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Othello: Act One

Total questions: 21

Worksheet time: 11mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

As the play opens, which two characters are arguing back and forth?

a)

Barbantio and Othello

b)

Roderigo and Barbantio

c)

Iago and Roderigo

d)

Cassio and Othello

2.

Why reason does Iago give for his bitterness?

a)

Barbantio hates him

b)

Roderigo has been appointed lieutenant

c)

Desdemona has rejected his marriage proposal

d)

He has been passed over for lieutenant

3.

According to Iago, why does Cassio make a poor lieutenant? (SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)

a)

He is an expert in numbers, not in military strategy

b)

He is related to Brabantio

c)

He knows military theory better than military practice

d)

He is inexperienced in leading large groups of men

4.

Describe Iago's character:

(SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)

a)

Manipulative

b)

Empathetic

c)

Self-serving

d)

Deceitful

5.

Brabantio wants nothing to do with this character because of this character's tireless attempts to marry Desdemona:

a)

Othello

b)

Cassio

c)

Roderigo

d)

The Duke of Venice

6.

Brabantio is angry that Desdemona has married Othello because:

(SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)

a)

Othello is much older than Desdemona

b)

Othello is not good looking

c)

Othello is of a different race than Desdemona

d)

Othello has not asked for Desdemona's hand in marriage

7.

The reader knows the play is dealing with issues of race from:

(SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)

a)

Analogies (comparisons) made between Othello and animals

b)

Comments made about Othello's facial features

8.

Why has Othello not been let go from his position as army general?

a)

He has paid off the Duke of Venice

b)

He is related to Brabantio

c)

He is excellent at his job.

d)

He is married to Desdemona

9.

The _________ are attacking Cyprus.

a)

The Turks

b)

The Greeks

c)

The Romans

d)

The French

10.

The Duke of Venice is eager to meet with Othello because:

a)

The Duke is ready to arrange a marriage between his daughter and Othello

b)

The Duke needs Othello to lead the Venetian army into Cyprus

c)

The Duke wants to arrest Othello for marrying Desdemona

d)

Brabantio has asked the Duke to fire Othello

11.

Brabantio claims that Othello has _____________ to persuade Desdemona to marry him.

a)

spoken poorly of Barbantio

b)

manipulated his Desdemona

c)

paid Desdemona

d)

used magic, enchantment, and drugs

12.

Iago's duplicity to Othello is made evident when:

a)

Iago refuses to go to war at first, but agrees to fight once he is paid

b)

He speaks poorly of Othello in scene 1 behind Othello's back, but defends Othello's honor to his face in scene 2.

c)

Accuses Cassio of having an affair with Desdemona

d)

He speaks poorly of Brabantio in scene 1 behind Brabantio's back, but defends Brabantio's honor to his face in scene 2.

13.

How did Othello and Desdemona fall in love?

a)

By listening to each other's stories

b)

They saw each other at a party

c)

Othello cast a spell on Desdemona

d)

Othello saves Desdemona in a battle

14.

Is Othello intimidated by Brabantio?

(Be prepared to answer WHY on the quiz.)

a)

No

b)

Yes

15.

Where must Othello travel, at the request of the Duke of Venice?

a)

Italy

b)

Morocco

c)

Cyprus

d)

England

16.

Who will escort Desdemona to Cyprus, where she will meet up with Othello?

a)

Roderigo

b)

Iago

c)

Brabantio

d)

The Duke of Venice

17.

Does Brabantio accept the marriage between Othello and Desdemona?

a)

Yes, happily

b)

No, bitterly

c)

Yes, reluctantly

d)

No, spitefully

18.

Roderigo threatens suicide because:

a)

He has had a long battle with depression

b)

He feels his chance to be with Desdemona has passed

c)

Cyprus has lost the war

d)

He has lost all of his money

19.

Iago helps lift Roderigo's spirits after Roderigo's suicide threat by

a)

He refers Roderigo to a therapist

b)

Reassuring Roderigo he WILL have a chance with Desdemona, for a price.

c)

Iago introduces Roderigo to a new girl

d)

Iago takes Roderigo out for a night on the town.

20.

Iago tells Roderigo that he will have a chance with Desdemona because

a)

Desdemona secretly hates Othello

b)

Desdemona will grow tired of sleeping with someone like Othello

c)

Desdemona isn't really married to Othello

d)

Desdemona told Iago that she has a secret crush on Roderigo

21.

At the end of ACT One, Iago's soliloquy includes the following:

(SELECT ALL THAT APPLY)

a)

Manipulation of Othello

b)

Moving away from Venice

c)

Twisting the friendship between Cassio and Desdemona into a romantic seduction

d)

Assistance from the devil