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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 does Miss Strangeworth seem to think her family's place in the world is?

2. What word is repeatedly used to describe the day on which the story opens?

3. Who is the original owner of Miss Strangeworth's house?

4. What did Tommy Lewis call Miss Strangeworth in high school?

5. What are the youngest children at the post office doing?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. 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?

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

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

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

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

8. What worry does Helen Crane express about her baby daughter, and how does Miss Strangeworth respond to her concerns?

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

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

Write an essay that makes and defends a claim about the purpose of including the images and details related to Miss Strangeworth's passion for neatness. Support your ideas with evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that explores the symbolic significance of Strangeworth House. Make sure to consider its physical characteristics, its place in town history, and the feelings that it engenders in Miss Strangeworth and others. Support your claims with evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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