Question

Read the excerpt from a short story.
I thanked her again for the cake, and quietly retreated from the porch. A blast of air conditioning assailed me as I reentered our home and closed the summer heat behind me. Placing the cake on the table with the others, I noted its carefully scalloped frosting with mounting sadness. Clutching the doorjamb, I suppressed a sob. The reality of our loss would wait.
Which words from the excerpt convey the tone?
“thanked” and “retreated”
“assailed” and “reentered”
“placing” and “scalloped”
“clutching” and “suppressed”



Which excerpt from "The Adventure of the Mysterious Picture" conveys the eerie tone of the passage?
The uneasiness of my position made my slumber troubled, and laid me at the mercy of all kinds of wild and fearful dreams.
I was hag-ridden by a fat saddle of mutton; a plum pudding weighed like lead upon my conscience; the merry thought of a capon filled me with horrible suggestions.
As I heard the wind moan among the trees, I caught a reflection of this accursed visage in the pane of glass, as though it were staring through the window at me.
I determined to force myself not to look at the painting but to undress quickly and get into bed.

Read the excerpt from a short story.
The young docent welcomed the class to the museum, explaining that the east wing was under construction and he’d be leading them to the first exhibit. His fingers leapt to his name tag as he nervously introduced himself as “Liam, a student of the arts.” Then he bade the group follow him. They traversed a vaulted hall lined with hulking objects, each one obscured by a faded tarpaulin. Some of the items stretched across the floor, others cast long shadows on the museum walls.
What technique does the author use to build suspense in the excerpt?
darkening the word choice
quickening the pace of the story
omitting specific setting details
making the outcome of events uncertain


Read the excerpt from a short story.
They had laughed at the shabbiness of the hotel. “Oh well,” they’d said, “we aren’t going to spend any time inside.” And they had not. They’d spent the day and evening sightseeing and had not retreated to their rooms until they were spent. Now Ana appraised her modest accommodations, remembering how the window in her room had amused her friends, as it offered a view of a brick wall not six inches away. “You get what you pay for!” they’d exclaimed, closing the heavy curtains.

The window captured Ana’s attention again. As she readied for bed, she heard a persistent tapping coming from outside. Ana reasoned with herself, reminded herself that only small bird or bug in distress could fit in such a space. The tapping suggested otherwise, and she turned to investigate.

How does the excerpt exemplify the ideas King describes in "Danse Macabre"?
It allows readers to approach a “forbidden door.”
It provides a “single powerful spectacle” for the imagination’s eye.
It forces readers to “grapple” with their own mortality.
It excites readers with the concept of “magic.”

Answer 1

1) “clutching” and “suppressed”

2) As I heard the wind moan among the trees, I caught a reflection of this accursed visage in the pane of glass, as though it were staring through the window at me.

3) omitting specific setting details

4) It allows readers to approach a “forbidden door.”