Chapter 2 Quiz — Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck
Comprehension Quiz: Chapter 2
Who is the first person to greet George and Lennie when they arrive at the bunkhouse?
- Candy, the old swamper who cleans the bunkhouse
- Slim, the respected and skilled mule driver
- Curley, the boss's aggressive and combative son
- Carlson, the ranch hand who works with the others
What reason does George give the boss for Lennie's inability to speak for himself?
- Lennie is shy and uncomfortable talking to strangers he does not know
- Lennie was kicked in the head by a horse when he was a young child
- Lennie has a speech impediment that makes communication very difficult
- Lennie was injured in a farm accident that affected his ability to speak
Why is the boss suspicious of George and Lennie traveling together?
- He thinks they are fugitives running from the law in another county
- He believes George is stealing Lennie's wages and exploiting his labor
- He suspects they were fired from their previous ranch for causing trouble
- He worries they are union organizers trying to recruit his ranch workers
What does Candy tell George about why Curley picks fights with bigger men?
- Curley was trained as a professional boxer and likes to practice his skills regularly
- Curley is like many small men who resent big guys and want to prove their toughness
- Curley's wife encourages him to fight larger men to demonstrate his bravery to her
- Curley's father rewards him for keeping the ranch workers in line through intimidation
What escape plan does George establish with Lennie in case of trouble?
- Hide under the bunks in the back of the bunkhouse until George comes to find him
- Run to the nearest town and wait at the bus station for George to arrive later
- Go back to the brush by the river pool where they camped the previous night
- Find Slim in the barn and ask him for protection until the trouble passes over
How is Slim described when he first appears in the bunkhouse?
- As a loud, boisterous man who commands attention through the volume of his voice
- As the prince of the ranch, with God-like eyes and a natural, quiet authority
- As an old, weathered cowboy who has spent decades working on various ranches
- As a young, ambitious worker eager to prove himself to the boss and his son
What does Carlson suggest should be done about Candy's old dog?
- The dog should be kept in the barn away from the men living in the bunkhouse
- Candy should give the dog away to a family in town who can better care for it
- The dog should be shot because it is old and suffering, and replaced with a puppy
- The dog needs to see a veterinarian in town who can treat its various ailments
Which of the following events actually happens in Chapter 2?
- Curley's wife appears in the bunkhouse doorway, ostensibly looking for Curley
- Lennie gets into a physical fight with Curley in the bunkhouse
- Candy's old dog is shot by Carlson behind the bunkhouse
- George tells the boss the truth about Lennie's intellectual disability
Which of the following does NOT happen in Chapter 2?
- George fabricates a story about Lennie being his cousin to tell the boss
- Candy warns George about Curley's aggressive nature and boxing background
- Slim offers George and Lennie one of his dog's new puppies right away
- George warns Lennie to stay far away from both Curley and Curley's wife
In the context of the ranch, what does the term 'swamper' mean?
- A worker who tends to the horses and mules in the ranch stable
- A general handyman or janitor who cleans floors and does odd jobs
- A cook who prepares all the meals for the ranch workers each day
- A foreman who supervises the field workers during the harvest season
What does the word 'pugnacious' mean, as it might be used to describe Curley?
- Eager to argue, quarrel, or fight; combative and aggressive by nature
- Timid and easily frightened; reluctant to engage in any type of conflict
- Charming and persuasive; skilled at winning people over to one's side
- Generous and warm-hearted; willing to share resources with other people
What is a 'jerkline skinner' in the context of Depression-era ranch work?
- A worker who skins and processes animal hides for leather production
- A skilled driver who controls a team of mules or horses using a single rein
- A ranch hand who maintains and repairs the fences around the property
- A butcher who prepares dried meat, or jerky, for the ranch workers to eat
What literary device is Steinbeck primarily using when George tells Lennie to return to the brush by the river if trouble arises?
- Foreshadowing, hinting that trouble will indeed come and the escape plan will be needed
- Hyperbole, exaggerating the danger that George and Lennie face at the new ranch
- Flashback, recalling an earlier time when George and Lennie had to flee from danger
- Personification, giving human qualities to the natural setting by the river pool
Comprehension Quiz
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