2. What does Juror Three do to infuriate Juror Eight in Act II?
(a) He tries to play tic-tac-toe with Juror Twelve.
(b) He takes out his notepad and starts drawing.
(c) He strikes up a private conversation with Juror Twelve.
(d) He takes out his newspaper and starts reading.

3. Of what is Juror Eight accused by an angry juror after others begin to change their votes in Act II?
(a) Of bullying.
(b) Of trying to be a lawyer.
(c) Of defending wrongdoers.
(d) Of being a "bleeding heart" trying to spare a ghetto kid.

4. What starts the physical confrontation between two jurors in Act II?
(a) They confront each other after exchanging harsh words.
(b) Juror Three lunges after Juror Eight, who accuses him of being a sadist who wants to see the defendant die.
(c) Juror Three hits Juror Eight, who accuses him of being prejudiced.
(d) Juror Eight lunges after Juror Three, who calls him a sissy.

5. After getting a more accurate timing of the events described by the old man, what do the jurors realize?
(a) It takes 39 seconds to get to a certain point which the old man said took 10 seconds.
(b) It takes 50 seconds to get to a certain point which the old man said took10 seconds.
(c) It takes more time than the old man said to move from his bed to the window.
(d) It takes 42 seconds to get to a certain point which the old man said took 10 seconds.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Juror Eight mean when he calls another juror a sadist?

2. 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?

3. What literary device is used by the writer when he allows Juror Three to prove something to the jurors that is exactly opposite to what he would have wanted?

4. What significant information about the impact of an el train does the juror who used to live near it share?

5. What principle is supposed to guide the composition of a jury in relation to the defendant?

Short Essay Questions

1. What incident ensues as a result of the experiment to verify the old man's testimony?

2. What evidence of preconceived notions and prejudice does the writer present in Act II?

3. How and why do the discussions of the old man and the alleged threats made by the defendant affect one of the jurors?

4. As the jurors contemplate the evidence given by the woman across the street, how does a comment from Juror Eight complicate the discussion?

5. In Act II, what are the immediate responses to the secret ballot taken by the eleven jurors?

6. As the jurors assess whether the old man told the truth in his testimony, how does Juror Nine use his own life experience to provide insight into the old man's behavior?

7. What do the events of Act II demonstrate about the group and about the influence of Juror Eight?

8. How is irony used by the writer in the confrontation between Juror Three and Juror Eight? What is the result?

9. How do the jurors seek to verify some of the old man's testimony?

10. How do threats contribute to conflict in Act II, and how are the conflicts resolved?

(see the answer keys)

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