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The Tragedy of Macbeth, Act I William Shakespeare
COMPREHENSION Circle the letter of the best answer to each of the following
items.
1. What theme is suggested when the witches say, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”?
A) Appearances can be deceiving.
B) Nothing can be believed.
C) Opposites mean the same thing.
D) All good people are really bad people.
2. What scene in Act I foreshadows Macbeth’s ambitions and future rise in station?
A) Scene 2, when we learn that Macbeth and Banquo are great warriors
B) Scene 3, when the witches hail him as the Thane of Cawdor
C) Scene 4, when King Duncan rewards Macbeth
D) Scene 6, when King Duncan and Banquo admire Macbeth’s castle
3. When Macbeth says, “If it were done when ’tis done, then ’twere well /
it were done quickly. . . .” you can infer that—
A) Macbeth feels he should wait and plan carefully to be sure his plan succeeds
B) Macbeth believes his opportunity for success is only in the long term
C) Macbeth wants to wait until he has his wife’s help before he acts
D) Macbeth feels he should act fast, before doubt can overcome him
4. What major conflict of the play is introduced in Act I?
A) Lady Macbeth’s internal struggle between her ambition and her conscience
B) The conflict between individual ambitions and universal laws against crimes
such as murder
C) Macbeth’s internal struggle between his ambition and his conscience
D) The struggle between the individual’s personal ambition and his or her duties
to the greater community
5. In Act I, Scene 3, Macbeth says to Banquo, “Do you not hope your children shall be
kings, / When those that gave the Thane of Cawdor to me / Promised no less to
them?” What does this reveal about Macbeth’s character?
A) He is generous by nature.
B) He is suspicious, and he expects others to feel the same way.
C) He is ambitious, and he expects others to be ambitious as well.
D) He has hopes for others as well as for himself.
Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
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Unit 2 Resources
Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
LITERARY FOCUS Circle the letter of the best answer to each of the following
items.
6. What factor will probably lead to Macbeth’s downfall in the tragedy?
A) A circumstance that is beyond his control
B) A flaw in Lady Macbeth
C) An external event
D) A flaw in himself
7. Macbeth’s tragic flaw, as revealed in Act I, is—
A) ruthless ambition
C) a guilty conscience
B) too much trust
D) lack of loyalty
READING FOCUS Circle the letter of the best answer to each of the following
items.
8. When the three witches reveal the future for Macbeth and Banquo, which is the
most important question to ask at this point?
A) Are the witches related to Macbeth?
B) Why are there only three witches?
C) Who are the witches trying to harm?
D) Are the witches telling the truth?
9. At the end of Scene 2, the king says, “What he hath lost, noble Macbeth hath won.”
When you ask yourself what the king means, which of the following is the answer?
A) Macbeth will be named king after Duncan.
B) Macbeth will gain the king of Norway’s land.
C) Macbeth will gain the Thane of Cawdor’s title.
D) Macbeth will become the Thane of Glamis.
10. Near the end of Act I, Macbeth says, “We will proceed no further with this
business.” What might be a good question to ask about this line?
A) Is Macbeth afraid of losing the love of his wife?
B) Will Macbeth end up sparing the king’s life?
C) Is Macbeth afraid the witches will harm him?
D) Is Macbeth planning to throw the king out of his castle?
Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
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Unit 2 Resources