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The Scarlet Letter Classroom
Multiple Choice Test for The Scarlet Letter:
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THIS SITE HAS BEEN EDITED AND REVISED AS OF MARCH 20, 2005Directions: This exam consists of selections from The Scarlet Letter and questions on its content, form, and style. After reading each passage, choose the best answer to each question and blacken in the corresponding space on the answer sheet.
Note: Pay particular attention to the focus of the questions that contain the words NOT, LEAST, or EXCEPT.
Questions 1-10. Read the following passage that begins the characterization of Chillingworth carefully before you choose your answers.
At his arrival in the market place, and sometime be-
fore she saw him, the stranger had bent his eyes on Hester
Prynne. It was carelessly, at first, like a man chiefly accus-
line tomed to look inward, and to whom external matters are of
(5) little value and import unless they bear relation to something
in his mind. Very soon, however, his look became keen and
penetrative. A writhing horror twisted itself across his fea-
tures, like a snake gliding swiftly over them, and making one
little pause, with all its wreathed intervolutions in open sight.
(10) His face darkened with some powerful emotion, which, nev-
ertheless, he so instantaneously controlled by an effort of his
will, that, save at a single moment, its expression might have
passed for calmness. After a brief space, the convulsion grew
almost imperceptible, and finally subsided into the depths
(15) of his nature. When he found the eyes of Hester Prynne fas-
tened on his own, and saw that she appeared to recognize him,
he slowly and calmly raised his finger, made a gesture with it
in the air, and laid it on his lips.1. In this passage, the stranger first meets Hester
(A) at church
(B) on a boat
(C) at her house
(D) in the market place
(E) at the Inn
2. The word "penetrative" (line 7) most nearly means
(A) keen
(B) killed
(C) stabbed
(D) seeing inside
(E) stinging
3. Which one of the following figures of speech is used (in lines 7-9) "A writhing horror twisted itself across his features, like a snake gliding swiftly over them, and making one little pause, with all its wreathed intervolutions in open sight"?
(A) alliteration
(B) personification
(C) allusion
(D) metaphor
(E) simile
4. The word "imperceptible" (line 14) most nearly means
(A) indescribable
(B) blind
(C) murky
(D) ugly
(E) indistinguishable
5. All but one of the following are used to describe the stranger in this
passage:
(A) He is "chiefly accustomed to look inward" (line 3-4).
(B) He had a "keen and penetrative" look (line 6-7).
(C) He was incapable of feeling "powerful emotion" (line 10)
(D) He could "instantaneously" control his emotions (line 11).
(E) He was a man of great "depths of . . . nature" (lines 14-15).
6. Which of the following best describes how the stranger felt about
Hester?
(A) He really didn't see her because he was so used to looking
inward.
(B) He really didn't care because external matter meant little to
him.
(C) A writhing horror twisted across his face when he realized
who she was.
(D) A snake distracted his attentions and he didn't recognize
Hester.
(E) He showed no emotions at all.
7. All but one of the following words used just after this passage
characterize the Puritan way of speaking:
(A) "I promise you. . ."
(B) "You must needs be a stranger. . ."
(C) She hath raised a great scandal. . ."
(D) "I pray you. . ."
(E) "Good Sir. . ."
8. When Hester appeared to recognize the stranger, he
(A) motioned to her to be quiet
(B) blew her a kiss
(C) said hello to her
(D) slapped her on the face
(E) ran up to her
9. This passage begins with the creation of the character of
(A) Arthur Dimmesdale
(B) Roger Chillingworth
(C) Pearl
(D) Governor Bellingham
(E) Hester Prynne
10. All but one of the qualities of Romanticism can be seen
in this passage:
(A) The setting describes a Puritan custom of the
early 1600's.
(B) Hawthorne chooses such lofty words as "intervo-
lutions" or "writhing."
(C) Dimmesdale had trouble believing these events
were "real."
(D) The stranger was said to darken "with some pow-
erful emotion."
