ICSE ENGLISH LITERATURE WORKSHEET
CLASS: 10
M.O. V : ACT 3 : Multiple Choice Questions Module 1
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MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT 3
EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS EXTRACT:
1 Salarino: Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt not take his flesh: What’s that good for?
Shylock: To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge.
(1) Where does the above exchange between Shylock and Salarino take place?
(a) on a street in Venice
(b) on the Rialto
(c) on a street outside Shylock’s house
(d) on a street in Belmont
(2) What is Antonio required to forfeit if he fails to repay the amount he borrowed from
Shylock within the time specified in the bond?
(a) a pound of flesh
(b) three times the sum he had borrowed
(c) his friendship with Bassanio
(d) all his wealth and property.
(3) A little later in his speech, Shylock compares Christians with Jews. Which of the following
comparisons does he NOT make?
(a) both Jews and Christians bleed when cut
(b) both Jews and Christians die when poisoned
(c) both Jews and Christians treat each other with humility
(d) both Jews and Christians seek revenge when wronged
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(4) What recent event in his personal life does Shylock lament earlier in the conversation?
(a) his wife’s death
(b) his daughter’s death
(c) the loss of an expensive diamond
(d) his daughter eloping with a Christian
(5) Which of the following words would you use to describe Shylock’s state of mind after this
impassioned speech?
(i) hurt
(ii) angry
(iii) vindictive
(iv) resourceful
(a) (i), (ii) and (iii)
(b) (ii), (iii) and (iv)
(c) (iii), (iv) and (i)
(d) (iv), (i) an (ii)
(b) EXTRACT 2
Now he goes, With no less presence, but with much more love, Than young alcides, when he did
redeem .The virgin tribute paid by the howling Troy To the sea monster.
(1) Alcides was another name for ________
(a) Bassanio
(b) The ruler of Troy
(c) Hercules
(d) Antonio
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(2) Who was the virgin tribute?
(a) Cleopatra
(b) Hesione
(c) Nerissa
(d) Venus
(3) Just after the above speech, Portia compares Nerissa and the rest to ________
(a) Alcides and the Dardanian wives
(b) the sea monster and Alcides
(c) the Dardanian wives with tear-stained faces
(d) the sea monster and the King of Troy
(4) The word ‘presence’ in the above extract can best be replaced by _______
(a) Pride and arrogance
(b) Handsome appearance
(c) Gentleness
(d) Aplomb
(5) Who arrives from Venice towards the end of the scene bringing the news of Antonio’s
misfortunes?
(a) Salerio, Lorenzo and Jessica
(b) Salerio, Gratiano and Nerissa
(c) Salerio, Lorenzo and Nerissa
(d) Salerio, Gratiano and Jessica
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EXTRACT 3 :
Therefore, thou gaudy gold, Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee; Nor none of thee, thou pale and
common drudge ‘Tween man and man.
.
(1) Midas was ________
(a) A healthy king in Greek mythology
(b) A wealthy king in Greek mythology
(c) The brave king of Troy
(d) A poor king of Troy
(2) The word ‘gaudy’ in the context of above speech, means ________
(a) attractive
(b) unattractive
(c) haughty
(d) abominable
(3) ‘thou pale and common drudge’ in the above speech, refers to ________
(a) The Gold casket
(b) The silver casket
(c) The Bronze casket
(d) The Lead casket
(3) Bassanio chose the lead casket because ________
(a) Lead threatens than promise anything.
(b) he had been told so in the song.
(c) Lead passes on from man to man.
(d) Portia had told him the secret of the caskets.
(4) Just after the above speech, Portia says, ‘How all other passions fleet to air’. Which passion that
remained was ________
(a) doubtful thoughts
(b) rash-embraced despair
(c) green-eyed jealousy
(d) excessive love
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EXTRACT 4
Portia : There are some shrewd contents in yon same paper, That steals the colour from Bassanio’s
cheek .
(1) Where is Portia at the moment?
(a) in a street in Venice
(b) in a room in her house in Belmont
(c) at the tranect
(d) at Bassanio’s house in Venice
(2) Who has brought the paper and from whom?
(a) Salerio, from Shylock
(b) Launcelot, from Lorenzo
(c) Salerio from Antonio
(d) Launcelot from Shylock
(3) What right does Portia now have to know from Bassanio, the contents of the letter?
(a) Portia had given thirty thousand ducats to Bassanio to help Antonio.
(b) Basssanio had promised to tell her everything.
(c) She is now married to Bassanio.
(d) She had given an expensive ring to Bassanio.
(4) What does Bassanio NOT tell Portia about Antonio later in the scene?
