Sense and Sensibility MCQs

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Author: Nasir Iqbal | Assistant Professor of English Literature

Sense and Sensibility MCQs
Updated on: October 26, 2025
Estimated Reading Time: 17 min

Sense and Sensibility MCQs

1. Where was the Dashwood family long settled, possessing a large estate?

A. Devonshire
B. Sussex
C. London
D. Bath

B. Sussex.
The Dashwood family had been long settled in Sussex, living on their large estate at Norland Park.

2. To whom did the late owner primarily secure the Norland estate?

A. Mr. Henry Dashwood
B. His nephew’s son
C. His wife’s family
D. His sister’s children

B. His nephew’s son.
The estate was secured to his nephew’s son, a child of four, restricting Mr. Dashwood’s financial power.

3. How much money did the old gentleman bequeath to each of the three Dashwood girls?

A. £7,000
B. £3,000
C. £1,000
D. £500

C. £1,000.
As a mark of his affection for the three girls, the old gentleman left them a thousand pounds apiece.

4. What amount did Mr. Henry Dashwood initially intend to give each of his sisters upon inheriting Norland?

A. £500
B. £1,000
C. £3,000
D. £4,000

B. £1,000.
Mr. Dashwood initially planned to increase the fortunes of his sisters by presenting them with a thousand pounds apiece.
5. What was Mr. Dashwood’s final resolution regarding financial assistance for his stepmother and sisters?

A. A yearly annuity
B. Three thousand pounds
C. Large annual gifts
D. Occasional presents

D. Occasional presents.
He finally resolved that occasional presents of fifty pounds would amply discharge his promise to his father.

6. Which trait qualified Elinor to be the counsellor of her mother at nineteen?

A. Eagerness of mind
B. Coarseness of wit
C. Coolness of judgment
D. Extreme romance

C. Coolness of judgment.
Elinor possessed a strength of understanding and coolness of judgment, which qualified her to advise her mother.

7. Which sister had “resolved never to be taught” how to govern her feelings?

A. Elinor
B. Margaret
C. Marianne
D. Fanny

C. Marianne.
Governing strong feelings was a knowledge Elinor possessed, which her sister Marianne had resolved never to learn.

8. What is the first name of Mr. Henry Dashwood’s daughter-in-law (Mr. John Dashwood’s wife)?

A. Elinor
B. Margaret
C. Marianne
D. Fanny

D. Fanny.
Her husband refers to her as Fanny when she raises objections about assisting his father’s widow and daughters.

9. Fanny argued against supporting the Dashwood sisters, calling their relationship to her husband what?

A. Distant connection
B. Maternal duty
C. No relationship at all
D. Close blood-tie

C. No relationship at all.
Fanny considered the Miss Dashwoods related only by half-blood, which she stated was “no relationship at all”.
10. What was the total yearly income Fanny calculated the four Dashwood women could live comfortably on?

A. £300
B. £500
C. £1,000
D. £7,000

B. £500.
On the interest of ten thousand pounds (£7,000 plus the girls’ legacies), Fanny calculated they would have £500 a year.

11. How did Edward Ferrars initially appeal to Mrs. Dashwood before she learned his merits?

A. Handsome and witty
B. Quiet and unobtrusive
C. Passionate and lively
D. Wealthy and polite

B. Quiet and unobtrusive.
Mrs. Dashwood first liked Edward because he was quiet and unobtrusive, not disturbing her period of grief.

12. What physical quality did Marianne feel was wanting in Edward, making him unsuitable for Elinor?

A. Height
B. Striking grace
C. Dark eyes
D. Healthy complexion

B. Striking grace.
Marianne observed that Edward’s figure was not striking, lacking the grace she expected in her sister’s lover.

13. Which author did Edward read with “impenetrable calmness” that greatly upset Marianne?

A. Scott
B. Pope
C. Cowper
D. Shakespeare

C. Cowper.
Marianne was severely distressed that Edward read the beautiful lines of Cowper with terrible indifference and calmness.

14. For Marianne to be happy in marriage, what must coincide entirely between her and her husband?

A. Fortune
B. Religion
C. Taste
D. Family

C. Taste.
Marianne insisted she needed a man whose taste coincided with her own in every point to ensure future happiness.
15. What did Elinor believe concealed Edward’s excellent sense and principles?

A. His poor education
B. His shyness
C. His love for Lucy
D. His brother’s influence

B. His shyness.
Elinor stated that Edward’s shyness, which frequently kept him silent, concealed his solid worth and sense.

16. Why did Elinor fear Edward could not easily marry her, despite his preference?

A. His rank was too high
B. He was dependent on his mother
C. He disliked her mother
D. He was too young

B. He was dependent on his mother.
Edward was far from independent, requiring either great fortune or high rank to satisfy his mother for marriage.

17. To what county did Mrs. Dashwood announce she was moving, surprising Edward?

A. Somersetshire
B. Sussex
C. Devonshire
D. Hampshire

C. Devonshire.
Mrs. Dashwood informed her son and daughter-in-law that she was moving to Devonshire, near Exeter.

18. What item did Elinor advise her mother to sell before the journey, despite Mrs. Dashwood’s wishes?

A. The piano-forte
B. The silver plate
C. The carriage
D. Margaret’s books

C. The carriage.
Elinor’s discretion prevailed over Mrs. Dashwood’s wishes, and she agreed to sell the carriage.

19. When leaving Norland, what specific object did Marianne mourn, noting its insensibility to their departure?

A. The garden gate
B. The great house
C. The well-known trees
D. Her bedroom

C. The well-known trees.
Marianne lamented that the well-known trees would continue the same, unconscious of the pleasure or regret they occasioned.
20. How did the sources characterize Lady Middleton’s personality and intelligence?

A. Elegant and clever
B. Hospitable and sophisticated
C. Wanting in taste and talent
D. Reserved and witty

C. Wanting in taste and talent.
Lady Middleton strongly resembled Sir John in her “total want of talent and taste” and confined employments.

21. What, specifically, did Mrs. Jennings focus on doing since her own daughters were married?

A. Knitting rugs
B. Gossiping constantly
C. Projecting weddings
D. Hosting parties

C. Projecting weddings.
Mrs. Jennings, having married off her daughters, had nothing to do but marry all the rest of the world.

22. What age was Colonel Brandon, which Marianne considered too old for matrimony?

A. Seven-and-twenty
B. Thirty-five
C. Forty
D. Fifty

B. Thirty-five.
Marianne vehemently argued that “thirty-five has nothing to do with matrimony,” calling him infirm.

23. Marianne believed a woman of seven-and-twenty might marry for the sake of what?

A. Love and affection
B. Convenience and provision
C. Family happiness
D. Elegant society

B. Convenience and provision.
Marianne thought such a woman could only submit to marriage as a compact of convenience for provision and security.

24. How did Willoughby first introduce himself, prompting admiration from Mrs. Dashwood?

A. He carried her down a hill
B. He cured her illness
C. He gave her a horse
D. He proposed marriage

A. He carried her down a hill.
Willoughby picked up Marianne after she sprained her foot running down a steep hill and carried her to the parlour.
25. What did Sir John Middleton report about Willoughby’s financial situation?

A. He was very poor
B. He had a handsome fortune
C. He had a small Somersetshire estate and a rich relative
D. He was in debt

C. He had a small Somersetshire estate and a rich relative.
Willoughby had an estate in Somersetshire and was expected to inherit the possessions of the old lady at Allenham Court.

26. Which item of clothing did Marianne deem the most becoming on Willoughby?

A. His gloves
B. His shooting-jacket
C. His boots
D. His dancing shoes

B. His shooting-jacket.
Marianne was so impressed she concluded that of all manly dresses, a shooting-jacket was the most becoming.

27. In what way did Willoughby surpass Edward concerning music and reading?

A. He composed music
B. He played louder
C. He read with more sensibility
D. He played several instruments

C. He read with more sensibility.
Willoughby read with all the sensibility and spirit that Edward had unfortunately lacked when reading to them.

28. What trait in Willoughby did Elinor particularly censure?

A. His flirting with Margaret
B. His lack of wealth
C. His tendency to slight propriety
D. His bad temper

C. His tendency to slight propriety.
Elinor disapproved of Willoughby sacrificing general politeness and slighting the forms of worldly propriety.

