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Author:
Nasir Iqbal|Assistant Professor of English Literature
Updated on:November 1, 2025 Estimated Reading Time:18 min
The Color Purple MCQs
1. Who is the first entity Celie addresses in her letters?
A. Nettie
B. Pa
C. God
D. Her Mama
C. God. Celie is told never to tell anyone but God about the abuse. Her letters start as a private form of prayer.
2. How old is Celie at the beginning of the novel?
A. 12
B. 14
C. 16
D. 18
B. 14. Celie states clearly in her first letter that she is fourteen years old. Her youth emphasizes the severity of the abuse she suffers.
3. How did Celie’s mother die?
A. Peacefully
B. Screaming and cussing
C. In her sleep
D. Of old age
B. Screaming and cussing. Celie’s mother died screaming and cussing, even directing anger at Celie. This traumatic death highlights the harshness of their lives.
4. When Celie’s Mama asked about the baby, what did Celie say?
A. Pa’s
B. Her boyfriend’s
C. God’s
D. Nettie’s
C. God’s. When her mother asked who the baby’s father was, Celie replied, “God’s.” This was Celie’s way of avoiding the terrible truth of Pa’s abuse.
5. What did Pa tell Celie happened to her first baby?
A. Died naturally
B. God took it
C. Sold to Monticello
D. Nettie took it
B. God took it. Celie tells her sick mother that Pa claimed God took the first baby away while she was sleeping. Pa sold the baby.
6. What did Pa likely do with Celie’s second baby, a boy?
A. Killed it
B. Gave it away
C. Sold it
D. Kept him home
C. Sold it. Celie believes her Pa sold the second baby boy to a couple in Monticello. Pa repeatedly sold her children to cover up his abuse.
7. Why does Celie say she looks at women, but not men?
A. Women are prettier
B. She is not scared of women
C. Men are busy
D. She prefers women
B. She is not scared of women. Celie says she looks at women because she is not afraid of them. Her fear of men stems from the repeated abuse by Pa and Mr. ___.
8. How does Celie try to protect Nettie from Pa?
A. Hiding her clothes
B. Getting in his line of sight
C. Crying loudly
D. Locking the door
B. Getting in his line of sight. Celie always gets “in his light” when Pa is looking at Nettie. She offers herself for abuse to shield her younger sister from harm.
9. What reason did Pa give Mr. ___ for him to take Celie?
A. Needed help at home
B. Too dúmb to learn
C. She was too sick
D. She was pregnant
B. Too dúmb to learn. Pa told Celie that she was too dúmb to continue going to school. This excuse was used to keep Celie isolated and working at home.
10. What physical change happened to Celie due to her abuse?
A. Blindness
B. Stopped bleeding monthly
C. Paralysis
D. Lost her voice
B. Stopped bleeding monthly. Celie notices she no longer bleeds monthly after the abuse and pregnancy. This physical symptom is a direct, terrible result of the repeated sexual trauma.
11. How does Celie initially describe Shug Avery based on the picture?
A. Mean
B. Famous
C. Beautiful
D. Rich
C. Beautiful. Shug is described as the most beautiful woman Celie has ever seen. This admiration establishes Shug’s powerful and significant influence over Celie.
12. How did Shug first realize Mr. ___ was hiding Nettie’s letters?
A. Found them in the trunk
B. Found them in his coat
C. Saw funny stamps on his mail
D. Celie told her
C. Saw funny stamps on his mail. Shug remembered seeing letters with “funny looking stamps” that Mr. ___ kept in his pocket. These stamps revealed the overseas origin of the mail.
13. What main reason does Pa give Mr. ___ for him to take Celie?
A. She is quiet
B. She is ugly
C. She is young
D. She is educated
B. She is ugly. Pa says Celie is ugly, not fresh, but clean and a good worker. Her perceived ugliness makes her undesirable, ensuring Mr. ___ takes her.
14. How did Mr. ___’s oldest boy initially greet Celie on her wedding day?
A. Insulted her
B. Threw a rock at her
C. Ran away
D. Refused to speak
B. Threw a rock at her. The twelve-year-old boy hit Celie with a rock, laying her head open. This violent greeting sets the terrible tone for her new life.
