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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What type of story is THE LOTTERY?

2. How do most of the villagers appear to regard the lottery?

3. What finally happens with Tessie?

4. What is being used for the first time this year?

5. What are the men doing before it is time for the lottery to begin?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the villagers begin to do at that point?

2. What happens after Mr. Zanini draw his paper?

3. What does Mr. Adams discuss with Old man Warner?

4. How do the villagers know that Bill Hutchinson is holding the slip of paper with the black dot?

5. How are people dressed for this annual event?

6. In naming the holidays observed by the village, how does Jackson hint at the macabre nature of the lottery?

7. How does Tessie try to widen the odds of her drawing the black dot?

8. As Tessie continues to voice her objections, what does her husband do?

9. Mostly the townspeople seem to look forward to the lottery. What comment is Jackson making on human nature at this point?

10. Whose name was the first to be called up for the lottery?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a paper explaining how traditions may change over time. Traditions are usually handed down by example or word of mouth. How would this make it easy for change to happen?

Essay Topic 2

Write a paper on how well written short stories hold the interest of the reader including the fact that they can be read in one sitting.

Essay Topic 3

Write a paper comparing THE LOTTERY with the infamous Salem witch trials. What is the common psychological thread that runs through the people of the village and the citizens of Salem intent on removing witches?

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This section contains 504 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample