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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What keeps stopping Bigger from shaking down the ashes in the furnace?
(a) He doesn't know the ashes need to be removed.
(b) Fear and dread
(c) He wants to make sure Mary's body is completely burned.
(d) He is afraid of burning himself.

2. After Bigger leaves Bessie and returns to the Dalton's house what does Peggy tell him to do and why?
(a) To take the trunk to the attic because the Dalton's will start worrying about Mary if they see it.
(b) She tells him to take the day off because everyone is too worried about Mary to need his services that day.
(c) Go the the train station and pick up Mary's trunk because no one claimed it.
(d) Go to the train station and find out what has happened to Mary's trunk.

3. How many people are searching for Bigger?
(a) Five thousand vigilantes.
(b) Eight thousand armed, angry, white men.
(c) Eight thousand police and vigilantes.
(d) Eight thousand police officers.

4. How do the police finally catch Bigger?
(a) They use a water hose to soak him.
(b) An officer wrestles with him and wins.
(c) They shoot him in the leg.
(d) They don't, he gets away one more time.

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

6. 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 hurries down the stairs to shake the ashes.
(b) He fears she suspects something and plans on how he will kill her if she discovers anything about Mary.
(c) He tells Peggy the furnace is fine, but he will check it anyway.
(d) He tells Peggy he will check the furnace later.

7. How much money does Bigger show Bessie to try to impress her?
(a) $100
(b) $225
(c) $125
(d) $175

8. When Peggy finds Mary is not in her room what does she question Bigger about it, and what does he tell her?
(a) That the car is in the driveway because "the gentleman", Jan, was going to drive himself home the night before.
(b) He confesses that Mary had been drunk the night before and that "the gentleman", Jan Erlone, insisted on driving her home, but dropped Bigger at his home first.
(c) That the "gentleman", Jan Erlone, was planning on spending the night and he was going to go with Mary to the train in the morning.
(d) That he has no idea what could have happened since Mary was fine when he left her.

9. After he recalls killing Mary Dalton, what did Bigger realize he left in plain sight of his mother and his siblings?
(a) His bloody clothing
(b) Mary's purse
(c) The knife
(d) The pamphlets Jan gave him

10. 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 room fill with smoke so Bigger has to get a fan to blow it out the basement window.
(d) The fire is smothered and the basement fills with smoke.

11. What does Bigger do to Bessie after they go to the old building to hide?
(a) He smashes her head with a brick then runs away.
(b) He sleeps then awakens realizing he must kill Bessie.
(c) He rapes her then cuts off her head like he did Mary's and throws her body down an air shaft.
(d) He rapes her then after she falls alseep kills her with a brick then throws her body down an air shaft.

12. What happens after Jan Erlone sees Bigger on the street and offers to help him, then invites him out for coffee to talk about the situation?
(a) Bigger tells Jan Erlone he doesn't need his help.
(b) Jan Erlone runs away when he sees Bigger has a knife.
(c) Bigger runs away.
(d) Bigger pulls a gun on Jan Erlone.

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

14. Why does Bessie finally agree to help Bigger with his kidnapping scam?
(a) She is greedy and wants in on the deal.
(b) He says he will give her half the money.
(c) He says he will leave her if she doesn't help him.
(d) He threatens to murder her family.

15. 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) He is unhappy because the story isn't accurate.
(d) Because he didn't like the attention that could result in his being caught.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Bigger overhear Mrs. Dalton saying to Peggy when she learns her daughter is gone?

2. 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.

3. What did Buddy tell Bigger happened the night before?

4. What things does Mrs. Dalton question Bigger about when she comes to his room?

5. In Book Two as Bigger rides the streetcar, what is his only regret?

(see the answer keys)

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