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Worksheets

The Scarlet Letter Chs. 1-12

Total questions: 55

Worksheet time: 2hrs 16mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The main action of The Scarlet Letter takes place in Boston.

a)

True

b)

False

2.

The Puritans allowed citizens to worship as they please

a)

True

b)

False

3.

Pearl impresses the Rev. Wilson and the Governor with her biblical knowledge

a)

True

b)

False

4.

Hester eventually gives in and tells the name of the man she cheated with

a)

True

b)

False

5.

After their separation of two years, the first time Hester sees Chillingworth again is

a)

when he visits her in jail

b)

at the marketplace

c)

they accidentally meet in a graveyard

d)

he shows up at her house

6.

The only punishment NOT given to Hester for the crime of adultery was

a)

standing on the scaffold

b)

whipping

c)

forced to wear a scarlet letter

d)

time spent in jail

7.

During Hester’s first meeting with Chillingworth, Hester

a)

blames him for staying away

b)

suggests that they resume their marriage

c)

begs his forgiveness

d)

asks if he is going to harm her baby

8.

What is the promise that Hester makes to Chillingworth?

a)

One day she will reveal her lover’s name

b)

She will remain faithful from now on

c)

She and Pearl will leave to save him from

d)

She will not reveal his identity to the people of Boston

9.

Hester supports herself and Pearl primarily through

a)

gathering nuts and food in the forest

b)

making medicine from wild herbs

c)

doing whatever work she can get

d)

sewing garments for townspeople

10.

At the Governor’s Hall, Pearl tells Rev. Wilson that

a)

her father is dead

b)

she doesn't know who God is

c)

she has no father

d)

she wasn’t made, but plucked from a rose bush

11.

What information did Hester refuse to tell the officials and Mr. Dimmesdale?

a)

Where her husband is living

b)

Where her former husband had gone

c)

The name of the man who had sinned with her

d)

The age of her daughter

12.

Hester is released from prison. Why doesn't she run away to a different settlement?

a)

She is not allowed to under the terms of her release

b)

Pearl is too young to travel

c)

She loves Rev. Dimmesdale and must remain near him

d)

She feels she still needs to pay for her sin by living there

13.

Besides to deliver his gloves, why did Hester go to see Governor Bellingham?

a)

To plead for her life

b)

To plead to keep Pearl

c)

To tell him Roger's true identity

d)

To tell him that Rev. Dimmesdale also sinned

14.

He is the sinner’s former husband; disguises himself as a doctor

a)

Governor Bellingham

b)

Reverend Wilson

c)

Dr. Chillingworth

15.

She is the daughter of the sinner

a)

Pearl

b)

Miss Hibbins

c)

Beth

16.

Governor Bellingham’s sister; rumored to be a witch

a)

Abigail Williams

b)

Miss Hibbins

c)

Hester

17.

A pastor who spoke up for Hester so she would not get Pearl taken away from her

a)

Reverend Dimmesdale

b)

Reverend Wilson

c)

Governor Bellingham

18.

Why did the jailer call the physician for Hester?

a)

She was refusing to eat

b)

She was threatening the jailer

c)

She was in a state of nervous excitement

d)

She tried to escape the prison

19.

What did Roger Chillingworth vow to do?

a)

leave the colony

b)

punish the father of Hester's child

c)

Reveal Hester's secret to the town

d)

Help Hester raise the child

20.

How did Hester feel when she first stepped out of the prison after her confinement?

a)

relieved and free

b)

angry and vengeful

c)

nervous and ashamed

d)

excited and joyful

21.

What was the real torture for Hester after leaving the prison?

a)

losing her wealth

b)

having to leave town

c)

facing daily public shame

d)

being unable to care for her child

22.

Where did Hester live after her release from prison?

a)

in a small, isolated cottage on the outskirts

b)

in a grand house in town

c)

in the governor's mansion

d)

in a room above the jail

23.

How did the townspeople react to Hester after her release?

a)

they avoided and scorned her

b)

they accepted her back

c)

they helped her with her child

d)

they treated her kindly

24.

What types of garments did Hester create with her needlework?

a)

wedding dresses

b)

common work clothes

c)

robes for criminals

d)

military uniforms and baby clothes

25.

Despite her skill, what type of garment was Hester never asked to make?

a)

military scarves

b)

bridal veils

c)

funeral robes

d)

baby bonnets

26.

What worried Hester the most about Pearl's behavior?

a)

Pearl was physically weak

b)

Pearl was always calm and quiet

c)

Pearl has a wild and unpredictable nature

d)

Pearl refused to speak

27.

What was the public's reaction to Hester's parenting?

a)

they admired her efforts

b)

they ignored her and Pearl

c)

they pitied Pearl and helped her

d)

they believed Pearl's behavior was a result of Hester's sin

28.

How did Pearl behave around the other children of the settlement?

a)

she ignored them

b)

she played peacefully with them

c)

she threw stones and screamed at them

d)

she made friends with a few

29.

What did Pearl often focus on when she looked at her mother?

a)

her mother's smile

b)

the scarlet letter on Hester's chest

c)

Hester's hair

d)

he mother's hands

30.

