The Safe House: A Character Sketch Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What activity do the children engage in to amuse themselves during the gatherings?

Sitting on balloons (correct)

Telling stories

Dancing

Playing cards

How does the mother react during the visitors' laughter game?

She leaves the room.

She cries quietly in the kitchen. (correct)

She joins the laughter.

She laughs the loudest.

What is the girl's impression of the unopened beer bottles served to the visitors?

They are intended for a future celebration.

They are always empty.

They are just for decoration. (correct)

They are specially brewed.

What does the girl notice about the atmosphere in her apartment after her mother leaves?

It seems even smaller and heavy. Signup and view all the answers

What significant event happens to the father?

He is arrested by uniformed men. Signup and view all the answers

What does the girl find frustrating about the visitors reading from the small red book?

They hide it from her. Signup and view all the answers

What does the girl recognize when she sees the drawing of a triangle?

It is linked to the concept of class. Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the soldiers drive away?

People begin to murmur. Signup and view all the answers

In the story the girl reads, what does the girl do to help save her village?

She cuts her hair. Signup and view all the answers

What do the grandparents recount to the children about their past?

A story about lovebirds. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the aviary in the story?

It represents freedom and happiness. Signup and view all the answers

What does the girl observe at her father's court trials?

One soldier claims a gun is her father's. Signup and view all the answers

Where does the girl write her name frequently?

In a big notebook for the guards. Signup and view all the answers

What do the children see when they first arrive at their grandparents' house?

A pillar of smoke from a nearby fire. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the atmosphere the children experience when visiting their father?

Chaotic and dangerous. Signup and view all the answers

What physical feature is mentioned about the girl's surroundings in Camp Crame?

Wide green lawns. Signup and view all the answers

What activity are the visitors engaged in when the girl first sees them?

Discussing politics Signup and view all the answers

How does the girl feel about the visitors' presence?

Curious and observant Signup and view all the answers

What is notable about the new uncle mentioned in the story?

He always wears dark glasses Signup and view all the answers

What event captures the attention of the visitors in front of the television?

The President's speech Signup and view all the answers

What emotional atmosphere is created when the President appears on the screen?

Tension and outrage Signup and view all the answers

What does she dream of losing in her nightmares?

Her home Signup and view all the answers

What does she find instead of her real house in her dream?

A swamp or rice paddy Signup and view all the answers

How does the girl occupy herself while the visitors behave differently around the television?

Crawling under the dining table Signup and view all the answers

What words does the girl hear through the wall during the visitors' argument?

Foreign words that intrigue her Signup and view all the answers

What colors does she paint her home to make it livable again?

Blue, pink, and yellow Signup and view all the answers

What year does the scene take place, indicating a significant time period?

1983 Signup and view all the answers

What does she curl herself over on the floor while waiting for morning?

A painted crescent moon Signup and view all the answers

How does she feel about the people she meets on the street as she grows up?

She does not really know them. Signup and view all the answers

What significant change happens to her front door over the years?

It is replaced with a solid varnished mahogany door. Signup and view all the answers

What emotional connection does she maintain with her memories of others?

She believes people stay alive as long as someone remembers them. Signup and view all the answers

What is the condition of the face she sees at the door after many years?

It is older and ravaged but somehow the same. Signup and view all the answers

What does the building primarily represent in the text?

A typical middle-class housing project Signup and view all the answers

How do visitors reach the Safe House?

By counting steps up each flight of stairs Signup and view all the answers

What do the visitors carry with them when they arrive?

Nothing but their memories and experiences Signup and view all the answers

What is the girl's perception of the visitors?

She feels indifferent and struggles to remember them Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the atmosphere surrounding the Safe House?

Quiet and serene with a cozy feel Signup and view all the answers

Which structural feature is mentioned about the Safe House?

It has multiple floors with several units Signup and view all the answers

What decorations are described as part of the building's surroundings?

Flowering hedges and shady trees Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about the purpose of the house for the visitors?

A temporary refuge providing care and support Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Safe House

The story takes place in a building in a complex, indistinguishable from other buildings.
The building is a four-story structure with four units per floor.
The facade is made of gray concrete, with terracotta roof tiles.
The walls are high and wide.
The windows are square and glass, and glitter like insect eyes in the evenings revealing little of the inside.
It seems like any other middle-class housing project.
The neighborhood feels hushed and cozy with trees and hedges.
A swinging gate, twisting butterfly tree and cyclone-wire fence are distinctive features.
There is a clubhouse, swimming pool and tennis court.
Some people within the complex drive luxury cars.
People walk their dogs in the mornings.
Visitors are discreet and know what to look for.
Visitors enter through a particular window.

Visitors

Visitors are important to the story
Various people come and go, mostly adults (uncles, aunts).
Visitors come in couples or one at a time across several hours.
The activities of the visitors are discreet.
They are careful not to attract attention.
Their activities are shrouded in mystery.

The Girl

The girl in the story is five years old.
She observes the comings and goings of visitors.
The girl seems to be the central character despite her age.
She is cautious and observant.
She is a key figure in the story and she has her own understanding of the events
She understands the activities but doesn't know the meanings.

1982-1984

The story spans the years 1982 and 1984, in two different parts.
By 1983, the visitors come more often.
They turn the apartment into their own.
Holding meetings disguised as children's parties.

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Description

Test your understanding of the intricacies in 'The Safe House' through this quiz. Delve into the setting, visitors, and the nuances of life within the building complex. Explore the relationships and interactions that define this unique environment.