OXFORD BOOKWORMS COMPREHENSION TEST

Stage 3
A Christmas Carol

1 Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)? 4 Match a number from A with a letter from
B to make complete sentences.
a ___ Scrooge only cared about money.
b ___ Scrooge’s nephew was mean and A
hard too. 1 ___ Marley couldn’t rest after his death ...
c ___ Scrooge laughed at Marley’s ghost. 2 ___ It was the most exciting moment ...
d ___ When Scrooge saw his old school, 3 ___ The ghost of Christmas Past came to
he cried. Scrooge ...
e ___ The ghost of Christmas Present was 4 ___ The ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
specially interested in poor people. pointed with one hand ...
f ___ Mrs Cratchit liked Scrooge. 5 ___ Scrooge became a good and cheerful
g ___ The ghost of Christmas Yet to Come person ...
never spoke to Scrooge.
h ___ Everybody was sad when Scrooge B
died. a but it never spoke.
i ___ When Scrooge woke up on Christmas b because he was never good or kind in life.
Day, he decided to change his life. c to help him change his life.
j ___ When Bob Cratchit was late for work, d when Mrs Cratchit carried in the Christmas
Scrooge pretended to be angry. pudding.
e after he met the three spirits.
20 marks
20 marks
2 Who said this in the story? Bob Cratchit,
Tiny Tim, Marley’s ghost, Scrooge, the 5 Which things go with which ghost? black
ghost of Christmas Present. robe, white robe, Christmas food, torch,
silence, extinguisher, cheerful smile,
a ‘God bless us, every one!’
white hair, pointing hand, green robe.
...............
b ‘Christmas is humbug!’ Ghost of Christmas Past:
............... ..............., ..............., ...............
c ‘Do you, Ebenezer Scrooge, recognize my Ghost of Christmas Present:
chain?’ ..............., ..............., ..............., ...............
...............
d ‘These miserable children are Man’s.’ Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come:
............... ..............., ..............., ...............
e ‘None of us will ever forget Tiny Tim, will 20 marks
we?’
............... 6 Put the following events in the story in
the right order. Number them 1–5.
10 marks
a ___ He sent a big turkey to the Cratchits.
3 What did Scrooge see on the grave b ___ He had Christmas dinner with his
stone? nephew.
........................................................................... c ___ He promised to give Bob Cratchit more
........................................................................... money.
........................................................................... d ___ He told the old gentleman that he
wanted to give money to the poor.
10 marks e ___ Scrooge woke up feeling happy and
excited.
20 marks

Total marks

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OXFORD BOOKWORMS COMPREHENSION TEST ANSWERS
Stage 3
A Christmas Carol

1
a T
b F
c F
d T
e T
f F
g T
h F
i T
j T

2
a Tiny Tim
b Scrooge
c Marley’s ghost
d the ghost of Christmas Present
e Bob Cratchit

3
His own name (Ebenezer Scrooge)

4
1 b
2 d
3 c
4 a
5 e

5
Ghost of Christmas Past: white robe,
extinguisher, white hair
Ghost of Christmas Present: Christmas food,
torch, cheerful smile, green robe
Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: black robe,
silence, pointing hand

6
a 2
b 4
c 5
d 3
e 1

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OXFORD BOOKWORMS MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST
Stage 3
A Christmas Carol

SETTING 9 Marley’s ghost could not rest

because _____.
Choose the best answer. a he was never kind in life
1 Scrooge and Marley were _____ for many b other ghosts were too noisy
years. c his chains kept him awake
a business partners d he was always cross
b neighbours
10 The ghost told Scrooge _____.
c friends
a he had to visit three spirits
d ghosts
b he must never change
2 Scrooge’s main interest in life was _____. c three spirits would visit him
a making friends d four spirits would visit him
b being horrible
20 marks
c making money
d helping people
CHARACTERS
3 _____ were afraid of him.
a People Choose the best answer.
b Animals 11 At the beginning of the story, Scrooge was
c His family a _____ old man.
d People and animals a generous, silly
4 Bob Cratchit worked in _____. b clever, mean
a a big dark office c kind, clever
b a dark little room d cheerful, kind
c a kitchen cupboard 12 Bob Cratchit was Scrooge’s _____.
d Scrooge’s office a clerk
5 Scrooge’s nephew came to the office b nephew
to _____. c lawyer
a ask for money d partner
b ask for a job 13 Marley had been _____ Scrooge.
c invite Scrooge to Christmas dinner a more generous than
d invite Scrooge to the pub b meaner than
6 Scrooge thought that poor people c more cheerful than
should _____. d just as mean as
a have a merry Christmas 14 The ghost of Christmas Past was _____.
b stay in prisons and workhouses a like a child
c stay with rich people at Christmas b like a child and an old man
d have a free Christmas dinner c like an old man
7 Scrooge lived in rooms which had once d like Marley
belonged to _____. 15 Scrooge had _____.
a Jacob Marley a a brother who died
b his father b two brothers
c his nephew c a sister who died
d a rich businessman d two sisters
8 When he arrived home that evening, the 16 _____ was a large, kind-looking
_____ became the face of Jacob Marley. old gentleman.
a letter box a Dick Wilkins
b mirror b Scrooge
c bedpost c Mr Fezziwig
d door knocker d Fred

