CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY ENGLISH 9: END OF UNIT 3 TEST

Name Date

End of unit 3 test

Section A: Reading
Read the extract from the short story ‘The Red-Headed League’, then answer questions 1–6.

Mr Merryweather stopped to light a lantern, and then conducted us down a dark

passage, and into a huge cellar, which was piled with crates and massive boxes.
Holmes fell upon his knees upon the floor and, with the lantern and a magnifying lens,
began to examine the cracks between the stones.
5 ‘Mr Merryweather will explain to you why the criminals of London take a considerable
interest in this cellar.’
‘It is our French gold,’ whispered the director. ‘The crate upon which I sit contains
2,000 napoleons.’
‘I expect that within an hour matters will come to a head. In the meantime
10 Mr Merryweather, we must put the screen over that lantern.’
‘And sit in the dark?’
‘These are daring men, and may do us harm unless we are careful. I shall stand behind
this crate, and do you conceal yourselves behind those. Then, when I flash a light upon
them, close in swiftly.’
15 Holmes left us in pitch darkness – such an absolute darkness as I have never before
experienced. To me, there was something depressing in the sudden gloom, and in the
cold dank air of the vault.
‘They have but one retreat,’ whispered Holmes. ‘That is back through the house. I hope
that you have done what I asked you, Jones?’
20 ‘I have two officers waiting at the front door.’
‘Then now we must be silent and wait.’
What a time it seemed! My limbs were weary and stiff, for I feared to change my
position; yet my nerves were worked up to the highest pitch of tension.

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 CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY ENGLISH 9: END OF UNIT 3 TEST

1 Give one word from lines 1–4 that means ‘guided’.

[1]

2 Suggest two ways that the writer uses the setting to create fear in lines 1–4.

Remember to give a clear example from the text for each suggestion.

• [2]

3 Identify the main reason for the visit to the cellar.

Tick () one box.

to prevent a robbery occurring

to catch the criminals in the act

to show how clever Holmes is

to prove that crime doesn’t pay [1]

4 ‘Holmes left us in pitch darkness – such an absolute darkness as I have never before
experienced. To me, there was something depressing in the sudden gloom, and in the cold
dank air of the vault.’

a Give two single words from these that show how dark it is in the cellar.

and [1]

b What does the phrase ‘cold dank air’ add to your impression of the cellar?

[1]

5 Give two ways that Sherlock Holmes comes across as a typical detective in this extract.
Support each idea with a quotation from the extract.

[2]

Cambridge Lower Secondary English 9 – Creamer, Clare & Rees-Bidder © Cambridge University Press 2021 2
 CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY ENGLISH 9: END OF UNIT 3 TEST

6 Suggest two impressions of the narrator’s feelings created by the final paragraph of the
extract. Give a short quotation to support each one.

[2]

Section B: Writing
1 Write the opening of a detective story.
You could include:
• a description of your detective
• the mystery that they need to solve
• other characters such as the detective’s assistant and the victim. [10]

Space for your plan:

Cambridge Lower Secondary English 9 – Creamer, Clare & Rees-Bidder © Cambridge University Press 2021 3
 CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY ENGLISH 9: END OF UNIT 3 TEST

Cambridge Lower Secondary English 9 – Creamer, Clare & Rees-Bidder © Cambridge University Press 2021 4
 CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY ENGLISH 9: END OF UNIT 3 TEST

Cambridge Lower Secondary English 9 – Creamer, Clare & Rees-Bidder © Cambridge University Press 2021 5