(1) In “The Landlady,” Roald Dahl masterfully builds suspense for readers.
(2) The seventeen-year-old finds a place to stay at a Bed and Breakfast owned by a peculiar proprietor. (3) Dahl starts building suspense immediately when Billy meets her. (4) The author initially gives readers subtle clues that something is amiss by the way the woman immediately answers the door and the unusually cheap rate she charges.
(5) Dahl continues to build suspense with subtle clues, such as the time Billy thinks he recognizes the name of one of the former guests after reading the guestbook: “That’s funny, they thought suddenly.” (6) Christopher Mulholland. (6) It rings a bell. (7) Now where on earth had he heard that unusual name before?”
(8) Eventually, Dahl’s subtle clues become flashing warning signs before Billy begins to understand he is in a troublesome situation. (9) Billy wonders aloud “Wait just a minute. Mulholland . . . Christopher Mulholland . . . wasn’t that the name of the Eton schoolboy who was on a walking-tour through the West Country, and then all of a sudden . . .” (10) The innkeeper’s creepy stuffed dog, strange-smelling tea and claim that she hasn’t had a guest in three years, make Billy even more suspicious.
(11) Dahl skillfully will maintain the suspense through the end of the story as he left readers wondering about the ultimate fate of Billy Weaver.
Multiple Choice Question
Which version of sentence 10 (reproduced below) uses commas correctly?
The innkeeper’s creepy stuffed dog, strange-smelling tea and claim that she hasn’t had a guest in three years, make Billy even more suspicious.
A.
NO CHANGE
B.
The innkeeper’s creepy stuffed dog, strange-smelling tea, and claim that she hasn’t had a guest in three years make Billy even more suspicious.
C.
The innkeeper’s creepy, stuffed dog, strange-smelling tea and claim that she hasn’t had a guest in three years, make Billy even more suspicious.
D.
The innkeeper’s, creepy stuffed dog, strange-smelling tea, and claim that she hasn’t had a guest in three years make Billy even more suspicious.
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The correct choice is:
B. The innkeeper’s creepy stuffed dog, strange-smelling tea, and claim that she hasn’t had a guest in three years make Billy even more suspicious.
This version correctly uses commas to separate items in a list and does not include unnecessary commas.
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