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OXFORD BOOKWORMS MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST
Stage 3
A Christmas Carol

17 Scrooge’s fiancée _____. 25 ‘I can’t watch any more! It’s too awful!’
a never married a Fred
b died when she was young b Scrooge
c married but had no children c Bob
d married someone else d Scrooge’s sister
18 The ghost of Christmas Present was 26 ‘It’s the best chicken I’ve ever tasted!’
dressed in _____. a Tiny Tim
a green b Bob
b white c Fred
c brown d Scrooge
d black
27 ‘My life in this world ends at midnight
19 Martha was Bob Cratchit’s _____. tonight.’
a second daughter a the second spirit
b youngest sister b the first spirit
c wife c the third spirit
d eldest daughter d Scrooge
20 The third spirit was _____. 28 ‘I promised him that we would go there
a tall and silent every Sunday.’
b tall and kind a Bob’s wife
c short and noisy b Martha
d short and silent c Bob
d Tiny Tim
20 marks
29 ‘I’m going to pay you twice as much!’
DIALOGUE a Bob
b Mr Fezziwig
Who said this? c Fred
21 ‘You’re too rich to be unhappy.’ d Scrooge
a Scrooge 30 ‘God bless us, every one!’
b Bob a Scrooge
c Fred b Fred
d Belle c Tiny Tim
22 ‘Why didn’t I think of people as d Bob
my business?’ 20 marks
a Bob
b Scrooge
VOCABULARY
c Mr Fezziwig
d Marley Choose the best answer.
23 ‘I’ve come here to bring you home, 31 a special song which people sing
dear brother!’ at Christmas
a Scrooge’s brother a humbug
b Fred b crowd
c Scrooge’s sister c poem
d Bob d carol
24 ‘Be happy in the life that you’ve chosen!’ 32 happy, cheerful
a Belle a contented
b Marley b merry
c the third spirit c delighted
d Scrooge d pleased

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OXFORD BOOKWORMS MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST
Stage 3
A Christmas Carol

33 a coin in old British money PLOT

a dollar
b shilling Choose the best answer.
c pound 41 The first spirit showed Scrooge _____.
d euro a Christmases from Scrooge’s past
b last Christmas
34 thick low cloud which stops you
c Scrooge’s birthday
seeing clearly
d Scrooge’s death
a fog
b rain 42 Mr Fezziwig used to _____ on
c ice Christmas Eve.
d frost a play the fiddle
b invite his clerks to a party
35 to look hard at somebody or something for
c make his clerks work
a long time
d give his clerks extra money
a watch
b see 43 Belle didn’t marry Scrooge because
c stare she _____.
d pretend a wanted to marry a richer man
b wanted to marry a poor man
36 to show where something is with your finger
c knew he cared more about money
or arm
d didn’t like him
a touch
b pick 44 The second spirit’s torch _____.
c explain a helped to light up dark houses
d point b made cold rooms feel warmer
c showed people where to go at night
37 someone who works in an office, writing
d made poor people’s dinners taste better
letters, etc.
a clerk 45 Bob Cratchit’s son, Tiny Tim, had
b partner never _____.
c nephew a spoken
d extinguisher b liked food
c walked
38 very small
d eaten Christmas pudding
a little
b low 46 _____ drank to Scrooge’s health.
c tiny a All the Cratchits
d short b Bob Cratchit
c Nobody
39 a large bird which people often eat
d All Fred’s family
at Christmas
a turkey 47 The two ghost children represented _____.
b cart a Hunger and Thirst
c torch b Crime and Need
d humbug c Boredom and Sadness
d Poverty and Jealousy
40 very pleased and happy
a surprised 48 Scrooge saw that _____ about the
b cheerful dead man.
c afraid a nobody cared
d delighted b everyone cared
c Tiny Tim cried
20 marks
d Fred wasn’t sad

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OXFORD BOOKWORMS MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST
Stage 3
A Christmas Carol

49 The ghost of the future showed

Scrooge _____.
a Tiny Tim’s grave
b his old office
c his own grave
d his old home
50 Scrooge kept his promises to the spirits
and _____.
a made friends with Belle
b sold his business
c lived a happy life
d gave Tiny Tim a job
20 marks

Total marks

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OXFORD BOOKWORMS MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST ANSWERS
Stage 3
A Christmas Carol

SETTING PLOT
1 a 41 a
2 c 42 b
3 d 43 c
4 b 44 d
5 c 45 c
6 b 46 d
7 a 47 b
8 d 48 a
9 a 49 c
10 c 50 c

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

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

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

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OXFORD BOOKWORMS
Stage 3
A Christmas Carol
BEFORE READING
Activity 1
Students will find out as they read that the
best answer is number 3.
Activity 2
1 Scrooge is a cross, miserable, mean old man,
who hates Christmas and is only interested in
making money.
2 Bob Cratchit is Scrooge’s clerk and he works in a
cold office with a small fire.
3 Jacob Marley, Scrooge’s partner, is dead.
4 Frightening things happen to Scrooge on
Christmas Eve, and he sees four ghosts.
5 By Christmas Day, Scrooge is a changed man.
Activity 3
Encourage discussion. Possible answers:
1 Yes, most people give presents to family and
friends.
2 The traditional meal is roast turkey with
vegetables, followed by a Christmas
pudding.
3 It is a holiday for almost everybody, so most
people stay at home or perhaps go away for
a few days. Some people go to church.
4 Many people visit friends or family.
5 ‘Merry Christmas!’ ‘And a Merry Christmas to
you too!’
Activity 4
Encourage discussion. Open answers.
Activity 5
Students will find out as they read that the
‘yes’ answers are numbers 6 and 7.
WHILE READING
Chapter 1
1 Scrooge’s nephew to Scrooge, about Scrooge
and his money.
2 Scrooge to his nephew, rudely refusing to go
to his nephew’s house for Christmas dinner.
3 The gentleman collecting for the poor, to
Scrooge, about the prisons and
workhouses; many poor people preferred to
die, rather than go to those places.
4 Bob Cratchit to Scrooge, apologizing for taking
a day off work on Christmas Day.
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BOOK ACTIVITY ANSWERS
5 The ghost of Jacob Marley to Scrooge,
warning Scrooge to lead a better life.
Chapter 2
1 When the clock struck one, light shone into
Scrooge’s bedroom, and a ghost appeared.
2 The ghost took Scrooge back to his past, and
Scrooge remembered it well.
3 Scrooge’s eyes were wet because he was crying.
4 Old Fezziwig gave his clerks a party on
Christmas Eve.
5 Scrooge had once wanted to marry a girl called
Belle.
Chapter 3
1 Where . . .? Outside in the cold, snowy streets.
2 Why . . .? To make them kinder or to stop them
arguing.
3 Who . . .? Tiny Tim, his son.
4 Why . . .? Because he only paid Bob fifteen
shillings a week, and she thought he was a
hateful, hard, unfeeling, mean old man.
5 Who . . .? Scrooge’s nephew, his family and
friends.
6 Who . . .? Two sad and terrible children, who were
Crime and Need.
Chapter 4
1+11 Scrooge was more afraid of the last of
the spirits than he had been of the
others.
2+9 The spirit showed him shadows of things
which hadn’t happened yet, but would
happen in the future.
3+14 From the businessmen’s conversations
Scrooge learnt that nobody cared about
the man who had died.
4+13 The three women sold Scrooge’s clothes
because he had paid them very badly
when he was alive.
5+8 A young family had to pay some money to
Scrooge so they were happy to hear of his
death.
6+10 When Scrooge wanted to see sadness at a
death, the ghost showed him the Cratchits
after Tiny Tim died.
7+12 In the churchyard, the ghost pointed at a
grave which had Scrooge’s name on the
gravestone.
OXFORD BOOKWORMS
Stage 3
A Christmas Carol
Before Reading Chapter 5
Students will find out as they read that the
‘yes’ answer is number 1 and that
Scrooge will go to his nephew’s house,
to have dinner with them on Christmas
Day.
AFTER READING
Activity 1
Possible answers:
Wife: You’re home early, Bob! It’s only three
o’clock! What’s happened? Was Mr Scrooge
angry because you were late this morning?
Bob: No, not at all. In fact, he shook my hand
and wished me a merry Christmas!
Wife: But Mr Scrooge never says that. He hates
Christmas!
Bob: know. At first I thought he had gone crazy!
He always used to say that Christmas was
humbug. He was always miserable and cross,
but now he’s happy and cheerful.
Wife: But why has he changed, Bob?
Bob: He said that he learnt a lesson last night that
he will never forget. I don’t know what
happened to him, but I do know that he sent
the big turkey that arrived yesterday!
Wife: Mr Scrooge paid for our Christmas dinner?
Oh my!
Bob: But the best news is this, my dear. He’s going
to pay me thirty shillings a week instead of
fifteen!
Wife: But that’s twice as much! Oh my, oh my!
Bob: And he wants to help us with the family, and
be a second father to Tiny Tim.
Wife: Oh my, Oh my, Oh my! YELL, God bless
Mr Scrooge!
Activity 2
 BOB CRATCHIT: A clerk with a long
white scarf
 EBENEZER SCROOGE: An old man
with red eyes, white hair, and a cross
voice
 SCROOGE'S NEPHEW, FRED: A
young man with a happy laugh
 SCROOGE'S SISTER: A warm-hearted
little girl
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BOOK ACTIVITY ANSWERS
 GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST: A
figure with long white hair, but soft,
young skin
 GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT: A
figure with long brown hair and a warm,
friendly smile
 GHOST OF CHRISTMAS 9ET TO
#OME: A tall, silent figure in a black robe
 BELLE: A beautiful young girl who loved
a cold-hearted man
 MR FEZZIWIG: A large, kind-looking old
gentleman
 TINY TIM: A little boy who could not
walk
 JACOB MARLEY: A spirit who had been
unable to rest for seven years
Activity 3
CHARACTERS FROM SCROOGE'S PAST: Belle,
Jacob Marley, Scrooge’s sister, Dick Wilkins,
Mr and Mrs Fezziwig
CHARACTERS FROM HIS PRESENT: Tiny Tim,
Fred, Bob Cratchit
Activity 4
Correct order: 3, 1, 7, 4, 9, 6, 10, 5, 8, 2
My dear Fred,
I don’t think I have long left to live now, so this
will probably be my last letter to you. Before
I die, there’s one thing I want to ask you –
try to be a good friend to your uncle
Ebenezer. I know he seems to hate people,
but remember that he had a difficult life
when he was younger. You see, our father
was a cold, hard man, who didn’t love
Ebenezer at all. And so, as a child,
Ebenezer too became cold, and spent a lot
of time alone. When he was older and
started work, he began to show an
unhealthy interest in money, and that was
the reason why he never married. There
was a girl who loved him once, a beautiful
young woman called Belle. But when she
realized that he would always love money
more than her, she married another man.
Poor Ebenezer! I know that you, with your
warm heart, will feel sorry for him, now that
I’ve told you this. Take care of yourself, my
OXFORD BOOKWORMS BOOK ACTIVITY ANSWERS
Stage 3
A Christmas Carol

