Welcome to the
School House Books, Inc.
The Scarlet Letter ClassroomAnswer Key to the
Multiple-Choice Practice Test
for The Scarlet Letter
ANSWERS:
1. D 16. C 31. B 46. A
2. A 17. A 32. C 47. C
3. E 18. A 33. C 48. D
4. E 19. A 34. E 49. B
5. C 20. B 35. B 50. C
6. C 21. A 36. D
7. A 22. C 37. C
8. A 23. A 38. C
9. B 24. D 39. B
10. E 25. A 40. A
11. C 26. E 41. E
12. A 27. A 42. E
13. B 28. A 43. A
14. A 29. B 44. C
15. B 30. C 45. D
ANSWERS and EXPLANATIONS: All four passages on this test come from different parts of the same novel: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Questions 1 - 10: Passage One
1. (D) Although a church (A) may be near, the first line of the passage places the speaker in "the market place." Choice (B), (C) and (E) are irrelevant to the passage.
2. (A) Although the passage implied that the observer may have felt (B) killed or (C) stabbed, and by seeing inside (D) he may have felt a stinging (E) sensation, since the coordinating conjunction "and" connects keen to penetrative as a synonym, keen is the best answer.
3. (E) "Like a snake" is the simile used to describe the observer's "writhing horror." No other figures of speech is dominant in this passage.
4. (E) The stranger's uncanny ability to control his emotions made his horror indistinguishable, unrecognizable, to any other observers. (A) Indescribable, (B) blind, and (C) murky may have some remote connection to the word imperceptible, but (D) ugly is an irrelevant answer.
5. (C) If "a writhing horror twisted across his face", he certainly must be capable of feeling "powerful emotion." The word incapable, then makes (C) the only one that does not describe the stranger in this passage.
6. (C) Although his first glance at Hester was careless (B), "like a man chiefly accustomed to look inward" (A), when he recognized who Hester was " a writhing horror twisted across his face." Most people watching him would have thought he showed no emotion at all (E) because this "darkened emotion" was "so instantaneously controlled;" however, he still was horrified to recognize Hester. (D) is a literal interpretation of the simile that is meant to be taken figuratively.
7. (A) "I promise you" is the only phrase not written in the Puritan dialect.
8. (A) When the observer in the last sentence of this passage makes a gesture in the air with his raised finger and then lays it on his lips, he is motioning Hester Prynne to be quiet. This was his way of letting her he was there, but it is more of a warning than a hello (C). Since he is not happy to see her in her "sinful" condition, he would not be blowing her a kiss (B). There is no justification for marking (D) or (E).
9. (B) Reading the prompt above the passage used makes it clear this is the beginning of the "characterization of Chillingworth."
10. (E) Hawthorne, and other Romantic authors, characteristically avoid the short, simple sentence. Placing the setting in a colorful past time (A), choosing lofty words (B), emphasizing the unreal (C,) and exaggerating emotions (D) are some characteristics of Romantic writing that students should learn to recognize.Questions 11 - 27: Passage Two
11. (C) Using words like "torture" (line 7), "infamy" (line 10), "point its finger" (lines 9-10), and "unnatural attention" (line 11) indicate she is experiencing guilt. Using words like "unattended steps" (line 7) and "unattended walk" (line 16) indicate she has experienced confinement. (A) (B) and (D) are only inferences about the facts. No reference in this passage is made to her husband (E).
12. (A) Sunshine takes on the human qualities of a villain here, shining on her to intentionally reveal her sins. No reference to a known person, place or thing is made (B); no direct (C) or indirect (D) comparison is made; and no initial consonant sounds are repeated (E).
13. (B) Goodness is the obvious antonym. All other synonyms reveal the typical ambiguity seen in Hawthorne's diction.
14. (A) These first steps made by Hester probably had more torture because she felt "all mankind was summoned to point its finger at her;" she knew everything was going to be against her. The "unnatural tension" in line 10 is used "to convert the scene into a kind of lurid triumph" -- she doesn't think she's crazy (B). The rest of the passage elaborates on a continuation of her troubles rather than a triumphant end (C - D). No mention is made of her home (E).
15. (B) Morbid, describing Hester's sick heart, also describes the tone well because the narrator is describing Hester's "unhealthy interest in the gruesome details" of her punishment.
16. (C) "Procession" is the only neutral word here. All other words have the grotesque and mysterious connotations of Gothic romanticism often characteristic of Hawthorne.
17. (A) Pale is the obvious antonym. All other synonyms reveal the typical ambiguity seen in Hawthorne's diction.
18. (A) Again, as with the sunshine in the beginning of the passage, Hawthorne is personifying law here by giving it human qualities of condemnation, sternness, and vigor. In both cases, personification helps the reader to see the psychological effect of Hester's situation.
19. (A) Honor is the obvious antonym. All other synonyms reveal the typical ambiguity seen in Hawthorne's diction.
