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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the 1st Man say that the client does not want to happen to the woman in Act I, Part 1?

2. What does Mrs. Stevenson do as she waits for the operator to connect the call at the beginning of Act I, Part 2?

3. How many times does the phone ring before someone at the Police Department picks it up in Act 1, Part 2?

4. Who is with Sergeant Duffy in Act 1, Part 2?

5. What does Mrs. Stevenson eat or drink as the play begins?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the Chief Operator described and what is she wearing?

2. How does Mrs. Stevenson react when the operator says she will dial Murray Hill 4-0098?

3. What is George to do after killing the woman?

4. What reason does Mrs. Stevenson give the Chief Operator for wanting the call traced.

5. How does Mrs. Stevenson respond when George and the 1st Man begin talking in Act I, Part 1?

6. What does the operator tell the Chief Operator is the problem?

7. What instructions does the 1st Man give George about lights at the house?

8. How does Ms. Stevenson respond when the operator tells her in Act I, Part 2, that the number is busy?

9. What information does the Chief Operator ask Mrs. Stevenson?

10. What happens when the operator dials the number Mrs. Stevenson has been trying to reach in Act I, Part 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Information about the various characters is revealed by Fletcher in a variety of ways. What are explicit and implicit techniques for describing characters? How does Fletcher present characters? How does the presentation of the characters affect what is known about them and their motives?

Essay Topic 2

Anticipation of what will happen builds as the play proceeds. How does the author use suspense to build tension in the play? What is the purpose and use of suspense and how does it engage readers?

Essay Topic 3

The play was written in 1943. The plot of play is dependent upon how telephone calls were made in that time period. What elements of the play might be difficult for readers to understand? What elements are universal to all time periods? How does the fact that the play was written in 1943 affect readers and their understanding of the play?

(see the answer keys)

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