Choose the best answer for each question. At the end of the quiz, your score will appear here. Note: this quiz is based on the original story. Some of the questions and answers may not be applicable to our simplified story.
How did the jail superintendent know that the hanging was late?
The other prisoners were calling for their breakfast.
The head jailer waved his hand and said "All is prepared".
He heard a far off sound that told him the time
What is the most likely reason that the jail superintendent looked unhappy as they were preparing the prisoner for the walk to the gallows?
He hadn't had breakfast and was very hungry.
He didn't like the idea of hanging people.
They were late and he had other work to do.
What is the most likely reason that the narrator thought the dog appearing was a bad thing?
Because it made the prisoner think this was a normal part of any hanging.
Because hangings should be serious affairs, and things like this should not happen.
Because it was the prisoner's dog and he would worry because there was no one else to take care of it.
What is the most likely meaning of the dog running up to the prisoner and trying to lick his face?
That because the dog sees everyone as the same, it is wrong to kill people.
That the dog has been trained to do this to make men who were about to be hung feel better.
That it must be the prisoner's dog, which shows that he had some kindness in his heart.
What did the narrator think was unusual about the way the prisoner walked to the gallows?
He walked with that strange movement of the Indian who never straightens his knees.
He stepped a little to one side so as not to wet his feet in a puddle.
The lock of hair on top of his head danced up and down.
When did the narrator first come to understand that capital punishment was wrong?
When he heard the prisoner singing over and over to his god.
When he saw the prisoner step around a puddle on the way to the gallows.
When everyone started laughing at the head jailer's funny stories about other hangings.
As the narrator talked about listening to the prisoner singing to his god, why does he say: "The same thought was in all our minds: oh, kill him quickly."
Because it did not sound like a proper prayer as he kept singing the same word over and over.
Because at that point the narrator still thought that capital punishment was O.K. and he wanted to get it finished quickly.
Because everyone knew that the prisoner had to die and the singing made them feel bad about what they were doing.
Why did the jail superintendent look happy after he checked the body and said "He's all right"?
Because the prisoner did not die and would be set free.
Because the hanging was over and he could return to his normal work.
Because they were all hungry and could now go and have breakfast.
Why did the narrator say that he felt like "breaking into a run" after the hanging?
Because he did not like hangings and felt like running away from his job.
Because this is a way of expressing relief after successfully completing a difficult job.
Because he did not like the jail and wanted to get out of it as soon as possible.
Why were they all laughing at the end of the story?
Because they thought the head jailer's stories about other hangings were very funny.
Because they were all happy from drinking whiskey together.
Because this was their way of dealing with stress after a bad situation.