Chapter 5 Quiz — Of Mice and Men

by John Steinbeck

Comprehension Quiz: Chapter 5

What is Lennie doing at the very beginning of Chapter 5?

  • Sitting in the barn stroking a dead puppy he accidentally killed
  • Playing horseshoes outside with the other ranch workers
  • Talking to George about their plans for the dream farm
  • Hiding in the brush by the river after getting into trouble

What dream does Curley's wife confide to Lennie during their conversation?

  • She wanted to leave Curley and move back to her mother's house in town
  • She dreamed of becoming a Hollywood movie star after a man said she was a natural
  • She hoped to save enough money to buy her own ranch and live independently
  • She planned to travel east and find work as a singer in New York City

Why does Curley's wife initially start talking to Lennie in the barn?

  • She wants to get information about George's plans to report to Curley
  • She is lonely and seeking companionship while the men play horseshoes
  • She noticed Lennie was injured and wanted to offer medical help
  • She is looking for Curley and thinks Lennie knows where he went

What directly causes Lennie to panic and hold Curley's wife too tightly?

  • George enters the barn and startles him during the conversation
  • Curley's wife insults him and threatens to have him fired from the ranch
  • She tries to pull away and begins to scream while he strokes her hair
  • He suddenly remembers that George told him to stay away from her

Who is the first person to discover Curley's wife's body in the barn?

  • George comes to the barn looking for Lennie after the horseshoe game
  • Slim enters the barn to check on the horses and finds her body
  • Candy enters the barn and finds her lying still in the hay
  • Curley goes searching for his wife and discovers her in the barn

What does George tell Candy about the dream farm after they find the body?

  • He says they should still buy it and dedicate it to Lennie's memory
  • He says the dream is over and he always knew they would never achieve it
  • He tells Candy to buy the farm alone while George goes to find Lennie
  • He says they need to wait a few months before making any final decisions

What important item is discovered to be missing at the end of Chapter 5?

  • Slim's leather work gloves that he always keeps in the bunkhouse
  • The money that Candy had been saving for the dream farm purchase
  • Carlson's Luger pistol, which foreshadows the novel's final scene
  • George's bindle and personal belongings from the bunkhouse shelf

Where does Lennie flee after killing Curley's wife?

  • He runs to the nearest town to try to find work at another ranch
  • He hides in Crooks's room in the back of the barn until nightfall
  • He goes to the clearing by the Salinas River designated by George in Chapter 1
  • He wanders into the hills above the ranch and tries to cross the mountains

Which of the following events actually happens in Chapter 5?

  • Curley's wife tells Lennie she believes her mother stole the letter from Hollywood
  • George punches Curley after learning about his wife's death
  • Slim offers to help Lennie escape before the other men find out
  • Crooks joins the search party and volunteers to lead the way

Which of the following does NOT happen in Chapter 5?

  • Lennie accidentally kills a puppy by petting it too hard
  • Curley's wife shares her dream of being in the movies
  • George shoots Lennie by the river to prevent a lynching
  • Candy discovers Curley's wife's body in the barn

What does 'consoled' mean as used when Lennie tries to comfort himself after killing the puppy?

  • Criticized or scolded oneself harshly for making a careless mistake
  • Comforted someone during a time of grief, disappointment, or distress
  • Concealed evidence of wrongdoing to avoid being caught or punished
  • Celebrated a small victory in order to distract from a larger problem

What does 'foreshadowing' mean as a literary device used in this chapter?

  • A technique where the author exaggerates events for dramatic and emotional effect
  • A method of describing characters indirectly through their actions and dialogue
  • A device where the author gives hints or clues about events that will occur later
  • A strategy of withholding key information from the reader to create mystery

What does 'resigned' mean when describing George's tone after finding the body?

  • Angry and confrontational, ready to fight anyone who stands in the way
  • Quietly accepting something unpleasant that one cannot do anything to change
  • Hopeful and optimistic that things will eventually improve over time
  • Indecisive and uncertain, unable to commit to any particular course of action

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