(E) Short, simple sentences give the passage a quick
pace.Questions 11-27. Read the following passage carefully
before you choose your answers.Hester Prynne's term of confinement was now at an
end. Her prison door was thrown open and she came forth
into the sunshine, which, falling on all alike, seemed, to her
line sick and morbid heart, as if meant for no other purpose than
(5) to reveal the scarlet letter on her breast. Perhaps there was a
more real torture in her first unattended footsteps from the
threshold of the prison than even in the procession and spec-
tacle that have been described, where she was made the com-
mon infamy at which all mankind was summoned to point
(10) its finger. Then, she was supported by an unnatural tension of
the nerves and by all the combative energy of her character,
which enabled her to convert the scene into a kind of lurid
triumph . . . . The very law which condemned her--a giant of
stern features, but with vigor to support, as well as to annihi-
(15) late, in his iron arm--had held her up through the terrible
ordeal of her ignominy. But now, with this unattended walk
from the prison door, began the daily custom; and she must
either sustain and carry it forward by the ordinary resources
of her character, or sink beneath it. She could no longer bor-
(20) row from the future to bear her present grief. Tomorrow would
bring its own trial with it; so would the next day; and so
would the next; each its own trial, and yet the very same that
was now so unutterably grievous to be borne. The days of the
far off future would toil onward; still with the same burden
(25) for her to take up and bear along with her, but never to fling
down; for the accumulating days and added years would pile
up their misery upon the heap of shame. Throughout them
all, giving up her individuality, she would become the general
symbol at which the preacher and moralist might point, and
(30) in which they might vivify and embody their images of
woman's frailty and sinful passion. Thus, the young would be
taught to look at her . . . as the figure, the body, the reality of sin.11. Why does Hester have a "sick and morbid heart" (line 4)?
(A) She hates the public.
(B) She has cardiovascular problems.
(C) She is experiencing guilt and confinement.
(D) The prison has made her sick.
(E) She knows her husband is waiting.
12. The phrase "the sunshine . . . (was) falling forth. . . as if
meant . . . to reveal the scarlet letter on her breast" (lines 3-5)
is an example of what figure of speech?
(A) personification
(B) allusion
(C) metaphor
(D) simile
(E) alliteration
13. The word "infamy" (line 9) of the above passage de-
scribes Hester as being a symbol of all but one the following:
(A) shame
(B) goodness
(C) scandal
(D) wickedness
(E) atrocity
14. In lines 1-10 of this passage, what is going
through Hester's head?
(A) She feels everything is against her.
(B) She thinks she must be crazy.
(C) She is glad everything is finally over.
(D) She is glad she is free at last.
(E) She can't wait to get home.
15. Which of the following words is most clearly tragic in tone?
(A) end (line 2)
(B) morbid (line 4)
(C) supported (line 10)
(D) energy (line 12)
(E) vigor (line 14)
16. All but one of the following words are chosen by the au-
thor in this passage to emphasize the Gothic aspects of roman-
ticism
(A) lurid (line 12)
(B) torture (line 6)
(C) procession (line 7)
(D) spectacle (lines 7-8)
(E) annihilate (lines 14-15)
17. The word "lurid" (line 12) means all but one of the following:
(A) pale
(B) sensational
(C) yellow
(D) racy
(E) exciting
18. The phrase "The very law which condemned her--a giant
of stern features, but with vigor to support, as well as to anni-
hilate, in his iron arm--" (lines 13-15) is an example of a
(A) personification
(B) allusion
(C) metaphor
(D) simile
(E) alliteration
19. In line 16 of the passage "ignominy" means all BUT
one of the following:
(A) honor
(B) shame
(C) disgrace
(D) dishonor
(E) scandal
20. Although this passage is written as one paragraph, the
development of the content really follows two paths. At which
of the following points does the author stop describing the
present and start making predictions about the future? In the
sentence beginning:
(A) "But now, with this unattended walk . . ." (line 16-17)
(B) "Tomorrow would bring its own trial with it . . . "
(lines 20-21)
(C) "The very law which condemned her . . . " (line 13)
(D) "the very same that was now so unutterably grievous to be borne."
(lines 22-23)
(E) "The days of the far off future would toil onward. . . " (lines 23-24)
21. What type of poetical device is Hawthorne using in the
phrase "The days of the far off future would toil onward. . . "
(lines 23-24)?
(A) personification
(B) allusion
(C) metaphor
(D) simile
(E) alliteration
22. The phrase "she would become the general symbol at which
the preacher and moralist might point. . ." (lines 28-29) is also an example of
(A) exposition
(B) denotation
(C) foreshadowing
(D) allusion
(E) personification
23. All of the following words chosen by Hawthorne indicate
future tense EXCEPT:
(A) must sustain and carry (lines 17-18)
(B) would bring (lines 20-21)
(C) to be borne (line 23)
(D) would pile up (lines 26-27)
(E) she would become (line 28)
24. The last sentence of this passage, "Thus, the young would
be taught to look at her ... as the figure, the body, the reality of
sin. . . ." (lines 31-32) is an example of
(A) personification
(B) allusion
(C) metaphor
(D) simile
(E) alliteration
25. Hester's attitude in this passage can be best described as
(A) fearful acceptance of the morbid Puritan punish-
ment allotted her
(B) reverence for God's people
(C) self-satisfaction with the human dominion over
humans
(D) disgust with the evil that permeates Salem
(E) scorn at the Puritan harshness
26. The tone of this passage can best be described as
(A) cynical exaggeration
(B) gentle sarcasm
(C) ironic anger
(D) forced glee
(E) reflective and somber
27. The details of this passage especially emphasize Hester's
(A) pain
(B) insecurity
(C) inner strength
(D) guilt
(E) happinessQuestions 28 - 37. Read the following passage carefully
before you choose your answers."Pearl," said he, with great solemnity, "thou must take heed
to instruction, that so in due season, thou mayest wear in thy
bosom the Pearl of great price. Canst thou tell me, my child,
line who made thee?"(5) Now Pearl knew well enough who made her; for Hester
Prynne, the daughter of a pious home, very soon after the
talk with the child about her Heavenly Father, had begun to
inform her of those truths which the human spirit, at whatever
stage of immaturity, imbibes with such eager interest.
(10) Pearl, therefore, so large were the attainments of her three year's
lifetime, could have borne a fair examination in the New En-
gland Primer, or the first column of the Westminster Catechism,
although unacquainted with the outward form of either of
those celebrated works. But that perversity, which all children
(15) have more or less of, and of which little Pearl had a tenfold
portion, now, at the most inopportune moment, took thor-
ough possession of her, and closed her lips, or impelled her to
speak words amiss. After putting her finger in her mouth,
with many ungracious refusals to answer good Mr. Wilson's
(20) question, the child finally announced that she had not been
made at all, but had been plucked by her mother off the bush
of wild roses that grew by the prison door...."This is awful!" cried the Governor, slowly recovering from
the astonishment into which Pearl's response had thrown him.
(25) "Here is a child of three years old, and she can not tell who
made her! Without question, she is equally in the dark as to
her soul, her present depravity, and future destiny! Methinks,
gentleman, we need inquire no further."Hester caught hold of Pearl, and drew her forcibly into her
(30) arms, confronting the old Puritan magistrate with almost a
fierce expression. Alone in the world, cast off by it, and with
this sole treasure to keep her heart alive, she felt that she pos-
sessed indefeasible rights against the world, and was ready to
defend them to the death.
