ELEMENTS OF PLOT
Exposition Which statement best describes the exposition of the story?
a. Leo discovers a headline revealing that Jenkins retired to Florida.
b. Leo begins his first solo night shift at a quiet, rumored-to-be-cursed rail yard.
c. Leo decides to walk toward Warehouse 4 with his flashlight.
d. Leo realizes there might be a dangerous intruder nearby.
b. Leo begins his first solo night shift at a quiet, rumored-to-be-cursed rail yard.
Internal Conflict: Which conflict is most central to Leo's experience?
a. Person vs. nature
b. Person vs. society
c. Person vs. self
d. Person vs. technology
Person vs. self
Point of View: From which point of view is the story told?
a. First person
b. Second person
c. Third-person limited
d. Third-person omniscient
First person
Figurative Language: Read this excerpt below. Which literary device is demonstrated in this description? "The beam of his flashlight cutting through the gloom like a knife through butter."
a. Simile
b. Metaphor
c. Foreshadowing
d. Irony
Simile
Theme: Which theme is best supported by the events of the story?
a. Working alone at night is always a bad idea.
b. People often create comforting explanations to ignore signs of danger, leading to a false sense of security.
c. Older workers are always more skilled than younger workers.
d. First impressions of a workplace are usually accurate.
People often create comforting explanations to ignore signs of danger, leading to a false sense of security.
Rising Action: Which event is most important to the development of the rising action?
a. Leo checks his watch and notices the vinyl chair squeaks.
b. Leo hears a loud noise from Warehouse 4 and decides to inspect it despite his fear.
c. Leo reads the date on yesterday’s newspaper.
d. Leo turns off the static-filled monitor.
Leo hears a loud noise from Warehouse 4 and decides to inspect it despite his fear.
Internal Conflict Detail: Which detail best supports the answer to Question 6?
a. Leo struggles between wanting to call his supervisor for help and worrying he will look weak and get fired.
b. Leo has to walk through heavy rain to get to Warehouse 4.
c. The camera feed on the monitor is fuzzy with static.
d. The aluminum siding of the old guardhouse rattles loudly.
Leo struggles between wanting to call his supervisor for help and worrying he will look weak and get fired.
Point of View Effect: How does the point of view affect the reader's understanding of the story?
a. The reader knows what every person in the rail yard is thinking at all times.
b. The reader experiences events only through Leo's perspective, creating suspense as we share his fear and uncertain assumptions.
c. The reader receives information from Jenkins's perspective.
d. The reader knows from the very beginning that Jenkins moved to Florida.
The reader experiences events only through Leo's perspective, creating suspense as we share his fear and uncertain assumptions.
Imagery / Tone: Read this excerpt below. How does this description affect the reader? "The heavy rain rattled against the aluminum siding... the camera feed was fuzzy with static."
a. It creates an unsettling, isolated atmosphere that builds suspense.
b. It proves that the equipment is completely broken.
c. It establishes that Leo is happy to be at work.
d. It explains why the rail yard was closed down.
It creates an unsettling, isolated atmosphere that builds suspense.
Theme Evidence: Which piece of evidence best supports the theme identified in Question 19?
a. Leo checks his watch ten times in ten minutes.
b. Leo assumes the watch belongs to Jenkins so he can feel safe, but the newspaper reveals Jenkins has moved away.
c. The rain rattles against the aluminum siding of the office.
d. Leo steps out into the pouring rain with a flashlight.
Leo assumes the watch belongs to Jenkins so he can feel safe, but the newspaper reveals Jenkins has moved away.
Climax / Turning Point: Which event serves as the turning point/climax of the story?
a. Leo first hears the aluminum siding rattling in the wind.
b. Leo picks up the dry silver stopwatch outside Warehouse 4.
c. Leo arrives back at his desk and reads the newspaper headline about Jenkins.
d. Leo hesitates before stepping into the rain.
Leo arrives back at his desk and reads the newspaper headline about Jenkins.
Narrator Characterization: Which statement best describes Leo's characterization?
a. He is careless because he ignores every sound around him.
b. He is anxious and hesitant, allowing his desire to feel safe to influence his conclusions.
c. He is confident and fearless because he immediately knows how to handle the situation.
d. He is dishonest because he lies to his supervisor about the noise.
He is anxious and hesitant, allowing his desire to feel safe to influence his conclusions.
Foreshadowing: Which detail most strongly contributes to the story's foreshadowing of danger?
a. Leo sits in a squeaky vinyl chair.
b. Leo finds a shiny stopwatch that is completely dry despite sitting in the pouring rain.
c. Leo worked a late night shift.
d. The aluminum siding is made of metal.
Leo finds a shiny stopwatch that is completely dry despite sitting in the pouring rain.
Resolution: Which statement best describes the resolution of the story?
a. Leo realizes his attempt to reassure himself was wrong and that he is in danger.
b. Leo confronts the person hiding in the warehouse.
c. Leo decides he was completely overreacting and safely sits down to rest.
d. Leo leaves the building to search for Jenkins.
Leo realizes his attempt to reassure himself was wrong and that he is in danger.
Indirect Characterization: Which detail is an example of indirect characterization of Leo?
a. The author states that Leo is on his first solo shift.
b. The author describes the guardhouse as having a vinyl chair.
c. Leo checks his watch ten times in ten minutes and pulls his coat tighter with trembling hands.
d. The text mentions that Leo’s shift started at 3:15 AM.
Leo checks his watch ten times in ten minutes and pulls his coat tighter with trembling hands.
Characterization / Inference: Leo initially invents an innocent explanation about Jenkins dropping his watch before realizing the truth. What does this development reveal about Leo?
a. He prefers to make up excuses to avoid admitting he is frightened or in danger.
b. He knows Jenkins personally and talks to him every day.
c. He refuses to pay attention to details.
d. He trusts strangers more than his boss.
He prefers to make up excuses to avoid admitting he is frightened or in danger.
Setting: Which description best explains how the setting contributes to the story?
a. The warm, quiet guardhouse creates a humorous atmosphere.
b. The dark, rainy night at a lonely, rumored-to-be-cursed rail yard creates suspense and anxiety.
c. The modern security camera system proves that Leo is entirely safe.
d. The rail yard setting explains why Leo is an experienced security supervisor.
The dark, rainy night at a lonely, rumored-to-be-cursed rail yard creates suspense and anxiety.
Author's Craft / Characterization: How does the author's description of Leo's thoughts contribute to his characterization?
a. It establishes that he is lazy and wants to sleep on the job.
b. It makes him seem vulnerable by showing his fear and his tendency to invent explanations.
c. It proves that he has worked at the rail yard for many years.
d. It establishes that he knows who is inside Warehouse 4.
It makes him seem vulnerable by showing his fear and his tendency to invent explanations.
Situational Irony: Which statement best describes the situational irony at the end of the story?
a. Leo expects the warehouse to be locked, but the door is completely gone.
b. Leo convinces himself he is completely safe because of Jenkins, only to find news proving Jenkins could not have been there.
c. Leo expects his boss to call, but the phone rings for someone else.
d. Leo expects to stay dry, but his umbrella breaks.
Leo convinces himself he is completely safe because of Jenkins, only to find news proving Jenkins could not have been there.