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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Act I.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the setting in which the reader first meets the twelve characters who give the play its name?
(a) The court room.
(b) The murder scene.
(c) The bus in which the jurors are being transported to court.
(d) The jury room in a New York court.

2. What important facts are revealed about the circumstances of the defendant's life by the juror who votes "not guilty" in the first round of voting?
(a) He has had a difficult life in a ghetto without a father.
(b) He is an orphan and member of a minority group.
(c) He has been in and out of prison for stealing cars.
(d) He has had a difficult life in a ghetto; his mother is dead and his father has beaten him regularly.

3. What is the defendant's alibi?
(a) He claims to have been hanging out with his friends.
(b) He claims to have been at the movies.
(c) He claims to have been at the store.
(d) He claims to have been at the ball game.

4. What two types of prejudice are evident in the comments of some of the jurors during Act 1?
(a) Color prejudice and racial prejudice.
(b) Prejudice against some ethnic groups and prejudice against people from certain areas.
(c) Prejudice against foreigners and class prejudice.
(d) Prejudice against the poor and prejudice against the uneducated.

5. What comment by Juror Ten reveals his prejudice?
(a) He has lived among people "like the defendant" and they cannot be trusted.
(b) He dislikes all people who are not of his racial background.
(c) He dislikes all Caucasians.
(d) He dislikes all foreigners.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the verdict from the second vote among jurors prove?

2. Which juror rebukes Juror Ten for his racist comment?

3. Why does the dissenting juror challenge the fact that other jurors are willing to take the alleged eyewitness' word when they would not accept the defendant's word?

4. Why is it clear from the dissenting juror's action that anyone could have had a weapon similar to the murder weapon?

5. What is "the burden of proof"?

(see the answer key)

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