Six reading quizzes. Ten multiple-choice questions each. These A Tree Grows in Brooklyn reading quizzes hold students accountable for every section of Betty Smith’s novel — from Francie’s Brooklyn childhood through her departure for college. Cut and paste any set of questions below, or download the PDF. DOCX format and the answer key require purchase.
Need discussion questions? Visit the A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Discussion Questions page.
Looking for a whole-novel assessment? See the A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Reading Test.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Reading Schedule
Betty Smith’s five “books” vary dramatically in length, so a standard chapter-per-day schedule collapses fast. The 6-reading format below divides the novel into sections that average roughly equal reading loads. A 4-reading format (15 questions per quiz) is also available.
6-Reading Format
- Reading 1: Chapters 1–6 (Book 1)
- Reading 2: Chapters 7–14 (Book 2)
- Reading 3: Chapters 15–31 (Book 3A)
- Reading 4: Chapters 32–42 (Book 3B)
- Reading 5: Chapters 43–48 (Book 4A)
- Reading 6: Chapters 49–56 (Book 4B and Book 5)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Reading Quiz 1: Chapters 1–6 (Book 1)
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- The narrator explains that the tree of the title likes…
- A. Poor people.
- B. High, dry places.
- C. Blood and smoke.
- D. Laughter, singing, and babies.
- What do Francie and Neeley do together to make pocket money?
- A. Sing songs on the street corner
- B. Collect materials for recycling
- C. Take care of people’s yards
- D. Make deliveries for the grocery store
- What sight terrifies young Francie?
- A. A dog chewing on a bone
- B. A dress flapping on a tree branch
- C. A workshop full of gears and spare parts
- D. An old man waiting in a bakery
- Francie’s favorite thing to do is…
- A. Make costumes.
- B. Read.
- C. Help elderly people.
- D. Paint / draw.
- Compared to their neighbors, Francie’s family is…
- A. Exceptionally poor.
- B. Exceptionally rich.
- C. Just as poor.
- D. Just as rich.
- Most of Book One centers on a special day called…
- A. St. Crispin’s Day.
- B. Yom Kippur.
- C. Mischief Day.
- D. Saturday.
- What does Francie’s father do for a living?
- A. Truck driver
- B. Police officer
- C. Waiter
- D. Trick question — he does not work.
- Which character struggles with alcoholism?
- A. Katie Nolan (mom)
- B. Johnny Nolan (dad)
- C. Neeley Nolan (brother)
- D. Sissy Rommely (aunt)
- To make her way in Brooklyn, Francie has mastered…
- A. Being invisible.
- B. The art of insult.
- C. Street fighting.
- D. Transactions / making deals.
- Who narrates the novel?
- A. Johnny Nolan (the father)
- B. Francie Nolan as a little girl
- C. Francie Nolan as an adult
- D. An unknown narrator outside the story
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Reading Quiz 2: Chapters 7–14 (Book 2)
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- In relation to Book One, Book Two…
- A. Goes back in time.
- B. Jumps forward in time.
- C. Happens at the same time.
- D. Uses a different narrator.
- In order to date her new love interest, Katie must…
- A. Leave her husband.
- B. Change her church.
- C. Betray her best friend.
- D. Lie about how old she is.
- Aunt Sissy has no children because…
- A. She does not want any.
- B. She has never met the right man.
- C. Her babies died.
- D. Her husband cannot have children.
- In what way does Johnny have talent?
- A. Carving wood
- B. Playing poker
- C. Writing poetry
- D. Singing and dancing
- Where is Johnny Nolan when his daughter is born?
- A. Working at his cleaning job
- B. Praying at the church
- C. Drinking at a bar
- D. Spending the night with a prostitute
- Mary Rommely tells her daughter that if she wants the children to have a better life, she must…
- A. Show them discipline rather than love.
- B. Leave Johnny.
- C. Move back to Europe.
- D. Get them to read.
- What does Katie’s mother advise her to buy with her saved pennies and nickels?
- A. New bicycles.
- B. A divorce.
- C. Land.
- D. Life insurance.
- When it comes to the new baby, Aunt Sissy is…
- A. Loving and generous.
- B. Jealous and cruel.
- C. Bored and indifferent.
- D. Trick question — she does not know about the baby.
- Katie is _______________ whereas Johnny is _______________.
- A. Catholic / Jewish
- B. Jewish / Catholic
- C. Tough and practical / a dreamer
- D. A dreamer / tough and practical
- Why does the family decide to move again?
- A. Johnny has found a new job opportunity.
- B. They move to escape their shame.
