Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 32 quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. What is Elizabeth doing when Mr. Darcy unexpectedly arrives at the parsonage?

   • Reading a novel Charlotte lent her from Lady Catherine's library
   • Correct answer: Writing a letter to Jane while sitting alone in the room
   • Practicing on the pianoforte that Lady Catherine had sent over
   • Preparing tea for Charlotte and Maria's return from the village

   Elizabeth is "sitting by herself the next morning, and writing to Jane while Mrs. Collins and Maria were gone on business into the village" when she is startled by a ring at the door.

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2. 2

   Question 2. Who does Elizabeth initially expect the visitor at the door to be?

   • Mr. Bingley, come to explain his long absence from Netherfield
   • Mr. Collins, returning early from his parish duties for the day
   • Colonel Fitzwilliam, who had called at the Parsonage more than once
   • Correct answer: Lady Catherine, since no carriage was heard arriving at the house

   Hearing no carriage, Elizabeth thinks "it not unlikely to be Lady Catherine" and begins putting away her letter to escape impertinent questions.

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3. 3

   Question 3. What excuse does Darcy give for his visit to the parsonage?

   • He says Lady Catherine sent him with a message for Mrs. Collins
   • He claims he was merely passing by on his walk through the grounds
   • Correct answer: He says he understood all the ladies were to be at home that morning
   • He explains that Colonel Fitzwilliam asked him to deliver an invitation

   Darcy "apologised for his intrusion by letting her know that he had understood all the ladies were to be within."

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4. 4

   Question 4. What does Darcy say about Bingley's plans for Netherfield?

   • Correct answer: He says Bingley may spend very little time there and could sell if an offer comes
   • He says Bingley has already given up the place, and a settled family will soon take it
   • He admits he personally persuaded Bingley to give up the Netherfield lease
   • He confirms that Bingley plans to return to Netherfield in the spring

   Darcy says Bingley "may spend very little of his time there in the future" and adds he would not be surprised "if he were to give it up as soon as any eligible purchase offers."

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5. 5

   Question 5. How does Elizabeth describe Charlotte's decision to marry Mr. Collins?

   • She says Charlotte made a terrible mistake and will surely regret the marriage
   • She says she admires Charlotte's courage but cannot understand the attraction at all
   • She says it was the wisest decision Charlotte has ever made in her life
   • Correct answer: She says it may not be the wisest thing Charlotte ever did, though it is a good prudential match

   Elizabeth says she is "not certain that I consider her marrying Mr. Collins as the wisest thing she ever did" but adds that "in a prudential light it is certainly a very good match for her."

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6. 6

   Question 6. What disagreement arises between Darcy and Elizabeth about distance?

   • Correct answer: Whether fifty miles between Hunsford and Hertfordshire is an easy distance or not
   • Whether Elizabeth should have traveled to Kent by public coach or private carriage
   • Whether London is too far from Netherfield for Bingley to manage his estate
   • Whether the walk from Rosings to the parsonage is too long for daily visits

   Darcy calls fifty miles "a very easy distance" while Elizabeth insists she "should never have said Mrs. Collins was settled near her family" at that distance.

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7. 7

   Question 7. What does Darcy do immediately after saying "You cannot have been always at Longbourn"?

   • He stands and paces the room while awaiting her response intently
   • Correct answer: He draws back his chair, picks up a newspaper, and asks about Kent in a colder voice
   • He leans forward and asks Elizabeth about her favorite places to travel
   • He excuses himself abruptly and leaves the room without saying goodbye

   After Elizabeth looks surprised, Darcy "experienced some change of feeling; he drew back his chair, took a newspaper from the table, and glancing over it, said, in a colder voice: 'Are you pleased with Kent?'"

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8. 8

   Question 8. What does Charlotte say to Elizabeth after Darcy leaves?

   • She says Lady Catherine must have sent him, since nothing at the Parsonage escapes her notice
   • She warns Elizabeth to be careful not to offend Lady Catherine's nephew
   • Correct answer: She says Darcy must be in love with Elizabeth or he would not have called so familiarly
   • She says Darcy seemed rude and she hopes he will not visit again soon

   Charlotte says, "My dear, Eliza, he must be in love with you, or he would never have called us in this familiar way."

