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 financial industry

The education industry

The newspaper printing industry

The healthcare industry
2 What region of the United States was William Dean Howells originally from?
The Mountain West

The East Coast

The Deep South

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

Romanticism

Literary Realism

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

The Century

The Cincinnati Gazette

The Hamilton Intelligencer
5 Who among the following was NOT an influential friend of William Dean Howells?
William James

Henry James

Grover Cleveland

Mark Twain
6 What do Silas and Bartley connect over towards the end of Chapter 1?
Their passion for horses

Their shared experience growing up in the country

Their love for beautiful women

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

Silas' daughter, Penelope

Silas Lapham himself

Silas' wife, Persis
8 Lapham is not only Silas' last name but also ___.
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

the name of their family property in Vermont
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

The loss of their son

Silas going away to war and away from the business

Silas' injury in the war, which required a great deal of care and attention from Persis
10 Which of the following most accurately characterizes Bartley Hubbard?
He is cynical, hungry for success, and acts questionably with regard to Silas.

He is a devout Christian who respects Silas' country origins.

He is young and naive.

He is satisfied fully with the information Silas provides and does not press him for more.
11 Which of the following is NOT a use of Silas' paint that he directly mentions?
Waterproofing

Enhancement or decoration of natural scenery

Portrait painting

Fireproofing
12 What drives Bartley Hubbard to call Silas an "old fool" at the end of Chapter 1?
Silas has sent a sample of The Persis Brand to Bartley's wife, Marcia.

Silas was bragging so obviously about his newfound wealth.

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?
A family member who passed away

A business partner of Silas who owns many properties

The family that Persis and the girls met in Baie St. Joan, later revealed to be the Coreys

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

She struck up a conversation with Anna after realizing that they were from the same rural town.

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

She and Anna accidentally booked the same hotel room, and met trying to sort things out.
15 Which of the following is NOT a barrier to the Laphams' entry into high society at the novel's beginning?
Irene's vulgarity, which comes through mostly as a result of her sharp wit

The family's location in an unfashionable neighborhood

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

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

The desire to live closer to Cambridge, where Silas spends a great deal of time

A burgeoning ambition and obsession with status in the public eye

Their desire to move out of their current neighborhood into a more fashionable one
17 Which of the following is NOT something revealed about Silas by the debate over how much to contribute to the Coreys' charity?
His naiveté regarding the proper or decorous way to act in high society

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

His dislike for charitable organizations, which help the downtrodden, on account of his own self-made successes

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.

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.

Both girls are thoroughly excited to move as soon as possible.
20 How do the Laphams interpret the receipt of the newspaper article detailing the ranch of Loring G. Stanton?
They consider it an invitation to join Mr. Stanton in Texas for their next vacation.

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

Since Tom Corey has been staying with Stanton, they interpret the newspaper as evidence of Tom's ongoing interest in Irene.

They consider it as evidence that Stanton wants to come to Boston and ask after Irene.
21 Which of the following bests describes Silas' relationship with his architect?
Silas distrusts his architect, since he too is a member of the old money class of Boston.

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.

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.

He would like Silas to loan him a small sum of money.

He harbors a great deal of resentment against Silas.

His wife is on the verge of death.
23 Why does Persis refuse to live in the Beacon Street home at the end of Chapter 3?
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 does not think that it will be the best thing for their daughters.

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

Marriage

Status

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"?
Working

Fire

Kindness

Paint

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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