THE CRUCIBLE ACT II

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THE CRUCIBLE ACT II

Diagnostic and Selection TestsAmerican Literature

Assessment File

Selection Test B/C

Comprehension Read each of the following questions. Then choose the letter of the best answer. (6 points each)

1. What do the following stage directions tell you about Elizabeth? Proctor. I think you’re sad again. Are you? Elizabeth. (She doesn’t want friction, and yet she must.) You come so late I thought you’d gone to Salem this afternoon.

A. She feels that she must be sad.

B. She wants to start a fight with Proctor.

C. She is tired of being silent about Abigail.

D. She wants Proctor to go to Salem.

2. Proctor is afraid of going to town to tell the court about Abigail because

A. Elizabeth has threatened to leave him

B. he has no witness to Abigail’s confession

C. Abigail has said she will beat him if he tells

D. he is afraid of being arrested if he goes to town

3. Mary Warren says that those who confess to witchcraft will

A. be saved from hanging

B. be choked

C. have to beg

D. sleep in ditches

4. What does Elizabeth fear when she finds that her name has been mentioned in court?

A. Abigail wants Elizabeth to die so that Proctor will be free to marry her.

B. The court will become suspicious and investigate their home.

C. Proctor will be accused because Abigail is angry with him.

D. Her children will be the next to be accused of being witches.

5. What conclusion can you draw about Hale from the following lines? Hale. Aye. But the Devil is a wily one, you cannot deny it. However, she is far from accused, and I know she will not be. (pause) I thought, sir, to put some questions as to the Christian character of this house, if you’ll permit me.

A. He respects the Devil’s wily ways.

B. He is unsure of Rebecca Nurse’s innocence.

C. He suspects Elizabeth of witchcraft.

D. He is sure of himself and the Devil’s nature.

6. The reason Proctor gives for failing to attend church regularly in Salem is that

A. he has to work on the Sabbath

B. Parris’s greed interferes with his prayers

C. he does not follow Puritan beliefs

D. his children are too young to attend

7. When Proctor fails to recall the commandment about adultery, you can draw the conclusion that he

A. fears being arrested as a witch

B. feels guilty about Abigail

C. is curious about Elizabeth’s knowledge

D. is forgetful when it comes to religion

Final ProofsTX_L11AS_u01_11_Assessment.indd 67TX_L11AS_u01_11_Assessment.indd 67 7/10/09 9:38:49 AM7/10/09 9:38:49 AM

THE

CRUC

IBLE

ACT

II

Cop

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ht ©

Hol

t M

cDou

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a di

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in H

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68

SELECTION TEST B/C, CONTINUED

Diagnostic and Selection TestsAmerican Literature

Assessment File

Vocabulary Choose the answer that best explains the meaning of the underlined word. (6 points)

10. Corroborate means to

A. substantiate

B. tolerate

C. remember

D. confuse

Written Response

Short Response Answer the following questions based on your knowledge of the drama. Write a sentence or two on a separate sheet of paper. (10 points each)

11. Give one piece of evidence that casts suspicion on Proctor’s feelings for Abigail.

12. Hale says to Proctor about Rebecca Nurse’s arrest, “Man, remember, until an hour before the Devil fell, God thought him beautiful in Heaven.” Explain what Reverend Hale means by these lines.

Extended Response Answer one of the following questions based on your knowledge of the drama. Write one or two paragraphs on a separate sheet of paper. (20 points)

13. Is Abigail the villain in this drama, or is she innocent? Use details from the drama to support your answer.

14. Challenge Explain how Hale’s actions, or lack of action, encourages the increasing feeling of dread in this act. Use details from the drama to support your response.

8. Mary Warren refuses to go to court after Elizabeth is arrested because she

A. wants to have more power over Proctor

B. is afraid of being accused of witchcraft

C. is afraid that Abigail will hurt her

D. knows that the proceedings are wrong

9. One conflict that drives the plot in Act Two of this drama is

A. Proctor and Elizabeth’s private war over Abigail

B. Mary Warren’s suspicion of Abigail’s witchcraft

C. Elizabeth’s problems with Reverend Parris

D. Reverend Hale’s accusation of Rebecca Nurse

Final ProofsTX_L11AS_u01_11_Assessment.indd 68TX_L11AS_u01_11_Assessment.indd 68 7/10/09 9:38:55 AM7/10/09 9:38:55 AM