The Way of the World MCQs

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Author: Nasir Iqbal | Assistant Professor of English Literature


Updated on: November 24, 2025
Estimated Reading Time: 16 min

The Way of the World MCQs

1. What setting introduces the opening conversation between Mirabell and Fainall?

A. Public house
B. Coffee shop
C. Chocolate house
D. Gaming den

C. Chocolate house.
The play begins in a Chocolate house where Mirabell and Fainall are seen rising from cards.

2. According to Fainall, what trait makes playing with Mirabell less enjoyable?

A. Low stakes
B. Quiet nature
C. Indifferent attitude
D. Winning streak

C. Indifferent attitude.
Fainall complains that Mirabell plays too negligently because he seems indifferent while losing.

3. Who does Fainall suggest Mirabell quarrelled with the previous night?

A. Lady Wishfort
B. Mrs. Marwood
C. Fair cousin
D. Betty waiting

C. Fair cousin.
Fainall asks Mirabell if he and Millamant, Fainall’s fair cousin, quarrelled last night.

4. Whom does Mirabell refer to as his “evil genius” and Fainall’s wife’s mother?

A. Mrs. Marwood
B. Betty waiting
C. Lady Wishfort
D. Millamant’s aunt

C. Lady Wishfort.
Lady Wishfort, Millamant’s aunt and Fainall’s wife’s mother, is Mirabell’s evil genius.
5. What activity were the ladies engaging in during their “cabal night”?

A. Playing cards
B. Serving tea
C. Complaining vapours
D. Murdering reputations

D. Murdering reputations.
The women gather on their cabal nights to “sit upon the murdered reputations of the week”.

6. To whom does Mirabell owe the discovery of his false addresses to Lady Wishfort?

A. Fainall’s wife
B. Betty waiting
C. Mrs. Marwood
D. Petulant’s friend

C. Mrs. Marwood.
Mirabell is indebted to Mrs. Marwood for discovering his sham addresses intended for Millamant.

7. Mirabell claims his “virtue forbade” him from attempting what action with Lady Wishfort?

A. Direct marriage
B. Honest flattery
C. Personal debauchery
D. Writing songs

C. Personal debauchery.
Mirabell says he went as far as he could in flattery, but his virtue forbade actual personal debauchery.

8. What specific service does Mirabell’s Footman report having completed?

A. Fetching chocolate
B. Waiting table
C. Arranging marriage
D. Delivering letters

C. Arranging marriage.
The Footman confirms that Waitwell and Dame Partlet (Foible) are married and bedded.

9. Where were Waitwell and Dame Partlet finally “rivetted in a trice” after failing elsewhere?

A. St. James’s
B. Rosamond’s Pond
C. Duke’s-place
D. Chocolate-house

C. Duke’s-place.
After Pancras proved too slow, they drove to Duke’s place, where they were quickly married.
10. What relationship does Fainall note between himself and Sir Wilfull Witwoud?

A. Distant relative
B. Close brother
C. Half-brother
D. Related cousin

D. Related cousin.
Fainall mentions that if Mirabell marries Millamant, Mirabell must call Sir Wilfull “cousins too”.

11. How does Fainall characterise the relationship between Witwoud and his half-brother Sir Wilfull?

A. Strong affinity
B. Shared wit
C. Medlar grafted
D. Twin asses

C. Medlar grafted.
Witwoud is compared to a medlar grafted on a crab, implying stark differences in character.

12. Why does Fainall say Sir Wilfull is travelling despite his age (above forty)?

A. Learn manners
B. See Europe
C. Honour England
D. Avoid scandal

C. Honour England.
Fainall states that Sir Wilfull travels “for the honour of England” to show Europe they have blockheads.

13. What specific object does Witwoud compare his brother’s letter to?

A. Heavy panegyric
B. Subpoena scroll
C. Obituary notice
D. Blank parchment

A. Heavy panegyric.
Witwoud compares the letter from his brother to a heavy panegyric in a funeral sermon.

14. What affliction do fools typically affect, according to Mirabell?

A. Bad temper
B. Spleen or memory
C. Lack judgment
D. Too much wit

B. Spleen or memory.
Mirabell warns Witwoud about apologies, saying fools always complain about their spleen or memory.
15. What fault does Petulant possess that Witwoud says he could not acquit?

