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The Tempest Past Quiz Questions

Total questions: 41

Worksheet time: 22mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Which of the following best characterizes Miranda as Shakespeare presents her in Act I of The Tempest?

a)

kind and compassionate

b)

studious and bookish

c)

deceitful and sly

d)

frivolous and silly

2.

Aristocrats and commoners mix freely in Act I of The Tempest, both on the island and on board ship. Which best describes the relations between the high-ranking aristocrats and the lower-ranking commoners?

a)

aristocrats and commoners avoid contact with one another

b)

commoners address aristocrats politely and respectfully

c)

aristocrats express only contempt and scorn for commoners

d)

commoners speak their minds freely to aristocrats as if equals

3.

Which best explains why Caliban obeys Prospero’s orders in Act I of The Tempest?

a)

because Caliban knows that Prospero can use magic to force obedience

b)

because Caliban and Ariel have a secret plot against Prospero

c)

because Caliban wants Prospero to leave the island

d)

because Caliban still hopes to win Miranda's love

4.

In The Tempest, Act I, what does Caliban most likely mean when he tells Miranda, “You taught me language, and my profit on’t / Is, I know how to curse”?

a)

He means that Miranda was a poor and unskilled teacher because he could not learn to speak properly

b)

He means that Miranda has harmed him because she has shown him there is a wider world beyond his reach.

c)

He means that Miranda did not teach him to read or write, so being able to speak is of no use to him.

d)

He means that Miranda has taught him to despise himself because he comes from a questionable background.

5.

What causes Antonio and the other passengers to desert their ship in Act I of

The Tempest?

a)

The Boatswain refuses to correct the course of the ship, and it runs aground on the island.

b)

Ariel calls on Poseidon to sink the ship, causing all the passengers to swim for their lives.

c)

 Prospero uses magic to create a storm and make the passengers believe the ship is breaking up.

d)

Ariel sets the ship on fire, and the passengers must jump off it to save their lives

6.

The Tempest is classified as a

(a)  

7.

According to Act I of The Tempest, why does Ariel willingly serve Prospero and carry out his commands?

a)

because Prospero uses magic to force his obedience

b)

because Prospero rescued him from imprisonment

c)

because he mistakenly believes Prospero is his father

d)

because he knows Prospero's history and pities him

8.

When Prospero and Miranda were first cast away, who helped them and how?

a)

King Alonso, by allowing Prospero to go into exile rather than being hanged

b)

Ariel, by teaching Prospero and Miranda survival skills that were useful on the island

c)

The royal counselor, Gonzalo, by stowing food, water, garments, and books aboard their small boat

d)

Prospero's brother, Antonio, by protecting them from the king's wrath

9.

Prospero is the former duke of

(a)  

10.

According to Act I of The Tempest, why have Prospero and Miranda turned against Caliban?

a)

because Caliban is the child of a sorceress

b)

because Caliban is malformed

c)

because Caliban tried to retake the island

d)

because Caliban attacked Miranda

11.

Miranda is (a)   years old.

12.

What reason does Sebastian give for having their swords drawn when Alonso wakes up from his nap?

a)

they were fearful of being attacked by wild beasts

b)

he was defending them against Prospero

c)

he and Antonio were fighting

d)

he was saving them from Ariel

13.

Who does Antonio convince Sebastian to kill?

a)

Prospero

b)

Gonzalo

c)

Adrian

d)

Alonso

14.

How do Antonio and Sebastian find time to discuss their conspiracy?

a)

Alonso and company search for food

b)

Antonio and Sebastian offer to explore the island 

c)

Alonso and company start searching for Ferdinand

d)

Ariel enchants the group to put most of them to sleep

15.

What does Caliban identify as the source of Prospero's power in Act III of The Tempest?

a)

Prospero's library of books

b)

Prospero's will and determination

c)

Prospero's physical strength

d)

Prospero's royal blood

16.

According to Act II of The Tempest, which of the following best explains why Prospero, through Ariel, prevents the murders of Alonso and Gonzalo?

a)

because he pities them for being the victims of a shipwreck

b)

because he sympathizes with Alonso for having lost his son

c)

because Alonso and Gonzalo are conspiring against his old friends

d)

because Alonso and Gonzalo are important to the success of his own plans

17.

In Act III of The Tempest, how does Alonso react when Ariel accuses him of wrongdoing against Prospero?

a)

He vows to find and kill his accuser.

b)

He cries aloud that he must be going mad.

c)

He admits his guilt and expresses remorse.

d)

He protests his innocence and blames Antonio.

18.

Which of the following best describes Ferdinand's attitude as he hauls wood on Prospero's orders in Act III of The Tempest?

a)

He complains bitterly and at length.

b)

He mourns his father and friends.

c)

He plots and plans a way of escaping

d)

He makes the best of the situation.

19.

Which of the following is most likely to be a trouble maker?

a)

Gonzalo

b)

Sebastian

c)

Adrian

d)

Alonso

20.

Which of the following best describes Miranda's character in Act III of The Tempest?

a)

She hopes that Ferdinand can help her escape from the island.

b)

She feels shy and tongue-tied around Ferdinand.

c)

She is glad that Prospero has brought so many men to the island.

d)

She is so much in love that she forgets Prospero's demands.

21.

According to Act II of The Tempest, which of the following best describes the society that Gonzalo would like to create on the island?

a)

He would create a utopia of social and economic equality.

b)

He would create an oligarchy ruled by a group of powerful people.

c)

He would create an absolute monarchy like those of Europe.

d)

He would create a democracy in which people voted for their leaders.

