1. How does Juror Three justify his assertion that the defendant must have meant it when he said "I'm going to kill you"?
(a) He states that people always say what they mean when they are angry.
(b) He states the defendant meant it because he then proceeded to kill.
(c) He states that nobody says such words without meaning them.
(d) He states the defendant shouted the words angrily.

2. How do the jurors try to get an accurate estimate of the time of the events described by the old man?
(a) They ask the foreman to read over the transcript.
(b) They act out the scene in the jury room and time the different events that the old man described.
(c) They ask each juror to explain exactly what he heard the old man say.
(d) They ask for detailed information from the notes of the trial.

3. Which juror shares the experience of living near the track of an el train?
(a) Juror Seven.
(b) Juror Ten.
(c) Juror Eight.
(d) Juror Two.

4. What does the verdict from the second vote among jurors prove?
(a) That the foreman does a good job of managing the ballot.
(b) That the evidence is clearer after the discussion.
(c) That the arguments presented by the dissenting juror had some effect.
(d) That the dissenting juror is right in his "not guilty" verdict.

5. As the jurors discuss "reasonable doubt", why does Juror Nine become more and more uneasy?
(a) Because of the conflict and tension among the jurors.
(b) Because he sees the importance of thorough deliberations, and most of the jurors are in a hurry.
(c) Because he realizes he might have voted incorrectly.
(d) Because he is anxious to leave.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does the involvement of the jury in acting out and assessing the allegations of the old man compare with their earlier attitude towards the evidence?

2. What is the setting in which the reader first meets the twelve characters who give the play its name?

3. How does Juror Eight capitalize on the error made by Juror Three in threatening to kill him?

4. What does Juror Eight explain to the juror who asks who killed the man if it was not the defendant?

5. Why was the alleged eyewitness awake at the time of the murder?

(see the answer key)

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