THE PRISONER OF ZENDA ANSWER KEYS for comprehension questions in the

book and practice tests in the workbook and Longman Website

Chapter 1
A. Answer these questions.
1) Why doesn't Rudolf Rassendyll work?
. He belongs to a rich important family and doesn’t need to work.
2) What kind of work does Rose suggest Rudolf should do?
. She wants him to take a job in an embassy, working for Sir Jacob Borrodaile.
3) Why has the Rassendyll family been interested in the Elphberg family?
. Countess Amelia Rassendyll married a member of the Elphberg family many years
ago. Many of her descendants look like the royal family of Ruritania (the Elphbergs).
Rudolf looks like an Elphberg.
4) Where does Rassendyll decide to travel to? What does he tell his family
about his plans?
. He travels to Ruritania to see the coronation of the new king. He doesn’t tell his
family that. He says he is going to go walking in the Alps and write a book about social
problems in the country.
5) What does the owner of the inn think of Michael Duke of Strelsau?
. She thinks he should be the King because the real King only likes hunting and good
food.
6) Why does Rassendyll decide to walk through the forest the next day?
. He wants to see the forest where the King is staying.
7) Who does Rassendyll meet in the forest? Why are they surprised to see
him?
. He meets Colonel Sapt and Fritz von Tarlenheim, and then the King. They are
surprised because he looks almost exactly like the King.
Read the quotations and answer the questions.
• "To a man like me, opportunities are responsibilities. "
1. Who says this and when?
. Rudolf Rassendyll says this while he is eating breakfast with his sister-in-law.
2. What does the person mean by this?
. He means that ifan opportunity comes, he takes it but he doesn’t look for work or
responsibilities.
3. Do you think a person like this is very serious about work or life?
. Opinions may vary. But his sister-in-law does not think that he is very serious about
work and life with this attitude.
• "He's always lived in Ruritania and he cares about the people, so people
like him. "
1. Who says this to whom? . The innkeeper (inn owner) says this
to Rassendyll.
2. Who is the person talking about? . She’s talking about Duke Michael, the Duke
of Strelsau.
3. What more does the speaker think about the person?
. She wishes that he would be the King.
Chapter 2
A. Answer these questions.
1) Why do you think Fritz says that it is not a good time for Rassendyll to
visit Strelsau?
. Perhaps Fritz thinks there will be problems with someone who looks so much like the
King.

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2) How does the King react to Fritz's suggestion, and what does that tell you
about the King?
The King seems surprised by the suggestion (He says, “What?”) and asks Sapt what
he thinks. Perhaps it means that the King is not very wise, or that he depends too
much on other people for advice.
3) Why don't Fritz and Sapt eat very much? What advice do they give the
King? Does he listen to them?
. They don’t want to overeat because they have to get up early the next day. They
advise the King not to eat too much. He doesn’t listen to them.
4) What happens at the end of the meal? What is the result the next day?
. The servant brings some cakes from the Duke. The King eats a lot of them and is
poisoned. He can’t be woken up the next day.
5) Why does the Duke poison the King?
. He hopes that the King will miss the coronation and that he (the Duke) will become
the King instead.
6) Is Rassendyll also poisoned? Why isn't he as sick as the King?
. He is probably also poisoned because they have to throw water in his face to wake
him up. But he ate only one cake, so he did’t eat as much poison. The King eats more,
so he receives more poison.
7) Rassendyll tells himself that he has no choice but to pretend to be the
King. Do you think he has a choice? Is there something else they can do?
. No, he has no choice as he looks exactly like the king
8) How and when will they get the King to Strelsau?
. They will hide the King in the cellar of the lodge. At night, after the coronation, Sapt
and Rassendyll will come back and get the King. Sapt will take him back to the palace,
and Rassendyll will leave the country.
9) Who overhears their plan? What do they do with the person?
. Johann’s mother (who is a servant to the Duke) overhears the plan. They tie her up
and lock her in the cellar with the King. Josef will let her out later.
10) Why do they go to the station early instead of waiting for Duke
Michael's guards?
. The Duke’s guards have probably been told to kidnap or kill the King. They want to
get out of the lodge and be on their way to the capital before the Duke’s men come.
11) What is the first thing they do when they reach the capital? Why aren't
the people from the palace at the station in Strelsau to meet them?
. The first thing they do is eat breakfast at the train station. The palace people aren’t
there yet because the King (Rassendyll) arrived earlier than planned.
12) Why is Rassendyll afraid when he sees Antoinette de Mauban?
. Her expression changes, so he thinks she recognises that he is not the real King. He
is afraid that she will shout out and tell others .
. Read the quotations and answer the questions.
• "Meanwhile, I'll have some breakfast! The King is hungry!"
1. Who says this to whom? 1. Rassendyll (disguised as the King) says this to Sapt
and Fritz.
2. Where and when does he say this?. In the train station at Strelsau. They have
just arrived but they are early, so Rassendyll will eat first.
3. What does this show you about the speaker? He is feeling a little more
relaxed and acting more like the King.
• "God save both Kings."
1. Who said.this and where was he?. Sapt said this in the restaurant at the train
station in Strelsau.
2. What did the people say just before this?. The people said, “God save the
King!”
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3. Why does the speaker say "both Kings"? Who is he talking about?
. He’s talking about the real King who is in the lodge at Zenda and about Rassendyll
who is pretending to be the King for the coronation. He is worried about the safety of
both men, the real King and the pretend King.

