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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is George to remove after killing the woman?

2. How does Mrs. Stevenson end the call with the Chief Operator?

3. How is the Chief Operator described?

4. When the phone is answered in Act I, Part 1, what side of the stage is lit?

5. What tone does Mrs. Stevenson use when she demands that the operator trace the call she just heard?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mrs. Stevenson's bedroom look like?

2. How does Mrs. Stevenson react when the operator says she will dial Murray Hill 4-0098?

3. How does Ms. Stevenson respond when the operator tells her in Act I, Part 2, that the number is busy?

4. Under what conditions might the Chief Operator be able to trace a call?

5. How is George described?

6. What is George to do after killing the woman?

7. What information does the Chief Operator ask Mrs. Stevenson?

8. Why is the Chief Operator not able to trace the call for Mrs. Stevenson?

9. What does Mrs. Stevenson tell the operator when she reaches her in Act I, Part 1?

10. What does Mrs. Stevenson say as the operator tries the number in Act I, Part 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mrs. Stevenson and Sergeant Duffy seem to be at cross purposes when they speak on the phone. How invested are Mrs. Stevenson and Sergeant Duffy in the conversation they are having? In what way are the two at cross purposes as they converse? How does that affect the results Mrs. Stevenson is trying to achieve?

Essay Topic 2

There are internal and external conflicts in the play. What are the main conflicts in the play? Are most of the conflicts internal or external? How are conflicts developed? How are those conflicts resolved?

Essay Topic 3

The play was written in 1943. The plot of play is dependent upon how telephone calls were made in that time period. What elements of the play might be difficult for readers to understand? What elements are universal to all time periods? How does the fact that the play was written in 1943 affect readers and their understanding of the play?

(see the answer keys)

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