Eglish Remidial Test for XII IA

Herne the Hunter

According to some old stories, Herne lived in Plantagenet times. Others say that he was alive in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Some say that he was a poacher; others, a keeper; but all agree that he haunted Windsor Forest, and some people say that he does so to this very day. As the legend is generally told, Herne was a Royal huntsman whose amazing skill at the chase caused him to become a great favourite with his royal master and thereby inspired feelings of envy and jealousy in his fellow foresters. They were so resentful that they plotted together to bring about his downfall.
To one of their secret councils, held beneath great oaks in the heart of the forest, there came one day a mysterious swarthy man of unusual stature and strength, whose face seemed familiar yet whom none could place. To their enquiries he answered, gruffly that he lived on the' outskirts of the forest and that he was aware of their designs and could help them if they wished it.
The malevolent conspirators at once accepted his offer; but the stranger bargained with them, demanding as the price of his aid that they should each grant one request whenever it was made. This condition was agreed and the mysterious visitor disappeared, having told the now rather alarmed foresters that they should shortly have proof of his powers.
Within a few days it became evident that Herne's skill was beginning to fail him. He could no longer shoot straight, nor ride fast; and very speedily he fell into disfavour. His rivals were maliciously delighted, particularly when the day came when he was dismissed from the Royal service. That same night there was a terrifying thunderstorm and when morning came, the body of Herne was found hanging from a lightning-stricken tree in Windsor Little Park. He had committed suicide.
For a time, nothing unusual happened. But gradually strange stories began to spread around the district. People whispered of a ghostly huntsman, of a figure like the dead Herne, with stag's antlers sprouting from his head, who galloped through the forest at night on a black charger, harrying the King's deer. What could not be denied was that the herds of deer in Windsor Great Park were depleted and the keepers were threatened with dire punishment if the depredations were not stopped. Greatly alarmed, they went that night, to Herne's oak. There they were met once more by the dark stranger. This time there was no doubt as to his identity. He appeared in a flash of sulphurous flame and they knew him to be the Evil One. He told the terrified men that Herne would appear to them soon. They must do exactly what Herne bade them do or they must die immediately and suffer the torments of hell
At this moment Herne appeared, a ghostly figure with spreading antlers, and commanded his fellow-keepers to assemble at the oak the next night equipped with horses and hounds and weapons for the chase. They dared not refuse and, night after night led by the ghostly huntsman, the party swept through the forest
Their wild doings naturally quickly reached the ears of the King
and he summoned the keepers, demanding an explanation. In terror, they confessed how they had plotted Herne's ruin, and the King, furious at their impious deeds, ordered all of them to be hanged on Herne's oak.
But the ghostly chase still went on, they say, and even to this day some people believe that in the dark midnight hours you may sometimes hear, far away in the Great Park, the distant sound of a huntsman's horn and the wild gallop of the ghostly chase led by an antlered man on a huge black horse.
(Taken from: Reading English Objectively, by L.R. Malone)

CHOOSE THE CORRECT ANSWER.

1. Below are about Herne mentioned in the 1st paragraph, except…..
a. He lived in Plantagenet times
b. He lived in the reign of Queen Elizabeth
c. He was not a poacher nor a keeper
d. He appeared repeatedly in the Windsor Forest
e. He was a Royal huntsman
2. What made Herne’s fellow foresters felt envy and jealous to him ?
a. His close relation with the royal master
b. His extraordinary ability in chasing
c. His high position in the kingdom
d. The high salary he got from the royal master
e. His bad behavior to his fellow foresters
3. We might conclude that the reason why the secret council had a meeting in the hearth of forest was…..
a. It was not easy to reach the place
b. They were the keepers of the forest
c. They need a natural place for meeting
d. They had known well about the forest
e. They thought that it was a safe place
4. The swarthy man told the council that …..
a. He came from the middle of the forest
b. The foresters needed his help
c. Their plans were still well kept
d. He lived at the outlying of the forest
e. He had known them well before
5. At first the conspirators thought that the swarthy man was a/an ….. person that they agreed his offer.
a. suspicious
b. evil
c. mysterious
d. obedient
e. good
6. When was the Herne’s body found ?
a. At the night he was dismissed
b. In the morning after thunderstorm
c. At a lighting-stricken tree
d. In the Windsor Little Park
e. Hanging on the oak tree
7. Herne committed suicide because …..
a. he was fired from the royal service
b. he had lost his skill
c. he had no ability to shoot straight anymore
d. he could no longer ride fast
e. he quitted from the royal service
8. What made the keepers went to the oak tree ?
a. A Figure like the dead Herne hurried the King’s deer
b. The King’s deer really depleted
c. The dire punishment from the King
d. They couldn’t deny the depredation of the King’s deer
e. To make sure the identity of the ghostly huntsman
9. From the text, we knew that when the keepers met the dark stranger they felt…..
a. afraid
b. delighted
c. jealous
d. ashamed
e. doubtful
10. Because of the foresters’ impious deed…..
a. They had plotted Herne’s ruin
b. They should explain what had happened
c. The King heard their wild doing naturally
d. The King hanged them on the oak tree
e. The party swept the forest night after night

WHICH ONE IS IN THE PASSIVE FORM.

11. a. The legend is generally told
b. They plotted together to bring about his downfall
c. He was alive in the reign of Queen Elizabeth
d. Herne was a Royal huntsman
e. All agree that he haunted the Windsor Forest

12. a. To their inquiries he answered gruffly
b. To one of their secret councils, held beneath great
oaks…..
c. He lived on the outskirts of the forest
d. He was aware of their designs
e. He could help them if they wished it

13. a. The malevolent conspirators at once accepted his offer
b. They should shortly have proof of his power
c. This condition was agreed
d. They should each grant one request
e. The stranger bargained with them

14. a. The body of Herne was found hanging from a lighting-
stricken tree
b. Herne’s skill was beginning to fail him
c. His rivals were maliciously delighted
d. That same night there was a terrifying thunderstorm
e. He had committed suicide

15. a. A ghostly figure commanded his fellow-keepers to
assemble
b. But the ghostly chase still went on
c. Their wild doings naturally reached the ears of the King
d. They confessed how they had plotted Herne’s ruin
e. The wild gallop of ghostly chase, led by an antlered
man

Note: The answer of the questions should be sent to : suprihantono@gmail.com
Good luck for you !!