Comprehension Test

Kidnapped
Robert Louis Stevenson

1 Who said this in the story? James Stewart, Mr Rankeillor, Captain Hoseason, Alan,
Ebenezer Balfour.
a Ive been in France, like you. ...............
b David! I love ye like a brother. ...............
c This is a terrible accident. It will bring trouble to all of us. ...............
d I dont want him back. He wasnt a good lad. ...............
e A lawyer has to be very careful, when discussing Highlanders. ...............

05 marks

2 Fill in the gaps using these words: money, boat, shellfish, island, houses, sick, help, hungry,
wet, shouted.

There were no ............... or people on the ............... of Earraid. David found some ............... and
ate them, but he was ............... afterwards. He was always ..............., and his clothes
were ............... from the rain. Then he lost his ............... . One day he saw a small ...............;
he ............... loudly, but nobody came to ............... him.

05 marks

3 What did Alan give David after the fight on the ship?
............................................................
02 marks

4 Put the following events in the story in the right order. Number them 15.
a The soldiers began shooting at David.
b David met Colin Campbell and three other men on the road to Appin.
c Alan helped David to escape.
d Campbell was shot and fell off his horse.
e David saw someone moving in the trees.

05 marks

5 Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)?

a Ebenezer tried to kill David.

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 b The house of Shaws belonged to David now.
c Alan Breck wore dirty old clothes.
d The captain planned to kill Alan.
e David swam from Earraid to Mull.
f James Stewart helped Alan and David escape.
g Cluny Macpherson let Alan and David stay in his cave.
h Mr Rankeillor forgot his glasses so he couldnt see Alan clearly.
i Ebenezer Balfour said he didnt pay Hoseason to kidnap David.
j Alan planned to go to London, then France.

10 marks

6 Match a number from A with a letter from B to make complete sentences.

A
1 The Stewarts and the Campbells ...
2 When Alan and David were on top of the rock ...
3 While they crossed the moors ...
4 David became very ill ...
5 Ebenezer stayed at the house of Shaws ...
B
a ... nobody in the valley could see them.
b ... but he paid money to David every year.
c ... they had to run on their hands and feet.
d ... had hated each other for years.
e ... but Alan refused to leave him.

10 marks

Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3 2

Multiple-choice Test

Kidnapped
Robert Louis Stevenson

Setting

Choose the best answer.

1 The story happens in _____.
a [ ] England b [ ] Scotland c [ ] Ireland d [ ] France
2 The year is _____.
a [ ] 1171 b [ ] 1571 c [ ] 1751 d [ ] 1951
3 The Highlanders fought against King _____ of England.
a [ ] George b [ ] David c [ ] Henry d [ ] Charles
4 David Balfour is _____.
a[ ]7 b [ ] 17 c [ ] 37 d [ ] 77
5 The house of Shaws is a _____ building.
a [ ] nice, modern b [ ] small, comfortable
c [ ] dark, unwelcoming d [ ] beautiful, old
6 The ship is going from Scotland to _____.
a [ ] Amsterdam b [ ] London c [ ] New York d [ ] the Carolinas
7 Alan Breck often travels from Scotland to _____.
a [ ] France b [ ] England c [ ] America d [ ] Edinburgh
8 After the ship hits the rocks, David is alone _____ for several days.
a [ ] on a hill b [ ] on an island c [ ] in a boat d [ ] in a tree
9 David travels through _____ with Alan Breck.
a [ ] England b [ ] Ireland c [ ] the Highlands d [ ] the Lowlands
10 After his long journey, David goes to _____ to meet Mr Rankeillor.
a [ ] the island of Earraid b [ ] the island of Mull
c [ ] Edinburgh d [ ] Queensferry