15. What reason did Mr. ___ give Harpo for beating Celie?
A. She was lazy
B. She winked at a boy
C. She was his wife
D. She deserved it
C. She was his wife. Mr. ___ says he beats Celie “Cause she my wife. Plus, she stubborn.” This assertion of ownership and misogyny justifies his violence.
16. What does Celie mentally transform into during a beating?
A. A rock
B. A piece of wood
C. A tree
D. A bird
B. A piece of wood. To cope with the pain and avoid crying, Celie makes herself mentally into wood. This psychological strategy helps her survive the violence inflicted by Mr. ___.
17. What urgent advice did Mr. ___’s sister, Kate, give Celie?
A. Get a job
B. Fight them back
C. Go to church
D. Divorce Mr. ___
B. Fight them back. Kate was shaking with anger and told Celie she had to fight them for herself. This urgent advice marks the beginning of Celie’s journey toward strength.
18. What colors did Celie want for her first new dress?
A. Red and blue
B. Purple and red
C. Brown and maroon
D. Blue and yellow
B. Purple and red. Celie chose purple and red because Shug Avery, whom she admired, would wear them. This choice symbolizes her desire to be assertive like Shug.
19. What name did the Reverend Mr. ___’s wife call Celie’s daughter?
A. Nettie
B. Olivia
C. Pauline
D. Eleanor
C. Pauline. The wife said they called Celie’s daughter Pauline, but she calls her Olivia. This difference in name usage creates confusion about the child’s identity.
20. What happened to Mr. ___’s first wife (Harpo’s mother)?
A. Sold
B. Killed by a boyfriend
C. Died of disease
D. Died in his arms
D. Died in his arms. Harpo’s mother died in her son’s arms and was killed by her boyfriend. This tragic death traumatized Mr. ___ and his young son, Harpo.
21. What insult did the preacher use to describe Shug Avery?
A. Fool
B. Harlot
C. Streetcleaner
D. Unclean
C. Streetcleaner. The preacher called Shug Avery a strumpet, slut, hussy, heifer, and street cleaner. These vulgar insults were intended to publicly degrade her profession.
22. What were Shug Avery’s first words to Celie?
A. Thank you
B. You sure is ugly
C. Hello, Celie
D. Get out
B. “You sure is ugly.” Shug looked Celie over, cackled, and said, “You sure is ugly.” This cruel greeting marks the beginning of their unexpected, transformative friendship.
23. What is Mr. ___’s first name, which Celie learns from Shug?
A. Fonso
B. Albert
C. Harpo
D. Samuel
B. Albert. Celie overhears Shug calling him “Albert” when she is sick in bed. This is the first time Celie learns her husband’s real name.
24. How did Celie feel the first time she saw Shug naked while washing her?
A. Disgusted
B. Turned into a man
C. Very sad
D. Excited
B. Turned into a man. Seeing Shug’s naked body made Celie think she had “turned into a man.” This reflects Celie’s profound lack of self-identity and female agency.
25. What did Old Mr. ___ use to describe Shug Avery negatively?
A. Her evil nature
B. Her skin, hair, and legs
C. Her lack of money
D. Her large family
B. Her skin, hair, and legs. Old Mr. ___ called Shug black as tar, nappy headed, and having legs like baseball bats. He used physical insults to describe Shug Avery in a negative manner.
26. What was Sofia’s typical reaction when Celie jumped to obey Mr. ___?
A. Contempt
B. Pity
C. Approval
D. Anger
B. Pity. Every time Celie obeyed Mr. ___, Sofia looked surprised and seemed to pity Celie. This response shows Sofia’s strong sense of self and independence.
27. What disastrous advice did Celie give Harpo regarding Sofia?
A. Beat her
B. Ignore her
C. Get a job
D. Leave her
A. Beat her. When Harpo asked what to do, Celie, feeling jealous of Sofia’s strength, said, “Beat her.” This was the advice society had conditioned her to give.