A. Lack manners
B. Constant lying
C. Overly positive
D. Too illiterate

B. Constant lying.
Witwoud reveals that Petulant’s true fault is that he never speaks the truth at all.

16. What is the purpose of Petulant hiring women to call on him at public places?

A. Seek companionship
B. Gain reputation
C. Increase business
D. Prove wealth

B. Gain reputation.
Witwoud explains these trulls call on him so others will take notice, enhancing Petulant’s reputation.

17. What extravagant thing did Petulant previously do to maintain his reputation?

A. Fight Mirabell
B. Call for himself
C. Abandon women
D. Visit Millamant

B. Call for himself.
Petulant would disguise himself to arrive in a coach and send a message to the house for himself.

18. What news does Petulant reveal that concerns Mirabell’s inheritance?

A. Lady’s approval
B. Marriage plot
C. Uncle’s arrival
D. Rival’s status

C. Uncle’s arrival.
Petulant tells Mirabell that his uncle has come to town and might disinherit him if he marries.

19. Witwoud believes Mirabell is not sure of Millamant because of her what?

A. Uncertain woman
B. Beauty’s fading
C. Constant flattery
D. Lack judgment

A. Uncertain woman.
Witwoud says Millamant is handsome but an uncertain woman, doubting Mirabell’s security in her love.
20. Where does Mirabell propose they go for a walk?

A. The Mall
B. The Park
C. Lady Wishfort’s
D. Next Room

A. The Mall.
Mirabell asks Fainall if he is “for the Mall,” and Fainall agrees to take a turn.

21. What comparison does Mrs Fainall make between men as lovers and men afterwards?

A. Doting or averse
B. Jealous or cold
C. Ghosts of selves
D. Tyrants or fools

A. Doting or averse.
Mrs. Fainall states that men are always in extremes, either doting upon women or averse to them.

22. Mrs Marwood states she only dissembles an aversion to men to comply with whose humour?

A. Mrs. Fainall
B. Her mother
C. Lady Wishfort
D. Millamant’s aunt

C. Lady Wishfort.
Mrs Marwood confirms she is only pretending to hate mànkind to appease Lady Wishfort’s humour.

23. What does Mrs. Marwood suggest doing to carry her aversion to men further?

A. Retire entirely
B. Live alone
C. Start a friendship
D. Marry someone

D. Marry someone.
She suggests marrying a man who loves her well so she can subject him to ill usage.

24. What cruelty does Mrs. Marwood prefer over actually cuckolding a husband?

A. Discover falsehood
B. Keep him jealous
C. Cause him pain
D. Avoid scandal

B. Keep him jealous.
Mrs. Marwood prefers making her husband believe she cheated so he would keep him upon the rack of fear.
25. What reason does Mrs. Marwood initially give for hating Mirabell?

A. Rejected advances
B. Insufferably proud
C. Loved another
D. Insensible nature

B. Insufferably proud.
She states that Mirabell “is, and always was, insufferably proud,” leading to her aversion.

26. Fainall admits that he neglected his wife’s advances towards Mirabell for what main reason?

A. Prove loyalty
B. Avoid scandal
C. Continue pleasures
D. Secure fortune

C. Continue pleasures.
He allowed his wife to be engaged with Mirabell so Fainall could remain unsuspected in his own pleasures.

27. What action of Mrs. Marwood does Fainall cite as proof of her love for Mirabell?

A. Slighting Fainall
B. Interposing love
C. Helping Millamant
D. Attending cabals

B. Interposing love.
Fainall accuses her of being Mirabell’s enemy only because she was slighted, pointing to her interposing love.

