Othello by William Shakespeare MCQs based on Rapid Reader for class 11, semester 1, wbchse

This article includes 40 important mcqs from your Rapid Reader Text Othello for class 11 semester 1.

To Read bengali translation of Othello, click here

Multiple Choice Questions on Othello

1. Who was Brabantio?

   A Duke of Venice
   A wealthy soldier
   A rich Senator from Venice
   The father of Othello
   

   Correct Answer: A rich Senator from Venice

2. Who was Desdemona?

   The wife of Brabantio
   Brabantio's beautiful daughter
   Othello's sister
   A suitor of Othello
   

   Correct Answer: Brabantio's beautiful daughter

3. Why did Brabantio love Othello and often invite him to his mansion?

   Because Othello was a rich Senator
   Because Othello was a friend of Cassio
   Because Othello was a valiant soldier and a nobleman
   Because Othello was a fellow Venetian
   

   Correct Answer: Because Othello was a valiant soldier and a nobleman

4. What captivated Desdemona's attention when Othello visited her father's house?

   His wealth
   His stories of adventure, battles, and strange countries
   His handsome appearance
   His noble rank
   

   Correct Answer: His stories of adventure, battles, and strange countries

5. How did Othello gain Desdemona's consent to marry him?

   By offering her a large dowry
   By telling her stories and then openly speaking of his love
   By performing a heroic act for her
   By getting her father's permission first
   

   Correct Answer: By telling her stories and then openly speaking of his love

6. What did Brabantio accuse Othello of when he found out about the marriage?

   Stealing his daughter's inheritance
   Dishonoring his family
   Using a spell and witchcraft to seduce his daughter
   Planning to betray Venice to the Turks
   

   Correct Answer: Using a spell and witchcraft to seduce his daughter

7. Why was Othello summoned to the Senate?

   To answer Brabantio's charges and to be employed as a General
   To receive a medal for his heroic acts
   To announce his marriage to Desdemona
   To be promoted to Duke of Venice
   

   Correct Answer: To answer Brabantio's charges and to be employed as a General

8. How did Othello defend himself against Brabantio's accusation?

   By presenting witnesses
   By having Desdemona testify in court
   By narrating a simple story of his love, which was confirmed by Desdemona
   By confessing to the use of witchcraft
   

   Correct Answer: By narrating a simple story of his love, which was confirmed by Desdemona

9. What was the "witchcraft" Othello used to win Desdemona's heart?

   A love potion
   The skill of telling a soft tale to win a lady's heart
   Magical handkerchief
   A spell to make her fall in love
   

   Correct Answer: The skill of telling a soft tale to win a lady's heart

10. What did Desdemona say was her higher duty after her marriage to Othello?

    To obey her father in all things
    To perform her duty for her lover and husband, Othello
    To become a leader in Venice
    To live separately from her husband
    

    Correct Answer: To perform her duty for her lover and husband, Othello

11. Why did Desdemona go to Cyprus with Othello?

    Her father forced her to go
    She was ordered by the Duke of Venice
    She refused to stay with her father and declared, "I loved the Moor to live with him"
    She wanted to see the war
    

    Correct Answer: She refused to stay with her father and declared, "I loved the Moor to live with him"

12. Who was Cassio?

    A rival of Othello
    A young Florentine soldier and a friend of Othello
    Desdemona's brother
    The Duke of Venice's son
    

    Correct Answer: A young Florentine soldier and a friend of Othello

13. Why did Othello often depute Cassio to court for him during his courtship with Desdemona?

    Othello was too busy with military affairs
    Othello feared he lacked the amorous qualities that would please ladies
    Desdemona preferred talking to Cassio
    Cassio was a better storyteller
    

    Correct Answer: Othello feared he lacked the amorous qualities that would please ladies

14. Why did Iago hate Othello?

    Othello married Desdemona
    Othello promoted Cassio to the rank of Lieutenant instead of him
    Othello was a moor
    Othello was too old to be a general
    

    Correct Answer: Othello promoted Cassio to the rank of Lieutenant instead of him

15. What was Iago's scheme of revenge?

    To kill Othello in battle
    To make Othello envious of Cassio and involve them both, along with Desdemona, in a common ruin
    To expose Othello's past as a slave
    To turn the Senate against Othello
    

    Correct Answer: To make Othello envious of Cassio and involve them both, along with Desdemona, in a common ruin

16. How did Iago make Cassio lose his rank as Lieutenant?

    By falsely accusing him of treason
    By challenging him to a duel
    By luring him to drink and then making him get into a scuffle while on guard duty
    By revealing a secret about Cassio's past
    

    Correct Answer: By luring him to drink and then making him get into a scuffle while on guard duty

17. What did Iago advise Cassio to do after losing his position?

    To appeal to the Duke of Venice
    To challenge Othello to a duel
    To apply to Desdemona to mediate for him with Othello
    To leave Cyprus
    

    Correct Answer: To apply to Desdemona to mediate for him with Othello

18. How did Desdemona respond to Cassio's request for her help?

    She refused to help him
    She promised to be his solicitor with her lord in an earnest manner
    She was too busy to talk to him
    She told him to go to Iago instead
    

    Correct Answer: She promised to be his solicitor with her lord in an earnest manner

19. What was Iago's first step in making Othello suspicious of Desdemona and Cassio?

    He told Othello he saw Desdemona and Cassio kissing
    He asked Othello if Cassio knew of his courtship with Desdemona and then acted as if he had got "fresh light on some terrible matter"
    He showed Othello a love letter
    He warned Othello about Cassio's nature
    

    Correct Answer: He asked Othello if Cassio knew of his courtship with Desdemona and then acted as if he had got "fresh light on some terrible matter"

