“Cool Air” by H.P. Lovecraft Quiz and Answer Key

For many high school readers, Gothic fiction, fantasy, and horror are genres that maximize engagement with literature. “Cool Air” by H.P. Lovecraft is a compelling short story that features elements consistent with those genres: noxious chemicals, medical experiments, desperate attempts to achieve immortality, and more. This multiple choice quiz on “Cool Air” helps English teachers promote homework accountability, evaluate reading comprehension, and save time at home without sacrificing quality in the classroom. An answer key and copy of the public domain narrative are included. Materials are delivered in printable Word Document and PDF formats. By completing this assessment, students will demonstrate knowledge of the following:

• The narrator’s reaction to cool air
• The narrator’s philosophical beliefs
• The reason the narrator moves from apartment to apartment
• The narrator’s treatment of his lodgemates
• Peculiar smells that permeate the building
• Mrs. Herrero’s role in the story
• How the narrator came to know Dr. Muñoz
• The narrator’s initial perception of Dr. Muñoz
• Dr. Muñoz’s beliefs concerning the power of human will
• Dr. Muñoz’s medical practices
• The reason Dr. Muñoz becomes a “gruesome companion”
• Dr. Muñoz’s independence
• A habit Dr. Muñoz develops
• The consequences of a broken refrigeration system
• A discovery in Dr. Muñoz’s apartment
• A stunning revelation