Chapter 3
1) What kind of people live in the old part of the city? What does Rassendyll
do when the Marshal wants him to ride through the old part of town?
. The people in the old part are poor and many of them are loyal to Duke Michael.
Rassendyll tells the soldiers to ride ahead and behind him, not next to him, so that he
can show the people that he trusts them.
2) Why is Sapt so anxious about Rassendyll's decision to ride alone through
the old town?
. He knows that the people in the old town support the Duke and he is afraid that
Rassendyll will be hurt or attacked there.
3) Why does Duke Michael's face turn white when he sees "the King"
(Rassendyll)?
. He thought that the King was still in Zenda (because he had poisoned him), so he is
surprised to see the King here at the coronation.
4) Does Michael realise that this is not the real King? How do you know?
. Yes, Michael knows Rassendyll is not the real King. First, Michael knows (or thinks)
that the King
is poisoned and still in Zenda. And the words in the story tell us: “No one else ...
seemed to realise
that I was not the real King.” This means Michael realised it but no other person.
5) Does the Princess know that this is not the real King? What does she say
about him?
. She thinks this is the real King, but she says that he has changed. He is more tired
and serious, and also thinner.
6) Why do Rassendyll and Sapt need a permit to leave the city?
. Michael controls the city and he has had news from Zenda, so he won’t want people
to leave the city.
7) How do they get a permit from the King?
. Sapt can write like the King and he signs the paper.
8) What does Fritz do while Sapt and Rassendyll go to Zenda?
. He stays and guards the bedroom. He must not let anyone inside the room.
9) How do Sapt and Rassendyll get out of the palace? Why do they go this
way?
. They go through a secret passage in the wall and out of a secret back door. They do
this because they don’t want anyone to see them and they want people to think that
the King is in his bedroom.
10) Who else is riding to Zenda? Which way do they go at the fork in the
road? Which way do Sapt and Rassendyll go?
. Duke Michael and his servant Max Holt are riding to Zenda. They decide to go to the
castle. Sapt and Rassendyll go to the hunting lodge.
11) What do you think the message "all is well" means?
. It probably means that the King is captured, as that is what the Duke was planning,
but there may be other details that are also “well”.
12) What do Sapt and Rassendyll find inside the lodge?
. Johann’s mother and the King are gone. Josef is killed.
13) What does Sapt want Rassendyll to do?
. He wants him to continue to pretend to be the King.
Read the quotations and answer the questions.
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1."Tell your soldiers to ride ahead of me. I don't need them or you. You
can wait here until I've continued through the old town alone."
I. Who says this to whom?. Rassendyll says this to Marshal Strakencz.
2. Where are they and when is this?. They are in the streets of Strelsau, going
from the station to the coronation. This is before the coronation.
3. Why does the speaker say this?
. He wants to act as a king. He wants the people to know that he trusts them.
2."You mustn't try too hard. I'm not sure it was a good idea to ride
alone through the old town. Duke Michael won't like it if you become
too popular with his people, you know. "
1. Who says this to whom? . Fritz says this to Rassendyll.
2. Where and when is this said?. They are in the King’s bedroom after the
coronation.
3. Why did the person ride alone through the old town and why won't Duke
Michael like it if the person becomes too popular?
. Rassendyll wanted to act like a real king and show that he wasn’t afraid of the
people/show that he trusted the people. Duke Michael won’t like it because if he tries
to become King, the people will probably support him. But if the King/Rassendyll
becomes popular, it will be harder for Michael to get the support of the people.
3."If all's well, why go there? And if all isn't well, I fear there 'Il be a
trap. "
1. Who says this to whom?. Max Holt says this to Duke Michael.
2. Where are they?. They are on the road between Strelsau and Zenda./On the way
to Zenda.
3. What is "there"? What do you think he means by "all's well"?
. “There” means the hunting lodge. “All’s well” probably means that the Duke’s plan
has gone ahead and that the King is kidnapped.
4."We'll go back to Strelsau. The King will be back in the capital again
tomorrow!"
1. Who says this to whom?. Sapt says this to Rassendyll.
2. Where are they and what has happened? They are in the hunting lodge near
Zenda. They have found Josef dead and the King is gone.
3. How will the King be back in the capital tomorrow?. Rassendyll will continue
to pretend to be the King. / Sapt wants Rassendyll to continue to pretend to be the
King.

