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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Drummond is awarded what title by the Mayor?

2. Why does Hornbeck call the monkey the "father of the human race"?

3. How is Brady's physicality described?

4. Why does Davenport accept Bannister for the jury?

5. Brady is called Colonel in spite of what?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Rachel visits Cates in jail, what does she urge him to do, and why?

2. Although Hornbeck is on Drummond's side of the case, Drummond does not support him. Why?

3. The prayer meeting becomes an act of entertainment. How does religion as entertainment affect the townspeople's commitment to it?

4. Hornbeck refers to the prayer meeting as a show. What moments so far in the play have also created a show-like atmosphere, and why?

5. Is Brady respected by the townspeople? Why?

6. Why does Reverend Brown preach from the book of Genesis at the prayer meeting?

7. Why do the workers choose to leave the "Read Your Bible" sign up on the courthouse? What does this signify?

8. Why is Rachel willing to testify against Cates?

9. What is Howard's reaction to the teachings he receives on evolution?

10. Why are the townspeople happy about the trial?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The small talk between the characters in Inherit the Wind is simple and mindless.

Part 1) What topics are discussed? Why?

Part 2) What topics are not discussed? Why?

Part 3) Why do you think the townspeople stick to safe topics? What might happen if real conversations started taking place?

Essay Topic 2

Cates is on trial for breaking a law; teaching Darwinism in his classroom. In court, Drummond makes Cates' case about something different altogether.

Part 1) What does Drummond make Cates' case about?

Part 2) How does this angle change the outcome of the case?

Part 3) If Drummond had not changed the angle, do you believe Cates would have gone to jail? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

When Howard torments Melinda at the beginning of the play, she threatens to tell her father about Howard's ideas.

Part 1) What does Howard tell Melinda?

Part 2) Why is she scared of his ideas?

Part 3) When she threatens to tell her father, how does this parallel Rachel's relationship with her father?

(see the answer keys)

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