29. What specific gift did Marianne accept from Willoughby, which Elinor forced her to decline?

A. A box of chocolates
B. A riding horse
C. A miniature portrait
D. A song book

B. A riding horse.
Marianne accepted a horse named Queen Mab from Willoughby, a gift Elinor deemed highly improper.
30. What intimacy did Elinor observe that made her instantly sure Willoughby and Marianne were engaged?

A. He used her Christian name
B. He spoke of rings
C. They kissed openly
D. He mentioned Mrs. Smith

A. He used her Christian name.
Willoughby addressing Marianne by her Christian name alone marked a perfect agreement and decided intimacy to Elinor.

31. What physical memento did Margaret confirm Willoughby had taken from Marianne?

A. A ring
B. A lock of hair
C. A pressed flower
D. A small drawing

B. A lock of hair.
Margaret, witnessing the event, informed Elinor that Willoughby had cut off a long lock of Marianne’s hair.

32. Colonel Brandon’s immediate journey to London was caused by a letter concerning whom?

A. Miss Williams
B. Mrs. Jennings
C. Miss Grey
D. Edward Ferrars

A. Miss Williams.
Colonel Brandon’s sudden departure was due to the emergency in town involving Miss Williams, his natural daughter.

33. What did Willoughby suggest to Marianne was Colonel Brandon’s actual reason for leaving the party?

A. He was afraid of cold
B. He was called to his regiment
C. He married Miss Williams
D. He had a violent fever

A. He was afraid of cold.
Willoughby cruelly suggested Brandon was afraid of catching cold and invented the business trip as an excuse.

34. Where did Marianne confess Willoughby’s sudden ungentlemanlike coldness had occurred?

A. The dinner table
B. The party in town
C. The walk on the down
D. The coach ride

B. The party in town.
Marianne was crushed by Willoughby’s shocking and cold behavior at the Middletons’ party in London.
35. What substantial fortune did Miss Grey, Willoughby’s chosen bride, possess?

A. £3,000
B. £10,000
C. £30,000
D. £50,000

D. £50,000.
Mrs. Jennings reported that Willoughby married Miss Grey, a smart girl with a large fortune of fifty thousand pounds.

36. Whom did John Dashwood announce Edward Ferrars was soon to marry, surprising Elinor?

A. Eleanor Tilney
B. Miss Morton
C. Lucy Steele
D. Marianne Dashwood

B. Miss Morton.
John informed Elinor that Edward was expected to marry the wealthy and high-ranking Miss Morton, Lord Morton’s daughter.

37. Who was the “coxcomb” at Gray’s shop, deciding on a toothpick-case, whom Elinor later met?

A. Colonel Brandon
B. John Dashwood
C. Edward Ferrars
D. Robert Ferrars

D. Robert Ferrars.
Elinor later discovered the gentleman with the “strong, natural, sterling insignificance” was Edward’s brother, Robert Ferrars.

38. Who first revealed to Elinor the secret engagement between Edward Ferrars and herself?

A. Mrs. John Dashwood
B. Miss Steele (Nancy)
C. Lucy Steele
D. Edward Ferrars

C. Lucy Steele.
Lucy Steele, Edward’s secret fiancée, told Elinor of their four-year engagement while walking together from the Park.

39. What object did Lucy show Elinor to confirm that she was genuinely engaged to Edward?

A. A lock of hair
B. A miniature
C. A letter from Mrs. Ferrars
D. A marriage license

B. A miniature.
Lucy showed Elinor a small miniature of Edward, which she had possessed for over three years.
40. What fundamental flaw did Elinor notice in Lucy Steele’s character, besides insincerity?

A. Lack of health
B. Illiteracy and ignorance
C. Excess vanity
D. Too much devotion to children

B. Illiteracy and ignorance.
Lucy was ignorant and illiterate, lacking mental improvement, a deficiency Elinor noticed despite her clever remarks.

41. Mrs. Ferrars’ appearance was dominated by her sallow complexion, small features, and what defining trait?

A. Excessive smiling
B. Expression of ill-nature
C. Nervous twitch
D. Heavy black dress

B. Expression of ill-nature.
Mrs. Ferrars’ lucky contraction of the brow gave her countenance strong characters of pride and ill-nature.

