William Shakespeare – The Merchant Of Venice Act 2 (Practice Questions)

1. As Act II opens, who wants to “prove whose blood is reddest”?
   A) Antonio
   B) Morocco
   C) Lancelot
   D) Shylock

2. To what is Portia referring when she speaks of “the lott’ry of my destiny”?
   A) her dead father
   B) the three caskets
   C) her great fortune
   D) Bassanio

3. What does Portia tell Morocco he must do before selecting a casket?
   A) go to the temple
   B) put down his sword
   C) seal his fate with a kiss
   D) go wash his hands

4. As Act II scene ii opens, who/what is telling Launcelot to flee the Jew?
   A) Jessica
   B) Lorenzo
   C) Bassanio
   D) his conscience

5. Why is Old Gobbo looking for Shylock’s house?
   A) to find Launcelot
   B) to give him a present
   C) to ask for money
   D) we never find out

6. Who does Launcelot tell Old Gobbo to go see?
   A) Jessica
   B) Antonio
   C) Lorenzo
   D) Bassanio

7. Bassanio is hesitant to let Gratiano go with him to Belmont because
   A) he is too loud and rude.
   B) he is uneducated.
   C) he is poorly dressed.
   D) he is unattractive.

8. In Act II scene iii, Jessica believes that this will solve the misery of life with Shylock.
   A) becoming a more devout Jew
   B) locking herself in her room
   C) marrying Lorenzo, a Christian
   D) ensuring Shylock loses his bond to Antonio

9. What is true and perhaps unusual about Jessica’s character in this play?
   A) she speaks in blank verse
   B) she seems to be a strong female character
   C) she speaks in prose
   D) her character doesn’t seem to fit into the action of the play

10. Who brings Lorenzo a letter?
    A) Old Gobbo
    B) Bassanio
    C) Launcelot
    D) Gratiano

11. What does the letter say?
    A) that Jessica has decided to stay with Shylock
    B) that Shylock is staying home and Lorenzo should wait until morning
    C) Antonio has lost a ship bound for Tripolis
    D) that Shylock will be out of the house and Lorenzo should go tonight to get Jessica

12. Who is the last one to arrive outside Shylock’s house?
    A) Solario
    B) Bassanio
    C) Gratiano
    D) Lorenzo

13. Why does Jessica say she is ashamed?
    A) she doesn’t want to be seen with Christians
    B) she is dressed like a boy
    C) she is a girl going out at night
    D) she is running away from her father

14. What does Jessica tell Lorenzo is “worth the pains”?
    A) leaving Shylock
    B) catching the casket of ducats and jewels she throws out the window
    C) marriage
    D) becoming a Christian

15. Over in Belmont in Scene vii, Morocco chooses the casket that says
    A) “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.”
    B) “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.”
    C) “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.”
    D) “Pick me! Pick me!”

16. How will Morocco know if he chooses the correct casket?
    A) It will simply have a note in it that says, “You won.”
    B) It will contain the deed to Portia’s castle.
    C) It will have a picture of Portia in it.
    D) It will be filled with gold and jewels.

17. As Scene viii opens, who do Salerio and Solanio say was not on Bassanio’s ship?
    A) Gratiano
    B) Lorenzo
    C) Bassanio
    D) Launcelot

18. Solanio heard Shylock crying in the streets. About what does Solanio imply Shylock was most upset?
    A) getting locked out of his house
    B) that a Christian tricked him
    C) losing his daughter
    D) losing his ducats and jewels

19. What did a Frenchman tell Salerio?
    A) Bassanio has set sail for Belmont.
    B) Antonio is still sad.
    C) A ship has sunk in the English Channel.
    D) Lorenzo and Jessica have eloped.

20. As scene xiii closes, who does Salerio see shake hands “with affection wondrous sensible”?
    A) Bassanio and Gratiano
    B) Antonio and Shylock
    C) Lorenzo and Gratiano
    D) Antonio and Bassanio

21. In Scene ix, The Prince of Aragon explains that the conditions of the oath he must take require all EXCEPT the following
    A) Never woo another maid in way of marriage.
    B) Never tell anyone which casket he chose.
    C) He must swear to remain true to Portia should he choose correctly.
    D) He must leave immediately if he chooses incorrectly

22. The inscription on the casket Aragon chooses reads:
    A) “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.”
    B) “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.”
    C) “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.”
    D) “Pick me! Pick me!”

23. What is contained in the casket Aragon chooses?
    A) nothing
    B) a skull
    C) a portrait of Portia
    D) the portrait of a blinking idiot

24. What news does a messenger bring Portia once Aragon has departed?
    A) all the suitors have left Belmont
    B) a young Venetian has arrived to see her
    C) he would like to try a casket
    D) Nerissa has run away

25. As Act II closes, what is the inscription on the casket that has yet to be tried?
    A) “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.”
    B) “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire”
    C) “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.”
    D) “Pick me! Pick me!”

For questions on other acts click below links:

The Merchant of Venice (Act 1) MCQs

The Merchant of Venice (Act 3) MCQs

The Merchant of Venice (Act 4) MCQs

The Merchant of Venice (Act 5) MCQs

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (Act 2) MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. – B
2. – B
3. – A
4. – D
5. – B
6. – D
7. – A
8. – C
9. – A
10. – C
11. – D
12. – D
13. – B
14. – B
15. – A
16. – C
17. – B
18. – D
19. – C
20. – D
21. – C
22. – A
23. – D
24. – B
25. – A