wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

Of Mice and Men ch.1-2

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 16mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which quote shows Lennie's behavior characterizes him as someone who looks up to George

a)

"I...I..." Lennie thought. His face grew tight with thought."(5)

b)

"'Cause I can jus as well go away, George, an' live in a cave."(10)

c)

"I was only foolin', George. I don't want no ketchup. I wouldn't eat no ketchup if it was right here beside me."(8)

d)

"George lay back in the sand and crossed his hands...Lennie imitated him, raising his head to whether he was doing it right."(6)

2.

Read the following: “There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke. His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love.” (33) How do these lines contribute to the characterization of Slim?

a)

by portraying his respect for others

b)

by illustrating respect others have for him

c)

by demonstrating his optimism

d)

by revealing his work ethic

3.

Based on chapter 1 as a whole, George’s behavior is mostly guided by which theme

a)

Search for the American Dream

b)

Friendship

c)

Loneliness

d)

Survival in difficult times

4.

What does George tell Lennie to do if there is trouble?

a)

Come back to the spot by the river and hide

b)

Move onto their next job in Weed

c)

Go live in the caves by the Gabilan mountains

d)

Move somewhere new and start a farm

5.

What excites Lennie most about his dream with George?

a)

He will learn to farm

b)

They will both find pretty girls to settle down and marry

c)

He will strike it rich panning for gold during the California Gold Rush

d)

He will get to tend to rabbits

6.

Lennie and George’s relationship can best be compared to

a)

friend - acquaintance relationship

b)

friend – foe relationship

c)

parent – child relationship

d)

father-daughter relationship

7.

Read the following: “His eyes passed over the new men and stopped. He glanced coldly at George and then at Lennie. His arms gradually bent at the elbows and his hands closed into fists. He stiffened and went into a slight crouch. His glance was at once calculating and pugnacious (eager or quick to argue).” How does Curley's behavior characterize him?

a)

by portraying him as friendly and inviting

b)

by indicating that he is an efficient worker on the ranch

c)

by describing him as distrustful and confrontational

d)

by suggesting he only follows the orders of his father, the boss

8.

Which incident best reflects marginalization in chapter 2?

a)

Curley blames George for being late to work

b)

George blames Lennie for making the boss suspicious

c)

Candy is jealous of Slim

d)

The ranch hands pick a fight with Crooks because he is black

9.

Curley and Slim's characterizations BEST contribute to the theme of

a)

Loneliness and survival

b)

Search for the American Dream

c)

Friendship

d)

Weak v. Strong

10.

Curley could BEST be characterized as

a)

friendly

b)

a bully

c)

powerful

d)

careless

11.

George says, "So you wasn't gonna say a word. You was gonna leave your big flapper shut and leave me do the talkin'. Damn near lost us the job."(14) This passage contributes to the theme of

a)

Scapegoating

b)

Friendship

c)

Marginalization

d)

Minorities being mistreated

12.

How does the following quote characterize George: "George put his hand on Lennie's shoulder. 'I ain't takin' it away jus for meanness. That mouse ain't fresh, Lennie:.."(7)

a)

He wants Lennie to be successful

b)

He is mean to Lennie on purpose

c)

He wants to protect Lennie from harm

d)

He bullies Lennie to get what he wants

13.

Read the following and determine the tone: “With us it ain’t like that. We got a future. We got somebody to talk to that gives a damn about us. We don’t have to sit in no bar room blowin’ in our jack jus’ because we got no place to go. If them other guys gets in jail they can rot for all anybody gives a damn. But not us”(14)

a)

Judgmental

b)

Optimistic

c)

Careless

d)

Aggressive

14.

“The first man was small and quick, dark of face with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose. Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily, dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws. His arms did not swing at his sides, but hung loosely.” (2) The primary function of this excerpt is to

a)

establish contrast in the characters

b)

provide the setting

c)

introduce symbolism to the story

d)

illustrate the theme of scapegoating

15.

George says “When I think of the swell time I could have without you, I go nuts. I never get peace.” This speech best characterizes George as

a)

irritated at not having money

b)

frustrated at having to care for Lennie

c)

impatient for not having a steady job

d)

concerned that Lennie does not have enough food and drink.

16.

Identify the figurative language: Lennie drank with long gulps, snorting the water like a horse

a)

metaphor

b)

simile

c)

personification

d)

flashback

17.

When does this story take place?

a)

During the winter

b)

During WWII

c)

During the Great Depression

d)

During the Spanish Flu Pandemic

18.

Why are Lennie and George different from other ranch hands?

a)

They look after each other

b)

They are from Oklahoma.

c)

They don't have a dog.

d)

They don't have wives

19.

What does it mean, "Seems like Curley ain't givin' nobody a chance."

a)

Curley does not pay his workers the right amount

b)

Curley always impresses the prettiest girls

c)

Curley takes all the best jobs.

d)

Curley always wins his fights or makes it look like he was the victim.

20.

What does Slim have that Lennie wants?

a)

A friend to talk to

b)

New work clothes

c)

A new pair of work boots.

d)

A puppy