Extract Based Questions: Footprints without Feet

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Q1: As they gazed, a remarkable sight met their eyes. A fresh footmark appeared from nowhere! Further footprints followed, one after another, descending the steps and progressing down the street.
(a) Who are 'they' in the above extract?
(b) Who is making these footprints?
(c) Find the word from the extract that means the same as 'continuing'.
(d) What is the opposite of 'remarkable'?
Ans: (a) 'They' are two boys standing on a London street who notice fresh footmarks appearing suddenly and watch them with surprise.
(b) The footprints are being made by Griffin, the scientist who has made himself invisible; as he walks he leaves marks on the pavement that the boys can see.
(c) The word meaning 'continuing' is progressing.
(d) The opposite of 'remarkable' is ordinary.

Q2: The air was bitterly cold and he could not do without clothes. Instead of walking about the streets he decided to slip into a big London store for warmth.
(a) Who is 'he' in the above extract?
(b) Why was the air bitterly cold?
(c) Find a word from the extract that means the same as 'quietly enter'
(d) What is the opposite of 'warmth'?
Ans: (a) 'He' in the above extract is Griffin, the scientist who has made himself invisible and is trying to keep warm.
(b) The air was bitterly cold because it was mid-winter and the temperature was very low; being without clothes made Griffin feel the cold more strongly.
(c) The word meaning 'quietly enter' is slip.
(d) The opposite of 'warmth' is chill or coldness.

Q3: They naturally gave chase. In the end he was able to escape only by quickly taking off his newly found clothes. So once more he found himself invisible but naked in the chill January air.
(a) Who are 'they' and 'he' referred to in the above extract?
(b) Why has the author used the phrase 'once more'?
(c) Find a word from the extract that means the same as 'run away'.
(d) What is the opposite of 'invisible'?
Ans: (a) 'They' are the shop assistants who gave chase, and 'he' is Griffin, the invisible scientist.
(b) The phrase 'once more' is used because Griffin had previously been naked and invisible; after putting on newly found clothes he had to remove them again to escape, so he became naked and invisible again.
(c) The word meaning 'run away' is escape.
(d) The opposite of 'invisible' is visible.

Q4: Suspicion grew even stronger when he suddenly produced some ready cash, though he had admitted not long before that he had no money.
(a) Who is 'he' in the above extract?
(b) What was 'he' suspected for?
(c) Find a word / phrase from the extract that means the same as 'money'.
(d) Give a synonym of 'suddenly'.
Ans: (a) 'He' in the above extract is Griffin, the invisible scientist.
(b) He was suspected of being involved in the burglary at the clergyman's house because producing unexpected cash contradicted his earlier claim of having no money.
(c) The phrase meaning 'money' is ready cash.
(d) A suitable synonym of 'suddenly' in this context is abruptly or immediately.