wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

The Crucible: Act I & II Comprehension Questions

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 3hrs 30mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Read the following passage from The Crucible: Long-held hatreds of neighbors could now be openly expressed, and vengeance taken, despite the Bible’s charitable injunctions. Land-lust which had been expressed before by constant bickering over boundaries and deeds, could now be elevated to the arena of morality... The following passage is from the dramatic exposition at the beginning of Act I of The Crucible. For what later event in Act I does this information prepare the reader?

a)
Putnam’s argument with Proctor about a piece of woodland to which both men lay claim
b)
Abigail’s reluctance to tell the truth about what happened in the woods
c)
Abigail’s dismissal from service in the Proctor household
d)
Reverend Parris’s complaint about his salary
2.

Read the following passage from The Crucible: She enters as one does who can no longer bear to be barred from the sight of her beloved, but she is also very frightened because her slave sense has warned her that, as always, trouble in this house eventually lands on her back. In what way do these stage directions help explain Tituba’s behavior with Hale at the end of the act?

a)
They show that Tituba’s “slave sense” often leads her to behave irrationally, which helps explain why she tries to hide her actions from Hale.
b)
They show that Tituba is so fond of Betty that she will risk her own safety, which helps explain why she strives to protect the girl from Hale.
c)
They show that Tituba is in love with Reverend Parris, which helps explain why she tries to protect him from the suspicions of Hale and others.
d)
They show that Tituba does not expect fair treatment, which helps explain why she gives up defending herself to Hale and instead denounces others.
3.
According to the dramatic exposition at the beginning of The Crucible, what fueled the Salem witch hunt depicted in the play? Choose three options.
a)
the opportunity to publicly share one’s sins by pinning them on the victim
b)
the belief that the leader of the community was working with the Devil
c)
the feeling of repression caused by the forced order of the theocracy
d)
the chance to take revenge on hated neighbors and enemies
e)

the fear of witchcraft that was rampant in the area

4.

From the details in Act I of The Crucible, what can you conclude most clearly about Abigail’s relationship with the other girls?

a)
Her beauty and cleverly crafted purity give her great influence over the other girls.
b)
She uses the other girls’ fear of her and the idea of supernatural events to intimidate them.
c)
Her charm and magnetic persuasiveness make her a natural leader among the girls.
d)
She has little influence over the other girls, despite her social position as the minister’s niece.
5.
PART A: Which statement best describes John Proctor’s personality as it is revealed in Act I of The Crucible?
a)
He is a person of strong work ethic and intellect.
b)
He is a person of devout religious beliefs.
c)
He is a person of independent judgment.
d)
He is a person of whimsical humor.
6.
PART B: Which of the following statements by Proctor best supports the answer to Part A?
a)
"Now get you home; my wife is waitin’ with your work!"
b)
"The road past my house is a pilgrimage to Salem all morning."
c)
"I have hardly stepped off my farm this seven month."
d)
"I mean it solemnly, Rebecca; I like not the smell of this 'authority.'"
7.
In Act II of The Crucible, what does Elizabeth mean when she tells John, “The magistrate sits in your heart that judges you”?
a)
She is stating that God is the only true judge.
b)
She indicates that the court will judge Proctor's sins.
c)
She suggests that Hale's judgment is unjust.
d)
She implies that Proctor's conscience is his harshest judge.
8.
Which of the following details from the text best exemplifies the indirect characterization of Mary Warren?
a)

Mary Warren (now a little strained, seeing his stubborn doubt): Why, they must when she condemned herself

b)

Mary Warren (terrified, but coming erect, striving for her authority): I’ll not stand whipping any more!

c)

Mary Warren (pointing at Elizabeth): I saved her life today!

d)

Mary Warren (with a stamp of her foot): I’ll not be ordered to bed no more, Mr. Proctor! I am eighteen and a woman, however single!

9.
In Act II of The Crucible, what is the main purpose of the stage directions in paragraphs in 35-37?
a)
It shows that Elizabeth Proctor is hesitant to address an issue that is bothering her to her husband.
b)
It shows that Elizabeth Proctor doesn't want to upset her husband.
c)
It shows that there is an underlying issue in the Proctor's marriage.
d)
It shows that the Proctor's do not know what to say to one another.
10.

PART C: In Act II of The Crucible, John Proctor claims to know the source of all the problems in Salem. Whom or what does he blame?

a)
the Devil
b)
vengeance
c)
irrationality
d)
Reverend Parris
11.

PART D: Which excerpt from Act II provides the best example of the answer to Part C?

a)
Proctor: I falter nothing, but I may wonder if my story will be credited in such a court. I do wonder on it, when such a steady-minded minister as you will suspicion such a woman that never lied, and cannot, and the world knows she cannot!
b)
Hale, pleading: Nurse, though our hearts break, we cannot flinch: these are new times, sir. There is a misty plot afoot so subtle we should be criminal to cling to old respects and ancient friendships. I have seen too many frightful proofs in court—the Devil is alive in Salem.…
c)
Giles: That bloody mongrel Walcott charge her. Y’see, he buy a pig of my wife … and the pig died soon after. So he come dancin’ in for his money back. So my Martha, she says to him. “Walcott, if you haven’t the wit to feed a pig properly, you’ll not live to own many,” she says. Now he goes to court and claims that from that day to this he cannot keep a pig alive because my Martha bewitch them….
d)
Cheever, wide-eyed, trembling: … Abigail Williams, sir. She sat to dinner in Reverend Parris’s house tonight, and without word nor warnin’ she falls to the floor.… And he goes to save her, and, stuck two inches in the flesh of her belly, he draw a needle out. And demandin’ of her how she come to be so stabbed, she—to PROCTOR now—testify it were your wife’s familiar spirit pushed it in.
12.

Which of the following is not part of Abigail Williams' description?

a)

Ex-Servant to the Proctors

b)

Niece of Rev. Parris

c)

Current servant to the Putnmas

d)

Ex-mistress of John Proctor

13.
What conclusion can you draw about John Proctor?
a)
He fears and respects Rev. Parris
b)
He speaks his mind, even if it is against people of authority.
c)
He believes witchcraft made the girls ill
d)
He will do anything to destroy Thomas Putnam
14.

Choose two: Proctor's Christian nature is questioned because he

a)

does not attend church regularly.

b)

doesn't believe in witchcraft

c)

talks about the devil too often.

d)

dances in the woods.

15.
From reading Act One, what conclusion can we draw about John Proctor?
a)
He fears and respects Reverands Parris and Hale
b)
He believes that witchcraft has made the children ill
c)
He rebels against authority of the church by speaking his mind
d)
He is still deeply in love with his mistress.

Similar Resources on Wayground

Sheikh Zayed: our father

14 questions

Sheikh Zayed: our father

quiz

Worksheet

•

10th - 11th Grade

Present perfect progressive

10 questions

Present perfect progressive

quiz

Worksheet

•

10th Grade

Vocabulary test : Volcano

10 questions

Vocabulary test : Volcano

quiz

Worksheet

•

9th Grade

Unit 1 Vocabulary Identity 2TTHA

10 questions

Unit 1 Vocabulary Identity 2TTHA

quiz

Worksheet

•

10th Grade

In Context

20 questions

In Context

quiz

Worksheet

•

5th - 9th Grade

INTENTION 10

20 questions

INTENTION 10

quiz

Worksheet

•

10th Grade

Journalism/Newspaper Vocabuary

11 questions

Journalism/Newspaper Vocabuary

quiz

Worksheet

•

10th Grade

Movie Genres

13 questions

Movie Genres

quiz

Worksheet

•

9th Grade