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9. 9

   Question 9. What reason do Charlotte and Elizabeth ultimately settle on for Darcy's visit?

   • He wanted to ask Elizabeth about Bingley's feelings toward Jane Bennet
   • He was sent by Lady Catherine to check whether Elizabeth was a suitable guest
   • He came because he is secretly in love with Elizabeth and cannot stay away
   • Correct answer: He had difficulty finding anything to do, since all field sports were over for the season

   They "could at last only suppose his visit to proceed from the difficulty of finding anything to do, which was the more probable from the time of year. All field sports were over."

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10. 10

    Question 10. How does Elizabeth compare Colonel Fitzwilliam to George Wickham?

    • Correct answer: She thinks Colonel Fitzwilliam has less captivating manners but possibly a better-informed mind
    • She considers them equally untrustworthy despite their different social stations
    • She prefers Wickham's intelligence but admires Colonel Fitzwilliam's honesty more
    • She finds Colonel Fitzwilliam more charming and better-looking than Wickham

    Elizabeth notes "there was less captivating softness in Colonel Fitzwilliam's manners" but "she believed he might have the best informed mind."

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11. 11

    Question 11. How does Darcy typically behave during his frequent visits to the parsonage?

    • He is lively and engaged, entertaining the ladies with stories of London society
    • Correct answer: He often sits for ten minutes without speaking, and his talk seems forced when it comes
    • He monopolizes Elizabeth's attention while ignoring Charlotte and Maria completely
    • He talks with the readiness and ease of a well-bred man, much as Colonel Fitzwilliam does

    Darcy "frequently sat there ten minutes together without opening his lips; and when he did speak, it seemed the effect of necessity rather than of choice-- a sacrifice to propriety, not a pleasure to himself."

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12. 12

    Question 12. How does Charlotte describe the way Darcy looks at Elizabeth?

    • With a look of curiosity, like the one he turned on her and Colonel Fitzwilliam at Rosings
    • With a look of cold disapproval and superior condescension toward her
    • Correct answer: With an earnest, steadfast gaze, though whether it reflects admiration is uncertain
    • With obvious delight and warmth that leaves no doubt about his intentions

    Charlotte observes "an earnest, steadfast gaze, but she often doubted whether there were much admiration in it, and sometimes it seemed nothing but absence of mind."

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13. 13

    Question 13. Why does Charlotte refrain from pressing Elizabeth about Darcy's possible feelings?

    • Correct answer: She fears raising expectations that might only end in disappointment for Elizabeth
    • She thinks Darcy is too proud and Elizabeth should not lower herself to pursue him
    • She is jealous and does not want Elizabeth to marry better than she did
    • She believes Elizabeth already knows and is deliberately ignoring the signs

    Mrs. Collins "did not think it right to press the subject, from the danger of raising expectations which might only end in disappointment."

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14. 14

    Question 14. What practical advantage does Darcy hold over Colonel Fitzwilliam as a potential match for Elizabeth?

    • Darcy has already expressed his intentions openly while the Colonel has not
    • Darcy is the more pleasant man and certainly admires Elizabeth more than his cousin does
    • Correct answer: Darcy has considerable patronage in the church, while Colonel Fitzwilliam has none
    • Darcy is the elder son and will inherit a title that Colonel Fitzwilliam cannot

    Charlotte considers that "Mr. Darcy had considerable patronage in the church, and his cousin could have none at all," meaning Darcy could benefit Mr. Collins's career.

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15. 15

    Question 15. What key theme does the distance debate between Darcy and Elizabeth foreshadow?

    • The economic inequality that separates their social classes permanently
    • Correct answer: The emotional and social gap between them that must be bridged before they can unite
    • Elizabeth's strong attachment to Longbourn, which will keep her from marrying far from home
    • The superiority of city life over rural country existence in the period

    The debate about what constitutes an "easy distance" subtly reflects the larger gap between Darcy and Elizabeth in terms of class, pride, and prejudice, foreshadowing the reconciliation they must achieve for a successful union.

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