First Night Reading Quiz
8th Grade ELA Novel Assessment
First Night
By Jill Keppeler • Reading Comprehension Quiz
Score
____ / 10
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Directions: Read each question carefully and select the best answer choice (A, B, C, or D). Part 1 (Q1–5)
1 What is the primary setting and initial situation at the start of First Night?
A A teenager begins an overnight shift as a security watchman in an eerie building
B A group of students are accidentally locked inside school overnight
C A family moves into a remote mountain cabin during a winter blizzard
D Two camp counselors embark on their first midnight nature patrol
2 What is the protagonist's main motivation for sticking with this difficult night job?
A To fulfill a dare made by friends at school
B To prove personal maturity and earn dependable money for personal goals
C To investigate ghost legends for an online video channel
D To complete a court-mandated community service assignment
3 Which detail or instruction in the exposition foreshadows potential trouble later in the shift?
A A warning about a broken rear latch and rumors of past break-in attempts
B A note instructing the guard to keep noise-cancelling headphones on
C An order to turn off all security cameras to save electricity
D A notice that an extermination crew would spray chemical traps at 2:00 AM
4 How does author Jill Keppeler primarily build suspense during the night patrol?
A Through fast-paced humorous dialogue between guards
B Using stark sensory imagery of hollow echoes, dying flashlights, and creeping shadows
C By flashing backward to earlier childhood vacations
D Revealing the final mystery in chapter one through a narrator spoiler
5 Read: "His pulse raced as he entered the hall, gripped by an apprehensive chill." What does apprehensive mean?
A Drowsy and sluggish from lack of sleep
B Anxious and fearful that something bad or dangerous may occur
C Excited and intensely curious to explore
D Irritated and resentful about staying late
Jill Keppeler • First Night Quiz Page 1 of 2 • Continue to Questions 6–10 on back →
First Night • Reading Comprehension Quiz (Continued)
Student Assessment • Questions 6–10 and Written Analysis
Page 2
6 What internal conflict does the protagonist battle when first hearing unexplainable sounds?
A The urge to run away in fear versus the sense of duty to inspect and be responsible
B Whether to take merchandise from display cases while unobserved
C Deciding which mobile phone game to play to pass the time
D Whether to invite friends over to party inside the facility
7 What discovery disproves the initial idea that the strange occurrences were caused by ghosts?
A Finding fresh muddy shoe tracks and a forced open rear exit door
B Discovering a whistling steam valve in the furnace room
C Catching a neighborhood stray cat trapped in a closet
D Hearing a supervisor confess it was a prank over the walkie-talkie
8 During the novel's climax, how does the protagonist demonstrate resourcefulness?
A Physically attacking a dangerous intruder with a heavy tool
B Hiding inside a locker until morning daylight arrives
C Using security controls to seal escape points, sound sirens, and call the police
D Offering personal money to the intruder to leave peacefully
9 How does the protagonist experience meaningful character growth by the conclusion?
A Transforms from insecure and nervous into confident and self-reliant
B Becomes distrustful of all adults and refuses to accept work again
C Decides that safety procedures are useless during an emergency
D Determines that it is best never to take on difficult responsibilities
10 Which statement best captures the central theme of Jill Keppeler’s First Night?
A Supernatural dangers are always more threatening than human crimes
B True courage means acting responsibly and keeping calm despite feeling fear
C Earning money is the only standard by which an individual is valued
D Unfamiliar situations should always be avoided at all costs
Bonus Short Response (Optional / +2 pts) 2–3 complete sentences
Identify one specific moment where the protagonist chose reason over panic. How did this choice affect the outcome?
Jill Keppeler • First Night Quiz End of Quiz • Please review your answers before submitting.
First Night Answer Key
Teacher Edition • Answer Key 8th Grade ELA Novel Study
First Night • Assessment Key
Novel by Jill Keppeler • Standards Alignment & Explanatory Rationales
Assessment Type
10-Item Objective Quiz
Quick Key (1–5):
1: A 2: B 3: A 4: B 5: B
1 point each (5 pts total)
1 Correct Answer: A (Overnight security shift in an eerie building)
CCSS.ELA.RL.8.3 (Setting & Plot)
Rationale: The novel opens with the protagonist taking their very first shift as a night watchman. The eerie, deserted facility establishes both the physical setting and the narrative catalyst.
Distractor Note: Options B, C, and D reference unrelated high-school tropes (lock-ins, haunted cabins, wilderness hikes) not found in Keppeler's text.
2 Correct Answer: B (Prove maturity and earn dependable income)
CCSS.ELA.RL.8.3 (Character Motivation)
Rationale: The protagonist emphasizes the necessity of holding down this job to show independence and earn money, driving them to endure the spooky conditions instead of quitting early.
Distractor Note: The character is motivated by practical responsibility, not a school dare (A), a social media stunt (C), or legal trouble (D).
3 Correct Answer: A (Warning regarding faulty rear latch & past break-ins)
CCSS.ELA.RL.8.5 (Foreshadowing & Structure)
Rationale: Mentions of a compromised entry point and previous trespassing incidents serve as classic foreshadowing, preparing readers for the climactic break-in later that night.
Distractor Note: Instructions like wearing headphones (B) or disabling cameras (C) contradict standard security protocol and are distractors.
4 Correct Answer: B (Sensory imagery of echoes, dying lights, creeping shadows)
CCSS.ELA.RL.8.4 (Author's Craft & Mood)
Rationale: Keppeler relies heavily on auditory and visual sensory details—footstep echoes, dark corners, flickering bulbs—to immerse the reader in the protagonist's growing tension.
Distractor Note: The tone is serious and suspenseful rather than comedic (A) or non-linear/flashback-heavy (C, D).
5 Correct Answer: B (Anxious and fearful that something bad may occur)
CCSS.ELA.RL.8.4 (Vocabulary in Context)
Rationale: Clues such as "pulse raced" and "chill" directly signal fear and anticipation of danger. Apprehensive denotes uneasy anticipation.
Distractor Note: Drowsy (A), curious (C), and irritated (D) fail to match the physical stress indicators described in the stem.