28. The word "solemnity" in the context of line 1 means
(A) formality
(B) softness
(C) confusion
(D) happiness
(E) glee
29. The word "pious" (line 6) is best interpreted to mean
(A) proud
(B) religious
(C) fearful
(D) broken
(E) free
30. How old is Pearl in this passage?
(A) one
(B) two
(C) three
(D) four
(E) five
31. The word "inopportune" (line 16) of this passage most
clearly means
(A) appropriate
(B) inappropriate
(C) ready
(D) at just the right time
(E) regular
34. All of the following represent figurative language EXCEPT
(A) " the Pearl of great price" (line 3)
(B) "that perversity . . . impelled her to speak words
amiss" (lines 14-18)
(C) Pearl made " many ungracious refusals to answer
good Mr. Wilson's question" (lines 19-20)
(D) " the child finally announced that she had . . . been
plucked by her mother off the bush of wild
roses" (line 20-22)
(E) "Without question, she is equally in dark as to her
soul" (line 26-27)
32. The purpose of this passage is primarily to describe
(A) Pearl's normality
(B) the magistrate's kindness
(C) Hester's motherly love
(D) Mr. Wilson
(E) the Puritan character
33. The details of this passage especially emphasize the
magistrates'
(A) guilt
(B) obsessiveness
(C) arrogance
(D) fastidiousness
(E) intolerance
35. The symbolism in this passage shows
(A) Pearl as a normal child
(B) Pearl as a treasure
(C) the Governor as a Devil
(D) Hester as a Devil
(E) the magistrate as a Saviour
36. The tone of this passage can best be described as
(A) cynical and exaggerated
(B) gentle but sarcastic
(C) forced and gleeful
(D) dramatic and intense
(E) analytical and reflective
37. The Puritan leaders want to take Pearl away from Hester
because they feel
(A) Pearl does not love Hester
(B) Hester is beating Pearl
(C) Hester is not raising her properly
(D) Pearl is in danger
(E) Roger Chillingworth wants to kill her
Questions 38 - 44 . Read the following passage carefully be-
fore you choose your answers.As the minister departed, in advance of Hester Prynne
and little Pearl, he threw a backward glance, half expecting
that he should discover only some faintly traced features or
line outline of the mother and child, slowly fading into the twi-
(5) light of the woods. So great a vicissitude in his life could not
at once be received as real. But there was Hester, clad in her
gray robe, still standing beside the tree trunk, which some blast
had overthrown a long antiquity ago, and which time had ever
since been covering with moss, so that these two fated ones
(10) with earth's heaviest burden upon them, might there sit down
together, and find a single hour's rest and solace. And there
was Pearl, too, lightly dancing from the margin of the brook
--now that the intrusive third person was gone--and taking
her old place by her mother's side. So the minister had not
(15) fallen asleep, and dreamed!In order to free his mind of this indistinctness and duplicity
of impression, which vexed it with a strange disquietude, he
recalled and more thoroughly defined the plans which Hester
and himself had sketched for their departure. It had been de-
(20) termined between them that the Old World, with its crowds
and cities, offered them a more eligible shelter and conceal-
ment than the wilds of New England, or all America, with its
alternatives of an Indian wigwam, or a few settlements of Eu-
ropeans, scattered thinly along the seaboard. Not to speak of
(25) the clergyman's health, so inadequate to sustain the hardships
of a forest life, his native gifts, his culture, and his entire devel-
opment would secure him a home only in the midst of civili-
zation and refinement; the higher the state, the more delicately
adapted to it the man. In furtherance of this choice, it so hap-
(30) pened that a ship lay in the harbor, one of those questionable
cruisers, frequent at that day, which, without being absolutely
outlaws of the deep, yet roamed over its surface with a re-
markable irresponsibility of character. This vessel had recently
arrived from the Spanish Main, within three day's time, would
(35) sail for Bristol. Hester Prynne, whose vocation as a self-en-
listed Sister of Charity, had brought her acquainted with the
captain and crewócould take upon herself to secure the pas-
sage of two individuals and a child, with all the secrecy which
circumstances rendered more than desirable.38. The term "fated" (line 9) in this passage is best interpreted
to mean
(A) lucky
(B) hurt
(C) doomed
(D) fragile
(E) cheerful
39. The term "solace" (line 11) in this passage is best interpreted
to mean
(A) depravity
(B) peace
(C) loneliness
(D) obscurity
(E) war
40. The "intrusive third person" (line 13) referred to here was
(A) the minister
(B) Pearl
(C) Hester
(D) the vessel's captain
(E) the Indian from the wigwam
41. All but one of the qualities of Romanticism can be seen
in this passage:
(A) The setting is "a long antiquity ago" (line 8).