22.

In Act II of The Tempest, how does Antonio persuade Sebastian that if they kill Alonso, Sebastian can become King of Naples?

a)

by explaining that he set the takeover in motion before they sailed

b)

by insisting that Alonso’s son reached the island’s shore safely

c)

by arguing that Ferdinand is dead and Alonso’s daughter is too far from Naples to interfere

d)

by jeering at Alonso for being a foolish and feeble old man

23.

Why does Prospero spy on Ferdinand and Miranda's conversation in Act III of The Tempest?

a)

to punish Miranda for disobeying his commands

b)

to learn more about Ferdinand for his own purposes

c)

to protect Miranda from revenge on Ferdinand's part

d)

to find out whether Ferdinand truly loves Miranda

24.

What do Ferdinand and Miranda agree to do at the end of Act III, Scene I, of The Tempest?

a)

They agree to escape to another part of the island.

b)

They agree to search for more survivors of the shipwreck.

c)

They agree to tell Prospero that Ferdinand is heir to a kingdom.

d)

They agree to marry as soon as possible

25.

Why is Prospero manipulating the men on the island?

a)

To get revenge on his brother

b)

All of these 

c)

To get Miranda and Ferdinand to fall in love and be married

d)

To restore his power and authority 

26.

The main plot of The Tempest involves Prospero's determination to exact revenge from Alonso, Antonio, and Sebastian. How do Prospero's actions in the Ferdinand-Miranda subplot relate to the main plot?

a)

Prospero urges Miranda to tell Ferdinand the story of his father's past crimes.

b)

Prospero fosters Alonso's belief that Ferdinand is dead by keeping Ferdinand hidden.

c)

Prospero encourages Ferdinand to forget Alonso and regard him as a father instead.

d)

Prospero mistreats and abuses Ferdinand to hurt Alonso through him.

27.

What is the last task Prospero asks of Ariel?

a)

Rule the island with Caliban

b)

Forgive me for using you as a servant

c)

Guide our boat home safely

d)

Strand our ship, so we have to be stranded here and I can stay near Miranda

28.

What do Stephano, Trinculo, and Caliban whine about in Act IV?

a)

They lost their wine. 

b)

The spirit led them all over the island.

c)

Their feet hurt from walking.

d)

They smell bad from the pond.

29.

What happens when Trinculo, Stephano, and Caliban are brought before the company in Act V of The Tempest?

a)

They are given a scolding but forgiven.

b)

They are sent to a faraway place.

c)

They are severely punished.

d)

They are tried and convicted.

30.

 

Who encourages Prospero to feel sympathy toward the nobles in Act 5?

a)

Miranda

b)

Ariel

c)

Gonzalo

d)

Ferdinand

31.

In Act V of The Tempest, Prospero tells Antonio and Sebastian that he “will tell no tales” about their plot to murder Alonso. Given Prospero’s words and actions throughout Act V, which is the most reasonable inference about why he decides to keep silent?

a)

He relies on his magical powers to punish them if they try to carry out their plot.

b)

He believes it is nobler to forgive them than it would be to condemn them.

c)

He reasons that if they attempt to kill Alonso again, Ferdinand will become king.

d)

He is convinced that they are already sorry for having plotted against Alonso.

32.

What does Prospero do with his magic books in Act 5?

a)

Burns them in a fire

b)

Casts them into the deepest part of the sea

c)

Tears out all the pages and scatters them

d)

Gives them to Miranda and Ferdinand as a wedding present

33.

What does Ariel conjure to distract Stephano and Trinculo?

a)

Beautiful women

b)

Extravagant clothing

c)

A delicious feast

d)

More wine

34.

Identify the Character: A man filled with sorrow and guilt, who finds relief for both by the play's end

a)

Gonzalo

b)

Ferdinand

c)

Alonso

d)

Prospero

e)

Adrian

35.

How do Ariel and Prospero drive away Trinculo, Stephano, and Caliban in Act IV?

a)

Prospero casts the Killing Curse against them

b)

They conjure up spirits disguised as hunters and hounds

c)

Ariel lures them away with music

d)

Ariel appears as a harpy

36.

What does Prospero do with his wand in Act 5?

a)

Burns it in a fire and scatters the ashes

b)

Casts it into the sea

c)

Snaps it in half and buries the pieces

d)

Gives it to Ariel to hide where no one will find it

37.


How does Antonio respond when Prospero accuses him in Act V of The Tempest?

a)

Antonio asks Prospero to forgive him.

b)

Antonio says nothing.

c)

Antonio insists that Prospero is mistaken.

d)

Antonio confesses his guilt.

38.

What is the reason for the masque?

a)

To scare Caliban, Stephano and Trinculo

b)

To celebrate the engagement

c)

To have a party

d)

To worship the gods

39.

Who does Iris summon to dance together at the wedding masque

a)

Nymphs & Reapers

b)

Angels & Demons

c)

Cats & Dogs

d)

Dryads & Fauns

40.

Identify the Character: A man capable of hideous actions in order to advance himself, though not bold enough to devise the plans himself

a)

Ferdinand

b)

Prospero

c)

Alonso

d)

Sebastian

e)

Antonio

41.

What does Prospero implore Ferdinand to do?

a)

Talk to Alonso on his behalf

b)

To remain chaste before marriage 

c)

Build a boat to help them escape

d)

Kill Caliban and rid the island of evil