Selection Test: The Phantom Tollbooth, Act I

Which word best describes Milo at the beginning of The Phantom Tollbooth, Act 1

• tired
• bored
• angry
• curious

At the beginning of the play, what does the package that Milo opens contain?

• a phantom
• a clock
• a tollbooth
• a car

What is it illegal to do in the Doldrums, according to Act 1?

• think or write
• sing or laugh
• write or sing
• think or laugh

At the end of Act 1, what mission does Azaz give Milo?

• helping the Humbug and Spelling Bee get along better
• settling the quarrel between Azaz and the Mathemagician
• Rescuing the Princesses Rhyme and Reason
• Helping the Humbug find his true home.

In Act 1 of the play, why does Azaz give Milo a box of letters of the alphabet?

• so that Milo will win when he argues with the Mathemagician
• So that Milo can eat the letters when he is hungry
• So that Milo can make words to overcome obstacles
• so that Milo will learn to be a better reader

Read these lines from Act 1:
Reason:  Words and numbers are of equal value, for in the cloak of knowledge one is the warp and the other is the woof.
Rhyme:  It is no more important to count the sands than it is to name the stars.
What do these lines suggest most clearly about Rhyme and Reason?

• They are nervous about sharing their opinions.
• They do not like numbers or words very much.
• They are sensible and able to agree about things.
• They think that starts are better than words or numbers.

In the Word Market, during Act 1, Merchant 4 declares that "A" is one of our bestsellers but that the "x" tastes like a trunkful of stale air.
What is the most likely reason the "A" sells better than the "X".

• The letter A appears at the beginning of the alphabet.
• Vowels are always more useful than consonants.
• A's are used in many more words than X's are.
• The letter A has a crisp and specific sound.

What lesson does Milo learn in the Doldrums during Act 1?

• Rules are meant to be broken.
• Laughter is not a useful human behavior.
• Failing to think means that you get nowhere.
• If you lose your way, try to find someone else's.

Which of these lines best illustrates the lesson Milo learns in the Doldrums during Act 1?

• People who don't pay attention often get stuck in the Doldrums.
• Well, if you can't laugh or think, what can you do?
• from 4:00 to 5:00 we loaf and lounge until dinner...
• He's always sniffing around to see that nobody wastes time. 

Most of the characters in Act 1 love knowledge and words.  Which of the following characters lacks that feeling?

• Tock
• Azaz
• Humbug
• Spelling Bee