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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When is the lottery held each year?
(a) Before the corn harvest.
(b) During the full moon.
(c) At the beginning of spring.
(d) At Thanksgiving.

2. Why can Clyde Dunbar not draw for his family?
(a) He is on duty as fireman.
(b) He is in the military.
(c) He is in the hospital.
(d) He is at home with a broken leg.

3. In the story, what idea does Shirley Jackson carefully avoid?
(a) Winning the lottery.
(b) The time it takes to hold the lottery.
(c) Sweepstakes.
(d) The odds of winning.

4. What is being used for the first time this year?
(a) A bigger stool.
(b) A new black box.
(c) Black and white ping pong balls.
(d) Slips of paper instead of wood chips.

5. What is Jackson's first element of surprise in the story?
(a) Mr. Summers changing the tradition.
(b) Tessie being late for the lottery.
(c) The boys gathering stones.
(d) Mr. Graves forgetting the stool.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the age of majority in the village?

2. What is the tone as the story begins?

3. What are the women doing before the lottery?

4. What sound is heard as the papers are opened?

5. Why does the lottery begin late in this village?

Short Essay Questions

1. Eventually, how do the people assemble as they wait for the lottery?

2. How does Tessie further disrupt the proceedings?

3. What excuse does Tessie make for being late?

4. Describe the kind of morning it is on the day of the lottery.

5. Why have they made the switch to paper slips this year?

6. What does Mrs. Delacroix do to participate in the stoning?

7. Why is Mr. Summers always in charge of the lottery every year?

8. How does Jackson draw the reader into the spirit of the lottery?

9. Until she is knocked unconscious, what does Tessie keep trying to do?

10. Who do they look for before continuing with the lottery?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 550 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample