A GUIDE WAS PRODUCED FOR STUDENT USE IN NINTH-GRADE STUDY OF "THE MERCHANT OF VENICE." THE GUIDE PRESENTED SEVERAL ALTERNATE APPROACHES FOR UNDERSTANDING THE PLAY AND LEARNING ITS CONTENT. A MAJOR EMPHASIS OF THE GUIDE WAS PLACED ON THREE FORMS OF STUDENT QUESTIONS, RELATED TO SPECIFIC ACTS AND SCENES, THE CHARACTERS IN THE DRAMA, AND THE PLAY AS A WHOLE. THE CORRESPONDING TEACHING GUIDE IS ED 010 816. RELATED REPORTS ARE ED 010 129 THROUGH ED 010 160 AND ED 010 803 THROUGH ED 010 832. (JH)