This GCSE English Literature quiz will test your skills of comprehension in An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley.
Understanding a text is one of the most important skills to master, but it is not always easy! Authors very rarely state what they mean directly. Instead, they show the reader what they want to convey through character, setting, plot, theme and dialogue. This means that you have to pay attention and try to understand a text as you read. Sometimes you might even need to go back and reread sections when you realise you don’t understand as well as you should.
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Comprehension works on several levels simultaneously. Be sure that you understand how the context relates to events and how each event is related to the others. Sometimes jotting down a quick timeline of events can help.
With characters, think about the motivation behind their actions. What are the clues in the text which explain their behaviour? Can you trust their words at face value, or do you need to listen for subtext and undertones? Do their words always match their actions and their beliefs? If not, why not?
It can also be useful to think about beginnings and endings. What is the reason for the text to begin at a certain place? How do you know about previous events? Does the author rely on flashbacks, for example? Are future events foreshadowed? How? You can consider individual chapters, scenes or acts in a play in the same way. Why has the author structured the text in a certain way? How does it add to the meaning and to your understanding?
Read the questions below on An Inspector Calls and test your knowledge and understanding of the text.
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1.
|
What are the Birling family celebrating at the beginning of the play? |
|
[ ] |
The recent launch of the Titanic |
[ ] |
Mr Birling's knighthood |
[ ] |
The engagement of Gerald and Sheila |
[ ] |
Mrs Birling's new job |
|
|
2.
|
Why is the absence of the Croft family from these celebrations significant? |
|
[ ] |
Their absence hints at a disapproval of Sheila and her family |
[ ] |
Their absence shows that they neglect their business |
[ ] |
Their absence indicates their involvement in the Inspector's visit |
[ ] |
Their absence shows their lack of patriotism |
|
|
3.
|
How does Mr Birling try to dismiss the Inspector? |
|
[ ] |
He refuses to cooperate |
[ ] |
He immediately phones the local police |
[ ] |
He orders the Inspector to leave |
[ ] |
He implies that his connections with the Chief Constable mean that he is above whatever the Inspector might be investigating |
|
|
4.
|
Why is the Inspector's name "Goole" significant? |
|
[ ] |
It's merely a northern name |
[ ] |
It is a foreign name |
[ ] |
It is a homophone for "ghoul" |
[ ] |
It is not significant |
|
|
5.
|
How is Sheila responsible for Eva Smith's fate? |
|
[ ] |
Sheila demanded that the young woman be sacked from Milwards |
[ ] |
Sheila refused to recommend the young woman to her mother's charity committee |
[ ] |
Sheila introduced the young woman to Gerald |
[ ] |
Sheila encouraged her father to sack the young woman from her job at his works |
|
|
6.
|
Gerald's former mistress was called Daisy Renton. How is he involved in the fate of Eva Smith? |
|
[ ] |
Eva Smith and Daisy Renton are the same person, as Gerald realises when he sees the photograph |
[ ] |
He kept a woman called Daisy Renton as a mistress, but abandoned her as Eva Smith has been abandoned |
[ ] |
Eva Smith and Daisy Renton are not the same women, therefore Gerald bears no responsibility for Eva's fate |
[ ] |
Eva Smith and Daisy Renton were flatmates |
|
|
7.
|
Eric says he met Eva Smith when he was a "bit squiffy". What does he mean by this? |
|
[ ] |
He was lonely |
[ ] |
He was smelly |
[ ] |
He was drunk |
[ ] |
He was tired |
|
|
8.
|
Mr and Mrs Birling feel relieved shortly after Inspector Goole leaves their home. Which of the following events is responsible for their change of mood? |
|
[ ] |
Sheila has informed her parents that they cannot be held responsible for a suicide |
[ ] |
Gerald returns from his walk with news |
[ ] |
The Birlings have decided to take full responsibility for their mistreatment of Eva Smith and feel less guilty in consequence |
[ ] |
The Inspector rings to tell the family that he was mistaken |
|
|
9.
