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Quiz Bowl - All About Plays!

Total questions: 117

Worksheet time: 59mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

An African-American playwright who is known for writing A Raisin in the Sun.

a)

Langford Wilson

b)

Lorraine Hansberry

c)

Oscar Wilde

d)

Marsha Norman

2.

Who was the first African American playwright to achieve major success?

a)

August Wilson

b)

Lorraine Hansberry

c)

William Shackespeare

3.

A Raisin in the Sun is written by

a)

Lorraine Hansberry

b)

August Wilson

4.

The particular variety of language spoken in one

geographical location and by a distinct group of people. It helps reveal MORE about the character.

a)

dialogue

b)

stage directions

c)

plot

d)

dialect

5.

The title, A Raisin in the Sun, was mainly inspired by?

a)

A poem by Langston Hughes

b)

A poem by Maya Angelou

c)

A poem by Lorraine Hansberry

6.
First Black woman to premiere a play on Broadway. The title of the play is "A Raisin in the Sun"
a)
Lorraine Hansberry
b)
Gordon Parks
7.

In which city was Lorraine Hansberry born?

a)

New York

b)

Chicago

c)

Pittsburgh

d)

Baltimore

8.

In which city was Lorraine Hansberry born?

a)

New York

b)

Chicago

c)

Pittsburgh

d)

Baltimore

9.

What did Lorraine's father do for a living?

a)

theater professor

b)

newspaper writer

c)

real estate

d)

owned a small business

10.

What female star was in the original Broadway cast?

a)

Audra McDonald

b)

Hattie McDaniel

c)

Esther Rolle

d)

Ruby Dee

11.

What film did Hattie McDaniel win her Academy Award for?

a)

Porgy and Bess

b)

A Raisin in the Sun

c)

Songs of the South

d)

Gone with the Wind

12.

Which Ryan Murphy television show discussed Black stereotypes in film?

a)

Glee

b)

American Horror Story

c)

Hollywood

d)

Scream Queens

13.

Which studio did Lorraine give the rights to A Raisin in the Sun to for film production?

a)

Columbia Pictures

b)

MGM Studios

c)

A24

d)

MTV

14.

What approval rating did Rotten Tomatoes give A Raisin in the Sun?

a)

0%

b)

95%

c)

96%

d)

97%

15.

Which A Raisin in the Sun character has their own spin-off play?

a)

Travis Younger

b)

Ruth Younger

c)

Lena Younger

d)

Beneatha Younger

16.

Which famous actress was mentioned in the presentation that performed in blackface?

a)

Bette Davis

b)

Ariana Grande

c)

Judy Garland

d)

Bernadette Peters

17.

What phrase did Lorraine use to describe Black stereotypes in early twentieth century films?

a)

"bad art"

b)

"annoying archetypes"

c)

"boo tomato tomato"

d)

"ridiculously offensive"

18.

Who wrote the play "A Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

Nikki Giovanni

b)

Lorraine Hansberry

c)

Langston Hughes

d)

Maya Angelou

19.

Lorraine Hansberry wrote "A Raisin in the Sun" based on her childhood home. Where is Hansberry's childhood home located?

a)

Bronzeville

b)

Englewood

c)

Woodlawn

d)

Hyde Park

20.

When did Lorraine Hansberry write "A Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

1959

b)

1963

c)

1968

d)

1945

21.

What events inspired Lorraine Hansberry to write "A Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

Her experiences during the Civil Rights Movement

b)

Her family's experiences with racism and restrictive covenants on the South Side of Chicago

c)

Her experiences as young Black girl

22.

What supreme court case was Lorraine Hansberry's father at the center of in 1940 due to his experiences with racial segregation and racism?

a)

Brown v. Board of Education

b)

Hansberry v. Lee

c)

Miranda v. Arizona

23.

What is the setting of the play?

a)

Queens, New York

b)

South Carolina

c)

Arizona

d)

Southside Chicago

24.

Which statement best explains why Ruth was upset when Walter gave Travis the money (50cents)?

a)

Ruth was not in a good mood

b)

Ruth felt that Travis had enough money

c)

Ruth felt that the family did not have the money to spare.

