Multiple Choice Practice
Name:
Use the passage from Chapter 1 which begins “Evening of a hot day started” and ends “I remember about the rabbits,
George” (pp. 2-4) to answer the following questions.
______1. The reader can infer that in his relationship with Lennie, George is
a. Equal
c. Inferior
b. Superior
d. Uncaring
______2. The purpose of paragraph 2 is to provide details about
a. Setting
c. Conflict
b. Theme
d. Characters
______3. Which of these events occurs first?
a. Lennie and George drink from the pool.
b. Lennie and George get off the bus.
c. Lennie and George sit on Howard Street
d. Lennie and George enter the clearing.
Use the passage from Chapter 1 which begins “Lennie pleaded, ‘Come on, George’” and ends “’I ain’t gonna say a
word’” (pp.13-16) to answer the following questions.
______4. The main idea of paragraph 3 is that ranch workers
a. Waste their money rather than saving it
b. Have no permanent home
c. Work very hard for other people
d. Are lonely and lack goals
______5. Paragraph 5 serves primarily to
a. Reinforce that Lennie and George are similar to all ranch workers
b. Hint that both Lennie and George are criminals
c. Contrast with earlier descriptions of ranch workers
d. Characterize Lennie and George as law-abiding non-drinkers
______6. The structure of the passage could best be described as moving from
a. A focus on Lennie’s weaknesses to a focus on George’s strengths
b. Idealistic dreams of the far-off future to realistic planning for the next day
c. Details about the past to plans for the future
d. Details of setting to in-depth development of characters
______7. From details and dialogue in this passage, the reader realizes that Lennie is all of the following EXCEPT
a. Childlike
c. Forgetful
b. Cruel
d. Eager to please
Use the passage from Chapter 2 which begins “Lennie cried out suddenly” and ends “go around with a guy you know”
(pp 32-35) to answer the following questions.
______8. Which is the best definition of the word mean in Lennie’s statement, “It’s mean here” (paragraph 3)?
a. Medium in size
c. Common in appearance
b. Lacking in kindness
d. Reluctant to accommodate
______9. The author has Lennie speak with short, simple words and sentences in order to
a. Provide relief for the reader from the longer sentences of George
b. Serve as a contrast to the sentences describing the setting
c. Add extra emphasis to what Lennie says
d. Reflect the simplicity of Lennie’s mind
______10. In paragraph 5, the author describes the basins as rattling in order to convey
a. The flimsy nature of the basins
b. The activity of the men washing
c. The importance of having basins
d. A hint danger from the rattlesnake sound
______11.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Which of the following is NOT a detail used to develop Slim’s characterization?
“a tall man”
“There was a gravity in his manner”
“Can’t hardly see nothing in here”
“his word was taken on any subject”
Use the passage from Chapter 3 which begins “George’s hands stopped working” and ends “Curley hung close to his
elbow” (pp 57-61) to answer the following questions.
______12. Paragraph 25 (begins “George said wonderingly”) reveals George’s desire to
a. Go to a circus
c. Be his own boss
b. Play baseball
d. Have no responsibilities
______13. In paragraph 31 (begins “Voices were approaching”), the use of the phrase “someday” rather than “next
month” serves to show
a. The vagueness of when the men will achieve their dream
b. The definite timeline established for the leaving the ranch
c. The certainty of the men’s dream coming true
d. That the men are convinced the dream will never be realized
Use the passage from Chapter 4 which begins “Crooks, the negro stable buck” and ends “an’ live on the fatta the lan’”
(pp 66-69) to answer the following questions.
______14. Which of the following details in paragraph 1 does NOT support the inference that Crooks is different
from the men in the bunkhouse?
a. “Crooks had his apple box over his bunk.”
b. “for, being alone, Crooks could leave his things about”
c. “he was more permanent than the other men”
d. “he had accumulated more possessions than he could carry on his back”
______15. In paragraph 6, Crooks takes his hand out from under his shirt because he
a. Wants to be ready to defend himself in case Lennie attacks him
b. Does not want Lennie to think he is reaching for a weapon
c. Was preparing to undress for bed, but now must wait until Lennie leaves
d. Is embarrassed to be seen applying liniment to his crooked spine
______16. In paragraph 19, the words “then remembered” refer to Lennie remembering that he
a. Should go see his puppy
b. Had not been invited into Crooks’s room
c. Was not a skinner who had business in the barn
d. Was not supposed to pet the puppy
Use the passage from Chapter 5 which begins “Curley’s wife came around” and ends “Don’t you think of nothing but
rabbits?” (p. 86-89) to answer the following questions.
______17. Given the setting of the first paragraph, the way Curley’s wife is dressed is
a. Appropriate
c. Humorous
b. Inappropriate
d. Satirical
______18. From paragraph 7, the reader can infer that
a. Curley’s wife knows Lennie broke Curley’s hand
b. George is physically afraid of Curley.
c. Curley’s wife thinks Curley hurt his hand in a machine.
d. Curley is afraid that Lennie will run off with his wife.
______19. Curley’s wife responds angrily in paragraph 33 (begins with “Curley’s wife said angrily”) because she
a. Does not like rabbits, and that is all Lennie talks about
b. Resents Lennie’s loyalty to George
c. See Lennie’s comments as proof that he is not really listening to her
d. Does not want to think about the dead puppy