What was Pearl's reaction when she touched the scarlet letter?

a)

she smiled and played with it

b)

she cried and ran away

c)

she ignored it

d)

she refused to go near it

31.
The townsman tells the stranger that the judge has been lenient with Hester because of her youth and because she is probably a widow. What was the severest possible punishment for adultery in the Massachusetts colony? 
a)
 Capital Punishment 
b)
Branding the letter on the body
c)
Deportation 
d)
 Public Humiliation 
32.
What grows outside the prison?
a)
A large oak tree
b)
An eggplant
c)
A pinetree
d)
A rosebush
33.
How long must Hester wear the scarlet letter? 
a)
The rest of her life 
b)
Until she reveals the name of her lover
c)
Until she moves away
d)
All of the above
34.
Chillingworth argues that a person's body can't heal without...
a)
a physician's help.
b)
confessing his/her sins.
c)
plenty of bedrest.
d)
praying to God.
35.

When Chillingworth comes upon Dimmesdale napping, what does he do?

a)

He opens Dimmesdale's robe and looks at his chest.

b)

He tiptoes away so as not to wake him up.

c)

He brews a potion to help Dimmesdale stay asleep longer.

d)

He wakes him up so that he'll sleep better at night.

36.
What character do we meet for the first time who speaks to Hester and Pearl from the window as they're leaving? 
a)
John Wilson
b)
Mistress Hibbens
c)
Dimmesdale
d)
The Black Man
37.
Who does Mistress Hibbins want Hester to go and meet? 
a)
Chillingworth's Mother
b)
The Savage Indians
c)
The Black Man
d)
Governor Bellingham
38.
City and year in which the story is set: 
a)
Manhattan, 1642
b)
Boston, 1850
c)
Manhattan, 1850
d)
Boston, 1642
39.
Who does the term Leech refer to in Chapter 9? 
a)
Chillingworth
b)
Dimmesdale
40.
In addition to having become friends and established a doctor-patient relationship Dimmesdale and Chillingworth have added this new dimension to their relationship. 
a)
They are now married.
b)
They are now roommates. 
c)
Chillingworth is Dimmesdale's Minister
41.

What occupation was Dimmesdale?

a)

a doctor

b)

a lawyer

c)

a minister

d)

a farmer

42.

How did Dimmesdale's congregation respond when he told them how vile he was?

a)

They reverenced him more.

b)

They stoned him.

c)

They left the church.

d)

They found a new preacher.

43.

What did the townspeople say that the A stood for during the meteor shower?

a)

Adultery

b)

Angel

c)

Apparition

d)

Answer

44.

What information did Hester refuse to tell the officials and Mr. Chillingworth?

a)

Where her former husband had gone

b)

The name of the man who had sinned with her

c)

The age of her daughter

45.

What convinced the Governor to let Hester keep Pearl?

a)

Hester would constantly remind Pearl of her sin.

b)

Rev. Dimmesdale promised to watch the mother and child closely and report anything that might interest the governor.

c)

Hester agreed to let Chillingworth live with her and Pearl so they could all be a "real" family.

46.

How did Roger Chillingworth become Dimmesdale's medical advisor?

a)

Chillingworth paid him to be his first patient.

b)

The church elders reminded Dimmesdale it would be a sin not to seek medical help.

c)

Hester Prynne arranged it.

47.

Where did Mr. Dimmesdale go at midnight?

a)

To Hester's house

b)

To the scaffold

c)

To see Chillingworth

48.

What did Pearl ask Mr. Dimmesdale?

a)

If he was her father.

b)

If he was a brother to the devil.

c)

If he would stand hand in hand with her & Hester on the scaffold.

49.

Where had Mr. Wilson, Hester, Pearl, and Roger Chillingworth all been that night that they all walked by the scaffold at midnight?

a)

At the church

b)

At the governor's deathbed

c)

At Dimmesdale's special meeting

50.
As the story progresses, what is happening to Dimmesdale?
a)
His sermons no longer touch the people in town as they used to.
b)
The other ministers are jealous of the attention he gets.
c)
His health has taken a severe turn for the worse so his parishioners are hoping he will take a leave of absence.
d)
In spite of his declining health, his parishioners respect and adore him.
51.
What did the letter A seem to give Hester?
a)
A lurid glow on her cheeks
b)
A sympathetic knowledge of the sins of those who mistreated her
c)
A feeling of superiority.
d)
A special bond with Mistress Hibbins
52.
In Chapter 6, what was it about Pearl’s actions that concerned Hester?
a)
Pearl was quiet and withdrawn from her mother.
b)
Pearl was too friendly and even talked to strangers.
c)
Pearl refused to speak to her mother unless her mother made her new outfits regularly.
d)
Pearl was wild and undisciplined.
53.
Hester was asked to do needlework for everyone in town except for
a)
future mothers
b)
brides
c)
clergy
d)
children
54.
How does Hester dress compared to the way she dresses Pearl?
a)
Hester wears fancy, frilly dresses and dresses Pearl in rags.
b)
Hester and Pearl are both dressed in coarse, somber clothing.
c)
Hester wears somber clothing and dresses Pearl in beautifully adorned, brightly colored clothing.
d)
Hester dresses herself and Pearl in rich clothing of bright colors and fancy embroidery.
55.
In Chapter 5, how was Hester treated in town?
a)
She was ignored by the women in town.
b)
Clergymen often made her the subject of their sermons, and those she helped scorned her.
c)
She was shunned by the town, but her infant daughter was well accepted.
d)
She was shunned by the town, and the Clergymen begged the town to forgive her.