dear boy, and think of me sometimes, when

I am gone.
Your loving mother

Activity 5
Possible answers would be:
1 You should always try to be kind and generous
and cheerful, and think of other people.
2 Nobody likes a cross, mean, miserable person.
3 The most important thing in life is to live a good
and happy life.
4 It is never too late to change (your way of life).

Activity 6
This is just one possibility:
Ebenezer Scrooge did not do everything that he
had promised. He did pay Bob Cratchit thirty
shillings a year, but poor Bob had to work
very hard for it. It was too late for Scrooge to
change his ways, and soon he became as
mean and miserable as he had been before.
There was no extra wood for the fire in Bob’s
office, and Scrooge never became a good
friend to the Cratchits or a second father to
Tiny Tim. Sadly, Tiny Tim died later that
year. The Cratchit family were very unhappy,
but they tried to be cheerful and were
always kind to each other.
Scrooge’s heart grew colder and colder, until one
day he was found dead in his bed by one of
the cleaning- women. Now he lies in the
graveyard, in the cold, hard ground, and
nobody cried at his death or put flowers on
his grave.

Activity 7
Good titles:
 Mr Ebenezer Scrooge
 The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
 Time to Change
Interesting titles, but they don’t tell us much
about the story:
 Humbug!
 The Wings of the Night
Titles not relevant to the story:
 A Cheerful Man
 Tiny Tim
 Merry Christmas

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