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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Bigger finally shakes down the ashes, but he doesn't remove them from the furnace, he just adds more coal. What happens then?
(a) The fire goes out and Bigger must restart it.
(b) The fire starts to get hot again.
(c) The fire is smothered and the basement fills with smoke.
(d) The room fill with smoke so Bigger has to get a fan to blow it out the basement window.

2. Where does Bigger first go after leaving his home the morning after Mary's murder?
(a) Church
(b) The Dalton's home
(c) The pool hall
(d) Bessie's apartment

3. 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 wearing a white pants suit and has her white hair tied back in a bun.
(d) She's dressed in white and she is very pale.

4. What does Bigger overhear Mrs. Dalton saying to Peggy when she learns her daughter is gone?
(a) She complains that she took her daughter shopping for expensive clothing that she didn't even pack for her trip.
(b) 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.
(c) She admits she isn't comfortable with Bigger living in the house and wonders if he frightened her daughter away.
(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.

5. What happens when one of the men discovers bone and an earring in the ashes?
(a) Bigger sneaks out of the basement door and runs to Bessie's apartment.
(b) Bigger slips away from the men then jumps out of a second story window into the snow.
(c) He jumps out of a second story windown into the snow then runs to Bessie's apartment.
(d) He jumps out a window and hurts his knee, so he has to walk slowly to Bessie's apartment.

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

7. While hidden Bigger reads a newspaper about the search for him. Why do the authorities still think Jan Erlone is the mastermind behind the entire murder and ransom?
(a) Because Jan Erlone is a communist and they hate communists.
(b) Because Jan Erlone refused to be released and has signed a confession.
(c) Because Mr. Dalton really liked Bigger and wanted to help him.
(d) Because coming up with such a detailed plan would be beyond the Negro mind.

8. Who is Britten?
(a) A neighbor who saw Bigger carrying Mary into the house the night before.
(b) A private investigator Mr. Dalton hired that day to find Mary.
(c) A private investigator from Mr. Dalton's company.
(d) A detective with the Chicago P.D..

9. In Book Two as Bigger rides the streetcar, what is his only regret?
(a) That he hadn't planned the murder so he could have gotten more money and felt more successful.
(b) That he ever got mixed up with the Dalton's in the first place.
(c) That he had to work.
(d) That Mary's body didn't fit in the furnace. He hated all the blood when he cut off her head.

10. What happens when Bigger arrives at Bessie's apartment and he tries to kiss her?
(a) She argues with him about not being home when she tried to visit him the night before.
(b) She tells him that since he now has a job he can marry her.
(c) She isn't interested because he ignored her at the diner.
(d) She tells him if he doesn't marry her it means he is ashamed of her.

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

12. What does Peggy decide must have happened to Mary?
(a) Mary probably waited for Bigger to leave then snuck out of the house again.
(b) There must have been some kind of foul play because Mary is usally very responsible.
(c) To Bigger's shock she told him that Mary has lost her head since dating Jan Erlone.
(d) Mary probably left earlier than expected because she is usually unpredictable.

13. 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.

14. Why does Bigger seem bothered that the newspaper only just wrote about him after he killed Mary?
(a) Becaue he has felt the same anger and hatred inside him his entire life and no one ever wrote about it before.
(b) He is thrilled the newspaper is writing about him and thinks about killing again for more attention.
(c) Because he didn't like the attention that could result in his being caught.
(d) He is unhappy because the story isn't accurate.

15. What are Bigger's plans for the kidnapping farce?
(a) But $100,000 in a shoe box that will be dropped and Bessie will retrieve.
(b) Put $1,000 in a hat box that Bessie will retrieve.
(c) Put $100,000 in a hat box that he will retrieve.
(d) Have $10,000 put in a shoe box that will be dropped and Bessie will retrieve.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Bigger feel committing murder has changed his life?

2. How do the police finally catch Bigger?

3. 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.

4. How much money does Bigger show Bessie to try to impress her?

5. When Bessie again declares she won't help Bigger with is ransom plan, what does bigger do to persuade her?

(see the answer keys)

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