10 marks

Characters

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Choose the best answer.
11 _____ is the son of a schoolteacher from the Lowlands of Scotland.
a [ ] Ebenezer Balfour b [ ] David Balfour
c [ ] Colin Campbell d [ ] James Stewart
12 Ebenezer Balfour is a _____.
a [ ] kind and friendly young man b [ ] mean and dangerous young man
c [ ] mean and unfriendly old man d [ ] loud and funny old man
13 _____ takes David away on a ship.
a [ ] Alan Breck b [ ] Colin Campbell c [ ] Mr Riach d [ ] Captain Hoseason
14 When David arrives on the ship, _____ is very kind to him.
a [ ] Mr Riach b [ ] Mr Rankeillor c [ ] Captain Hoseason d [ ] Mr Shuan
15 On the ship Mr Shuan _____ the boy called Ransome.
a [ ] looks after b [ ] fights with c [ ] hurts d [ ] kills
16 _____ wears a blue coat with silver buttons. He gives one of the buttons to David.
a [ ] Mr Shuan b [ ] Captain Hoseason c [ ] Alan Breck d [ ] Ransome
17 The Stewarts all hate Colin Campbell because he works with the _____.
a [ ] Highlanders b [ ] English c [ ] French d [ ] Americans
18 _____ has a wife and children and he is afraid that the Campbells are going to accuse
him of murder.
a [ ] James Stewart b [ ] David Balfour c [ ] Mr Rankeillor d [ ] Alan Breck
19 _____ fought against the English in 1745 and now lives in a secret cave.
a [ ] Ebenezer Balfour b [ ] Mr Riach
c [ ] Captain Hoseason d [ ] Cluny Macpherson
20 Mr Rankeillor is a _____ who helps David.
a [ ] lawyer b [ ] doctor c [ ] sailor d [ ] soldier

10 marks

Dialogue

Who said or wrote this?

21 He was a secretive man, Alexander was. Perhaps he didnt talk much about me? Or about the
house of Shaws?

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 a [ ] Ebenezer Balfour b [ ] David Balfour
c [ ] Captain Hoseason d [ ] Mr Riach
22 I am only paid to be an officer on this ship. Im not paid, like you, to kidnap
and murder
a [ ] Ebenezer Balfour b [ ] David Balfour c [ ] Mr Shuan d [ ] Mr Riach
23 Mr Riach nobody on land must know what happened tonight. Well say that the boy fell into
the sea.
a [ ] Ebenezer Balfour b [ ] David Balfour
c [ ] Captain Hoseason d [ ] Alan Breck
24 David! I love ye like a brother. And oh, man, am I not a grand fighter?
a [ ] Mr Rankeillor b [ ] Mr Shuan c [ ] Captain Hoseason d [ ] Alan Breck
25 This is the day when the Appin Stewarts have to leave their farms, and there
maybe trouble.
a [ ] Ebenezer Balfour b [ ] Colin Campbell
c [ ] Captain Hoseason d [ ] Mr Riach
26 Well, Mr Balfour of Shaws. I promise ye that I did not plan the murder, or know
anything about it.
a [ ] Ransome b [ ] Colin Campbell c [ ] Alan Breck d [ ] Mr Rankeillor
27 I am Alans friend and if I can help his friends in any way, I dont mind
the danger.
a [ ] David Balfour b [ ] Colin Campbell
c [ ] Mr Riach d [ ] Captain Hoseason
28 A lawyer has to be careful when discussing Highlanders. I dont think I heard your friends
name very well. Lets call him Mr Thomson.
a [ ] David Balfour b [ ] Captain Hoseason
c [ ] Mr Rankeillor d [ ] Alan Breck
29 But I think that we could accuse my uncle of kidnapping me. Its easier to prove than you
think.
a [ ] Ebenezer Balfour b [ ] David Balfour c [ ] Colin Campbell d [ ] Alan Breck
30 I dont want him back. He wasnt a good lad.
a [ ] Ebenezer Balfour b [ ] David Balfour c [ ] Mr Rankeillor d [ ] Alan Breck

10 marks

Vocabulary

Choose the best answer.