Chapter 4
1) What does Sapt plan to do if the real King is dead?
. He plans that Rassendyllwill remain as King.
2) Why do Michael's men have spades? What does it mean that they were
going to "hide their evil work"?
. They are going to bury Josef’s body so no one will know about his murder.
3) What does Rassendyll mean that some of those evil men should join
Josef?
. Rassendyll means that some of them should be killed. They should join Josef in
death.
4) Why does Sapt say to the servant at the secret door "All young men like
to ride their horses now and then, so why not the King?"
. He wants the servant to think that the King was just out riding for fun. He doesn’t
want him to know anything about where they were. Sapt says it’s best not to trust
people too much.
5) Why does Rassendyll use a new servant who has never met the real King?
Who is the servant replacing?
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. The new servant would be less likely to realise that Rassendyll is not the real King.
The servant is replacing Josef, who was killed byMichael’s men.
6) Who are the Six Men? Where are they from? Why are only three in
Strelsau?
. They are six special soldiers that Duke Michael keeps in his house all the time. Three
are from Ruritania, one is French, one is Belgian, one is English. Sapt and Fritz assume
that if only three are in Strelsau, the other three must be guarding the King.
7) Rassendyll decides to keep some of his plans secret from Sapt and Fritz.
What are those plans?. He plans to make himself as popular as he can, and to not
say anything bad about Michael. This way, if there were a fight, some of the people
would support him (the King) and not Michael. Michael would not become stronger this
way.
8) Why does he visit the Princess? What does he do on the way? How do
these things make him more popular?. He wants to get the support of the
Princess (for the King). On the way he buys some flowers from a poor girl and pays
with a gold coin. Giving the coin makes him look generous to the people. The people
like the Princess and seem to want the King to marry her, so visiting her will make the
people happy.
9) Why can't Michael come into the room when the King is there? What
mistake does Rassendyll make? How does he cover up his mistake?
. Michael can’t come into the room without the King’s permission (because the King is
royal and higher than Michael). Rassendyll does not know this rule, and he makes the
mistake of asking why Michael will be angry (that he isn’t asked to enter the room). He
covers his mistake by saying that he keeps forgetting all the rules.
10) Rassendyll says that his hand was hurt from an animal bite and that
he's waiting to see if the bite is poisonous. He also says that he is sure the
animal will try to bite again. Who is he really talking about, and who
understands this?
. He is really talking about Michael (his poisoning and kidnapping of the King, and his
men’s shooting at Rassendyll), and Michael understands this.
11) How does Rassendyll know that the Six Men also know his secret?
. He knows because of the way Detchard (the Englishman) smiles at him when he is
presented to him. Rassendyll knows that if one of the Six Men knows, they will all
know.
. Read the quotations and answer the questions.
1."You're mad! The plan's too dangerous!"
1. Who says this to whom?. Rassendyll says this to Colonel Sapt.
2. Where are they?. They are at the hunting lodge near Zenda.
3. What is the dangerous plan?. Sapt wants Rassendyll to continue to pretend to
be the King and to return to Strelsau that night.
2."We've got them! They can't say anything without showing their
guilt. "
1. Who says this to whom?. Sapt says this to Rasendyll.
2. Why does he say this?. He is trying to persuade Rassendyll to continue to be the
King.
3. Who is "them"? What does the speaker mean by "We've got them"?
. “Them” is Duke Michael and his men. The speaker means that they have trapped the
Duke and his men. The Duke can’t say anything against Rassendyll because he would
have to admit that he is guilty of kidnapping the real King.
3. "Now remember, say nothing about this. All young men like to ride
their horses now and then, so why not the King?"
1. Who says this to whom?. Sapt says this to (Freyler,) the servant waiting for them
outside the secret door to the palace.
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2. Where is the speaker coming from and who is with him?. Where was the
speaker coming from and who was with him? He was coming from Zenda and
Rassendyll (disguised as the King) was with him.
3. Why does the speaker say this?. Why does the speaker say this? He doesn’t
want the servant to talk about the King’s going out. He wants him to think that the
King was just out riding (and enjoying himself).
Chapter 5
A. Answer these questions
1. Rassendyll has never liked responsibilities. Now he has many. What
responsibilities does he have? . He has to act like the King. He has to run the
country. He has to try to rescue the real
King from Michael.
2. Why does Rassendyll become good at pretending he has forgotten rules
or people he has met? How does that prevent people from noticing that he is
not the real King? What else do you think helps him not to be discovered?
. When he makes a mistake in pretending to be the King he has to cover it up by
pretending that he has forgotten something or someone. In this way, people don’t
notice that he’s not the real King. Other things that might help him are these: people
don’t expect that there is a pretend King, so they don’t look for one; they see what
they expect to see. He looks nearly identical to the King, so this helps. Also Sapt stays
close to him to tell him what to say or do
3. Sapt brings news of the real King. What is it?
. The King is at the Castle of Zenda.
4. Why does Rassendyll want to go to Zenda? What does Sapt mean when he
says “You’ll probably stay there forever if you do”?
. He wants to go to rescue the real King. Sapt means that Rassendyll will either be
imprisoned in Zenda or killed there if he goes.
5. Why does Sapt have Rassendyll followed everywhere? What does he mean
by “If you disappear, the game’s over”?
. He has him followed to protect him from Michael’s men. If they can kill or kidnap
Rassendyll, they will kill the real King and make Michael the King. Rassendyll’s game
of pretending to be King would be over.
6. Who writes a letter to Rassendyll and what does it say? Who does he
suspect really wrote it?
6. Antoinette de Mauban writes a letter. It tells him to come to a certain place in a
summer house in a garden late at night. He suspects that Michael wrote the letter (or
at least dictated it to her).
7. When Rassendyll talks to Detchard at the summer house, what does
Detchard offer him? Why doesn’t Rassendyll accept it?
. Detchard offers to give Rassendyll 50,000 English pounds and a safe journey to the
border. Rassendyll doesn’t accept this because he knows that they will kill the real
King, and he doesn’t trust them. They will promise him one thing but kill him instead.
8. How does Rassendyll come out of the summer house alive?
. He holds the iron table in front of him to protect him (like a shield) and he rushes out
of the door and knocks the three men down. He runs quickly away.
9. Why have they prepared a ball for the Princess?
. They want to make the people happy and make them think that the King wants to
marry the Princess. They want Rassendyll to ask the Princess to marry him. Some
people think that if the King doesn’t marry her soon, she should marry Duke Michael.
10. Rassendyll tells the Princess that when he was younger, he thought he
didn’t need to worry about society. Why does he say this? How does the
Princess react? Why is it a mistake for him to say this?

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. He says it because he is forgetting to act like the King. He is thinking that he is
himself, Rassendyll. The Princess is surprised because the King must have always
known that he was going to become the King one day. This is a mistake by Rassendyll
because he almost uncovers the truth about who he is.
11. The day after the ball, the Princess receives two letters. What are they
and who are they from? . One is an invitation from Michael for her to visit him in
Zenda. The other is a warning not to accept any invitations from Michael and not to go
anywhere without many guards. It is from Antoinette de Mauban (although the
Princess doesn’t know this).
12. What does Rassendyll do when he hears of these letters? Who does he
go to?
. He orders a guard for the Princess. He goes to Marshal Strakencz and gives him some
orders.
13. What does Rassendyll tell Marshal Strakencz to do?
. He tells him to guard the Princess and not allow Michael or his men hear her. He also
tells the Marshal that he is leaving Strelsau for a few days and he will send a message
to him every evening. If he doesn’t get a message for three days, he has the authority
to say that he is now the head of Strelsau. He must then ask the Duke to allow him to
see the King. If he doesn’t see the King in twenty-four hours, he must say that the
King’s dead. Then he must tell the people of Ruritania that their new ruler will be
Princess Flavia.
. Read the quotations and answer the questions.
1-“It would be very useful for Michael if you disappeared. And if you
disappear, the game’s over.”
1. Who says this to whom?. Sapt says this to Rassendyll.
2. Why does the speaker say this? 2. Because Rassendyll complained that there
are always men following him. (The men were ordered by Sapt to do so.)
3. What game would be over if the person disappeared? Explain.
3. The game of who is King. Michael would also kill the real King and then make
himself King.
2- “I also have a game to play. I’ll tell the Duke’s men that you never came.
If the Duke doesn’t find out what I’ve done, we may meet again.”
1. Who says this to whom?. Antoinette de Mauban says this to Rassendyll.
2. Where are they?. They are in a summer house in agarden in Strelsau.
3. What has the speaker done that the Duke shouldn’t find out?
. She has warned Rassendyll that they are trying to kill him, and has told him how to
escape.
3- “But you always knew that you would become King. How could you
think that was someone else’s job?”
1. Who says this to whom? . Princess Flavia says this to “King” Rassendyll.
2. Where are they? . They are at the ball in the palace.
3. This was said in reaction to the other person’s words. What did the other
person say before this? . He said that when he was younger he didn’t think he had
any responsibilities to society.
4- “Every evening, I’ll send you a message. If you don’t get a message for
three days, you have the authority to say that you are now the head of
Strelsau.”
1. Who says this to whom?. “King” Rassendyll says this to Marshal Strakencz.
2. When is this said?. This is said the day after the ball, before Rassendyll goes to
Zenda. / After the Duke invites the Princess to Zenda and Antoinette warns her to stay
away.
3. What other orders does the speaker give?