|
Why are Sheila and Eric angry with their parents' reaction? |
|
[ ] |
Mr and Mrs Birling seem to have forgotten their role in Eva Smith's death |
[ ] |
Their parents are more worried about scandal than about how their actions affect others |
[ ] |
Mr and Mrs Birling show no signs that their behaviour will change in future |
[ ] |
All of the above |
|
|
10.
|
Which of the following indicates that the Birlings have not finished so easily with the fate of "Eva Smith"? |
|
[ ] |
The telephone rings |
[ ] |
The police call at the door |
[ ] |
Inspector Goole reappears |
[ ] |
Eric storms out of the house to meet with the real Eva |
|
|
1.
|
What are the Birling family celebrating at the beginning of the play? |
|
[ ] |
The recent launch of the Titanic |
[ ] |
Mr Birling's knighthood |
[x] |
The engagement of Gerald and Sheila |
[ ] |
Mrs Birling's new job |
|
|
2.
|
Why is the absence of the Croft family from these celebrations significant? |
|
[x] |
Their absence hints at a disapproval of Sheila and her family |
[ ] |
Their absence shows that they neglect their business |
[ ] |
Their absence indicates their involvement in the Inspector's visit |
[ ] |
Their absence shows their lack of patriotism |
|
|
3.
|
How does Mr Birling try to dismiss the Inspector? |
|
[ ] |
He refuses to cooperate |
[ ] |
He immediately phones the local police |
[ ] |
He orders the Inspector to leave |
[x] |
He implies that his connections with the Chief Constable mean that he is above whatever the Inspector might be investigating |
|
|
4.
|
Why is the Inspector's name "Goole" significant? |
|
[ ] |
It's merely a northern name |
[ ] |
It is a foreign name |
[x] |
It is a homophone for "ghoul" |
[ ] |
It is not significant |
|
|
5.
|
How is Sheila responsible for Eva Smith's fate? |
|
[x] |
Sheila demanded that the young woman be sacked from Milwards |
[ ] |
Sheila refused to recommend the young woman to her mother's charity committee |
[ ] |
Sheila introduced the young woman to Gerald |
[ ] |
Sheila encouraged her father to sack the young woman from her job at his works |
|
|
6.
|
Gerald's former mistress was called Daisy Renton. How is he involved in the fate of Eva Smith? |
|
[ ] |
Eva Smith and Daisy Renton are the same person, as Gerald realises when he sees the photograph |
[x] |
He kept a woman called Daisy Renton as a mistress, but abandoned her as Eva Smith has been abandoned |
[ ] |
Eva Smith and Daisy Renton are not the same women, therefore Gerald bears no responsibility for Eva's fate |
[ ] |
Eva Smith and Daisy Renton were flatmates |
|
|
7.
|
Eric says he met Eva Smith when he was a "bit squiffy". What does he mean by this? |
|
[ ] |
He was lonely |
[ ] |
He was smelly |
[x] |
He was drunk |
[ ] |
He was tired |
|
|
8.
|
Mr and Mrs Birling feel relieved shortly after Inspector Goole leaves their home. Which of the following events is responsible for their change of mood? |
|
[ ] |
Sheila has informed her parents that they cannot be held responsible for a suicide |
[x] |
Gerald returns from his walk with news |
[ ] |
The Birlings have decided to take full responsibility for their mistreatment of Eva Smith and feel less guilty in consequence |
[ ] |
The Inspector rings to tell the family that he was mistaken |
|
|
9.
|
Why are Sheila and Eric angry with their parents' reaction? |
|
[ ] |
Mr and Mrs Birling seem to have forgotten their role in Eva Smith's death |
[ ] |
Their parents are more worried about scandal than about how their actions affect others |
[ ] |
Mr and Mrs Birling show no signs that their behaviour will change in future |
[x] |
All of the above |
|
|
10.
|
Which of the following indicates that the Birlings have not finished so easily with the fate of "Eva Smith"? |
|
[x] |
The telephone rings |
[ ] |
The police call at the door |
[ ] |
Inspector Goole reappears |
[ ] |
Eric storms out of the house to meet with the real Eva |
|
|