View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When Bigger nearly falls off the ledge, how does the writer describe what he would fall into if he had fallen?
(a) "An ocean of cheers from the spectators below."
(b) "An ocean of boiling hate."
(c) "A boiling pot of hatred."
(d) "The waiting arms of the police."

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

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. 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 is smothered and the basement fills with smoke.
(b) The room fill with smoke so Bigger has to get a fan to blow it out the basement window.
(c) The fire goes out and Bigger must restart it.
(d) The fire starts to get hot again.

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

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

7. What goes through Bigger's mind when he hears the music from the church?
(a) He hates the music and can't wait to find another apartment.
(b) He hums along, but feeling to peace he gets angry.
(c) He half wishes he was a believer like his mother, but doesn't want to give up his sense of self.
(d) He wishes he could be with his mother.

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

9. What does Bigger finally do after wandering the streets looking for food and shelter?
(a) He steals a loaf of bread then hides in an alley to eat it.
(b) He steals a loaf of bread then finds an empty apartment to break into.
(c) He hides with a group of homeless people living near the river.
(d) He buys a loaf of bread then finds an empty apartment to break into.

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

11. On the streetcar on the way to Bessie's apartment what does Bigger want to shout?
(a) That he knew something they didn't know.
(b) That he killed a rich, white girl.
(c) That he was lucky to have a good job.
(d) That he was in love with a beautiful girl.

12. 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) So proud of his story he thinks of becoming a fiction writer.
(c) Like he is the one in control because he is telling them what he wants them to believe.
(d) Afraid they won't believe him and that he'll be under suspicion.

13. In book two, how do the reporters decide to frame their stories?
(a) That the negros want to be left alone and the communists forcing their beliefs on them.
(b) That the communists have plotted the kidnapping and are blaming it on Bigger.
(c) That the communists and the negros are working together to get the ransom.
(d) That negros are becomming more involved with communisim.

14. The South Side Real Estate Company is what to Bigger?
(a) The South Side Real Estate Company is nothing to Bigger.
(b) The company to whom he pays rent for his family's rat-infested room.
(c) The company Bigger dreams of one day owning.
(d) The company where Bigger hopes to one day work.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. In book two when Bigger finally falls asleep after hearing Peggy and Mrs. Dalton talking about Mary, what does he recall in his dream?

2. What does the white cat do while Bigger is being questioned by the police and reporters?

3. What idea does Bigger get after Bessie mentions he is working near the site of the Leopold and Loeb case?

4. Where does Bigger place the ransom note to be certain Mr. Dalton gets it?

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,114 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample