West Side Story

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Who is Baby John?

A) A comic book character

B) Bernardo’s younger brother

C) The youngest Jet

D) A girl who wants to be a Jet

2. According to the song “America,” what is it “nobody knows” about Puerto Rico?

A) It’s an island of tropical diseases.

B) The capital is San Juan.

C)  It’s in America.

D) It is full of flowers in full bloom.

3. Why do the Jets hate the Puerto Ricans?

A) The cops show favoritism toward the Puerto Ricans.

B) The Sharks attacked the Jets first.

C) The Puerto Ricans make more money doing the same jobs.

D) The Jets are afraid the Sharks will take over their territory.

4. Why does Tony sing about Maria’s name?

A) He thinks a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

B) It’s practically the only thing he knows about her.

C) Her name has religious connotations for him.

D) He wants to remember it.

5. Which Jet is known for being aggressive?

A) A-rab

B) Diesel

C) Riff

D) Action

6. Who does Schrank address when he says, “you and the immigrant scum you come from”?

A) The Sharks

B) The Jets

C) Bernardo

D) Maria

7. Why does Maria insist that Tony stop the rumble?

A) She wants him to get on Bernardo’s good side.

B) She’s worried the police will deport her family.

C) She’s superstitious about the timing.

D) She thinks it will jeopardize their relationship.

8. Why is there no cultural barrier between Tony and Maria?

A) They fall in love before they learn about each other’s backgrounds.

B) Unlike the others, they don’t have racist tendencies.

C) They see each other only as humans.

D) They are both rebels.

9. What is the underlying message of “Gee, Officer Krupke”?

A) Older people will never understand younger people.

B) Society is ultimately responsible for gang violence.

C) There is no deep message; it’s comic relief.

D) Krupke is a poor excuse for a police officer.

10. What is Tony doing when Doc goes to the cellar to give him money?

A) Weeping

B) Hiding in a corner

C) Whistling “Maria”

D) Looking for a bus schedule

11. How are the gangs differentiated at the dance at the gym?

A) By their gang colors

B) By their gang logos

C) By their formal (Sharks) vs. casual (Jets) attire

D) By their different styles of dancing

12. Why does Doc tolerate the Jets?

A) He fears them.

B) They’re Tony’s friends.

C) They’re paying customers.

D) They protect him from the Sharks.

13. What does Bernardo think of his parents?

A) He thinks they’re ignorant about America.

B) He’s a devoted son who sends money to them in Puerto Rico.

C) He thinks they’re too strict with Maria.

D) He thinks they work too hard for too little pay.

14. Which Jet is considered the joker of the group?

A) Snowboy

B) A-rab

C) Anybodys

D) Action

15. Who is Graziella?

A) The owner of the bridal shop

B) A nervy Jet girl

C) Riff’s girlfriend

D) A slow-witted Shark girl

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. How does Maria change throughout the story? What does she learn, and how does she grow? Why does she decide not to kill herself? What does the end of the play imply about her future?

2. Compare and contrast the treatment of the Puerto Rican characters and the white characters in the play script. Are the members of the Sharks as visible as the members of the Jets? Which group is more sympathetic or relatable?