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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. According to a town legend, what was Strangeworth House once mistaken for?

2. Who was the first owner of the grocery store?

3. When does Miss Strangeworth generally mail her letters?

4. Who is Ethan Allen?

5. Which one of her neighbors does Miss Strangeworth chat with while she is checking out at the grocery store?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Miss Strangeworth's relationship with Tommy Lewis.

2. What details does Jackson provide about the interior of Miss Strangeworth's house to show the pride the family has always taken in the house?

3. What is ironic about Dave Harris being the one to find and deliver Miss Strangeworth's dropped letter?

4. Describe the main character of "The Possibility of Evil."

5. Describe the significance of the paper that Miss Strangeworth chooses for her anonymous notes.

6. What details in the story let the reader know that Miss Strangeworth herself does not believe some of the accusations she is making?

7. Describe Miss Strangeworth's feelings about her roses.

8. What is ironic about Miss Strangeworth's criticisms of Helen and Don Crane's parenting?

9. Who is Linda Stewart, and why has she been so upset?

10. What is ironic about Miss Strangeworth's thoughts as she notices that various townspeople seem distressed?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay that affirms, refutes, or qualifies the following claim: Miss Strangeworth functions like an omnipotent deity in her small town, introducing the "possibility of evil" and allowing the residents of "her" town to make their own choices about how to respond. Offer textual support from the story to support your claims.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that makes and defends a claim about the symbolic significance of the multicolored paper often used by Miss Strangeworth and the townspeople. Use textual evidence to support your claims.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay that examines the significance of the repetition of the phrase "lovely day" in "The Possibility of Evil." Support your claims with evidence from the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,042 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample