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Bryce Courtenay - "Jessica" Trivia Quiz

This quiz is based on the great yet sad story of Jessica Bergman. It's about her personal fight for justice against enormous odds.

A multiple-choice quiz by blurrystar1. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
blurrystar1

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
147,314

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
492

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. Jessica Bergman worked as a tar boy at Riverview Station and she was the only girl amongst a large group of men.

True

False

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Question 2 of 15

2. In what year was Jessica born? Hint

1896

1914

1900

1890

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Question 3 of 15

3. By what name was William D'arcy Simon better known as? Hint

Bill Simon

Billy Simple

Jack Thomas

Joe Bergman

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Question 4 of 15

4. Why was Jessica told to live in a small tin hut, away from her family? Hint

She moved there out of her own choice so she could secretly see Jack.

It was her punishment.

She was pregant and not married. It would be a disgrace to her family if anyone found out.

It would be easier to travel to her new job from the hut.

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Question 5 of 15

5. Which of these people did Billy Simple NOT murder? Hint

Ada Thomas

Winifred Thomas

Gwen Thomas

George Thomas

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Question 6 of 15

6. Who did Meg, Jessica's older sister, end up marrying?

Answer: (Two Words Or Just Surname)

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Question 7 of 15

7. How old was Jessica's and Meg's dad, Joe Bergman, when he died? Hint

100

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Question 8 of 15

8. Who said this quote: "Jessie, just think it could be your way out of here! Besides, I now know I love you. I've been gone a week and I've not slept a wink for thinking of you." Hint

Moishe Goldberg

Solly Goldberg

Jack Thomas

Richard Runche KC

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Question 9 of 15

9. What was the name of Jessica's Aboriginal friend whose children got stolen? Hint

Hester

Mary Simpson

Polly

Dulcie Simpson

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Question 10 of 15

10. Before Jessica gave birth, the Aboriginal aunties bought something for her child. What was it? Hint

Necklace with the name Joey on it

Chinese silk dress

Baby Kit

Booties

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Question 11 of 15

11. Which of the following is TRUE? Hint

Jessica was put into a mental instutuion even though she was perfectly healthy and sane.

Billy was put into jail for life for murdering the Thomases.

Meg found she was pregant to Jack, right after he left for the war.

Hester Bergman had a good relationship with both her daughters.

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Question 12 of 15

12. Mary Simpson had 4 children all to different fathers. How old was her eldest child?

Answer: (A Number Below 10)

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Question 13 of 15

13. What was Richard Runche's favourite drink? Hint

Wine

Orange juice

Beer

Claret

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Question 14 of 15

14. Not until the very last pages of the book do we find out who Jessica's son's father is. She wrote it in an unsent letter on 6 August 1914.
Who was the father and her only love? Hint

Billy Simple

Jack Thomas

Moishe Goldberg

Joshua Phillips

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Question 15 of 15

15. How did Jessica die? Hint

Killed herself from all the grief in her life

She lived until old age

Murdered by Billy Simple

Bitten by a king brown snake

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Jessica Bergman worked as a tar boy at Riverview Station and she was the only girl amongst a large group of men.

Answer: True

The tar boys envied and hated Jessica because she was a lot more efficient and better at her work than all the other boys. They couldn't stand being beaten by a girl so they got her back once, by pouring tar over her head.

2. In what year was Jessica born?

Answer: 1896

Jessica was the youngest child out of two children. Meg is her older sister.

3. By what name was William D'arcy Simon better known as?

Answer: Billy Simple

Billy was always normal before he had the accident (the fight with the tar boys and horses running over his head). After the accident his only real friends were Jack and Jessica.

4. Why was Jessica told to live in a small tin hut, away from her family?

Answer: She was pregant and not married. It would be a disgrace to her family if anyone found out.

Jessica did not get on well with her family at all, except for her father. Because there were no sons in the family Jessica took on the role that a boy would've taken. So when Jessica moved away her mother and sister were very happy, as they could get on with their plans. Her father thought it was the best option so he went along with it. He didn't know what Meg and Hester were up to.

5. Which of these people did Billy Simple NOT murder?

Answer: George Thomas

Ada, Gwen and Winifred were Jack's two sisters and mother. George was his father. Jessica helped Billy by taking him to court to defend him. This was around the time when Jessica got pregnant and many people believed that Billy was the father of Jessica's child.

6. Who did Meg, Jessica's older sister, end up marrying?

Answer: Jack Thomas

This marriage was forced upon Jack by Meg and Hester (her mother). Jack really loved Jessica but he couldn't do anything to stop the marriage.

7. How old was Jessica's and Meg's dad, Joe Bergman, when he died?

Answer: 72

Joe was a simple, kind man and very Australian.

8. Who said this quote: "Jessie, just think it could be your way out of here! Besides, I now know I love you. I've been gone a week and I've not slept a wink for thinking of you."

Answer: Moishe Goldberg

Moishe even proposed after confessing his love but Jessica turned him down, even though she liked him.

9. What was the name of Jessica's Aboriginal friend whose children got stolen?

Answer: Mary Simpson

Mary was a very good friend to Jessica and she also helped birth Jessica's son, Joey.

10. Before Jessica gave birth, the Aboriginal aunties bought something for her child. What was it?

Answer: Chinese silk dress

The chinese silk dress was used as proof in court to show that Joey was really Jessica's child and not her sister Meg's.

11. Which of the following is TRUE?

Answer: Jessica was put into a mental instutuion even though she was perfectly healthy and sane.

Meg and Hester put Jessica in an institution so she would stay out of the way and let them lead their rich, false lives in peace.

Meg never was pregnant to Jack although they did spend one night together. She faked her pregnancy by stuffing cushions up her dress.

Billy was hung, not put in jail.

Hester only loved Meg. She hardly ever treated Jessica as her own daughter.

12. Mary Simpson had 4 children all to different fathers. How old was her eldest child?

Answer: 7

Mary was one of the Aboriginals who had their children stolen from them. But she put up a fight and, unlike many others, got to see her children.

13. What was Richard Runche's favourite drink?

Answer: Claret

Richard (the lawyer) helped Jessica and Mary a lot in court and as a friend.

14. Not until the very last pages of the book do we find out who Jessica's son's father is. She wrote it in an unsent letter on 6 August 1914. Who was the father and her only love?

Answer: Jack Thomas

Meg took Jessica's child from her and claimed it as her own. That's what Jack believed as well. He never knew that he really had a son to Jessica.

15. How did Jessica die?

Answer: Bitten by a king brown snake

She carried the unsent letter to Jack (as in the question above) with her when she died.

Source: www.brycecourtenay.com

Source: Author blurrystar1

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor MotherGoose before going online.
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