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Vocabulary:
- Accuse = say someone did something wrong
- Status = position in society
- Innocent = not guilty
Story:
The minister asks the girls who is hurting them. They begin naming names. The first accused are Tituba, a servant from the Caribbean; Sarah Good, a poor homeless woman; and Sarah Osborne, who rarely attends church.
These women already have low status in the village. People assume that if someone is disliked or different, they might be connected to evil. When the women say they are innocent, the girls scream again. This convinces many that the girls must be telling the truth.
Now the fear becomes even stronger.
Comprehension Questions:
7. Who are the first three women accused?
- A. Rebecca Nurse, Martha Corey, Mary Warren
- B. Tituba, Sarah Good, Sarah Osborne
- C. Mercy Lewis, Ann Putnam, Mary Walcott
- D. Bridget Bishop, Susannah Martin, Sarah Cloyce
8. Why do people believe the girls?
- A. The girls’ parents are wealthy and respected
- B. The girls provide signed written contracts with the Devil
- C. The girls remain calm during church meetings
- D. The girls scream when the accused deny it, and fear is already high