SparkNotes: The Merchant of Venice: Quiz

1. What reason does Antonio give for being sad in the opening scene of the play?

(A) He stands to lose a fortune in his present business ventures.

(B) He owes a fantastic sum of money to Shylock.

(C) He gives no reason.

(D) The woman he loves does not return his feelings.

2. From what character flaw does Bassanio believe Graziano suffers?

(A) Mean-spiritedness

(B) A lack of depth

(C) Stinginess

(D) Vanity

3. The caskets that Portia’s suitors must pick from are made of what materials?

(A) Gold, silver, lead

(B) Teak, mahogany, pine

(C) Bone, porcelain, clay

(D) Marble, stone, brick

4. Which of the following is not a reason Shylock gives for hating Antonio?

(A) Antonio is in love with Shylock’s daughter, Jessica.

(B) Antonio has insulted Shylock in the past.

(C) Antonio lends money without interest, which damages Shylock’s business.

(D) Antonio hates Jews.

5. How does Shylock initially describe his demand for a pound of flesh to Bassanio and Antonio?

(A) As an opportunity for revenge

(B) As his way of being charitable

(C) As a harmless prank

(D) As a way of procuring food

6. Why does the prince of Morocco fear that Portia will dislike him?

(A) He is a braggart.

(B) He has a dark complexion.

(C) He recently proved a coward in battle.

(D) His clothes are flamboyant.

7. Whom does Bassanio agree to bring with him to Belmont?

(A) Old Gobbo

(B) Graziano

(C) Antonio

(D) Jessica

8. What act does Jessica believe will solve the misery of life with Shylock?

(A) Becoming a more devout Jew

(B) Ensuring that Shylock loses his bond to Antonio

(C) Locking herself in her room

(D) Marrying Lorenzo

9. According to Lorenzo’s plan, how will Jessica escape from her father’s house?

(A) She will disguise herself as Lorenzo’s torchbearer and slip out undetected.

(B) She will leave during the night, while Shylock is asleep.

(C) She will take her father to a large public auction and get lost in the crowd.

(D) She will fake her own death.

10. How does Shylock react to losing Lancelot as a servant?

(A) He weeps in private

(B) He tells Lancelot that Bassanio will be a harder master

(C) He beats Lancelot with a stick

(D) He refuses to pay Lancelot the wages he owes him

11. How does Portia react to the prince of Morocco’s failure as a suitor?

(A) She prays that no one with such dark skin ever wins her hand.

(B) She is relieved because the quick-tempered prince would not have made a stable husband.

(C) She is sad to lose such a wealthy suitor.

(D) She laughs at his foolishness and sends him away.

12. Who loses the opportunity to marry Portia by choosing the silver casket?

(A) The Jew of Malta

(B) The prince of Aragon

(C) The duke of Earl

(D) The viscount of Normandy

13. According to Tubal’s report, for what did Jessica trade Shylock’s most precious ring?

(A) A gondola

(B) A horse for Bassanio

(C) A christening gown for her first child

(D) A monkey

14. What course of action does Portia suggest when she learns that Shylock wishes to collect his pound of flesh?

(A) That Bassanio and his men disguise themselves and usher Antonio a safe distance away from Venice

(B) That the matter be dealt with in a court of law

(C) That Jessica plead with her father for mercy

(D) That the bond be paid many times over

15. Where does Portia instruct her servant Balthasar to hurry?

(A) To an apothecary

(B) To Padua to visit Doctor Bellario

(C) To Morocco

(D) To Shylock’s house

16. What complaint does Lancelot make regarding the conversion of the Jews?

(A) He says there would be no one left to loan money.

(B) He says the garment industry would suffer.

(C) He says that the price of bacon would soar.

(D) He says the Catholic Church would be unable to handle so many conversions.

17. In court, how does Antonio react to Shylock’s insistence on collecting his pound of flesh?

(A) He weeps openly.

(B) He vows that he will meet Shylock’s hatred with patience.

(C) He curses Shylock’s vengefulness.

(D) He makes an impassioned plea to the court to intervene on his behalf.

18. Who enters the court disguised as a young clerk named Balthasar?

(A) Portia

(B) Nerissa

(C) Jessica

(D) Lorenzo

19. What loophole in Shylock’s bond allows Portia to stop him from taking a pound of Antonio’s flesh?

(A) Jewish law prohibits Shylock from practicing his trade on the Sabbath.

(B) Shylock is entitled only to flesh, but not blood.

(C) Shylock forgot to sign the bond.

(D) There is no hard evidence that Antonio’s ships have sunk, and that he cannot pay the bond.

20. How is Shylock punished for seeking to take Antonio’s life?

(A) He is banished.

(B) He is ordered to surrender all his property to the Church of Rome.

(C) He must convert to Christianity and will his possessions to Jessica and Lorenzo upon his death.

(D) He must work as Antonio’s servant for the remainder of his life.

21. What words does Shylock utter after accepting the court’s sentence?

(A) A pox upon Venice

(B) These are most unlawful laws

(C) Forgive me my sins

(D) I am not well

22. What does Bassanio offer the young law clerk who saves Antonio?

(A) His gloves

(B) His wife

(C) The ring that Portia gave him

(D) The three thousand ducats originally due to Shylock

23. What does Lorenzo order when he learns that Portia is on her way to Belmont?

(A) A banquet to welcome the lady of the house

(B) Music

(C) A ring to match the one she once gave to Bassanio

(D) Flowers

24. What does Portia vow to do when she learns that Bassanio no longer has the ring she gave him?

(A) Never again speak to her husband

(B) Deny her husband children

(C) Leave her husband

(D) Make her husband a cuckold

25. What news does Antonio receive at the play’s end?

(A) Shylock has killed himself.

(B) Some of the ships he supposed were lost have arrived in port.

(C) The duke of Venice has changed his mind and finds Antonio guilty of forfeiture of Shylock’s bond.

(D) His long lost brother has been found.