(a) Antonio is a rich merchant of Venice
(b) Antonio is Bassanio’s dearest friend.
(c) Antonio never gets tired in doing acts of kindness to others.
(d) The ancient Roman honour appears in Antonio more than anybody in Italy.
(5) What is NOT written in Antonio’s letter?
(a) He had lost all his ships
. (b) His bond to the Jew has been forfeited.
(c) He needed three thousand ducats as soon as possible.
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(d) He wanted to see Baasanio before he dies.
EXTRACT 5
LORENZO : Madam, with all my heart; I shall obey you in all fair commands.
PORTIA: My people do already know my mind
(1) What are the ‘fair commands’?
(a) Lorenzo should marry Jessica
(b) Lorenzo should take care of Portia’s house
(c) Lorenzo should go to Venice along with Bassanio
(d) Lorenzo should immediately leave for Padua
(2) Portia told Lorenzo that she will go to ________
(a) a monastery two miles off
(b) a monastery twenty miles off
(c) the tranect from where the common ferry goes to Venice
(d) doctor Bellario’s house in Padua.
(3) Who will Portia’s servant acknowledge in place of Portia and Bassanio?
(a) Jessica and Lorenzo
(b) Nerissa and Gratiano
(c) Jessica and Gratiano.
(d) Nerissa and Lorenzo.
(4) Why does Portia think that Antonio will be like Bassanio?
(a) because they both were venetian
(b) because they were bosom lovers
(c) because Antonio is kind
(d) because she has been told so by Lorenzo.
(5) What instructions does Portia NOT give to Balthazar?
(a) to deliver a letter to Portia’s cousin before sunset
(b) to keep carefully.(b) a monastery twenty miles off.
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(c) the tranect from where the common ferry goes to Venice
(d) Doctor Bellario’s house in Padua.
(6) Who will Portia’s servant acknowledge in place of Portia and Bassanio?
(a) Jessica and Lorenzo
(b) Nerissa and Gratiano
(c) Jessica and Gratiano.
(d) Nerissa and Lorenzo.
(7) Why does Portia think that Antonio will be like Bassanio?
(a) because they both were venetian
(b) because they were bosom lovers
(c) because Antonio is kind
(d) because she has been told so by Lorenzo.
(8) What instructions does Portia NOT give to Balthazar?
(a) to deliver a letter to Portia’s cousin before sunset
(b) to keep carefully the notes and garments given by him
(c) to reach to the tranect speedily as possible.
(d) not to waste time in words
STAND ALONE QUESTIONS
1.At the beginning of Act 3 scene 1, a place described as ‘flat and fatal, where the carcasses of many a
tall ship lie buried’ is ________
(a) Rialto
(b) Goodwins
(c) Tripolis
(d) Lisbon
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2. Salarino says that there is more difference between the blood of Jessica and Shylock than ________
(a) Red wine and Rhenish wine
(b) Jet and Ivory
(c) Jew and Christian
(d) Venetian and Roman
3. What is NOT the reason for Shylock’s hatred for Antonio?
(a) Antonio had disgraced him many a times.
(b) Antonio had insulted his Jewish community
(c) Antonio had provoked his enemies.
(d) Antonio had not returned his three thousand ducats
4. What according to Shylock, will Antonio’s flesh feed?
(a) His appetite
(b) His house
(c) His wealth
(d) His revenge
5. What cheers up Shylock after hearing of his daughter’s theft?
(a) Antonio’s loss
(b) Bassanio’s marriage
(c) Jessica’s marriage
(d) The news that he will soon get back his money.
6. Which of the following information was not given by Tubal to Shylock?
(a) one of Antonio’s ship that was coming from Lisbon was lost
(b) Jessica spent eighty ducats in one night in Genoa
(c) Antonio’s creditors had told Tubal that Antonio has no choice except to go bankrupt.
(d) Jessica had traded Shylock’s ring for a monkey.
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7. At the end of Act 3 scene 1, shylock instructs Tubal to _______
(a) Engage a legal officer for him
(b) to meet him at synagogue
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of the above
8. Portia says ,’O, these naughty times put bars between the owners and their rights’ who is pointed to as
the owner?
(a) Portia
(b) Bassanio
(c) Antonio
(d) Jessica
9. According to Bassanio, he was lying upon ________
(a) the rack
(b) the soft bed
(c) the thorny bushes
(d) the road
10. Bassanio says that there may be amity and life between snow and fire as between ________ and his
________
(a) trust , love
(b) Antonio, wife
(c) treason, love
(d) treason, hatred
11. Portia says that if Bassanio chooses the wrong casket, while the music is being played, his ending will
be like that of a ________
(a) swan
(b) duck
(c) martlet
(d) goose
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12. What is NOT said about the cowards by Bassanio?