28. Mrs. Marwood claims she exposed Mirabell’s plot due to her friendship with whom?

A. Mrs. Fainall
B. Lady Wishfort
C. Waitwell’s wife
D. Millamant’s niece

B. Lady Wishfort.
She claims her obligations and professed friendship to Lady Wishfort urged her to reveal the plot.

29. If Millamant had secretly married Mirabell, how would this have benefited Fainall?

A. Increased fame
B. Marwood’s fortune
C. Wife’s security
D. Moiety forfeited

D. Moiety forfeited.
Millamant would have forfeited half her fortune, which would have descended to Fainall’s wife; this is the moiety forfeited.
30. What is Mirabell and Mrs. Fainall’s primary reason for arranging her marriage to Fainall?

A. Gain wealth
B. Save reputation
C. Ensure security
D. Maintain secrecy

B. Save reputation.
They committed the “disagreeable action” of marrying Fainall to fix a father’s name with credit, which means save reputation.

31. What role does Waitwell, Mirabell’s servant, assume in the plot against Lady Wishfort?

A. Spy informer
B. False uncle
C. Court gallant
D. Messenger deliverer

B. False uncle.
Waitwell is instructed to represent Mirabell’s pretended uncle, the false uncle, Sir Rowland.

32. Who is Waitwell married to, ensuring his loyalty to Mirabell’s plot?

A. Betty waiting
B. Dame Partlet
C. Millamant’s woman
D. Foible’s servant

B. Dame Partlet.
Waitwell married Foible (referred to earlier as Dame Partlet), Lady Wishfort’s woman, ensuring his loyalty.

33. What is the condition upon which Mirabell will release Lady Wishfort from the imposture?

A. End the feud
B. Pay money
C. Approve marriage
D. Restore honour

C. Approve marriage.
Lady Wishfort must consent to Mirabell marrying Millamant and surrender her niece’s fortune moiety, which is to approve the marriage.

34. How does Mirabell describe Millamant’s entrance in the park?

A. Full sail
B. With caution
C. In silence
D. Slowly walking

A. Full sail.
Mirabell says Millamant comes “full sail,” with her fan spread and her streamers out.
35. What material does Millamant claim she uses poetry letters for?

A. Reading pleasure
B. Pinning hair
C. Starting fires
D. Sending reply

B. Pinning hair.
Millamant states she only uses letters written in verse to pinning hair.

36. Millamant argues that a woman’s cruelty actually serves what purpose?

A. Shows displeasure
B. Is her power
C. Invites flattery
D. Ruins object

B. Is her power.
She contends that “one’s cruelty is one’s power,” and losing it means becoming old and ugly.

37. Mirabell argues that a woman’s beauty is fundamentally what?

A. Inner grace
B. Lover’s gift
C. Personal trait
D. Constant virtue

B. Lover’s gift.
He argues beauty is bestowed by the lover, claiming beauty is the lover’s gift.

38. Millamant suggests that conversing with fools is sometimes necessary for what reason?

A. Pass time
B. Improve wit
C. Her health
D. Learn patience

C. Her health.
Millamant claims fools are “physic” for the vapours, stating conversation with them is for her health.

39. What item does Lady Wishfort frantically need that Foible has locked up?

A. Best bonnet
B. The paint
C. The jewel-box
D. Spanish paper

B. The paint.
Lady Wishfort desperately needs the Spanish paper (complexion paint), which Foible locked up, calling it “The paint”.
40. Mrs. Marwood saw Foible in the park in conference with whom?