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. The Marshal must guard the Princess and not let Michael or his men near her. If the
Marshal becomes the head of Strelsau, he must then go to the Duke and demand to se
the King. If he doesn’t see the King in twenty-four hours, he must tell the people that
the King is dead and make Princess Flavia the new ruler of Ruritania.
Chapter 6
A. Answer these questions.
1. Rassendyll’s writing is different from the King’s. What reason does
Rassendyll give? Why might this difference be a problem for Marshal
Strakencz?
. Rassendyll says it is because of his injured finger. It might be a problem for Strakencz
because people might think the order from the King is not a real one.
2. What reason does Rassendyll give Princess Flavia for leaving Strelsau?
What does he ask her to do if he doesn’t come back? . He tells her he is going
to hunt a big animal —Michael. He tells her she must become Queen if he doesn’t
return.
3. Where do Rassendyll and his men stay for their hunting trip? Where is it
and who does it belong to?. They stay in a country house called Tarlenheim. It
belongs to a relative of Fritz. It is on a hill on the opposite side of the town of Zenda
from the castle.
4. What reason does Duke Michael give for not visiting “King” Rassendyll or
inviting him to his castle?. He says that he and some servants have a serious
sickness. (It is not true.)
5. Why do Rassendyll and Fritz go to the inn at Zenda? Who do they talk to
there and what do they say? . They go to meet Johann (or someone who can
contact him). They talk to the innkeeper’s daughter and ask her to have Johann meet
them the next night.
6. What happens to Bernenstein while Fritz and Rassendyll are out?
. He is shot in the arm while he is out in the woods.
7. What message does Rupert Hentzau bring the next day? How does
Rassendyll reply? What happens when Rupert is leaving?
. The Duke offers Rassendyll a safe journey to the border and a million gold pieces.
Rassendyll refuses. As Rupert is leaving, he stabs Rassendyll in the shoulder with a
knife.
8. What do they learn from Johann?
. They learn where the King is being kept in the castle and the Duke’s plans.
9. Describe the room and the pipe where the real King is being kept.
. There is an outer room with no windows. It is always guarded by three of the Six Men.
The King is kept in chains in the next room. Its window has a large pipe that leads to
the castle moat.
10. What is the plan if they are attacked? How will they kill the King and
what will they do with the body?
. They will kill the King and then put him into the pipe. The chains will keep the body
under the water of the moat. The guards can then go out the same pipe and swim
across the moat to escape.
11. Why do they send Johann back to the castle?
. The Duke would look for him if he were missing. They also hope they can trust him
and get more information from him.
. Read the quotations and answer the questions.
1- “The writing’s a little different from your usual. I hope people know it’s a
real order from the King.”
1. Who says this to Rassendyll (the King)?. Marshal Strakencz says this.
2. What does he think is the reason that the handwriting is different? What
is the real reason?
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. He thinks it is different because the King has injured hishand. The real reason is that
Rassendyll is not the real King.
3. Why is it important that the handwriting be the same?
. So that people will know that it is a real order from the King.
2- “So you’d prefer to hunt animals than do your duties in the capital?”
1. Who says this to Rassendyll? 1. Princess Flavia.
2. When does the person say this?. The day after the ball, when Rassendyll is
saying goodbye to go to Zenda to hunt Michael.
3. What “animal” is Rassendyll going to hunt? . Duke Michael.
3- “If you do not know how to address the King, my brother must find
another messenger.”
1. Who does Rassendyll say this to?. Rassendyll says this to Rupert Hentzau.
2. Where are they?. They are at Tarlenheim.
3. Why does he say this?. He says this because Hentzau has addressed him as
“Rassendyll”.
4-“Rassendyll, I think that this time next year, you’ll still be King
1. Who says this?. Colonel Sapt.
2. What has he just heard? 2. He has just heard the Duke’s plan for killing the King
and hiding the body.
3. Why does he think Rassendyll will still be King after a year?
. Because the Duke’s plan is very clever and he will kill the King whether he is
attacked by a small group or a large one.