25.

The title, A Raisin in the Sun, was mainly inspired by?

a)

A poem by Langston Hughes

b)

A poem by Maya Angelou

c)

A poem by Lorraine Hansberry

26.

What is the OVERALL mood of Act 1, Scene 1?

a)

Positive

b)

Joyful

c)

Negative

d)

Tense

27.

In what way is Beneatha different from the rest of the family?

a)

She is more beautiful.

b)

She is educated.

c)

She is independent.

28.

What is Beneatha's aspiration?

a)

She wants to be a nurse.

b)

She wants to be a doctor.

c)

She wants to live a wealthy life

29.

How does Walter feel about his wife's response to his aspirations?

a)

He feels inspired by her.

b)

He feels misunderstood.

c)

He feels disappointed by the lack of supported.

30.

What does the furniture in the Younger household reveal about the family?

a)

They are conservative.

b)

They are sentimental about their possessions.

c)

They are socially disadvantaged.

31.

What does Walter read about on the front page of the newspaper as everyone gets up for breakfast?

a)

a bomb

b)

a strike

c)

a plane crash

d)

a family death

32.

Beneatha claims that she is trying to express herself by recently teaching herself to do what?

a)

speak french

b)

drive a car

c)

play guitar

d)

paint

33.

Who faints at the end of the first scene?

a)

Ruth

b)

Mama

c)

Beneatha

d)

Walter

34.

Who is the author of "A Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

Lorraine Hansberry

b)

August Wilson

c)

Tennessee Williams

d)

Arthur Miller

35.

Who are the main characters in Act 1, Scene 1 of "A Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

Walter, Beneatha, Mama, Travis, Ruth

b)

Ruth, Beneatha, Mama, Travis

c)

Walter, Ruth, Beneatha, Travis

d)

Walter, Ruth, Mama, Travis

36.

What is Mama's dream in "A Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

To open a beauty shop

b)

To travel the world

c)

To buy a house

d)

To retire

37.

Beneatha is not serious about dating George because…

a)

He is too shallow (not a deep thinker).

b)

He is too ugly.

c)

He is too poor.

d)

He is too old.

38.

If mama had the means (opportunity), her hobby would be…

a)

Sewing

b)

Singing in the choir

c)

Gardening

d)

Traveling

39.

Beneatha’s religion is…

a)

Buddhism

b)

Christianity

c)

Islam

d)

She is not religious

40.

Why does the family have a hectic (rushed and confused) schedule every morning?

a)

The bus is unpredictable.

b)

They must share a bathroom.

c)

They never know when Walter will be called to work.

d)

Mama needs constant attention and/or help.

41.

How does the setting of the play (Chicago's South Side, sometime between World War II and the present) contribute to the conflict?

a)

It highlights the economic disparities faced by the Younger family.

b)

It is irrelevant to the family's struggles.

c)

It emphasizes the opportunities available to the family.

d)

It showcases the family's isolation from society.

42.

How does Ruth react to Walter Lee's dream?

a)

She is supportive and encourages him

b)

She is indifferent and doesn't care

c)

She is skeptical and worried about the financial risks

d)

She is excited and wants to help

43.

Why did Hansberry's family move to Chicago?

a)

to live with her grandparents

b)

her mother's job

c)

as a part of the Great Migration

d)

her father wanted to go back to college

44.

Why did Hansberry's family move to Chicago?

a)

to live with her grandparents

b)

her mother's job

c)

as a part of the Great Migration

d)

her father wanted to go back to college

45.

How did Carl Hansberry make a living?

a)

Real estate agent

b)

Cargo Pilot

c)

Landlord

d)

School teacher

46.

What happened when Hansberry's family moved to Washington Park?

a)

The family was not allowed to move at all

b)

They were welcomed by a few residents

c)

Neighbors were angry and damaged the house

d)

Lorraine became friends with her neighbor, Ella

47.

During her childhood, Hansberry met this prominent figure

a)

W.E.B. DuBois

b)

Langston Hughes

c)

Duke Ellington

d)

All of the above

48.

