Pygmalion MCQs & Summary

Summary:

Pygmalion is a play written by George Bernard Shaw in 1913. It tells the story of Professor Henry Higgins, a linguist, who makes a bet that he can transform Eliza Doolittle, a poor flower girl with a thick Cockney accent, into a refined lady who can pass as a duchess in high society. Higgins teaches Eliza proper speech and etiquette, but in the process, she develops independence and self-respect, challenging Higgins’ views on class and gender.

The play explores themes of social class, transformation, identity, and the power of language. It critiques the rigid British class system and highlights how external appearances can shape people’s perceptions. The story also examines gender roles, as Eliza asserts her independence by the end, proving that she is more than just a product of Higgins’ experiment.

MCQs:

1. Who wrote Pygmalion?
   A) William Shakespeare
   B) George Bernard Shaw
   C) Oscar Wilde
   D) Jane Austen
   Answer: B) George Bernard Shaw
2. What is the central theme of Pygmalion?
   A) The importance of wealth
   B) The power of education and transformation
   C) The dangers of ambition
   D) The cruelty of love
   Answer: B) The power of education and transformation
3. What bet does Higgins make?
   A) That he can teach Eliza to become a duchess
   B) That he can marry Eliza
   C) That Eliza will always remain poor
   D) That Eliza will become his assistant
   Answer: A) That he can teach Eliza to become a duchess

   

4. What is Eliza Doolittle’s occupation at the beginning of the play?
   A) Maid
   B) Flower girl
   C) Teacher
   D) Seamstress
   Answer: B) Flower girl
5. What is Professor Henry Higgins’ profession?
   A) Psychologist
   B) Linguist and phonetics expert
   C) Actor
   D) Politician
   Answer: B) Linguist and phonetics expert
6. How does Eliza’s transformation challenge social norms?
   A) She proves that class distinctions are based on speech and behavior
   B) She becomes the richest woman in England
   C) She starts her own school for flower girls
   D) She marries a prince
   Answer: A) She proves that class distinctions are based on speech and behavior
7. Who helps Higgins with Eliza’s training?
   A) Colonel Pickering
   B) Alfred Doolittle
   C) Freddy Eynsford-Hill
   D) Mrs. Higgins
   Answer: A) Colonel Pickering
8. What is Eliza’s reaction at the end of the play?
   A) She remains dependent on Higgins
   B) She asserts her independence
   C) She runs away in fear
   D) She marries Higgins
   Answer: B) She asserts her independence
9. What does Alfred Doolittle, Eliza’s father, represent in the play?
   A) The struggles of the working class
   B) The power of wealth
   C) The wisdom of old age
   D) The role of aristocracy
   Answer: A) The struggles of the working class
10. What does Pygmalion critique the most?
    A) The British class system and gender roles
    B) The importance of true love
    C) The effectiveness of monarchy
    D) The beauty of art
    Answer: A) The British class system and gender roles