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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When the play shows a king being poisoned, how does the current king, Claudius, react?
(a) He is uneasy and makes a joke about it.
(b) He is bored and does not seem to care.
(c) He is upset and leaves before the play ends.
(d) He is angry and asks Hamlet if he is making an accusation.

2. Before he returns to school, what does Laertes tell Ophelia about her boyfriend?
(a) Hamlet just wants her to sleep with him.
(b) Polonius is an abusive boyfriend.
(c) Horatio just wants her to sleep with him.
(d) As a prince, Hamlet may not get to choose who he marries.

3. When Claudius reacts to the play, what does Hamlet say in response?
(a) "What, frighted with false fire!"
(b) "It would cost you a groaning to take off my edge. "
(c) "For if the king like not the comedy, Why then, belike, he likes it not, perdy. "
(d) "Get me a fellowship in a cry of players."

4. After Hamlet's behavior during the play-within-a-play, what do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree to do with Hamlet?
(a) Take him to England next summer.
(b) Take him to England right away.
(c) Take him to a doctor.
(d) Kill him.

5. Once Hamlet follows the ghost, what do Hamlet's friends decide to do?
(a) Follow Hamlet and the ghost.
(b) Tell the King about Hamlet's strange behavior.
(c) Leave Hamlet alone with the ghost.
(d) Get Hamlet to see a doctor.

6. After the play is performed, what do Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ask Hamlet to do?
(a) Ask the players to leave Elsinore.
(b) Go see Ophelia.
(c) Go see Claudius.
(d) Go see his mother.

7. What does Polonius ask Reynaldo to give to his son?
(a) Money and written notes.
(b) Written notes.
(c) Clothes.
(d) Money.

8. What is the first part of the players' performance in Act 3, Scene 2?
(a) A welcoming speech by their sponsor, Prince Hamlet.
(b) An opening scene that shows how much the king and queen love each other.
(c) A prologue, in which they summarize the upcoming play.
(d) A dumbshow, in which they do not speak.

9. In Act 3, Scene 1, what does Hamlet tell Ophelia about his feelings for her?
(a) He says he never loved her.
(b) He says he does not know if he ever loved her.
(c) He says he is still in love with her.
(d) He says both that he loved and he did not love her.

10. After Laertes has left in Act 1, Scene 3, Polonius talks to Ophelia about her romance. What does Polonius tell her?
(a) Do not trust his promises of love.
(b) Do not go to bed with him.
(c) Ask him to marry you.
(d) Make sure he does not hurt you.

11. Hamlet enters about halfway through Act 3, Scene 3. When he comes in, what is Claudius doing?
(a) Eating.
(b) Praying.
(c) Sleeping.
(d) Talking to Polonius.

12. In Act 2, Scene 2, what happens when Polonius first tries to speak to Hamlet?
(a) Hamlet does not seem to recognize him.
(b) Hamlet is glad to see him.
(c) Hamlet argues with him.
(d) Hamlet ignores him.

13. At the beginning of Act 2, what does Polonius ask Reynaldo to find out?
(a) Find out if his son is behaving appropriately.
(b) Find out if his son has a girlfriend.
(c) Find out how his son is doing in school.
(d) Find out if his son is getting enough to eat.

14. In Act 1, Scene 3, where is Laertes going?
(a) To go to a new school.
(b) Back to college.
(c) Off to war.
(d) To live in another country.

15. What does Hamlet tell his friends about his meeting with the ghost?
(a) He tells them nothing.
(b) He repeats the truth about the last king's death.
(c) He says the ghost is a liar.
(d) He pretends that he did not see a ghost.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the weather like at the beginning of the play?

2. In Act 2, Scene 1, what does Ophelia say about the look on Hamlet's face?

3. What does Hamlet learn about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's reasons for visiting Elsinore?

4. During his first soliloquy, what does Hamlet say about his mother?

5. After the play, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Claudius meet to discuss Hamlet. Polonius joins them. What does he tell Claudius?

(see the answer keys)

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