What city did Hansberry move to after leaving the University of Wisconsin?

a)

Chicago

b)

New York City

c)

San Francisco

d)

Philadelphia

49.

Where did Hansberry meet her husband Robert?

a)

during sophomore year of college

b)

at her job as a writer for Freedom magazine

c)

at a segregation protest

d)

at her job teaching classes in Harlem

50.

What poem inspired A Raisin in the Sun?

a)
Harlem
b)
The Waste Land
c)

I, Too

d)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
51.

What year did A Raisin in the Sun first premiere on Broadway?

a)
1961
b)
1963
c)
1970
d)
1959
52.

What singer wrote the song "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" in honor of Hansberry?

a)
Aretha Franklin
b)
Diana Ross
c)

Ella Fitzgerald

d)
Nina Simone
53.

Lorraine Hansberry advocated for which social MOVEMENTS?

a)

Gender Equality Movement

b)
Environmental Movement
c)
Civil Rights Movement
d)
Labor Rights Movement
54.

What is the race of Lorraine Hansberry?

a)

African

b)

British-American

c)

African-American

d)

British

55.

Which of the following is the profession of Lorraine Hansberry?

a)

poet

b)

theater director

c)

theater artist

d)

playwright

56.

Where was Lorraine Hansberry born?

a)

Harlem, New York

b)

Southside Chicago, Illinois

c)

Joplin, Missouri

d)

Atlanta, Georgia

57.

Lorraine Hansberry is the first African-American woman to

a)

have written a play

b)

have her play published in New York

c)

have her play staged in Broadway

d)

have directed a play in Broadway

58.

"Raisin in the Sun" is a play inspired from the work of which literary figure?

a)

Martin Luther King, Jr.

b)

Langston Hughes

c)

William Shakespeare

d)

Thomas Malory

59.

Who is the author of "A Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

Arthur Miller

b)

Lorraine Hansberry

c)

Tennessee Williams

d)

August Wilson

60.

What is the main theme of "A Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

The American Civil War

b)

Dreams and aspirations

c)

Medieval history

d)

Technological advancements

61.

What year was Lorraine Hansberry born?

a)

1925

b)

1930

c)

1940

d)

1935

62.

How many siblings did Lorraine Hansberry have?

a)

Three

b)

Two

c)

Four

d)

One

63.

What type of socioeconomic background did Lorraine Hansberry grow up in?

a)

Upper class

b)

Lower class

c)

Middle class

d)

Poverty

64.

Which area did the person grow up in during their childhood?

a)

North Side Chicago

b)

East Side Chicago

c)

West Side Chicago

d)

South Side Chicago

65.

Which of the following was NOT mentioned as one of the greatest African Americans known to the person during their childhood?

a)

Malcolm X

b)

Langston Hughes

c)

Duke Ellington

d)

Joe Lewis

66.

What significant action did Carl take in 1938 regarding housing in Chicago?

a)

He protested against housing laws.

b)

He purchased a house in an all-white neighborhood.

c)

He sold a house in a segregated area.

d)

He wrote an article about housing segregation.

67.

What was the outcome of the case Carl took to the Supreme Court in 1940?

a)

The case was dismissed.

b)

He lost the case.

c)

He won a judgment.

d)

The case was postponed.

68.

Why was Carl's family forced to leave their home?

a)

They chose to move voluntarily.

b)

They were evicted by a landlord.

c)

They were threatened by a white mob and forced to leave by a court order.

d)

They left due to natural disaster.

69.

Where did Lorraine attend before leaving without graduating?

a)

University of Chicago

b)

University of Wisconsin

c)

Harvard University

d)

Stanford University

70.

What did Lorraine do after moving to New York?

a)

Worked as a reporter for a radical black newspaper

b)

Became a teacher

c)

Started a business

d)

Enrolled in medical school

71.

Which institute did Lorraine attend where she developed a passion for theater and playwriting?

a)

The Art Institute of Chicago

b)

The Art Institute of New York

c)

The Art Institute of Boston

d)

The Art Institute of San Francisco

72.