(a) they pray from dawn to dusk
(b) theirs hearts are as false as stairs of sand
(c) they wear upon their chins the beards of Hercules and Mars
(d) their livers are as white as milk
13. Bassanio describes ‘ornament’ as all the below except ________
(a) guilded shore to a most dangerous sea
(b) beautiful scarf veiling an Indian beauty
(c) a precious jewel worn by a princess
(d) the seeming truth which cunning times put on to entrap the wisest.
14. Bassanio rejected the golden casket because ________
(a) He knew that Midas had found gold hard to digest.
(b) he knew that outward appearances are often deceptive.
(c) he found gold too shiny for his taste.
(d) he had been told which casket contained Portia’s portrait.
15. What does Portia give to Bassanio along with the ring?
(a) Her house
(b) Her servants
(c) Herself
(d) all of the above
16. According to Bassanio, what can Portia be bold to say if the ring parts from Bassanio’s finger?
(a) Bassanio has left Portia
(b) Bassanio has sold the ring
(c) Bassanio is disloyal
(d) Bassanio is dead
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17. Soon after Portia and Bassanio declared their love for each other, another pair also declare their love
for each other and ask to be married at the same time as Portia and Bassanio. They are ________
(a) Gratiano and Nerissa
(b) Gratiano and Jessica
(c) Lorenzo and Jessica
(d) Lorenzo and Nerissa
18. How does Bassanio describes the words written in Antonio’s letter?
(a) Body of Antonio
(b) Heart of Antonio
(c) Gaping wound
(d) Healing wound
19. A little later Jessica says that she had heard her father swear to two persons that he would have
Antonio’s flesh than twenty times the amount of bond. The two persons are ________
(a) Lorenzo and Tubal
(b) Tubal and Leah
(c) Tubal and Chus
(d) Tubal and Launcelot
20. Which of the following does Shylock NOT tell the Gaoler?
(a) to guard Antonio closely
(b) not to appeal to Shylock for mercy
(c) to force Antonio to return his money.
(d) Antonio is a fool who lent out money gratis
21. Salarino refers to Shylock as ________
(a) The most disgusting Jew
(b) The most impenetrable cur
(c) The most cruel Jew
(d) The most relentless cur
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22. According to Lorenzo, what is the strongest proof that shows Portia’s noble conceit of
god-like amity?
(a) She bears the absence of her husband
(b) She asks Bassanio to marry her before leaving for Venice.
(c) She send Balthazar to Dr.Bellario for the notes and garments.
(d) She decides to spend her time in meditation
23. Portia tells Jessica what she will do when they are disguised as men. Which of the following does she
NOT say?
(a) She will fight the case on behalf of Antonio.
(b) She will keep on changing her voice between a man’s and a boy’s voice.
(c) She will speak of fights like a bragging youth
(d) She will tell quaint lies how honourable ladies sought her love.
24. Launcelot thinks that Jessica is damned because ________
(a) She is Shylock’s daughter
(b) She had eloped with Lorenzo
(c) She had stolen her father’s money.
(d) All of the above.
25. According to Launcelot, the making of Christians will raise the price of ________
(a) chicken
(b) beef
(c) mutton
(d) pork
26. According to Antonio, the Duke must be impartial in judgement because ________
(a) Shylock will accuse the Venetian justice
(b) Prosperity of Venice depends on International trade
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of the above
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27. Portia’s portrait is found in the lead casket. Which of the following themes explains this?
(a) Friendship and loyalty
(b) Love
(c) Appearance versus reality
(d) Mercy
ANSWERS – MERCHANT OF VENICE ACT 3 EXTRACT BASED QUESTIONS:
EXTRACT 1 1(a), 2(a), 3(c) ,4(d), 5(a)
EXTRACT 2 1(c), 2(b), 3(c), 4(b), 5(a)
EXTRACT 3 1(b), 2(a), 3(d), 4(a), 5(d)
EXTRACT 4 1(b), 2(c), 3(c), 4(a), 5(c)
EXTRACT 5 1(b), 2(a), 3(a), 4(b), 5(a)
STAND ALONE QUESTIONS 1(b), 2(a), 3(d), 4(d), 5(a), 6(a), 7(c), 8(b), (a), 10(c), 11(a)
12(a), 13(c), 14(b), 15(c), 16(d), 17(a), 18(c) 19(c), 20(c), 21(b), 22(a), 23(a), 24(a), 25(d), 26(c), 27(c)
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