Chapter VII Quiz — Ethan Frome

What diagnosis does the new doctor give Zeena?

• Consumption
• Complications
• Kidney trouble
• Nervous exhaustion

How much extra did Zeena agree to pay the hired girl to come out to the farm?

• Fifty cents
• A dollar
• Two dollars
• Five dollars

What lie does Zeena catch Ethan in during their argument?

• He claimed to have fixed the barn roof
• He said he had arranged cash payment from Andrew Hale
• He told her Mattie was leaving voluntarily
• He denied knowing about the broken pickle-dish

How does the narrator describe the quarrel between Ethan and Zeena?

• A calm discussion between equals
• As senseless and savage as a physical fight between enemies in the darkness
• A brief disagreement that quickly resolved
• A public argument witnessed by Mattie

Where had Zeena kept the red glass pickle-dish?

• In the kitchen cupboard behind the teapot
• On the top shelf of the china-closet, requiring a stepladder to reach
• In a locked trunk in the attic
• On the mantelpiece in the parlor

Why did Mattie take down the pickle-dish?

• She wanted to wash it as a surprise for Zeena
• She planned to sell it to pay for household expenses
• She wanted to make the supper table pretty
• Ethan asked her to use the fancy dishes

What does Zeena taunt Ethan with when he says he cannot afford the hired girl?

• She threatens to write to his brother for money
• She suggests sending him to the almshouse, saying Fromes have been there before
• She threatens to sell the farm to her Pierce relatives
• She reminds him that Mattie’s father still owes them money

How does Zeena behave when she comes downstairs for supper?

• She weeps openly and refuses to eat
• She confronts Mattie about her relationship with Ethan
• She eats heartily and chats about intestinal disturbances among friends and relatives
• She silently eats a small portion and goes back to bed

Which of these events actually occur in Chapter VII?

Which of the following statements about the pickle-dish scene are true?

What does "recrimination" mean as used in: "Ethan felt as if he had lost an irretrievable advantage in descending to the level of recrimination"?

• Physical violence between married partners
• The mutual exchange of accusations and countercharges
• A formal legal complaint filed against a spouse
• Silent resentment that builds over many years

What does "mien" mean as used in: "She continued to gaze at him through the twilight with a mien of wan authority"?

• A deliberate act of cruelty or spite
• A person’s appearance, manner, or bearing
• A quiet whisper or murmur
• A look of physical exhaustion

What does "suppleness" mean as used in: "Ethan had no suppleness in deceiving"?

• Physical strength or endurance
• Flexibility and skill in adapting to situations
• Desire or willingness
• Experience gained from past practice