Reading Comprehension
What effect does Mrs. Stevenson’s bossy personality have on the plot?
Since she gets on people’s nerves, it keeps them from taking her seriously.
What does “querulous” mean?
Full of complaints
Which element does this play have that typical short stories do not contain?
A. Dialogue
B. Stage Directions
C. Characters
B. Stage Directions
What is the genre of this story?
Mystery
The murderer says, “Sorry, wrong number” and hangs up the phone. Which part of plot is this?
exposition,
conflict,
rising action,
climax,
falling action or
resolution?
Resolution
Why did Mrs. Stevenson call the operator the first time?
She repeatedly called her husband and was getting a busy signal.
Which word means “in a way so as not to attract attention”?
Imperious
Exasperation
Unobtrusively
C. Unobtrusively
Who are the major and minor characters in this play?
Mrs. Stevenson is a major character, and all the others are minor characters.
What is the tone of this drama?
Mysterious, Dark, Eerie, Suspenseful
Sergeant Duffy answers Mrs. Stevenson’s final phone call. Which part of plot is this?
exposition,
conflict,
rising action,
climax,
falling action or
resolution?
Falling Action
How was Mrs. Stevenson able to hear the conversation between the two men?
This was possible because of the way the phone system was set up. The operator connected Mrs. Stevenson directly into their telephone conversation.
Which word means “calm, dependable, and showing little emotion”?
Stolidly
Fiend
Aghast
A. Stolidly
Explain how the dialogue, along with the stage directions, allow the reader to gain insight about Mrs. Stevenson.
Mrs. Stevenson’s dialogue showed her to be a very dramatic, troublesome person. Her actions described in the stage directions enhanced this view.
What did the script writer use to move the plot along?
Flashback
Suspense
Questions and Answers
B. Suspense
Mrs. Stevenson overheard a murder plot, but no one is taking her seriously. Which part of plot is this?
exposition,
conflict,
rising action,
climax,
falling action or
resolution?
Conflict
Which of these provides evidence that
Mr. Stevenson wants someone to murder
Mrs. Stevenson?
A. He stayed on the line for 45 minutes.
B. He threatened her before going to work.
C. He knew that she would be alone that night.
C. He knew that she would be alone that night.
Which word means “put questions to or interrogate someone”?
A. Aghast
B. Catechizing
C. Fretfully
B. Catechizing
What do other drama features, like lighting and sound, add to a drama?
Example - The darkness of the city streets made the act of murder even more sinister. The sound of the busy signal shows Mrs. Steven’s frustration.
Mysteries contain foreshadowing that gives the reader a hint of something to come. Explain how this feature applies to the drama using an example from the play.
There are many clues in this play that lead to Mrs. Stevenson being the victim – 2nd Avenue, the bridge, the train noise – but the biggest foreshadowing was when the operator connected that first phone call.
Mrs. Stevenson can’t get ahold of her husband on the phone, and asks the operator to call him for the first time. Which part of plot is this?
exposition,
conflict,
rising action,
climax,
falling action or
resolution?
Exposition
Which scene is humorous?
A. Mrs. Stevenson calling the operator.
B. Mr. Stevenson plotting the murder.
C. Mr. Duffy speaking with the lunch attendant.
C. Mr. Duffy speaking with the lunch attendant.
When Duffy hears the word “murder” he does a “double-take”. What does “double-take” mean?
He is surprised.
Explain the problem in the drama, and its resolution.
The problem was that no one was listening to Mrs. Stevenson’s concerns about a potential murder, and the resolution was that she discovered she was the intended victim just a little too late.
What is the theme of this drama?
Expect the unexpected.
Be mindful of how you speak to others in times of crisis.
Mrs. Stevenson realizes that she is the intended victim and is murdered. Which part of plot is this?
exposition,
conflict,
rising action,
climax,
falling action or
resolution?
Climax