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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How is building Bigger chose as the lookout point for the money drop described in the story.
(a) A tall, white and silent building.
(b) A vacant building in the slums.
(c) A white, vacant, quiet building.
(d) A large, white building.

2. What did Bigger's mother say to him after she awakens the morning after the killing?
(a) She told him Bessie came to see him the night before.
(b) She wanted to know why he was there if he was supposed to live at the Dalton's house.
(c) She wanted to know what he wanted for breakfast.
(d) She wanted to know why he came in after 4 in the morning.

3. After he returns to work at the Dalton house, what happens when Peggy asks Bigger to tend to the furnace because it has been running too hot?
(a) He tells Peggy he will check the furnace later.
(b) He fears she suspects something and plans on how he will kill her if she discovers anything about Mary.
(c) He hurries down the stairs to shake the ashes.
(d) He tells Peggy the furnace is fine, but he will check it anyway.

4. What did Buddy tell Bigger happened the night before?
(a) That Bigger's girlfriend, Bessie, came to see him and that she was angry he wasn't there.
(b) That he would keep quiet for a price.
(c) That their mother was happy he got the job.
(d) That Bigger's girlfriend, Bessie, came to see him the night before and talked about marriage.

5. How does Mrs. Dalton look when she comes to Bigger's room to question him about Mary's disappearance?
(a) She's dressed in white and she looks suspicious.
(b) She's wearing black because she knows Mary is dead.
(c) She's dressed in white and she is very pale.
(d) She's wearing a white pants suit and has her white hair tied back in a bun.

6. What does Jan Erlone think when he hears Bigger's lie about him?
(a) That Bigger is the person responsible for Mary's disappearance.
(b) That Mr. Dalton, Britten and Bigger just hate communists.
(c) That they are all crazy and should be looking for Mary instead of questioning him.
(d) That Mr. Dalton and Britten are making Bigger lie.

7. In what ways does Bigger act to give the impression he thinks Mary is asleep upstairs in her bedroom?
(a) He asks Mrs. Dalton what time Mary's train is supposed to leave, because he doesn't want them to be late.
(b) He eats breakfast with the Daltons as though nothing unusual has happened.
(c) He loads her trunk, waits by the car, rings the bell, then asks Peggy what he should do since Mary has not come down.
(d) He eats his breakfast then asks Peggy to go upstairs and find out what is taking Mary so long.

8. What does Bigger overhear Mrs. Dalton saying to Peggy when she learns her daughter is gone?
(a) She expains that she does not trust the people Mary associates herself with, and suspects they have something to do with Mary not being home.
(b) She admits she isn't comfortable with Bigger living in the house and wonders if he frightened her daughter away.
(c) She complains that she took her daughter shopping for expensive clothing that she didn't even pack for her trip.
(d) She expresses her dislike for the people Mary travels with, and is shocked she hadn't even packed her new clothing for the trip.

9. How does Bigger feel committing murder has changed his life?
(a) It has given meaning to his life.
(b) He feels it has opened the door to opportunity.
(c) He feels powerful and ready to kill again.
(d) He is afraid he will spend the rest of his life on the run.

10. When Bigger returns to the basement to shake down the ashes, what stops him?
(a) He thinks he sees Mary's face as it looked the night before.
(b) The white cat stares at him and makes uncomfortable.
(c) He sees that her body hasn't completely burned.
(d) He hears someone and is afraid they will see Mary's body.

11. As Bigger tells his fabricated story about the previous evening to Mr. Dalton and Britten, what is he feeling?
(a) Worried they will find something in his story that doesn't ring true.
(b) Afraid they won't believe him and that he'll be under suspicion.
(c) So proud of his story he thinks of becoming a fiction writer.
(d) Like he is the one in control because he is telling them what he wants them to believe.

12. What things does Mrs. Dalton question Bigger about when she comes to his room?
(a) About Jan Erlone's involvement with the communists.
(b) About where he took Mary the night before.
(c) About where the car was parked, the trunk and Jan Erlone.
(d) About Mary leaving her new clothing behind.

13. In Book Two Bigger is feeling very confident and powerful, except when he sleeps and dreams. What does he dream about after his first meeting with Britten.
(a) All are correct.
(b) He tries to run from the blood, the coal, and white faces.
(c) A church bell that turns out to be a warning bell urging him to hide himself and his package.
(d) He is carrying a package that turns out to be his own severed, bloddy head wrapped in paper.

14. What does Bigger give his friends when he sees them the morning after Mary's murder?
(a) Money and cigars
(b) Candy and gum
(c) A cigarette and a roll of dollars
(d) A dollar and a pack of cigarettes

15. What does Bigger say when Bessie asks if he murdered Mary Dalton?
(a) He admits that he killed Mary and tells Bessie he'll tell everyone she helped him.
(b) He admits that he killed Mary and threatens Bessie, too.
(c) He laughs and says Mary killed herself by jumping in the river and he just watched.
(d) He denies killing Mary, but admits he stole money from her.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens when Bigger first awakens the morning after the murder?

2. What keeps stopping Bigger from shaking down the ashes in the furnace?

3. What are Bigger's plans for the kidnapping farce?

4. What happens when the first police officer comes through the trap door to the rooftop?

5. What does Bigger begin to wish for all blacks?

(see the answer keys)

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