What type of books did Hansberry particularly enjoy as a child?

a)

Fiction and novels

b)

History and biography

c)

Science and mathematics

d)

Poetry and drama

73.

Which historical figure inspired Hansberry in her early years?

a)

Martin Luther King Jr.

b)

Frederick Douglass

c)

Harriet Tubman

d)

Booker T. Washington

74.

Who was Hansberry's mentor during her year studying in Africa?

a)

Nelson Mandela

b)

Martin Luther King Jr.

c)

W.E.B. Du Bois

d)

Malcolm X

75.

What was Hansberry's early fascination that led her to spend a year in Africa?

a)

European art

b)

Asian cultures

c)

African heritage

d)

South American music

76.

Who was a literary influence and family friend of Hansberry, as mentioned in the text?

a)

Maya Angelou

b)

Zora Neale Hurston

c)

Langston Hughes

d)

Toni Morrison

77.

Which poem by Langston Hughes was used by Hansberry for the title of her play "A Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

Mother to Son

b)

Dreams

c)

The Weary Blues

d)

Harlem

78.

What year was "A Raisin in the Sun" completed and gained critical attention?

a)

1955

b)

1957

c)

1960

d)

1962

79.

When did "A Raisin in the Sun" open on Broadway?

a)

A) March 11, 1958

b)

B) March 11, 1959

c)

C) March 11, 1960

d)

D) March 11, 1961

80.

Who was the first African American woman to have her play produced on Broadway?

a)

A) Maya Angelou

b)

B) Toni Morrison

c)

C) Lorraine Hansberry

d)

D) Angela Davis

81.

How many performances did "A Raisin in the Sun" have during its Broadway run?

a)

A) 438 performances

b)

B) 538 performances

c)

C) 638 performances

d)

D) 738 performances

82.

What was one of the significant impacts of Hansberry's play according to the text?

a)

It initiated new theater forms.

b)

It shed more light on the civil rights movement.

c)

It was primarily popular among young audiences.

d)

It changed television broadcasting standards.

83.

Who found Hansberry's play appealing?

a)

Critics, activists, artists, and theatergoers.

b)

Only critics and theatergoers.

c)

Only activists and artists.

d)

Primarily film directors and producers.

84.

According to the text, Hansberry's play crossed which boundaries?

a)

Economic boundaries.

b)

Social lines.

c)

Geographic boundaries.

d)

Political lines.

85.

What was the cause of Lorraine Hansberry's death in 1965?

a)

Lung cancer

b)

Pancreatic cancer

c)

Heart attack

d)

Stroke

86.

What is the setting of the play "A Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

1960's New York

b)

1950's Chicago

c)

1940's Atlanta

d)

1930's Detroit

87.

During the 1950s, it was legal to discriminate against people based on which factors?

a)

Age and nationality

b)

Race, gender, and social class

c)

Race, gender, employment, education, and public accommodations

d)

Political beliefs and religion

88.

What does the image of the drinking fountain signify in the context of the Civil Rights Movement?

a)

The separation of facilities by race

b)

The unification of different races

c)

The modernization of public facilities

d)

The economic disparity between communities

89.

What was the percentage increase in the African American population in Chicago between 1940 and 1950?

a)

A) 1%

b)

B) 50%

c)

C) 80%

d)

D) 100%

90.

From which region did many African Americans continue to move to northern cities?

a)

A) The East

b)

B) The West

c)

C) The North

d)

D) The South

91.

Which city is noted for significant growth due to southern black immigration?

a)

A) New York

b)

B) Chicago

c)

C) Detroit

d)

D) Atlanta

92.

What was a common characteristic of the neighborhoods where many African-Americans lived in Chicago during the time described in the image?

a)

Modern and well-maintained

b)

Spacious with private amenities

c)

Run-down and overcrowded

d)

Located in suburban areas

93.

What did most housing units in Chicago share during this period?

a)

Private gardens

b)

Multiple bedrooms

c)

Shared bathroom facilities

d)

Large living spaces

94.

