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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What two reasons cause a juror to believe there is reasonable doubt about the defendant's guilt after adding doubts about the old man's testimony to earlier discussions about the murder?
(a) The fact that a similar weapon was easily available and that the old man might have been lying.
(b) The realization that the woman wears glasses and she saw the murder through the train.
(c) The fact that the old man was hearing impaired and wore glasses.
(d) The arguments of Juror Eight and Juror Nine.

2. What information does Juror Seven provide about the history of the defendant?
(a) He has stolen a car, been convicted of mugging and stabbed someone in the arm.
(b) He has been charged with murder before.
(c) He has been convicted of stealing cars.
(d) He has been to prison before.

3. In the beginning of the deliberations, how do most of the jurors demonstrate a lack of seriousness about their role as jurors?
(a) They are casual in their discussions.
(b) They do not pay attention to the details.
(c) They are concerned about how the trial has kept them from attending to their own interests.
(d) They read the newspaper.

4. Who jams the murder weapon into the wall?
(a) The foreman.
(b) Juror Nine.
(c) Juror Eight.
(d) Juror four.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. According to one of the witnesses, what was the defendant alleged to have shouted out to his father on the night of the murder?

2. How do some members of the jury respond to those who disagree?

3. What does this experience among the jurors demonstrate about group behavior?

4. Before the jurors depart for the jury room, who gives them final instructions?

5. What literary device is used by the writer to create a high level of interest in the play by presenting the strongly contending views of the jurors?

(see the answer key)

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