Multiple Choice
Identify the
letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
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Critical Reading
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1.
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In
“The Prologue” to The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer uses the pilgrimage primarily as a
device to a. | emphasize the
characters’ religious aspirations. | b. | frame the stories told by individual
characters. | c. | describe the rigors of medieval life. | d. | create a vivid
and realistic setting. | | |
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2.
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The
narrator in The Canterbury Tales, is portrayed as a. | stern and
judgmental. | c. | robust and
merry. | b. | sophisticated and worldly. | d. | naive and observant. | | | | |
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3.
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The
narrator in The Canterbury Tales, says he plans to “give account of all their words and
dealings, / Using their very phrases as they fell.” For which kind of characterization
would an author provide such details? a. | direct characterization | c. | direct and indirect characterization | b. | indirect
characterization | d. | dramatic
characterization | | | | |
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4.
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Which
best describes Chaucer’s attitude toward the Nun in The Canterbury
Tales? a. | amused
tolerance | c. | marked
scorn | b. | polite detachment | d. | weary reproachfulness | | | | |
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5.
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Using
the who, what, where, when, why, and how questioning strategy, write the letter of the
phrase that best summarizes the meaning of the following passage from “The Prologue” to
The Canterbury Tales.
He was an easy
man in penance-giving / Where he could hope to make a decent living; / It’s
a sure sign whenever gifts are given / To a poor Order that a man’s well
shriven, / And should he give enough he knew in verity / The penitent repented in
sincerity.
a. | He gave out easy
penances and absolution in exchange for gifts. | b. | He gave out easy
penances in exchange for gifts wherever he thought he could get gifts out of the
confessors. | c. | He gave out easy penances and absolution in exchange for gifts
wherever he thought he could get gifts out of the confessors. He knew that if he exacted a large
enough price for the sin that the penitent person would truly feel sorry for what he’d
done. | d. | He gave out easy penances and absolution in exchange for gifts
wherever he thought he could get gifts out of the confessors. He knew that if he exacted a large
enough price for the sin that the penitent person would truly feel sorry for what he’d done. In
fact, whenever a poor group of friars receives gifts you can be sure that someone has just received
absolution for his sins. | | |
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6.
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In
“The Prologue” to The Canterbury Tales,whom do the pilgrims agree to set up as judge
over themselves? a. | the
narrator | c. | the Oxford
Cleric | b. | the Host | d. | the Sergeant at the Law | | | | |
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7.
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What
do the following lines from “The Prologue” to The Canterbury Tales suggest about the
woman from Bath?
In all the parish
not a dame dared stir / Towards the altar steps in front of her
a. | She is a
religious fanatic. | c. | She is selfish
and arrogant. | b. | She abhors the Christian
church. | d. | She disdains the
company of women. | | | | |
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Vocabulary and Grammar
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8.
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The
word commission means to a. | go on a mission with someone. | c. | give authorization. | b. | found a
religious outpost. | d. | plunge
ahead. | | | | |
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9.
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What
verb tense is Chaucer using in the underlined portion of the following passage?
This noble example to his sheep he gave, / First following
the word before he taught it, / And it was from the gospel he had caught
it.
a. | present
tense | c. | past perfect
tense | b. | past tense | d. | past progressive tense | | | | |
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10.
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Identify the verb tense Chaucer uses in the underlined portion of the following
passage from The Canterbury Tales.
He lisped a little out of wantonness / To make his English
sweet upon his tongue. / When he had played his harp, or having
sung, / His eyes would twinkle in his head as bright / As any star upon a frosty
night.
a. | past | c. | past
progressive | b. | past perfect | d. | present perfect | | | | |
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