What type of jobs did many women hold after WWII?

a)

Factory work

b)

Domestic help

c)

Office jobs

d)

Teaching positions

95.

What was the employment situation for both black men and women after WWII as described in the image?

a)

Jobs were plentiful

b)

Jobs were moderately available

c)

Jobs were increasingly hard to find

d)

There was no change in job availability

96.

Where were many men working after WWII as mentioned in the image?

a)

In offices

b)

In domestic roles

c)

In plants

d)

In schools

97.

Which university did Lorraine Hansberry attend?

a)

University of Chicago

b)

University of New York

c)

University of Wisconsin in Madison

d)

NAACP University

98.

What year was Lorraine Hansberry born?

a)

1930

b)

1945

c)

1953

d)

1965

99.

What was the cause of Lorraine Hansberry's death?

a)

Racism

b)

Pancreatic Cancer

c)

Unknown

d)

Old Age

100.

In which era is "Raisin in the Sun" set?

a)

Late 1950's

b)

Late 1940's

c)

Early 1940's

d)

Early 1950's

101.

What significant change occurred in the population in the rust belt during the setting of "Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

Population decreased significantly

b)

Population remained stable

c)

Population in the rust belt exploded

d)

Population shifted to the West Coast

102.

Where do the Youngers live in "Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

North Side of Chicago

b)

South Side of Chicago

c)

East Side of Chicago

d)

West Side of Chicago

103.

What type of house do the Youngers rent in "Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

A large, 3-bedroom house

b)

A small, 1-bedroom apartment

c)

A small, 2-bedroom house

d)

A large, 4-bedroom house

104.

Who do the Youngers share a bathroom with in "Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

The Smith family

b)

The Johnson family

c)

The Williams family

d)

The Brown family

105.

How does Beneatha describe the Youngers' living area in "Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

As a "suburb"

b)

As an "upscale neighborhood"

c)

As the "ghetto"

d)

As a "rural area"

106.

From which state did the Youngers move to Chicago?

a)

Mississippi

b)

Georgia

c)

Michigan

d)

California

107.

A Raisin in the Sun

a)

Lorriane Hansberry

b)

Lililan Hellman

c)

Winnie Holzman

d)

George Kauffman

108.

Neil Simon wrote

a)

Saturday in the Park

b)

Odd and Single

c)

Central Park

d)

Barefoot in the Park

109.

Neil Simon wrote

a)

Odd Coupe

b)

Barefeet in the Park

c)

The Odd Couple

d)

The Rose Tattoo

110.

Which are Famous Modern Theater playwrights?

a)

Neil Simon

b)

Arthur Miller

c)

Shakespeare

d)

Ben Johnson

111.

American playwright from the late 20thcentury. Wrote the Odd Couple, God’s Favorite, Memoirs. His style ranged from romantic comedy to farce to more serious dramatic comedy.

a)

Robert Wilson

b)

Neil Simon

c)

Henrik Ibsen

d)

Emile Zola

112.

____________________ lyrical talent, love of traditional Broadway tunes, and fondness for hip hop helped catapult his musical to new heights and earned him a Pulitzer Prize, two Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, a MacArthur Fellowship, and multiple Tony Awards.

a)

Cesar Chavez

b)

Roberto Clemente

c)

Lin Manuel Miranda

d)

Alfonso Cuaron

113.

Which award is presented to scriptwriters of new plays and musicals?

a)

Pulitzer Prize

b)

Jimmy Award

c)

Obie Award

d)

Drama Desk Award

114.

In what month is the Pulitzer Prize awarded?

a)

April

b)

August

c)

January

d)

June

115.

What was the primary theme explored in "A Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

The American Dream

b)

Environmental Conservation

c)

Technological Advancement

d)

Space Exploration

116.

Which character in "A Raisin in the Sun" is known for their ambition to become a doctor?

a)

Walter Lee

b)

Beneatha Younger

c)

Ruth Younger

d)

Travis Younger

117.

What significant event does the Younger family anticipate in "A Raisin in the Sun"?

a)

Winning a lottery

b)

Receiving an insurance check

c)

Moving to a new country

d)

Opening a new business