(B) Hawthorne chooses such lofty words as "vicissi-
tude" (line 5) or "disquietude" (line 17).
(C) Dimmesdale had trouble believing these events
were "real" (line 6).
(D) Hester and Dimmesdale were said to have "earth's
heaviest burden on them" (line 10)
(E) It was true that ships of that time could be arriv-
ing from the Spanish Main.
42. From the phrase "indistinctness and duplicity of impression"
(line 16-17) we can conclude that Dimmesdale was all but one of the following:
(A) peaceful
(B) happy
(C) disquieted
(D) elated
(E) disinterested
43. The Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale and Hester agreed that
___ offered them more concealment.
(A) the old World
(B) the wilds of New England
(C) all America
(D) the new World
(E) the Spanish Main
44. From this passage we can conclude that Hester was
(A) lazy
(B) in love with Chillingworth
(C) a good mother
(D) too friendly with the captain
(E) happyQuestions 45 - 50. Read the following passage carefully
before you choose your answers.Thus had there come to the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale
--as to most men, in their various spheres, though seldom
recognized until they see it far behind them--an epoch of life
line more brilliant and full of triumph than any previous one, or
(5) than any which could hereafter be. He stood, at this very mo-
ment, on the very proudest eminence of superiority, to which
the gifts of intellect, rich lore, prevailing eloquence, and a repu-
tation of whitest sanctity could exalt a clergyman in New
England's earliest days, when the professional character was
(10) of itself a lofty pedestal. Such was the position which the min-
ister occupied, as he bowed his head forward on the cushions
of the pulpit, at the close of his Election Sermon. Meanwhile,
Hester Prynne was standing beside the scaffold of the pillory,
with the scarlet letter still burning on her breast!(15) Now was heard again the clangor of the music, and the
measured tramp of the military escort, issuing from the
church door. The procession was to be marshaled thence to the town
hall, where a solemn banquet would complete the ceremonies
of the day.(20) Once more, therefore, the train of venerable and majestic
fathers was seen moving through a broad pathway of the
people, who drew back reverently, on either side, as the Gov-
ernor and the magistrates, the old and wise men, the holy min-
isters, and all that were eminent and renowned, advanced
(25) into the midst of them. When they were fairly in the market
place, their presence was greeted by a shout. Thisóthough
doubtless it might acquire additional force and volume from
the childlike loyalty which the age awarded to its rulersó
was felt to be an irrepressible outburst of enthusiasm kindled
(30) in the auditors by that high strain of eloquence which was yet
reverberating in their ears . . . . Never, from the soil of New
England, had gone up such a shout! Never, on New England
soil, had stood the man so honored by his mortal brethren as
the preacher!45. The word "epoch" in line 3 means
(A) a new and important time
(B) a change in life
(C) the edge of town
(D) an oath of allegiance
(E) an ugly birthmark
46. The word "clangor" (line 15) most clearly means
(A) continued ringing
(B) soft music
(C) popular music
(D) exalting music
(E) silence
47. At this point in the story, the townspeople think
Arthur Dimmesdale is
(A) a coward
(B) a liar
(C) an honorable man
(D) a Catholic saint
(E) Hester's lover
48. The word "renowned" (line 24) most clearly means
(A) loved
(B) hated
(C) needed
(D) famous
(E) unreal
49. The Procession was an annual celebration that included
(A) Master Dimmesdale's confession
(B) The Election Sermon
(C) Hester's hanging
(D) a Thanksgiving feast
(E) the Governor's birthday
50. What does this passage tell us about the New England
society?
(A) They love to give parties.
(B) They hate their ministers.
(C) They love their ministers.
(D) They like foreigners.
(E) They love their women.END OF SECTION I, PRACTICE TEST ON THE SCARLET LETTER.
DO NOT GO ON UNTIL TOLD TO DO SO.This test can also be found in book form in the
School House Books (AP) Reader.
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