Trifles Quiz

HALE. Well, she looked queer.

COUNTY ATTORNEY. How do you mean—queer?

HALE. Well, as if she didn’t know what she was going to do next. And kind of done up.

• doubtful

• pensive

• strange

• irrational

MRS. HALE (examining the skirt).

What does the word “examining” mean in the stage direction?

• checking for flaws

• looking very closely

• searching for clues

• seeking solutions

MRS. HALE (abruptly moving toward her). Mrs. Peters?

Which best describes the effect of the word “abruptly” in the excerpt?

• The use of the word abruptly heightens the conflict by revealing to the reader that Mrs. Hale is becoming increasingly anxious.

• The use of the word abruptly characterizes Mrs. Hale as someone who is aggressive and assertive by nature.

• The use of the word abruptly quickens the plot by making it appear as though the characters in the play are rushed.

• The use of the word abruptly adds to the mysterious mood in the scene as the reader is left to wonder why Mrs. Hale is upset.

What did Mrs. Wright love to do when she was young?

• sing
• dance
• quilt
• play piano

What is the County Attorney looking for?

• a murder weapon
• evidence that would point to a motive for the murder
• fingerprints that would prove the killer's identity
• evidence that would show how John Wright was murdered

The erratic stitching of the quilt implies that Mrs. Wright 

• was tired.
• was not skilled at quilting.
• had become very distressed or nervous.
• did not know whether to quilt or knot the quilt.

What happened to Mrs. Wright's canary?

• It lost its feathers.
• It was hungry.
• It had flown away.
• It's neck was broken.

Why does Mrs. Hale wish she had visited Mrs. Wright?

• So she could find out the Wright family business and gossip. 
• She realizes that Mrs. Wright was very lonely and could have benefited from the occasional visit or help from a friend.
• To get her recipes for canning.
• She was a young and wild woman and needed guidance on being a wife.

Why does Mrs. Hale liken Minnie Foster to a bird?

• Mrs. Hale describes her as a "sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and-fluttery."
• She had feathers in her hair all the time.
• She was small and quiet.
• She didn't walk but hopped like a bird.