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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What idea does Bigger get after Bessie mentions he is working near the site of the Leopold and Loeb case?
(a) Kidnapping and ransom
(b) Contacting Leopold and Loeb for advice
(c) That he and Bessie should go out on the town
(d) Blaming Mary's disappeareance on Leopold and Loeb

2. What does Bigger overhear Mrs. Dalton saying to Peggy when she learns her daughter is gone?
(a) She complains that she took her daughter shopping for expensive clothing that she didn't even pack for her trip.
(b) She expains that she does not trust the people Mary associates herself with, and suspects they have something to do with Mary not being home.
(c) She admits she isn't comfortable with Bigger living in the house and wonders if he frightened her daughter away.
(d) She expresses her dislike for the people Mary travels with, and is shocked she hadn't even packed her new clothing for the trip.

3. What happens when Bigger first awakens the morning after the murder?
(a) He sees his brother, Buddy, staring at him suspiciously.
(b) He doesn't think about what happened the night before.
(c) He tries to sneak out of the house unnoticed.
(d) He remembers everything he did the night before.

4. In book two when Bigger finally falls asleep after hearing Peggy and Mrs. Dalton talking about Mary, what does he recall in his dream?
(a) How noisy he was when he took the trunk the the basement the night before.
(b) How his mother warned him he'll end up in the gallows if he doesn't straighten out his life.
(c) How Mrs. Dalton nearly caught him with Mary in her bedroom the night before.
(d) How noisy he was when he took the trunk to the car that morning.

5. Before Bigger puts more coal on the fire, what is he certain he sees in the furnace?
(a) The white cat watching him again.
(b) He can't see anything because the light it out.
(c) Peggy watching from the top of the stairs.
(d) The shape of Mary's body beneath the coals.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the white cat do while Bigger is being questioned by the police and reporters?

2. In Book Two as Bigger rides the streetcar, what is his only regret?

3. How does Mrs. Dalton look when she comes to Bigger's room to question him about Mary's disappearance?

4. What happens when Britten backs Bigger against the wall and grabs his collar asking him about the pamphlets Jan Erlone gave him?

5. How does Bigger feel committing murder has changed his life?

Short Essay Questions

1. What things made the Daltons begin to worry about their daughter being gone?

2. How did Bigger feel about killing Bessie?

3. What did Bigger's brother, Buddy, have to say to him?

4. Although Bigger was very quick with his deceit and able to think on his feet, so to speak, in what way was he becoming his own worst enemy?

5. What was Bessie's reaction when Bigger arrived at her apartment the morning after the murder of Mary?

6. Why did Bigger decide to try to blame Jan and the Communist Party for the kidnapping?

7. In what ways was Bigger's capture similar to the opening of the book when Bigger chased, eventually killing the rat?

8. What kind of power did Bigger have over Bessie that she continued to obey his direction even though she knew it was wrong?

9. As Bigger arrived at the Dalton home on the morning after Mary's murder how was he feeling?

10. What was the argument Bigger had with his family as he tried to pack his things the day after Mary's death?

(see the answer keys)

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