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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When does Shaw first become interested in the subject of phonetics?
(a) In the 1850s.
(b) In the 1870s.
(c) Around 1890.
(d) Around 1910.

2. Why is Clara annoyed with her mother?
(a) She won't buy any flowers for Clara.
(b) She acts superior to the Flower Girl.
(c) She gives the Flower Girl too much money.
(d) She doesn't give the Flower Girl any money.

3. What happened to Liza's parents?
(a) They are too poor to take care of her, so she lives on her own.
(b) She has no parents; they are dead.
(c) Her father is gone and her stepfather beats her.
(d) She has no mother, and her father and stepmother kicked her out.

4. What should happen with the English alphabet, according to Shaw?
(a) It should be simplified to include only the most essential letters.
(b) It should be completely modified to conform with classical Greek letters.
(c) It should be the same as the Spanish alphabet.
(d) It should be increased to the size of the Russian alphabet.

5. On what basis do some English people despise others?
(a) Whether they are foreign or native-born citizens.
(b) Their level of education.
(c) Their accents or dialects of English.
(d) Their socioeconomic class.

6. What does Higgins say when he finds that Liza is not married?
(a) She will marry a duke.
(b) Nobody would want to marry the likes of her.
(c) He will marry her himself.
(d) Men will soon be dying for her.

7. What does the taxicab driver realize about Liza that humiliates her?
(a) She lives in a slum.
(b) She's never ridden in a taxi before and has no idea how much it costs.
(c) She is really a prostitute.
(d) She doesn't have any money and cannot pay for the taxi.

8. Why doesn't Sweet's shorthand become popular?
(a) He does not have the business organization he needs to popularize it.
(b) It is very difficult to learn.
(c) It is not legible.
(d) It is not a complete and exact phonetic script.

9. What is the Flower Girl selling?
(a) Violets.
(b) Daisies.
(c) Roses.
(d) Poppies.

10. Based on what you read in the Preface, with which of the following statements do you think Shaw would agree?
(a) Great art cannot please everyone; there will always be some wiseacres who cannot appreciate it.
(b) Truly great art should not seek to be commercially successful.
(c) All great art must be didactic; that is, it should teach people something.
(d) Great art should not seek to teach lessons, but to entertain.

11. What does the Flower Girl call the Gentleman?
(a) Father.
(b) Sir.
(c) Captain.
(d) Governor.

12. Why doesHenry Sweet not become more prominent?
(a) He angera many people by publishing a libelous article.
(b) He is an ill-natured man.
(c) Nobody agrees with him that phonetics are important.
(d) He scorns everyone who did not agree with him about the importance of phonetics.

13. What does Shaw try to do for Sweet?
(a) Involve him in the theater.
(b) Dedicate the play Pygmalion to him.
(c) Help him get an article published.
(d) Get him a teaching position.

14. Which best describes the first scene?
(a) A dark and rainy night.
(b) A cold, wintry evening.
(c) A hot and sweltering day.
(d) Early morning, just before dawn.

15. What is Liza's father's profession?
(a) Taxicab driver.
(b) Trash collector.
(c) Thief.
(d) Bartender.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is one example Shaw gives of when people might want to change their accents?

2. How much money does Doolittle demand from Higgins in exchange for his daughter?

3. Who is Tito Pagliardini?

4. What is one of Shaw's purposes in writing this play?

5. What makes Liza happy at the end of the evening?

(see the answer keys)

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