Chapter 7
A. Answer these questions.
1. What three pieces of news arrive at Tarlenheim the next day?
.The people of Strelsau heard that the King was badly injured while hunting. The Duke
thought he was badly injured. The Princess ordered Marshall Strakencz to take her to
Tarlenheim to see the King.
2. Why do Rassendyll and the others go to the castle at night?
.They want to see it so that they can make plans to rescue the King.
3. Why does Rassendyll kill Max Holf?
.He is guarding the King’s prison. Rassendyll kills him because this is a war for the
King’s life and Max is working for the enemy.
4. Why do the seven gentlemen go with Rassendyll, Sapt and Fritz to the
castle? What do they do? .They go to protect the horses and the others in case the
Duke’s men attack. They fight with the Duke’s men (and three of them are killed).
5. Who gets killed in the fight in the woods? Who gets away?
.Two of the Duke’s Six Men get killed, Lauengram and Kafstein. Three of Rassendyll’s
men get killed also. Rupert Hentzau escapes.
6. Why were Rassendyll’s bags found at a train station near Zenda? Why is
the Chief of Police looking for Mr Rassendyll?
.Rassendyll had sent the bags ahead to the station on the morning of the day he met
the King in the woods. He never went to the station to get them because he was
pretending to be the King. The Chief of Police is looking for Rassendyll because he has
disappeared. (His family has not heard from him.)
7. Rassendyll meets Rupert the next day while they are out riding. What
plan does Rupert offer to Rassendyll?
. He offers to help him attack the castle. But Sapt, Fritz, Michael and the King must all
die. Then Rassendyll can stay as King and Rupert will be given a reward (money).
8. Why is Antoinette de Mauban being kept as a prisoner of the Duke?
.He discovered that she helped Rassendyll in the summer house. He cannot trust her
now.
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9. A doctor has been brought to see the real King in his prison. Why doesn’t
Duke Michael let the doctor leave?
.Because the doctor would tell people that the King is a prisoner.
10. Why does Rassendyll ask Antoinette de Mauban to cry out for help at
two o’clock in the morning?
.So the Duke will go to help her. At the same time Johann will open the front door to let
in Sapt and Fritz with their men.
11. Why does Rupert Hentzau swim across the moat to go back to the
mansion? Why doesn’t he use the drawbridge?
.The drawbridge has been pulled up for the night. He is doing something secret, so he
does not use the bridge.
. Read the quotations and answer the questions.
1- “Go back to Strelsau and tell the Ambassador what you know. I’ll look into
this for you.”
1. Who does Rassendyll say this to?. Rassendyll says this to the Chief of Police of
Strelsau.
2. What is it that Rassendyll will look into?. Rassendyll will look into the case of
the missing Englishman Mr Rassendyll.
3. Why doesn’t he want the Chief of Police to investigate about the missing
man?
.Because he might find out that Rassendyll is pretending to be the King.
2- “I hear there are new servants at the castle. Do these servants know the
King’s a prisoner there?”
1. Who says this to Johann? 1. Rassendyll says it.
2. What does Johann answer? 2. He answers that the servants do not know that
the prisoner is the King.
3. Why is that important ?.Rassendyll wants to know if the servants will think he is
the King (and obey him or surrender to him when he attacks the castle).
3- “He makes me angry. I nearly killed him myself last night. Think carefully
about my plan.”
1. Who says this to Rassendyll? 1.Rupert Hentzau says this.
2. Who is the person talking about? He is talking about Duke Michael.
3. What is the person’s plan? . He will help Rassendyll attack the castle. Hentzau
will decide the time. But Sapt, Fritz, Michael and the real King must all die. Then
Rassendyll will remain King and
Hentzau will have a reward (and escape).

Chapter 8
A. Answer these questions.
1. Where does Rassendyll wait for it to be two o’clock?
.He waits by the drawbridge gate next to the castle.
2. Rassendyll has asked Antoinette to cry for help at two o’clock. Why does
she do it earlier?
.Because she is being attacked by Rupert. He wants to punish her for writing to
Rassendyll.
3. Why does Rassendyll kill De Gautet with a sword and not with a gun?
. Because he doesn’t want to make any noise and attract other people.
4. How does Rassendyll get the keys to the King’s prison?
.He takes them from De Gautet’s clothes after he kills him.
5. Who gets killed in the first room of the King’s prison? Who gets killed in
the room where the King is? Who gets wounded?

10
.Bersonin gets killed in the first room. In the room where the King is, the doctor is
killed by Detchard, and Detchard is killed by Rassendyll. The King and Rassendyll are
both wounded.
6. Why doesn’t the King fight Detchard directly? How does he help
Rassendyll?
.The King is weak from illness and in chains. He can’t move much because of the
chains. He helps Rassendyll by pushing a chair into Detchard as he is fighting. (This
makes him lose his balance and fall over the doctor’s body. Then it is easy for
Rassendyll to kill him.)
7. Who kills the Duke?.Rupert Hentzau.
8. Why does Rupert ride away instead of fighting Rassendyll?
.Because Fritz comes with a gun and Rupert knows he can’t fight both of them. (A gun
can kill from a distance. Fritz can kill Rupert from a distance before Rupert can kill
Rassendyll with a sword.)
9. How does the boy make a problem for Sapt, Fritz and Rassendyll? Why
does Sapt tell the Princess to come alone to see the King behind the tree?
.The boy runs out and says the King is behind the tree, but Strakencz and the Princess
think that the King is in the castle. Sapt has a problem to explain this. He asks the
Princess to come alone because he doesn’t want Marshal Strakenczto know about
Rassendyll.
10. Why does Sapt have the real King taken from his prison with his face
covered? What do Sapt’s men and the servants think happened to the King
and to the prisoner? Why does Rassendyll wait in the forest until dark to go
to the castle?
.Sapt doesn’t want his men or the servants to see who the prisoner really is. They
think that the King was wounded in the fight to rescue the prisoner, and that the
prisoner went after Rupert Hentzau. Rassendyll waits until hecan go into the castle
under the cover of dark. He doesn’t want anyone to see him.
11. How does Rassendyll teach the King how to be a real king?
.He takes his responsibilities as King seriously and tries to run the country well. He
risks his own life to rescue the King, could have remained King.
12. What does Rassendyll mean when he writes “Nobody knew where Rupert
had disappeared to, and the thought of the man who had almost beaten me
still makes my heart beat louder in my chest”?
.It means when he thinks of Rupert he gets excited or angry. He wishes he could find
him and fight him.
13. Do you think Rassendyll was right to pretend to be the King for the
coronation? Was he right to continue to pretend to be the King for so long?
14. Why doesn’t Rassendyll remain the King? If he was a wiser and better
ruler than the real King, would it be wrong for him to remain King?
15. What does Rassendyll learn from his adventures?
. He learns responsibility, how to do the (morally) right thing.
. Read the quotations and answer the questions.
1-“This woman’s been writing secret letters to Rassendyll! She needs to be
punished!”
1. Who says this to whom?. Rupert Hentzau says this to Duke Michael.
2. Who is “this woman”? .“This woman” is Antoinette de Mauban.
3. What is the speaker doing while saying this?
.He is attacking Antoinette and fighting with Duke Michael.
2- “Dead! That’s good. Then I’m your leader now. Put down your weapons
and do as I say.”
1. Who says this to whom? .Rupert Hentzau says this to the Duke’s servants
(standing near the door of the mansion).
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2. Where is the speaker? .He is standing on the drawbridge (between the mansion
and castle).
3. Do the people obey him? What happens?
.No, they don’t obey him. They let Madame de Mauban try to shoot him.
3- “Why didn’t you follow my plan? We could have worked well together.”
1. Who says this to whom?. Rupert Hentzau says this to Rassendyll.
2. Where are they and what has just happened?
.They are in the forest near the castle. Rupert has killed the Duke; Rassendyll has
killed the others of the Six Men and rescued the King.
3. What was the plan that wasn’t followed?
.Rassendyll would attack when Rupert said to. The King, the Duke, Sapt, and Fritz
would all die. Rassendyll would remain the King and Hentzau would be rewarded.
4- “I hoped that tomorrow, you’d come with me to Strelsau and tell everyone
about the brave things that you’ve done, but Sapt tells me that this isn’t
possible.”
1. Who says this to whom? .The (real) King says this to
Rassendyll.
2. Where are they? . They are in a bedroom in the mansion.
3. What do these words tell you about the speaker’s character and the
speaker’s relationship with Sapt? .The speaker perhaps does not have
good judgment. He depends a lot on Sapt. He needs Sapt to give him advice.

Practice Test ( 1 )
a) Answer the following questions :-
1- What is the setting (time and place) of The Prisoner of Zenda?
* The setting is Europe in the 1890s / late 19th century.
2- How old is Rudolf when the events of the story start?
* Rudolf is 29 years old.
3- According to Rose, how is Rudolf Rassendyll different from his brother
Robert?
* Rudolf is different because he does not take his duties to society seriously. He
doesn’t work.
4- Mention three skills that Rudolf Rassendyll has.
* He can speak several languages (German, French, Spanish, and Italian), he can ride
a horse and he can fight with a sword.
B) Read the following quotation, then answer the questions :-
" Why should I do anything? I have nearly enough money to do anything I
want to (no one ever has quite enough money to do that, of course), and I
enjoy an important position in society."
1- Who said this ? * Rudolf Rassendyll said this.
2- To whom was it said? * It was said to Rose Rassendyll / his sister-in-law.
3- Do you agree that people who have a lot of money should do nothing?
Explain your point of view.
* No, everyone should have something to do because work makes man an important
person.
C) Find the mistake in each of the following sentences and correct it:
1- Rudolf Rassendyll told Rose he was going to go walking in the West
Indies* Alps.
2- The King invited Rassendyll to stay with his family in Strelsau.* Johann.

Test Practice ( 2 )

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A) Answer the following questions:-
1- Why wasn't Rassendyll as sick as the King was?
* He only ate one cake so he ate less poison.
2- Why did Fritz and Sapt lock up Johann's mother with the King?
* They locked her up so that she wouldn’t tell Michael’s men that Rassendyll was
pretending to be the King at the coronation.
3- Why was Rassendyll afraid when he saw Antoinette de Mauban on the
balcony?
* He was afraid that she would recognise him and say that he wasn’t the real King.
4- According to Flavia, how has Rassendyll (the King) changed in his
appearance?
* She says that his face is thinner and he acts more serious.
B) Read the following quotation, then answer the questions:-
" I heard that you rode through the old town alone. That surprised me. The
people there must really have appreciated what you did."
1- Who said this? * Princess Flavia said this.
2- To whom was it said? * It was said to the Rassendyll / the pretend King.
3- Why did the people appreciate this action?
* It showed the people that the King cared about them and trusted them.
C) Find the mistake in each of the following sentences and correct it :-
1- The rich people who had always lived well would support the Duke.* the
King.
2- Sapt and Fritz believed that Rassendyll had poisoned the King.* Duke
Michael.

Test Practice ( 3 )
A) Answer the following questions :-
1- Why couldn't the Duke say anything about Rassendyll even though he
knew Rassendyll was not the King?
* He couldn’t say anything because he would have to admit that he had kidnapped
the real King.
2-How did Sapt explain Rassendyll's injured finger to Freyler?
*Sapt told Freyler that Rassendyll had caught his finger in a door.
3- Why was Rassendyll keen on getting the people of Ruritania to like him
more than they liked the Duke?
* He thought that if there was a fight between him and the Duke, the people would
support him (the “King”).
4- Why couldn't the Duke ever become King unless he married Flavia?
* The Duke’s mother wasn’t royal, so by law/legally he couldn’t become King unless he
married Princess Flavia.
B) Read the following quotation, then answer the questions:-
"You do know that Michael will be very angry. Is that a good idea?"
1- Who said this? * Princess Flavia said this.
2- To whom was it said? * It was said to Rassendyll (the King).
3- What was it that would make Michael very angry?
* Rassendyll didn’t ask Michael to come into the room and he can’t enter without the
King’s permission.
C) Find the mistake in each of the following sentences and correct it :-
1- Freyler was Sapt's farmer. * servant.
2- Rassendyll was worried when the French prince asked him a question
which he could not answer.* ambassador.

13
 Practice Test ( 4 )
a) Answer the following questions:-
1- Rassendyll has never liked responsibilities. Now he has many. What
responsibilities does he have?
* He has to run the country and rescue the real King.
2- Why does Rassendyll become good at pretending he has forgotten rules
or people he has met?
* He has to do this so that people will still think he is the real King.
3- Rassendyll tells the Princess that when he was younger, he thought he
didn't need to worry about society. Why does he say this?
* He is forgetting to pretend to be the King. He is thinking of his own youth.
4- How does the Princess react to Rassendyll's recalling that he thought he
had no need to worry about society?
* She is surprised because he always knew he would be King , so , he should expect to
have responsibilities.
B) Read the following quotation, then answer the questions :-
" It would be very useful for Michael if you disappeared. And if you
disappear, the game's over."
1- Who says this? * Colonel Sapt says this.
2- Why does the speaker say this?
* He is explaining why he has men guarding Rassendyll everywhere he goes.
3- What game would be over if the person disappeared? Explain.
* The game is Rassendyll pretending to be King. If he disappeared, Duke Michael
would kill the real King and make himself King.
C) Find the mistake in each of the following sentences and correct it :-
1- No one goes into the castle without Michael's or Sapt's permission.
* Rupert’s.
2- The letter from Antoinette tells the King to come to the summer house
with a friend. * alone.

Practice Test ( 5 )
a) Answer the following questions:-
1- What is the reason Rassendyll claims is the cause of his handwriting
being different from the King's?
* He claims that his hand still hurts from his injury so he can't write as well as before.
2- " The thing I hunt is a very big animal ," Rassendyll explains. What is
Rassendyll really hunting? * He is really hunting Duke Michael.
3- To whom did the large, modern country house called Tarlenheim belong?
* It belonged to a relative of Fritz.
4- Rassendyll, Sapt and Fritz took ten brave and strong gentlemen that they
trusted to hunt down Michael. What reason did they give to the gentlemen?
* They told the gentlemen that Duke Michael was holding a friend of the King as a
prisoner.
B) Read the following quotation, then answer the questions:-
"As you know, his mother was not royal and he can only legally become King
if he marries the Princess."
1- Who said this? * Rassendyll (pretending to be the King) said
this.
2- To whom was it said? * It was said to Marshal Strakencz.
3- Who cannot become King unless he marries the Princess?

14
 *Duke Michael / The Duke of Strelsau cannot become King unless he marries the
Princess.
C) Find the mistake in each of the following sentences and correct it :-
1-The owner's wife at the inn thought that Rassendyll was the King. *
daughter.
2- Of the Six Men, four of them were Ruritanians. * three.

Practice Test (6)

A) Answer the following questions :-
1- What did Johann tell Rassendyll about the real King's condition?
* He told him the King was ill and weak.
2- Why does Rassendyll say he was forced to stab Max Holf to death?
* It was war. He had to do it to rescue the King.
3- What did the Chief of Police in Strelsau tell Rassendyll (the King) about
what they had learned about the real Rassendyll ?
* They had found his bags at the train station and they thought he was travelling with
Madame de Mauban.
4- Why was Michael keeping Madame de Mauban as a prisoner in his castle?
* Because he knew that she had warned Rassendyll at the summer house.
B) Read the following quotation, then answer the questions:
" He's not a good man. He makes me angry. I nearly killed him myself last
night. Think carefully about my plan."
1- Who said this? * Rupert Hentzau said this.
2- To whom was it said? * This was said to Rassendyll.
3- What is the speaker's plan? * He will help Rassendyll attack the castle.
But Sapt, Fritz, the King and the Duke must die. Rassendyll will remain King
and Rupert will get a reward.
C) Find the mistake in each of the following sentences and correct it:
1- Max Holf is Johann's uncle * brother.
2- Mr. Featherly from Paris believed Rudolph Rassendyll was travelling with
Flavia.
* Antoinette de Mauban.

Longman - Review A
a. Answer the following questions:
1. Why was Rose angry with Rudolf at breakfast?
2. Why did Rassendyll decide to go to Ruritania?
3. Why did the innkeeper like Duke Michael more than the King?
4. How could the old castle of Zenda be reached? How could the mansion be reached?
b. Read the following quotation, then answer the questions:
“The King likes to live well. Let’s say he prefers eating to action, but he’s a kind man
and he’s our King. We’d do anything for him.”
1. Who does Fritz say this to?
2. In what way is the King like the listener?
3. How does the King’s character cause a problem for him that night?
c. Find the mistake in each of the following sentences and correct it:
1. George Featherly took the same train as Rassendyll from Paris to Ruritania.
2. Fritz’s brother was Lord Burlesdon.
Answers a. 1. She was angry because Rudolf didn’t want to work or have any
responsibilities.
2. He wanted to see the coronation of the new King of Ruritania.
15
3. Duke Michael had always lived in Ruritania and cared about the people. The King
had lived abroad and the people didn’t know him.
4. The old castle could be reached only by a drawbridge. The mansion could be
reached by a road.
b.1. Fritz says this to Rassendyll.
2. They both like to live well and not to work.
3. He likes to eat too much and he ate a lot of the poisoned cakes tha tDuke Michael
sent.
c.1. Antoinette de Mauban took the same train as Rassendyll from Paris to Ruritania.
2. Rassendyll’s brother was Lord Burlesdon.

Review B
a. Answer the following questions:
1. Why did Duke Michael poison the King?
2. How long did Rassendyll expect to pretend to be the King?
3. Why was Sapt anxious when Rassendyll rode through the old part of town alone?
4. How did Rassendyll and Sapt get a permit to leave the city?
b. Read the following quotation, then answer the questions:
“Nervous. I’m not made of stone, you know.”
1. Who said this to Sapt?
2. Where were they when this was said?
3. Why was the speaker nervous?
c. Find the mistake in each of the following sentences and correct it:
1. Rassendyll had to go to Dresden and pretend to be the King.
2. Rassendyll found the dead body of the King in the hunting lodge cellar.
a. Answers.1. He didn’t want him to be crowned King the next day. / He wanted to
prevent him from going to the coronation.
2. He expected to pretend to be the King for one day / until midnight.
3. Sapt thought the people in the old part of town might hurt him because they didn’t
like the King.
4. Sapt was able to copy the King’s signature onto a form.
b.1. Rassendyll said this.
2. They were in/near Strelsau. / They were approaching the train station in Strelsau.
3. He was afraid people would realise that he was not the real King.
c.1. Rassendyll had to go to Strelsau and pretend to be the King.
2. Rassendyll found the dead body of Josef in the hunting lodge cellar.

