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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is located under the sink in the opening scene of Trifles?
(a) Dirty pans
(b) A birdcage
(c) Clean towels
(d) Dog dishes

2. At the end of the play, what does Mrs. Hale have her hand over?
(a) Her pocket
(b) The sewing basket
(c) The bread box
(d) Her purse

3. What is the Sheriff’s response when asked, “You’re convinced that there was nothing important here—nothing that would point to any motive”?
(a) Nothing here but trifles
(b) Nothing here but kitchen things
(c) Nothing here but women’s things
(d) Only the stale bread

4. What word does Mrs. Hale refer to Mr. Wright as, which indicates that he was tight with money?
(a) Close
(b) Seedy
(c) Stingy
(d) Tight

5. When did Mr. Hale come to the house and discover the murder?
(a) Yesterday
(b) Last week
(c) Two days ago
(d) Last month

6. Of what does Mrs. Peters say, “They’re superstitious, you know. They leave”?
(a) Birds
(b) Cats
(c) Dogs
(d) Butterflies

7. What is Mrs. Hale’s final line of the play?
(a) Let’s call forth the hounds!
(b) We call it—knot it, Mr. Henderson
(c) We call it—quilt it, Mr. Henderson
(d) Yes sir, let us be out of this place

8. In the narrative, Mrs. Peters says, “Somehow we just don’t see how it is with other folks until” what?
(a) Something comes up
(b) Someone is dead
(c) Something goes wrong
(d) Something happens

9. According to Mrs. Peters, who says it looks “bad for” Mrs. Wright?
(a) Henry Peters
(b) Dr. Lloyd
(c) Lewis Hale
(d) George Henderson

10. According to Mr. Hale, how does Mrs. Wright respond when he says, “How, do, Mrs. Wright it’s cold, ain’t it?”
(a) No, it’s not
(b) Is it?
(c) It is!
(d) I’m fine

11. Whose now abandoned farmhouse provides the setting for Trifles?
(a) John Hossack’s
(b) John Wright’s
(c) John Peters’
(d) James Wikins’

12. Mrs. Hale remarks that there was a man selling what kind of birds last year?
(a) Parrots
(b) Canaries
(c) Parakeets
(d) Finches

13. What refers to direct perception of truth, independent of any reasoning process?
(a) Misogyny
(b) Exposition
(c) Intuition
(d) Retribution

14. What character says, “the law is the law”?
(a) Bessie
(b) Mrs. Peters
(c) George Henderson
(d) Mrs. Hale

15. What is a symbol of Mrs. Wright’s life prior to her marriage in the play?
(a) The quilt
(b) The canary
(c) The dirty dishes
(d) The bread

Short Answer Questions

1. Who says, “Well, Women are used to worrying over trifles”?

2. What word describing the men in Trifles means to behave in an offensively condescending manner?

3. What does Mrs. Peters use to wrap around a jar to take to Mrs. Wright?

4. Where is Mrs. Wright discovered when Mr. Hale comes by and discovers the murder?

5. Near the end of the play, what does Mrs. Peters attempt to take from the box but cannot bring herself to do it?

(see the answer keys)

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