20. What was Iago's second argument to make Othello doubt Desdemona's honesty?

    That Desdemona had rejected many suitable Venetian men and chosen a Moor, which was "unnatural in her"
    That Desdemona was a known liar
    That Desdemona was seen with another man
    That Desdemona was not a good wife
    

    Correct Answer: That Desdemona had rejected many suitable Venetian men and chosen a Moor, which was "unnatural in her"

21. What did Iago say about Desdemona deceiving her father?

    He said that she was known for being a trickster
    He insinuated that since she deceived her father in marrying Othello, she might deceive her husband as well
    He said that she was forced to deceive her father
    He said that her father was a fool
    

    Correct Answer: He insinuated that since she deceived her father in marrying Othello, she might deceive her husband as well

22. What was Iago's plan for Desdemona's kindness?

    To make a net for her out of her own goodness to entrap her
    To use her kindness to help Cassio
    To make Othello love her more
    To make Desdemona a leader in society
    

    Correct Answer: To make a net for her out of her own goodness to entrap her

23. What did Othello demand from Iago?

    Proof of Desdemona's guilt
    To see Desdemona
    An apology for his accusations
    To leave Venice with Desdemona
    

    Correct Answer: Proof of Desdemona's guilt

24. What "proof" did Iago provide about Desdemona's infidelity?

    A love letter from Cassio
    That he saw Cassio with a handkerchief spotted with strawberries which was Othello's first gift to Desdemona
    That Cassio confessed to him
    That he saw Desdemona and Cassio together
    

    Correct Answer: That he saw Cassio with a handkerchief spotted with strawberries which was Othello's first gift to Desdemona

25. Who did Iago use to steal the handkerchief?

    Cassio
    Brabantio
    His wife, Emilia
    Montano
    

    Correct Answer: His wife, Emilia

26. Why was the handkerchief so important to Othello?

    It was a very expensive handkerchief
    It was a magical handkerchief given to his mother by an Egyptian woman
    It was a family heirloom
    He had just bought it for Desdemona
    

    Correct Answer: It was a magical handkerchief given to his mother by an Egyptian woman

27. What did Desdemona realize when Othello became very angry about the lost handkerchief?

    That he was jealous of Cassio
    That he was angry about her father
    That he wanted to go back to Venice
    That he was afraid of the Turks
    

    Correct Answer: That he was jealous of Cassio

28. What did Othello tell Desdemona he could have borne with fortitude, but not her infidelity?

    The war in Cyprus
    The loss of his position as General
    The loss of his wealth
    Poverty, disease, and disgrace
    

    Correct Answer: Poverty, disease, and disgrace

29. What did Desdemona ask her attendant to do before she fell asleep?

    To pack her bags to leave
    To call for Cassio
    To make her bed and lay her wedding-sheets upon it
    To tell her father she was fine
    

    Correct Answer: To make her bed and lay her wedding-sheets upon it

30. How did Othello kill Desdemona?

    He stabbed her with a sword
    He poisoned her
    He stifled her with bed clothes
    He pushed her off a balcony
    

    Correct Answer: He stifled her with bed clothes

31. What confirmed Cassio's innocence and Iago's guilt?

    Desdemona's testimony
    Cassio's confession
    Letters found in the pocket of one of Iago's men whom Iago had killed
    Othello's own realization
    

    Correct Answer: Letters found in the pocket of one of Iago's men whom Iago had killed

32. How did Othello react to the discovery of the truth?

    He went into hiding
    He killed himself, falling upon his sword
    He asked for forgiveness from the Senate
    He went to find Iago
    

    Correct Answer: He killed himself, falling upon his sword

33. What was Othello's reputation before he was "wrought upon by the arts of a villain"?

    He was considered a coward
    He was considered a cruel husband
    He bore a fair reputation and was a loving husband
    He was a disliked and reviled man
    

    Correct Answer: He bore a fair reputation and was a loving husband

34. What happened to Iago in the end?

    He was released from prison
    He was promoted to general
    He was executed with strict tortures
    He was banished from Venice
    

    Correct Answer: He was executed with strict tortures

35. What is a central theme of this story based on the text?

    The importance of family honor
    The destructive power of jealousy and deceit
    The valor of a soldier
    The nature of love at first sight
    

    Correct Answer: The destructive power of jealousy and deceit

36. How is Othello portrayed in the beginning of the story?

    As an insecure and jealous man
    As a revered and valiant soldier, esteemed throughout the state
    As a poor and desperate person
    As a cruel and tyrannical leader
    

    Correct Answer: As a revered and valiant soldier, esteemed throughout the state

37. Which statement best describes Desdemona's character?

    A disloyal and deceitful woman
    A shy and timid lady
    A gentle, kind, and devoted wife
    A manipulative and controlling person
    

    Correct Answer: A gentle, kind, and devoted wife

38. What is the central conflict in the story?

    The war between Venice and the Turks
    The disagreement between Othello and Brabantio
    The internal struggle of Othello fueled by Iago's deceit
    The love triangle between Othello, Desdemona, and Cassio
    

    Correct Answer: The internal struggle of Othello fueled by Iago's deceit

39. What does the story suggest about love and perception?

    That love is always enough to overcome any obstacle
    That what you see is not always the truth, and a trusted friend can betray you
    That love is only for the young and beautiful
    That true love is blind to all faults
    

    Correct Answer: That what you see is not always the truth, and a trusted friend can betray you

40. What does the death of Desdemona and Othello's suicide signify?

    A triumphant victory for Venice
    The tragic consequences of Othello's misguided jealousy and Iago's malicious plot
    A happy ending for Cassio
    The resolution of the war
    

    Correct Answer: The tragic consequences of Othello's misguided jealousy and Iago's malicious plot