Review C
a. Answer the following questions:
1. How did Duke Michael know that Rassendyll was not the real King?
2. Why did the men who came to the lodge have spades with them?
3. Why did Rassendyll continue to pretend to be the King after the coronation day?
4. Who is Detchard?
b. Read the following quotation, then answer the questions:
“Brother, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know you were waiting, otherwise I’d have asked you in
sooner.”
1. Where were they when Rassendyll said this to Michael?
2. Why didn’t Michael go into the room before he was asked?
3. Why didn’t Rassendyll ask him to come into the room sooner?
c. Find the mistake in each of the following sentences and correct it:
1. Fritz and Rassendyll rode to the palace to see Madame Antoinette.
16
2. Rassendyll and Josef rode from Strelsau to the hunting lodge to get the King.
Answers.1. Duke Michael knew that the real King had been poisoned and was at the
hunting lodge. / His men (must have) sent him a message that the King was asleep at
the hunting lodge.
2. They had spades because they were going to bury Josef’s body.
3. Because the real King was missing from the lodge/taken by Michael’s men.
4. Detchard is an Englishman who is one of Duke Michael’s special soldiers/Six Men.
b.1. They were at Princess Flavia’s palace.
2. He couldn’t go into the room without the King’s permission (because he wasn’t
royal).
3. He didn’t know that Michael needed the King’s permission. (He pretended to the
Princess that he had forgotten the rule.)
c.1. Fritz and Rassendyll rode to the palace to see Princess Flavia.
2. Rassendyll and Sapt rode from Strelsau to the hunting lodge to get the King.

Review D
a. Answer the following questions:
1. Why did Rassendyll remember Rose’s words about responsibilities when he left
Princess Flavia’s palace?
2. What did Antoinette tell Rassendyll when he went to the summer house?
3. How did Sapt react when Rassendyll almost told Princess Flavia the truth of who he
was?
4. What did Sapt want Rassendyll to do at the ball?
b. Read the following quotation, then answer the questions:
“You do not know me, but I do not want you to fall into the power of the Duke.”
1. Who wrote these words in a letter?
2. Who was the letter addressed to?
3. What advice did the letter give?
c. Find the mistake in each of the following sentences and correct it:
1. The Duke spoke to Rassendyll through the summer house door.
2. Rassendyll asked Marshal Strelsau to protect Princess Flavia from the Duke.
a. Answers 1. Because he suddenly realised that he had always wanted a quiet life
but now he had many responsibilities and he wondered how he had got into that
situation.
2. She told him that Michael’s men were planning to kill him there and that he must
leave before they came.
3. Sapt’s face was angry but he calmly told Rassendyll that someone was waiting to
see him.
4. Sapt wanted Rassendyll to propose to Princess Flavia.
b. 1. Antoinette de Mauban wrote these words.
2. The letter was addressed to Princess Flavia.
3. The letter said that she should not accept any invitation from Duke Michael and that
she should not go anywhere without many guards.
c.1. Detchard spoke to Rassendyll through the summer house door.
2. Rassendyll asked Marshal Strankencz to protect Princess Flavia from the Duke.

Review E
a. Answer the following questions:
1. Where was Bernenstein when he was shot?
2. Why did the King’s prison have a large stone pipe leading to the moat?
3. Why do you think Johann was willing to act as a spy for Rassendyll?
17
4. What happened at the house at Tarlenheim on the night Rassendyll’s men attacked
the castle?
b. Read the following quotation, then answer the questions:
“That will leave two men alive: you and me. You’ll stay as the King and I’ll have a
reward.”
1. Who said this to Rassendyll?
2. What was the plan that the person suggested?
3. Why do you think Rassendyll refused this plan?
c. Find the mistake in each of the following sentences and correct it:
1. Detchard stabbed Rassendyll in the shoulder.
2. When the King was sick in his prison, Princess Flavia helped to take care of him.
Answers 1. Bernenstein was alone in the woods near the house at Tarlenheim.
2. If the Duke killed the King, he would put his body into the moat through the pipe.
3.Because he didn’t like the Duke. / Because he wanted to help the King. / Because he
was paid a lot of money.
4. There was music and bright lights so that it looked like there was a ball.
b.1. Rupert Hentzau said this.
2. He suggested that he set the time for an attack on the castle, but Sapt, Fritz, the
King and the Duke must all die.
3. Because he knew this was morally wrong. / Because he had a duty to rescue the
King. / Because he knew he couldn’t trust Rupert.
c. 1. Hentzau stabbed Rassendyll in the shoulder.
2. When the King was sick in his prison, Antoinette de Mauban helped to take care of
him.

Review F
a. Answer the following questions:
1. Why did Rupert attack Antoinette?
2. What two people were with the King when Rassendyll entered the King’s prison
room?
3. Why do you think Michael’s servants did not put down their weapons when Rupert
told them to?
4. Why did Rassendyll stay in the woods after the fight at the castle?
b. Read the following quotation, then answer the questions:
“You could have become an ambassador yourself one day! If you don’t go, you’ll never
be anyone important!”
1. Who said this to Rassendyll?
2. Where did the person want him to go and why?
3. Why didn’t Rassendyll want to do what the person wanted?
c. Find the mistake in each of the following sentences and correct it:
1. The King had seen the Princess with Sapt, and Rupert Hentzau returned to Strelsau.
2. Max was helping the Duke, so he could not open the door for Sapt and his men.
a. Answers.1. Rupert attacked Antoinette because he learnt that she had been
writing to Rassendyll.
2. Detchard and the doctor were with the King.
3. (Suggested answers) They were loyal to the Duke, who had just been killed. / They
knew that Rupert was not their boss. / They were angry that Rupert had killed the
Duke.
4. He didn’t want anyone to see him because they would think he was the King.
b..1. His sister-in-law Rose said this.

18
2. She wanted him to go to Ruritania to be the assistant to the new British
ambassador.
3. He didn’t want to be an ambassador because he had already been a king. / He knew
it would cause problems for him to be in Ruritania because he looked so much like the
King.
c.1. The King had seen the Princess with Sapt, and Marshal Strakencz returned to
Strelsau.
2. Johann was helping the Duke, so he could not open the door for Sapt and his men.

19