up, Martin."

"Martin pleaded, struggling forward on his crutches."

30.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which line is used to create a feeling of tension and suspense in the reader?

"He managed not to cry until he got to his room--but his father probably knew he was crying anyway."

"'But why didn't you take the elevator?' he asked, frowning at Martin when he explained about the stairs."

"For a moment, he met her gaze."

"He felt her eyes on him as he stared at the numbers slowly blinking on and off--slower than usual, it seemed to him."

31.

Multiple Choice

30 sec

1 pt

Which of these is the best summary of the story?

A boy who lives in an apartment building is frightened of elevators and an Old Lady who keeps following him into the elevator.

An Old Lady is harassed in her apartment elevator by a young bully named Martin. Eventually, the Old Lady presses the Stop button in the elevator so that she can confront Martin.

A father and son live in an apartment building with an old elevator. The elevator is small and dirty. The boy is frightened of lots of things. An old woman rides the elevator.

A boy named Martin becomes increasingly frightened as a strange old lady seems to be stalking him and making it a point to get in the apartment elevator with him every day. Martin's father does not believe him and refuses to help him. Eventually, Martin is trapped in the elevator with the Old Lady.

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