- C. They fail to pay rent and get evicted.
- D. Katie wants to live near her mother.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Reading Quiz 3: Chapters 15–31 (Book 3A)
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- What kind of lessons do Katie, Francie, and Neeley take together?
- A. Martial Arts
- B. Speech
- C. Cooking
- D. Piano
- The entire family is terrified when the kids must…
- A. Meet with the school principal.
- B. Get shots from a doctor.
- C. Testify in a court case.
- D. Read the Bible aloud in church.
- Who sponsors the boat ride, picnic, and carnival?
- A. The Catholic Church
- B. The school district
- C. The Democratic Party
- D. The factory where Katie works
- Francie and her father devise a scheme to…
- A. Steal food from a restaurant.
- B. Get a young man to do Katie’s work.
- C. Adopt a puppy.
- D. Transfer Francie to a different school.
- Francie and Neeley show their courage when they stand up to a…
- A. Flying Christmas tree.
- B. Flock of angry chickens.
- C. Woman with a water hose.
- D. Dancing horse.
- What is Francie’s biggest complaint about the neighborhood theaters?
- A. The actors are terrible.
- B. The stories are unrealistic.
- C. The audience is loud and distracting.
- D. The theatre is shabby and stinky.
- It turns into a complete disaster when Johnny decides to…
- A. Run for public office (assemblyman).
- B. Start an illegal gambling business.
- C. Start a furniture moving business.
- D. Take the kids fishing.
- In 7th grade, Francie is honored when…
- A. The principal asks her to deliver a speech.
- B. She gets the lead role in a play.
- C. Her story is published in a magazine.
- D. The class elects her as president.
- The same day that Francie has her first period, she witnesses…
- A. A baby being thrown from a building.
- B. A sick man dying in his sleep.
- C. An old horse being butchered.
- D. A woman being pelted with rocks.
- How does Uncle Willie end up in the hospital?
- A. The cops beat him with clubs.
- B. A horse kicks him in the head.
- C. His wife (Aunt Evy) poisons him.
- D. He suffers a heart attack while shoveling.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Reading Quiz 4: Chapters 32–42 (Book 3B)
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- Chapter 32 begins with excerpts from a(n)…
- A. Diary.
- B. Set of letters.
- C. Encyclopedia.
- D. Police report.
- Why does Johnny decide to get a gun?
- A. He is involved in organized crime.
- B. He is planning to commit suicide.
- C. He wants to protect his family.
- D. He plans to take a job with animal control.
- How does Francie escape from the rapist?
- A. She breaks a lamp on his head.
- B. She sets off the fire alarm.
- C. Her mom shoots him.
- D. Trick question — she does not escape.
- How does Aunt Sissy convince her husband “John” to adopt a baby?
- A. She threatens to leave him.
- B. She promises to change the child’s first name.
- C. She agrees to adopt a boy.
- D. Trick question — she lies and says it is his baby.
- What finally kills Johnny Nolan?
- A. He is shot by a police officer.
- B. He gets sick (pneumonia).
- C. He dies in a fire.
- D. He dies in a fall (possibly suicide).
- The bar owner, Mr. McGarrity, has a problem. What is it?
- A. The cops are on to his scheme.
- B. He owes money to the wrong people.
- C. His wife opposes his “evil ways.”
- D. He is lonely and has no one to talk to.
- The English teacher is disappointed in Francie because…
- A. Her writing is not realistic.
- B. Her writing is too realistic.
- C. She would rather write than be a wife.
- D. She would rather be a wife than a writer.
- What game does Katie play with the kids when times are hard?
- A. “The King and I”
- B. “Arctic Explorers”
- C. “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn”
- D. “The Queen’s Carnival”
- From whom does Francie receive flowers on her graduation day?
- A. Her father
- B. Her mother
- C. Her teacher, Mrs. Johnston
- D. Mr. McGarrity
- When Francie’s play is performed at graduation, it is…
- A. A complete success.
- B. A complete disaster.
- C. A success for the wrong reasons.
- D. Trick question — her play is not performed.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Reading Quiz 5: Chapters 43–48 (Book 4A)
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- What is Francie’s first real job?
- A. Lifeguarding at a pool
- B. Taking tickets on a trolley car
- C. Selling doughnuts in a baseball park
- D. Assembling parts in a factory
- Francie discovers that her new coworkers want her to…
- A. Quit.
- B. Do their work for them.
- C. Laugh with them.
- D. Go on a date with the manager.
- Francie starts spending time in the big city and thinks it is…
- A. More magical than Brooklyn.
- B. Disappointing.
- C. Shocking and terrifying.
- D. Trick question — she has yet to leave Brooklyn.
- Francie’s second job pays better and involves…
- A. Newspapers.
- B. Animals.
- C. Sick people.
- D. Dead people.
- Why does Katie decide that Neeley will return to school rather than Francie?
- A. Neeley gets better grades.
- B. Neeley is older and he is a boy.
- C. Neeley does not want to go to school.
- D. Francie would rather work.
- What does Francie buy herself for Christmas?
- A. Art supplies
- B. Underwear
- C. A tea set
- D. A ticket to a play
- What current event is everyone talking about in Book Four?
- A. World War I
- B. The invention of the atomic bomb
- C. Exploration of the North Pole
- D. The 1930 World’s Fair
- Which choice describes the relationship between Francie and Neeley as teenagers?
- A. They completely ignore one another.
- B. They despise one another.
- C. They are close and share their thoughts.
- D. Neeley has become the father figure.
- Who falls in love and “gets widowed, divorced, married, and pregnant — all in ten days’ time”?
- A. Katie Nolan
- B. Gertrude McFarlane
- C. Aunt Sissy
- D. Francie Nolan
- Francie tells her mother that her new plan for her education is to…
- A. Skip high school and go to college.
- B. Complete high school in one year.
- C. Forget schooling and travel the world.
- D. Sneak into classes and learn for free.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Reading Quiz 6: Chapters 49–56 (Books 4B and 5)
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- The 11th time Aunt Sissy gives birth is different because…
- A. She gives birth in a hospital.
- B. She gives birth in a church.
- C. The baby dies.
- D. She finally has a girl.
- Francie regrets sleeping with Lee Rhynor because…
- A. He lied about his wife being dead.
- B. She realizes that she was not in love.
- C. She thinks that she is pregnant.
- D. Trick question — she did not sleep with him.
- When Francie receives the letter from Lee Rhynor’s wife, she is…
- A. Devastated.
- B. Relieved.
- C. Impassive (not emotional).
- D. Trick question — Katie destroys the letter.
- Which words best describe Mr. McShane’s marriage proposal to Katie?
- A. Honest and serious
- B. Silly and childish
- C. Passionate and crazed
- D. Trick question — she proposes to him.
- Katie decides that she will not marry Mr. McShane because…
- A. He is broke and unreliable.
- B. He is not Catholic.
- C. She does not love him.
- D. Trick question — she will marry him.
- How do the women at the telegram office enjoy their work breaks?
- A. They smoke cigarettes on the roof.
- B. They sing and play piano.
- C. They exchange clothes and beauty tips.
- D. They make fun of people passing by the windows.
- Who helps Francie survive her first college classes?
- A. Ben, a fellow student
- B. Ms. Hinkler, the librarian
- C. Mr. Kelley, a janitor
- D. Sister Theresa, a nun
- Where will Francie continue her college education?
- A. Brooklyn College
- B. New York University
- C. The University of Michigan
- D. Florida State University
- What does Francie do with her mementos (memory items)?
- A. She packs them away carefully.
- B. She throws them off the Williamsburg Bridge.
- C. She burns them in the furnace.
- D. She buries them next to her favorite tree.
- The tree of the title dies when…
- A. A bulldozer runs it over.
- B. It is crushed under snow and ice.
- C. Some women chop it up for firewood.
- D. Trick question — it lives.
Why A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Reading Quizzes Work
Reading quizzes for grades Grades 8–12 solve a specific classroom problem: students arrive unprepared, and instructional time drains into plot summary. A ten-question multiple-choice quiz at the start of class takes five minutes, produces a clean grade, and tells you immediately who read. No papers to collect. No journals to monitor. No copying before the bell.
Short accountability checks also protect the quality of discussion. Francie Nolan’s story gives students something to argue about on every page — the cost of a parent’s weakness, what education actually buys, whether resilience is a virtue or just what survival looks like from outside. That argument only starts when students come prepared.
Quiz results also communicate early. A student who struggles with Quiz 1 tells you something actionable before the bigger assessments arrive.
Get the A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Reading Quiz Resource
The free PDF samples and cut-and-paste questions above cover all six readings. The purchased set adds DOCX format for easy customization, a complete answer key, and the 4-reading format (15 questions each) for faster pacing.
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M. Towle is a veteran Language Arts and Social Studies teacher with fourteen years of classroom experience in urban schools in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. M. Towle holds an M.A. in Holocaust and Genocide Studies and is the founder of TeachNovels.com.