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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 is the longest time that Miss Strangeworth has been away from her town?

2. Why does Miss Strangeworth refer to the Cranes' baby as "her highness" (421)?

3. What causes Miss Strangeworth to say that the Cranes' baby will expect luxury all of her life?

4. Why does Miss Strangeworth think that she has a right to eavesdrop on Linda Stewart at the post office?

5. How old is Miss Strangeworth?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the exterior of Miss Strangeworth's house.

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 evidence is there in the story that Miss Strangeworth is well-known and respected in the town?

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

5. What does the green letter at the end of the story say, and what does it imply?

6. Describe the setting of the story "The Possibility of Evil."

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

8. What does Miss Strangeworth write to Mrs. Harper, and what is she implying?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Certainly, Miss Strangeworth's behavior is extreme and cruel. But is Miss Strangeworth the only person in town who gossips and spreads rumors? Write an essay that makes a claim about the purpose of including details like the townspeople gossiping about Linda Stewart and the rumor about the tourist mistaking Miss Strangeworth's home for a museum. Support your claim with textual evidence.

Essay Topic 2

"The Possibility of Evil" is studded with words like "graceful" and "dainty." Write an essay that explores the significance of this aspect of the story's diction. Support your claims with direct quotations from the story.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay in which you explain why the events in the story's final few pages--the events that lead to Miss Strangeworth's downfall--are ironic. Use textual evidence to support your claims.

(see the answer keys)

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