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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the Sheriff’s response when asked, “You’re convinced that there was nothing important here—nothing that would point to any motive”?
(a) Nothing here but trifles
(b) Nothing here but women’s things
(c) Nothing here but kitchen things
(d) Only the stale bread

2. Who claims “Somebody should have been left here yesterday”?
(a) Henry Peters
(b) George Henderson
(c) John Wright
(d) Lewis Hale

3. How long does Mrs. Hale say it has been since she has been in the Wright home?
(a) Over a week
(b) Over a month
(c) Over a year
(d) Three weeks

4. What acts as a symbol of Mrs. Wright’s marriage in the play?
(a) The canary
(b) The birdcage
(c) The dirty dishes
(d) The bread

5. According to the stage directions in the opening of the play, what is Henry Peters’ profession?
(a) County Attorney
(b) County Judge
(c) Sheriff
(d) Farmer

6. The success of Trifles rests largely on what dramatic/literary device that means the audience is aware of facts not grasped by characters in the play?
(a) Metaphor
(b) Irony
(c) Exposition
(d) Alliteration

7. Which of the following is a recurring motif in Trifles?
(a) Hanging
(b) Gunshots
(c) Strangulation
(d) The color blue

8. What character in the play is based on the real-life figure of John Hossack?
(a) Lewis Hale
(b) George Henderson
(c) Henry Peters
(d) John Wright

9. Mrs. Hale says of Mrs. Wright, “I should think she would ‘a wanted a” what?
(a) Telephone
(b) Cat
(c) Radio
(d) Bird

10. Mrs. Hale says to Mrs. Peters, “I tell you, it’s queer, Mrs. Peters. We live close together and we live” what?
(a) In faith
(b) In ignorance
(c) In blindness
(d) Far apart

11. What does Mrs. Hale say was in the Wright home but was not used in the murder?
(a) A noose
(b) An axe
(c) A dagger
(d) A gun

12. Mrs. Peters claims that “[t]he law has got to” do what?
(a) Collect taxes
(b) Uphold itself
(c) Punish crime
(d) Be right

13. At what time does Mr. Hale knock on the Wrights’ door when he discovers the murder?
(a) Past 10:00 a.m.
(b) After noon.
(c) Before 3:30 p.m.
(d) Past 8:00 a.m.

14. According to Mr. Hale, how does Mrs. Wright respond when he says, “I want to see John”?
(a) She left the room
(b) She cried
(c) She looked worried
(d) She laughed

15. What character asks “By the way, has anything been moved? Are things just as you left them”?
(a) Frank
(b) Henry Peters
(c) George Henderson
(d) Lewis Hale

Short Answer Questions

1. When did Mr. Hale come to the house and discover the murder?

2. Which of the following is a key theme in Trifles?

3. What does Mrs. Peters remark that Mrs. Wright had been doing when she takes out a sewing basket?

4. What is Mrs. Peters’ response when Mrs. Hale asks, “Do you think she did it?”

5. Near the end of the play, what does Mr. Hale go outside to tend to?

(see the answer keys)

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