28. What strategy did Mr. ___ recommend to Harpo to control Sofia?
A. Talking
B. Beating
C. Ignoring her
D. Flirting
B. Beating. Mr. ___ advised Harpo that a good sound beating would show her who had the upper hand. He believed physical violence was necessary for control.
29. What happened the first time Harpo tried to beat Sofia?
A. He won easily
B. She ran away
C. Sofia beat him severely
D. Celie stopped him
C. Sofia beat him severely. Harpo returned with a lip cut, bruised face, and aching teeth, claiming a mule did it. Sofia was physically stronger and fiercely defended herself.
30. Why was Sofia imprisoned for twelve years?
A. Murder
B. Sassing the mayor’s wife
C. Theft
D. Fighting Harpo
B. Sassing the mayor’s wife. Sofia was arrested for sassing the mayor’s wife and then knocking down the mayor. She was sentenced for her outspoken defiance against white authority.
31. What did Celie realize was the source of her trouble sleeping?
A. Hating Mr. ___
B. Lying to God
C. Sinning against Sofia’s spirit
D. Worrying about Nettie
C. Sinning against Sofia’s spirit. A little voice told Celie she had sinned against somebody’s spirit; she realized it was Sofia’s. This guilt stemmed from her previous bad advice.
32. What did Sofia say to Celie that made her laugh for the first time?
A. Leave Mr. ___
B. Bash Mr. ___’s head open
C. Try cooking
D. Fight Pa
B. Bash Mr. ___’s head open. Sofia’s blunt suggestion that Celie bash Mr. ___’s head open struck Celie as hilarious. This release of suppressed anger makes Celie laugh.
33. What type of business did Harpo build near the creek house?
A. A farm
B. A grocery store
C. A jukejoint
D. A barbershop
C. A jukejoint. Harpo and his friend Swain worked to build a juke joint in the woods behind the house. This establishment became a site of music and social gathering.
34. What is Squeak’s real name?
A. Eleanor Jane
B. Margaret
C. Mary Agnes
D. Carrie
C. Mary Agnes. Squeak’s real name, which she demands Harpo use, is Mary Agnes. Asserting her true name is an early step toward self-respect and identity.
35. Why did Samuel initially decide to take Nettie in as a missionary?
A. She was Corrine’s friend
B. Thought she was Olivia and Adam’s mother
C. She was educated
D. He needed a teacher
B. Thought she was Olivia and Adam’s mother. Samuel thought Nettie was following her children, Olivia and Adam, because he was a soft-hearted person. He later realizes she is their biological aunt.
36. What specifically did Nettie realize was misleading about the Bible?
A. The words
B. The chapter titles
C. The pictures
D. The prophecies
C. The pictures. Nettie realized that the pictures, which illustrated all white people, were what had fooled readers. This visual distortion suggested racial bias within the religious text.
37. What is the Olinka traditional belief about educating girls?
A. It is essential
B. Girls are only for their husbands
C. It is a missionary task
D. Girls are smarter
B. Girls are only for their husbands. The Olinka believe a girl is nothing to herself, only becoming something to her husband. This patriarchal belief limits educational opportunities.
38. How did the Olinka respond when asked about African involvement in slavery?
A. They admitted guilt
B. They acknowledged no responsibility
C. They cried with sorrow
D. They blamed the whites
B. They acknowledged no responsibility. Nettie notes that the Olinka acknowledge no responsibility whatsoever for slavery. This denial of historical complicity frustrates the missionaries’ efforts to gain trust.
39. Who did the road built through the Olinka village belong to?
A. The chief
B. President Tubman
C. An English rubber company
D. The missionaries
C. An English rubber company. The territory, including the village, belonged to an English rubber manufacturer. This company was building the road, symbolizing foreign exploitation and land theft.
40. What material or item did the Olinka begin to worship after the great storm?
A. The Earth
B. The roofleaf
C. The wind
D. The sky
B. The roofleaf. The roofleaf, which they almost lost to greed, became the thing they worship. This indicates their shift to valuing practical, material items that are vital for their survival.
41. Who was the rightful owner of the land and house Pa/Alphonso lived on?
A. Daisy
B. Celie and Nettie
C. Mr. ___
D. Pa’s brothers
B. Celie and Nettie. Celie’s real father left the property to Celie and her sister Nettie. Pa (Alphonso) was living there fraudulently, having stolen the inheritance.
