Comprehension Questions on the Salem Witch Trials

What was the main dilemma faced by those accused of witchcraft in Salem?

• To confess and implicate others or risk execution

• To flee the village or stay and fight

• To seek help from neighboring communities

• To ignore the accusations and hope for the best

What group settled Salem in 1626?

• Catholics

• Puritans

• Quakers

• Anglicans

Why were Betty Parris and Abigail Williams behaving strangely?

• They were playing a game

• They were possessed by demons

• A physician found nothing physically wrong

• They were pretending to be witches

What happened to Sarah Good's husband during the trial?

• He defended her vigorously

• He turned against her in court

• He was accused as well

• He left Salem before the trial

What did the authorities prefer when dealing with the accused?

• To collect evidence before making arrests

• To have them confess and ask for forgiveness

• To dismiss all charges without questioning

• To hold public trials with juries

Which type of evidence was accepted by the courts during the trials?

• Eyewitness accounts

• Spectral evidence

• Physical evidence

• Alibis

How many people were executed by the spring of 1693?

• 20

• 14 women and 6 men

• 30

• 5

Which prominent figures suspended the trials?

• The mayor of Salem

• The governor of Massachusetts colony

• A local priest

• A judge

What was one possible explanation for the girls' strange behavior?

• A curse placed on them

• Hallucinations caused by fungus

• A secret pact with witches

• A psychological illness

What lesson do the Salem Witch Trials teach us today?

• The importance of fair trials

• The dangers of groupthink and scapegoating

• The need for strict punishments

• The effectiveness of community policing