20. (B) The word tomorrow indicates a clear shift in tense. The preceding sentence, beginning with "But now, with this unattended walk . . ." (B), would be a good transition sentence, ending the fist paragraph and introducing the time shift of the second.
21. (A) Again, the psychological effect of Hester's situation is best seen by Hawthorne's creation of personification.
22. (C) Although this is a kind of explanatory passage (A), the stylistic device used here is foreshadowing because Hawthorne is hinting that these events will happen in the future. The language is connotative, rather than denotative (B), and (D) and (E) do not apply.
23. (A) "Must" indicates a present tense. All other phrases indicate future tense.
24. (D) Although two of the choices are comparisons, the word "as" makes this a simile, not a metaphor (C). Interestingly, this is kind of a reverse personification (A) in that a human is given inanimate qualities, but it is done with a comparison. (B) and (E) do not fit.
25. (A) Words like "unutterably grievous" (line 23) and "heap of shame" (line 27) indicate her fear. Words like "never to fling down" (lines 25 - 26) and "she would become" (line 28) indicate her acceptance. She doesn't not seem to revere (B), gloat over (C), disgust (D), or scorn (E) her situation.
26. (E) The narrator is reflective, revealing various images of Hester's future torture. The subject of punishment makes this reflection somber.
27. (A) Hester proves to have a great inner strength as the novel unfolds (C), but here such phrases as ". . . added years would pile up their misery upon the heap of shame . . . " emphasize her pain. This passage emphasizes the choices Hester is going to have to make: "she must either sustain and carry it forward by the ordinary resources of her character, or sink beneath it." Thus (B) insecurity, (D) guilt, and (E) happiness
would be incorrect choices.Questions 28 - 37: Passage Three
28. (A) The formality of Mr. Wilson's demeanor is contrasted with the informality and perversity of Pearl's demeanor.
29. (B) Hester Prynne, a devout Puritan, a daughter of a religious home, had given her daughter the same religious upbringing.
30. (C) "The attainments of her three years lifetime . . ." (lines 10 - 11) indicate her age as 3.
31. (B) Pearl's response is inappropriate because this is just the kind of response that would verify Mr. Wilson's belief that Pearl should be taken away from her mother, Hester.
32. (C) The statement in (C) is factual and expository. All other statements have figurative dimensions.
33. (C) Pearl is Hester's "sole treasure." This passage shows Hester's readiness to defend "to the death" her "indefeasible" right to keep Pearl.
34. (E) Even though Pearl's "perversity" is normal, something "which all children have more or less of . . ." the magistrate shows his intolerance by inferring that this normal "perversity" is really a sign of "depravity."
35. (B) Pearl is referred to immediately as a "Pearl of great price" and finally as Hester's "sole treasure."
36. (D) This passage is dramatic in the sense that the reader can easily see the action. This passage is intense in the sense that Hester would defend "to the death" her right to keep Pearl.
37. (C) This meeting among Pearl, Hester, and the Puritan Theocracy is set because the magistrates feel that Pearl should be placed in a more proper Puritan setting.Question 38 - 44. Passage Four
38. (C) Since these "two fated ones" had "earth's heaviest burden on them," fated best means doomed.
39. (B) Hester and Pearl are in the woods so they can find some temporary peace from their burdens, so they can "sit down together, and find a single hour's rest and solace."
40. (A) The minister is viewing Hester and Pearl after leaving them, noticing how Pearl is "lightly dancing from the margin of the brook -- now that (the minister) was gone."
41. (E) Romanticism is only concerned with the truth of the human heart. Although it was true that ships arrived from the Spanish Main at that time, it is not a sign of Romanticism. For this to be a fair question, the teacher should have previously discussed the qualities of Romanticism with the students?
42. (E) The minister's reaction is all of the following except disinterested; he is not without feelings. All the other choices show the confusing contrast of feelings that describe the effect this scene has had on the minister.
43. (A) Lines 19 - 22 answer this question literally. "It had been determined between them that the Old World . . . offered them a more eligible shelter and concealment . . . ."
44. (C) The first paragraph pictures Hester being a good mother by spending quality time with her daughter. This is further reinforced by Pearl's reaction: Hester's presence makes Pearl happy.Questions 45 - 50. Passage Five
45. (D) The word epoch means the beginning of a new and important period in the history of something.
46. (A) Clangor is used here to describe the continued ringing heard in the background of the Puritan holiday.
47. (C) The townspeople think the Reverend Mr. Dimmesdale had "gifts of intellect, rich lore, prevailing eloquence, and a reputation of whitest sanctity. . . ." He was considered an honorable man.
48. (D) The Governor and the magistrates, the old and wise men, (and) the holy ministers" were placed by the Puritans on a "lofty pedestal." These leaders were eminent and famous.
49. (B) Line 12 mentions The Election Sermon.
50. (C) The ministers were among those leaders in this theocratic government that were considered eminent and loved.