42. What product does Celie successfully create and market as a business?
A. Dresses
B. Hats
C. Pants
D. Quilt pieces
C. Pants. Celie started making pants, eventually turning it into a successful business named “Folkspants, Unlimited.” This work gives her independence and self-worth.
43. When Mr. ___ asked if Celie disliked men, how did she describe them?
A. Snakes
B. Frogs
C. Mules
D. Dogs
B. Frogs. Celie tells Mr. ___ that when men take off their pants, they look like frogs. This simple, humorous comparison shows her overcoming her fear.
44. What does Shug teach Celie about the nature of God?
A. God is white
B. God is a man
C. God is everything
D. God is dead
C. God is everything. Shug tells Celie that God is not a “he” or “she” but an “It,” and “everything.” This lesson helps Celie move past traditional religion.
45. What specific color does Shug say God is offended by if ignored?
A. Red
B. Yellow
C. Purple
D. Blue
C. Purple. Shug suggests God is annoyed if people walk past the color purple in a field and fail to notice it. This highlights the sacredness of beauty.
46. What painful physical symptom did Mr. ___ experience due to Celie’s curse?
A. Headaches
B. Constant hunger
C. Loud heartbeat at night
D. Shaking hands
C. Loud heartbeat at night. Mr. ___ suffered nightly, hearing his own heart beating loudly like drums. This physical symptom of fear and remorse stemmed directly from Celie’s curse.
47. After their reconciliation, how does Celie describe herself and Mr. ___?
A. Friends
B. Man and wife
C. Two old fools
D. Happy lovers
C. Two old fools. Celie refers to them as “two old fools left over from love, keeping each other company.” This informal friendship replaces the old, violent dynamic.
48. How did Nettie and her family arrive for the July 4th reunion?
A. Taxi
B. Horseback
C. Old car
D. Big group in a car
D. Big group in a car. Nettie’s large family (Samuel, Olivia, Adam, Tashi) arrived in a car, looking like old folks. This arrival marked the end of Celie’s long isolation.
49. What did Adam do to show Tashi his commitment before marriage?
A. Tattooed her name
B. Scored his cheeks
C. Converted to the Olinka faith
D. Left the mission
B. Scored his cheeks. To show Tashi he accepted her, Adam scarred his cheeks identically to hers. This extreme act of solidarity was a pre-marital demonstration of commitment.
50. How did Celie and the others feel during the reunion with Nettie’s family?
A. Tired
B. Happy and young
C. Awkward
D. Disappointed
B. Happy and young. Celie felt so happy and content that she believed it was the youngest they ever felt. The reunion brought profound joy and a sense of renewal.
Brief Overview
The Color Purple is a novel by Alice Walker. It tells the story of Celie, a poor, uneducated Black girl living in rural Georgia in the early 20th century. The novel is primarily written in the form of letters Celie writes to God, and later to her sister, Nettie.
Celie endures immense suffering and abuse. As a teenager, she is raped by the man she calls “Pa,” who is likely her stepfather. She has two children who have been taken away from her.
She is then married off to a brutal man she calls “Mr. ____.” Her husband treats her like a slave and constantly abuses her.
Celie’s life begins to change when she meets two strong women. The first is Sofia, a tough, independent woman who marries Mr. ____’s son.
The second is Shug Avery, a glamorous blues singer who is Mr. ____’s mistress. Shug is the first person to show Celie real kindness and love.
Shug helps Celie find her self-worth and recognize her own inner beauty. Shug also helps Celie discover that her sister, Nettie, is alive and has been writing to her for years. Mr. ____ had been hiding Nettie’s letters. Nettie has become a missionary in Africa, teaching Celie that the world is much larger than her small, abusive home.
With the support of Shug and her friends, Celie finally leaves her husband and starts a new, independent life making pants. As Celie finds her own voice and independence, she gradually transforms her relationship with Mr.____ into one of genuine friendship. The novel ends with Celie finding peace and reuniting with her long-lost children and sister.
