Reading Comprehension and Spot Passage Test on Othello

European Humanities

December 2004

 

Part One:

 

Reading Comprehension

 

Directions: Answer the following questions in a sentence or two.

 

  1. Why does Roderigo hate Othello?

 

  1. Why did Othello choose Cassio over Iago to be his second in command?

 

  1. How does Othello prevent a riot when Brabantio and his kinsmen arrive at the Saggitary?

 

  1. How does Othello defend himself from Brabantio’s charges of witchcraft?

 

  1. How does Iago reassure Roderigo that the marriage between Othello and Desdemona will never last?

 

  1. What reason does Iago give the audience for his hatred of Othello?

 

  1. How does Iago trick Cassio into fighting?

 

  1. How does Desdemona lose the handkerchief that Othello had given her?

 

  1. When Othello asks Iago for proof of Desdemona’s infidelity, he describes a dream that Cassio had: what happened in that dream?

 

  1. What pattern in embroidered on the handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona?

 

  1. What lie does Desdemona tell Othello?

 

  1. How does Desdemona initially explain Othello’s jealousy to herself and Emelia?

 

  1. Who is Bianca? How does she wind up with the handkerchief?

 

  1. What is the ocular proof that Iago provides that finally convinces Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful?

 

  1. Why does Othello strike Desdemona before the envoy from Venice?

 

  1. How does Desdemona plan to convince Othello that she has been true to him?

 

  1. How does Iago’s plan go awry?

 

  1. What are Desdemona’s final words?

 

  1. How is Emelia killed?

 

  1. With what weapon does Othello kill himself?

 

 

 

Part Two

 

Spot Passages

 

Identify the speaker and the situation:

 

  1. I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter
    and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.

 

  1. Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.

 

  1. I saw Othello's visage in his mind,
    And to his honour and his valiant parts
    Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.

 

  1. Yet again her fingers to your lips? would they were clyster-pipes for your sake!

 

  1. Do not think, gentlemen. I am drunk: this is my ancient; this is my right hand, and this is my left:

 

  1. Ha! I like not that.

 

  1. Not poppy, nor mandragora,
    Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,
    Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep
    Which thou owedst yesterday.

 

  1. Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump,
    The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,
    The royal banner, and all quality,
    Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war!

 

  1. Like to the Pontic sea,
    Whose icy current and compulsive course
    Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on
    To the Propontic and the Hellespont,
    Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace,
    Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love,
    Till that a capable and wide revenge
    Swallow them up

 

  1. A sibyl, that had number'd in the world
    The sun to course two hundred compasses,
    In her prophetic fury sew'd the work;
    The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk;
    And it was dyed in mummy which the skilful
    Conserved of maidens' hearts.

 

  1. 'Tis not a year or two shows us a man:
    They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;
    To eat us hungerly, and when they are full,
    They belch us.

 

  1. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips.
    --Is't possible?--Confess--handkerchief!--O devil!—

 

  1. O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I shall throw it to.

 

  1. The Moor's abused by some most villanous knave,
    Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow!

 

  1. I cannot say 'whore:'
    It does abhor me now I speak the word;

 

  1. My mother had a maid call'd Barbary:
    She was in love, and he she loved proved mad
    And did forsake her

 

  1. Damn'd Iago! O inhuman dog!

 

  1. It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul,--
    Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!--
    It is the cause.

 

  1. Insupportable! O heavy hour!
    Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse
    Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted globe
    Should yawn at alteration.

 

  1. Demand me nothing: what you know, you know:
    From this time forth I never will speak word.