View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Paul die happy?

2. How are Paul's eyes described after the party?

3. Where does Mother go on her birthday?

4. What does Paul say he has that lets him win money?

5. How is Paul's expression after Mother's birthday described?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Paul think he was able to predict all the horse winners?

2. How does Paul choose the winners of the horse races?

3. What does Mother show by the way she reacts to her birthday gift?

4. What does Oscar help Paul plan to do with his winnings from the races?

5. Why isn't Paul personally present at the Derby?

6. What does Mother do when she gets her birthday present?

7. What does Mother do when she begins getting worried about Paul?

8. What does Paul get as a result of his mother's birthday present?

9. What does Mother say caused her family a lot of grief when she was younger?

10. What does Mother sense during the party she goes to?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What were some of the forms of foreshadowing used in this book, and how did those moments affect the course of the plot?

Essay Topic 2

What role did money play in this short story, and do you agree with the message the author was trying to send through this inclusion of the theme of money?

Essay Topic 3

What are your feelings about luck after reading this story, and how did the importance placed on luck by the main characters in this book change that ideal?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 616 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample