Three facts from the passage to prove that this is a factual story about a real man are: - Matthew Hopkins was a real person who lived in the 17th century. - He was known as the Witchfinder General. - He was responsible for the execution of numerous women accused of witchcraft.

The punishment for being a witch was execution, usually by hanging.

(a) It was in Hopkins’ best interest to find as many witches as possible because he was paid for each witch he found. (b) This led him to travel from town to town, accusing and interrogating women, and conducting witch trials.

Two reasons why Hopkins became a Witchfinder were: - He believed that witches were a threat to society and needed to be eliminated. - He saw an opportunity to gain power, influence, and financial gain by identifying and prosecuting witches.

People found Hopkins’ trial entertaining because it provided a spectacle and a form of morbid entertainment. It was a public event where accusations, confessions, and punishments were on display, attracting crowds and creating a sense of excitement.

In the pricking test, the ‘Devil’s mark’ was a supposed mark or blemish on a person’s body that was believed to be a sign of their pact with the devil.

If Hopkins accused you of being a witch, you would have no chance because he held significant power and influence in the witch trials. His accusations were often taken as truth, and the legal system at the time heavily favored the prosecution in witchcraft cases.

Hopkins decided to retire because his methods and actions were increasingly being questioned and criticized. There was a growing skepticism towards witch trials, and his reputation was tarnished.

It suggests that people thought Hopkins was a ruthless and opportunistic individual who took advantage of the witch hysteria for personal gain. They may have seen him as a manipulative and cruel figure.

Some reasons why women were accused of being witches include: - Personal grudges or vendettas against the accused women. - Superstitions and beliefs in supernatural powers. - Misunderstandings or misinterpretations of natural occurrences or illnesses. - Social and cultural prejudices against women who were seen as different or independent.

The evidence Hopkins had against the four women who were his first victims included: - Witnesses who claimed to have seen the women engaging in witchcraft or consorting with the devil. - Confessions obtained through intense interrogation and torture. - Supposed physical evidence, such as the presence of the ‘Devil’s mark’ on their bodies.

• The first test was the swimming test. It involved tying the accused woman’s hands and feet and throwing her into a body of water. If she floated, it was believed that she was a witch because witches were thought to have made a pact with the devil, which allowed them to float. - The second test was the pricking test. It involved searching the accused woman’s body for the ‘Devil’s mark’ by pricking her with a needle or pin. If she did not bleed or feel pain, it was believed that she was a witch because it was thought that the devil had made her body insensitive. - Both tests were unfair because they were based on superstitions and beliefs that had no scientific or logical basis. They relied on subjective interpretations and were easily manipulated to incriminate innocent individuals.