A. Mr. Fainall
B. Waitwell’s wife
C. Mirabell’s footman
D. Mr. Mirabell

D. Mr. Mirabell.
Mrs. Marwood informs Lady Wishfort that she saw Foible masked and in conference with Mr. Mirabell.

41. To anger Lady Wishfort, Foible reports Mirabell suggesting she must pay what because she is “superannuated”?

A. New rent
B. Deep pension
C. Travel money
D. Marriage fee

B. Deep pension.
Foible claims Mirabell said Lady Wishfort must “come down pretty deep now,” referencing a deep pension.

42. What must Foible repair on Lady Wishfort’s face before Sir Rowland arrives?

A. Frown cracks
B. Dry paint
C. False teeth
D. Missing rouge

A. Frown cracks.
Lady Wishfort notes “frown cracks discernible in the white varnish” from frowning too rashly.

43. What emotion does Lady Wishfort fear showing too little of when meeting Sir Rowland?

A. Fierce anger
B. Coy disdain
C. Deep suspicion
D. Due modesty

B. Coy disdain.
She fears breaking decorum if she is forced to advance, so she prefers a little coy disdain.

44. What did Mrs. Fainall fear Mrs. Marwood would discover after seeing Foible with Mirabell?

A. Hidden wealth
B. Secret design
C. True hatred
D. Lost letters

B. Secret design.
Mrs. Fainall fears Marwood will discover the plot involving Waitwell impersonating Mirabell’s uncle, the secret design.
45. When Mrs. Fainall mentions Mrs. Marwood watches her, Foible suggests Marwood has a what?

A. Jealous heart
B. Close eye
C. Month’s mind
D. Quick temper

C. Month’s mind.
Foible suggests Mrs. Marwood has a “month’s mind” (a strong desire) for Mirabell, but he dislikes her.

46. What does Mrs. Marwood accuse Fainall of, based on his willingness to accept her help against Mirabell?

A. Poor judgment
B. Loss of love
C. Being an assistant
D. Financial ruin

C. Being an assistant.
Marwood notes his coolness, accusing him of falling from a principal to an assistant (procuring for Mirabell).

47. Fainall intends to “disable” Sir Wilfull’s match with Millamant by encouraging him to do what?

A. Start trouble
B. Drink heavily
C. Leave town
D. Confess love

B. Drink heavily.
Fainall plans to manage Sir Wilfull by setting his hand in drink, noting he will drink heavily.

48. How does Fainall plan to secure his wife’s estate for himself?

A. Force divorce
B. Secret deed
C. Threaten suicide
D. Blackmail Mirabell

B. Secret deed.
He reveals he already has a secret deed of settlement for the best part of her estate, wheedled out of her.

49. What is the motto that Fainall leaves for all husbands at the end of Act III?

A. Love truly
B. Shun women
C. Shun’s marriage
D. Shame endures

D. Shame endures.
Fainall’s motto is that all husbands “must or plain or shame endure”.
50. What method does Lady Wishfort decide upon for her initial entrance to Sir Rowland?

A. Sit coyly
B. Loll surprised
C. Walk elegantly
D. Stand rigidly

B. Loll surprised.
She decides to “loll surprised,” reclining on a couch and staring up in a pretty disorder when he appears.

Brief Overview

The Way of the World by William Congreve was first performed in 1700. It is widely considered the masterpiece of Restoration comedy. The play satirizes the manners of the elite and studies the ideal, balanced nature of love and marriage.

The main story is about Mirabell and his plan to marry the wealthy, witty Millamant. Millamant’s fortune depends entirely on the approval of her aunt, Lady Wishfort. Lady Wishfort intensely hates Mirabell because he once pretended to love her to hide his true interest in Millamant.

Mirabell creates an elaborate plot to win her approval. He arranges for his servant, Waitwell, to marry Lady Wishfort’s servant, Foible quickly. Waitwell then disguises himself as “Sir Rowland,” Mirabell’s rich uncle. The plan is for Lady Wishfort to fall for and agree to marry the false uncle.

If she marries the false uncle, Mirabell can reveal the trick using the marriage certificate. This would force Lady Wishfort to agree to Mirabell’s conditions: allowing him to marry Millamant and releasing her niece’s fortune.

However, the villainous Fainall and his friend Mrs. Marwood expose this entire scheme. Mrs. Marwood, who secretly hates Mirabell, tells Lady Wishfort the truth.

Fainall then tries to use this chaos to seize control of both his own wife’s (Mrs. Fainall’s) money and Millamant’s fortune.

Finally, Mirabell reveals a hidden deed. This deed proves that Mrs. Fainall had already put her estate in his trust before marrying Fainall. This clever move defeats Fainall’s demands. Lady Wishfort, saved from total ruin, grants permission for Mirabell to marry Millamant.

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