31 a person on a ship or in the army, who gives orders to other people

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 a [ ] judge b [ ] lawyer c [ ] officer d [ ] fighter
32 a room on a ship
a [ ] deck b [ ] cabin c [ ] bench d [ ] cupboard
33 to take someone away from their home and keep them prisoner
a [ ] kill b [ ] shoot c [ ] save d [ ] kidnap
34 a Scottish word for a family
a [ ] clan b [ ] bairn c [ ] fog d [ ] lad
35 when you feel very pleased about something you have or something you did
a [ ] tired b [ ] lonely c [ ] proud d [ ] bored
36 when the air is like a cloud
a [ ] wind b [ ] fog c [ ] sky d [ ] water
37 a very loud noise in the sky when there is a storm
a [ ] thunder b [ ] lightning c [ ] cloud d [ ] traffic
38 the rise and fall of the sea
a [ ] wave b [ ] tide c [ ] weather d [ ] river
39 someone who helps people with the law
a [ ] lawyer b [ ] captain c [ ] farmer d [ ] soldier
40 a soft cereal, often eaten for breakfast
a [ ] egg b [ ] tea c [ ] rice d [ ] porridge

10 marks

Plot

Choose the best answer.

41 Davids parents _____.
a [ ] die b [ ] go to America c [ ] start a school d [ ] fight the Stewarts
42 David has _____ from his father to give to Uncle Ebenezer.
a [ ] some money b [ ] a letter c [ ] a map d [ ] a picture
43 Ebenezer lives in a cold house without any _____.
a [ ] windows b [ ] chairs c [ ] beds d [ ] lights
44 Ebenezer tries to kill David by making him _____.
a [ ] swim in the river b [ ] jump from the roof
c [ ] climb dangerous stairs d [ ] eat porridge
45 Ebenezer pays Captain Hoseason to _____ David.
a [ ] save b [ ] kidnap c [ ] murder d [ ] teach
46 On the ship, David meets Alan Breck. Breck carries _____ to France for
other people.
Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3 6
 a [ ] guns b [ ] drugs c [ ] gold d [ ] books
47 David gets into trouble because he _____.
a [ ] sees a murder b [ ] buys a knife
c [ ] hits a soldier d [ ] steals some money
48 David and _____ run away from the soldiers across the mountains.
a [ ] Mr Keillor b [ ] Colin Campbell c [ ] Alan Breck d [ ] James Stewart
49 Mr Keillor and Alan Breck help David to get some _____ from Ebenezer Balfour.
a [ ] family paintings b [ ] money every year
c [ ] gold coins d [ ] new clothes
50 When Ebenezer Balfour dies, David will get _____ to live in.
a [ ] Essendean school b [ ] a mansion c [ ] a Castle d [ ] the house of Shaws

10 marks

Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3 7

Kidnapped
1 a Captain Hoseason
b Alan
c James Stewart
d Ebenezer Balfour
e Mr Rankeillor

2 houses, island, shellfish, sick, hungry, wet, money, boat, shouted, help

3 A silver button

4 a 4
b 1
c 5
d 2
e 3

5 a T
b T
c F
d T
e F
f T
g T
h T
i F
j F

6 1 d
2 a
3 c
4 e
5 b

Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3 8

Kidnapped
Setting
1 b
2 c
3 a
4 b
5 c
6 d
7 a
8 b
9 c
10 d

Characters
11 b
12 c
13 d
14 a
15 d
16 c
17 b
18 a
19 d
20 a

Dialogue
21 a
22 d
23 c
24 d
25 b
26 c
27 a
28 c
29 b
30 a

Vocabulary

Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3 9

 31 c
32 b
33 d
34 a
35 c
36 b
37 a
38 b
39 a
40 d

Plot
41 a
42 b
43 d
44 c
45 b
46 c
47 a
48 c
49 b
50 d

Oxford Bookworms Library Stage 3 10