The Rise of Silas Lapham Quizzes

The Rise of Silas Lapham Quiz 1

1 During William Dean Howells' boyhood, what business was his father in?
The education industry

The healthcare industry

The financial industry

The newspaper printing industry
2 What region of the United States was William Dean Howells originally from?
The East Coast

The Midwest

The Mountain West

The Deep South
3 During his period of renown and influence, William Dean Howells was a vocal advocate for which literary movement?
Postmodernism

Romanticism

Literary Realism

Modernism
4 Where was "The Rise of Silas Lapham" originally serialized?
The Atlantic Monthly

The Century

The Hamilton Intelligencer

The Cincinnati Gazette
5 Who among the following was NOT an influential friend of William Dean Howells?
Henry James

Mark Twain

Grover Cleveland

William James
6 What do Silas and Bartley connect over towards the end of Chapter 1?
Their love for beautiful women

Their shared experience growing up in the country

Their passion for horses

Their obsession with paint
7 Who originally discovered the paint mine on the Lapham family property?
Silas' father, Nehemiah

Silas' wife, Persis

Silas' daughter, Penelope

Silas Lapham himself
8 Lapham is not only Silas' last name but also ___.
the name of their family property in Vermont

the name of a town he supported financially in Vermont

the name of the street Silas seeks to move to

the name of the family's estate in Nankeen Square
9 Which of the following was NOT a significant source of stress on the Lapham marriage before the events of the novel?
Silas' potential mistreatment of his former business partner, Mr. Rogers

Silas' injury in the war, which required a great deal of care and attention from Persis

The loss of their son

Silas going away to war and away from the business
10 Which of the following most accurately characterizes Bartley Hubbard?
He is a devout Christian who respects Silas' country origins.

He is satisfied fully with the information Silas provides and does not press him for more.

He is cynical, hungry for success, and acts questionably with regard to Silas.

He is young and naive.
11 Which of the following is NOT a use of Silas' paint that he directly mentions?
Portrait painting

Waterproofing

Enhancement or decoration of natural scenery

Fireproofing
12 What drives Bartley Hubbard to call Silas an "old fool" at the end of Chapter 1?
Silas was bragging so obviously about his newfound wealth.

Silas has sent a sample of The Persis Brand to Bartley's wife, Marcia.

Silas offered to take Bartley to his vacation home in Nantasket.

Silas is excited to build his new home in the Back Bay.
13 From whom did the Laphams acquire their home in Nankeen Square?
The family that Persis and the girls met in Baie St. Joan, later revealed to be the Coreys

A business partner of Silas who owns many properties

A family member who passed away

A gentleman who fled the area after realizing that it was not fashionable
14 How did Persis first become acquainted with Anna Corey in Canada?
She and Anna accidentally booked the same hotel room, and met trying to sort things out.

She was involved with the Coreys in a minor carriage accident while driving in Canada.

Anna was in Canada with her daughters, and Persis took care of her when she took ill.

She struck up a conversation with Anna after realizing that they were from the same rural town.
15 Which of the following is NOT a barrier to the Laphams' entry into high society at the novel's beginning?
The family's location in an unfashionable neighborhood

The family's closeness, which disincentivizes them from socializing with others and gaining knowledge

Irene's vulgarity, which comes through mostly as a result of her sharp wit

The family's lack of knowledge of high society customs that is rooted in their new money status
16 Which of the following is NOT a reason that the Laphams contemplate moving to Beacon Street?
A burgeoning ambition and obsession with status in the public eye

Their desire to ingratiate their girls into high society and have them marry well

Their desire to move out of their current neighborhood into a more fashionable one

The desire to live closer to Cambridge, where Silas spends a great deal of time
17 Which of the following is NOT something revealed about Silas by the debate over how much to contribute to the Coreys' charity?
His dislike for charitable organizations, which help the downtrodden, on account of his own self-made successes

His growing sense of pride and entitlement that results from his business successes

His naiveté regarding the proper or decorous way to act in high society

His dislike for old money families like the Coreys
18 Which of the following is NOT literally or figuratively meant when Persis asks Silas if Back Bay is "unhealthy" (32)?
The soil of the Back Bay area is not able to support crops.

The neighborhood might be bad for their family as a whole.

The neighborhood might put them on an unhealthy path of ambition.

The neighborhood might have a prevalence of literal disease, such as Diptheria.
19 By the end of Chapter 2, which best describes the Lapham daughters' attitudes towards moving to Beacon Street?
Irene is excited for the opportunity to advance in society, but Penelope is not excited to move at all.

Both girls are thoroughly excited to move as soon as possible.

Penelope is slightly enthusiastic, and Irene is not sure whether Silas even intends to really build there.

Irene is slightly enthusiastic, and Penelope is not sure whether Silas even intends to really build there.
20 How do the Laphams interpret the receipt of the newspaper article detailing the ranch of Loring G. Stanton?
They consider it as evidence that Stanton wants to come to Boston and ask after Irene.

They do not take it any particular way, and immediately dispose of it.

They consider it an invitation to join Mr. Stanton in Texas for their next vacation.

Since Tom Corey has been staying with Stanton, they interpret the newspaper as evidence of Tom's ongoing interest in Irene.
21 Which of the following bests describes Silas' relationship with his architect?
His architect is able to manipulate him into purchasing whichever finishes he suggests, since Silas considers his advice to be part of his own aesthetic education.

Silas distrusts his architect, since he too is a member of the old money class of Boston.

His architect constantly shows a great deal of respect for Silas on account of his honest morals.

The two are close friends, often stopping in at Young's for drinks together.
22 What does Mr. Rogers suggest when he runs into the Laphams at their new home?
He is moving back to Boston soon.

His wife is on the verge of death.

He harbors a great deal of resentment against Silas.

He would like Silas to loan him a small sum of money.
23 Why does Persis refuse to live in the Beacon Street home at the end of Chapter 3?
She does not think that it will be the best thing for their daughters.

She is worried that she will take ill if the family moves to Beacon Street.

She does not like the smell of the neighborhood, which is particularly rank.

She still has outstanding guilt over Rogers' treatment by Silas and feels that their fortune was built at his expense.
24 Complete the quote: "The Colonel still sat looking up at her face, and watching the effect of the poison of ___ which he had artfully instilled into her mind."
Ambition

Status

Marriage

Wealth
25 In a highly symbolic moment, Bartley asks Silas in Chapter 1 if he has ever tested the effects of what "on the human conscience"?
Kindness

Paint

Fire

Working

About the novel

Check this out: Realism

https://www.gradesaver.com/the-rise-of-silas-lapham/study-guide/themes

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About the novel

Is this question related to the novel you have posted.

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The Rise of Silas Lapham

The houses have always represented a certain style of living and a certain "sensibility" that comes with "old money" and a lifestyle based on inherited money and grand living. As the money falls away and the people become poorer, the wealthy...

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The Rise of Silas Lapham

by William Dean Howells

The Rise of Silas Lapham Quiz 1

The Rise of Silas Lapham Questions and Answers

Study Guide for The Rise of Silas Lapham

Essays for The Rise of Silas Lapham

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