42. For choosing Lucy, Edward was threatened with being disinherited and losing what specific estate to Robert?

A. The Norland estate
B. The Delaford living
C. The Norfolk estate
D. The Park Street house

C. The Norfolk estate.
Mrs. Ferrars offered Edward the Norfolk estate (worth a thousand a year) if he married Miss Morton, but settled it on Robert when he refused.

43. What property did Colonel Brandon offer the disinherited Edward Ferrars?

A. A cottage near Barton
B. The living of Delaford
C. His own house
D. A small farm

B. The living of Delaford.
Colonel Brandon offered Edward the vacant living of Delaford, worth about two hundred pounds per annum.

44. What action did Mrs. Jennings misunderstand as Colonel Brandon proposing marriage to Elinor?

A. His offer to fix her rooms
B. His apology for his small house
C. His complimenting her beauty
D. His request for silence

B. His apology for his small house.
Mrs. Jennings overheard Colonel Brandon regretting the smallness of the Delaford house (the parsonage) and assumed it was a marriage proposal to Elinor.
45. Why did Elinor believe she was able to bear Edward’s engagement without spreading her unhappiness?

A. She did not love him
B. She disliked Lucy
C. She felt bound by duty/secrecy
D. She was too busy

C. She felt bound by duty/secrecy.
Elinor felt supported by feeling that she was doing her duty and honoring her promise of secrecy to Lucy.

46. What ultimate motive did Willoughby confess drove him to break with Marianne and marry Miss Grey?

A. His mother’s demand
B. Dread of poverty
C. Love for Miss Grey
D. Lack of feeling

B. Dread of poverty.
Willoughby confessed that the dread of poverty outweighed his love, compelling him to marry a rich woman.

47. Colonel Brandon revealed that Willoughby had seduced and deserted whom?

A. Colonel Brandon’s sister
B. Miss Williams
C. Miss Grey
D. Mrs. Palmer

B. Miss Williams.
Colonel Brandon revealed that Willoughby had seduced his young ward, Miss Williams, and left her in extreme distress.

48. Who actually composed the “infamous letter” that Willoughby sent to Marianne, breaking their bond?

A. Willoughby himself
B. Miss Grey (Mrs. Willoughby)
C. Colonel Brandon
D. John Dashwood

B. Miss Grey (Mrs. Willoughby).
Willoughby confessed that he only copied the letter, which was entirely the “happy thoughts and gentle diction” of his wife.

49. Whom did Edward Ferrars find himself married to when he arrived at Barton, astonishing the Dashwoods?

A. Fanny Dashwood
B. Miss Morton
C. Lucy Steele
D. Mrs. Jennings

C. Lucy Steele.
Lucy, tired of waiting, married Edward’s brother Robert, releasing Edward from his long, unhappy entanglement.
50. What quality (besides esteem) did Marianne feel for Colonel Brandon, leading to their marriage?

A. Wild passion
B. Lively friendship
C. Undying devotion
D. Filial duty

B. Lively friendship.
Marianne married Colonel Brandon based on strong esteem and lively friendship, overcoming her belief that he was too old.

Brief Overview

Sense and Sensibility is a novel by Jane Austen, published in 1811, about the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, who must navigate love and financial hardship after their father’s death leaves them in reduced circumstances.

The novel begins when the Dashwood family loses their estate, Norland Park, after Mr. Dashwood’s death. They moved to a smaller home called Barton Cottage in Devonshire.

The elder sisters differ greatly: Elinor is sensible and secretly loves Edward Ferrars, who is shy and poor. Marianne is passionate and quickly falls for the ardent Mr. Willoughby.

Elinor faces her own sorrow when she learns Edward is secretly promised to the artful Lucy Steele, forcing Elinor to hide her deep unhappiness.

Marianne’s heart is broken when Willoughby cruelly rejects her to marry the wealthy Miss Grey, admitting he needed money due to his debts.

His mother disowns Edward for keeping his promise to Lucy. However, Edward’s brother, Robert, unexpectedly marries Lucy instead, freeing Edward.

Colonel Brandon, a kind friend, helps Edward become a clergyman. Edward proposes to Elinor, and they marry happily. Marianne learns to value consistency and eventually marries the reliable Colonel Brandon.

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