WorksheetsThe Tempest Selection Test
Total questions: 20
Worksheet time: 24mins
What causes Antonio and the other passengers to desert their ship in Act I of The Tempest?
Prospero uses magic to create a storm and make the passengers believe the ship is breaking up.
The Boatswain refuses to correct the course of the ship, and it runs aground on the island.
Ariel sets the ship on fire, and the passengers must jump off it to save their lives.
Ariel calls on Poseidon to sink the ship, causing all the passengers to swim for their lives.
According to Act I of The Tempest, why does Ariel willingly serve Prospero and carry out his commands?
because he mistakenly believes Prospero is his father
because Prospero uses magic to force his obedience
because he knows Prospero’s history and pities him
because Prospero rescued him from imprisonment
How are the interactions between Prospero and his slaves different?
Caliban curses Prospero and openly, but Ariel is more submissive and eager to please
Prospero is kind to Caliban but cruel to Ariel because of what Ariel did
Ariel is more rebellious toward Prospero while Caliban is happy to serve
He treats them both kindly because they have served him faithfully.
According to Act I of The Tempest, why have Prospero and Miranda turned against Caliban?
because Caliban is malformed
because Caliban tried to retake the island
because Caliban is the child of a sorceress
because Caliban attacked Miranda
Based on how he treats Ariel, Caliban, and Miranda, what can we tell about Prospero's character?
Prospero is shown to be indifferent towards Ariel, Caliban, and Miranda
Prospero is shown to be kind and caring towards Ariel, Caliban, and Miranda
Prospero is shown to be abusive and controlling towards Ariel, Caliban, and Miranda
According to Act I of The Tempest, which of the following actions does Prospero take or plan to take? Choose three options.
to free Ariel permanently from his service
to turn over his rule of the island to Ferdinand
to achieve revenge against his brother Antonio
to repay Caliban for taking the island away from him
to arrange a marriage between Ferdinand and Miranda
Which of the following is the best definition of perfidious?
Serene and calm
Sorry and ashamed
Violent and aggressive
Untrustworthy and dishonest
Which of the following is the best example of treacherous behavior?
helping someone recover
betraying someone’s trust
challenging someone’s statement
accepting punishment for someone
What does it mean to usurp a leadership position?
to seize it illegally or by force
to inherit it by right of birth
to pass it on to another person
to win it fairly in a free election
When Prospero says in Act I of The Tempest that he has more commands for Ariel, Ariel protests as follows:
Ariel: Remember, I have done thee worthy service, Told thee no lies, made thee no mistakings, served Without or grudge or grumblings. Thou didst promise To bate me a full year.
What does Ariel’s speech imply about the relationship between him and Prospero?
Ariel knows that he can turn to Prospero for comfort.
Ariel believes he can rely on Prospero’s sense of justice.
Prospero hopes to adopt Ariel into his family as his heir.
Prospero tolerates Ariel’s mischief and enjoys his company.
The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.
11. Part A Which of the following best characterizes Miranda as Shakespeare presents her in Act I of The Tempest?
deceitful and sly
frivolous and silly
studious and bookish
kind and compassionate
12. Part B Which of the following lines of dialogue from the play best supports the answer to Part A?
Miranda. . . . Oh, I have suffered / With those that I saw suffer! A brave vessel / . . . Dashed all to pieces!
Miranda. . . . And now I pray you, sir— / . . . your reason / For raising this sea storm?
Miranda. The strangeness of your story put / Heaviness in me.
Miranda. What is’t? A spirit? / Lord, how it looks about! Believe me, sir, / It carries a brave form.
The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.
13. Part A Which best explains why Caliban obeys Prospero’s orders in Act I of The Tempest?
because Caliban still hopes to win Miranda’s love
because Caliban wants Prospero to leave the island
because Caliban and Ariel have a secret plot against Prospero
because Caliban knows that Prospero can use magic to force obedience
Part B Which of the following lines from the play best support the answer to Part A?
Caliban. . . . A southwest blow on ye / And blister you all o’er!
Caliban. This island’s mine by Sycorax my mother, / Which thou tak’st from me. . . .
Caliban. For I am all the subjects that you have, / Which first was mine own king
Caliban. . . . His art is of such pow’r / It would control my dam’s god, Setebos, / And make a vassal of him.
The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.
15. Part A 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?
Commoners address aristocrats politely and respectfully.
Aristocrats and commoners avoid contact with one another.
Aristocrats express only contempt and scorn for commoners.
Commoners speak their minds freely to aristocrats as if equals.
Part B Which of the following lines of dialogue from the play best supports the answer to Part A?
Boatswain. . . . Hence! What cares these roarers for the name of king? To cabin! Silence! Trouble us not!
Gonzalo. Now would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground—long heath, brown furze, anything. . . .
Prospero. Ariel, thy charge / Exactly is performed; but there’s more work.
Miranda. I might call him / A thing divine; for nothing natural / I ever saw so noble.
The following question has two parts. Answer Part A first, and then Part B.
17. Part A Why does Prospero behave how he does toward Ferdinand?
Prospero genuinely thinks that Ferdinand is a threat to his power on the island
Prospero wants to stir up trouble between Miranda and Ferdinand to bring them closer together
Prospero is seeking revenge on King Alonso through his son, Ferdinand
Prospero wants to keep Miranda and Ferdinand apart
Part B Which of the following lines of dialogue best supports the answer to Part A
Prospero: Silence! One word more/Shall make me chide thee, if not hate thee. What, /An advocate for an imposter?
Prospero: Who makest a show but darest not strike, thy conscience/Is so possessed with guilt.
Prospero: They are both in either’s powers, but this swift business/I must uneasy make lest too light winning/ Make the prize light.
Prospero: The Duke of Milan/And his more braver daughter could control thee/If now ’twere fit to do ’t!
Read these lines from The Tempest.
Prospero. Thou poisonous slave, got by the devil himself
Upon thy wicked dam, come forth! . . .
Caliban. This island’s mine by Sycorax my mother,
Which thou tak’st from me.
What is the function of the dramatic convention used in these lines?
The subplot of the experiences of Caliban and his mother is introduced.
The interaction of different social classes develops the characters and gives background information from before the shipwreck.
The dark emotions of Caliban toward his mother are brought to light to move the plot and develop the events of the central conflict.
The protagonist, Prospero, is introduced, and it is made evident that he is older than the other characters.
Read these lines from The Tempest.
Miranda: And now I pray you, sir—. . . your reason/For raising this sea storm?
Prospero: Here cease more questions. Thou art inclined to sleep. ‘Tis a good dullness,
And give it way: I know thou canst not choose.
[Miranda sleeps.]
Which dramatic convention of Shakespearean romance is represented in these lines?
characters from different social levels—a servant and a king
a subplot with young people—Prospero and Miranda are young adults
a magical event—Prospero uses his powers to put Miranda to sleep
none of the above
