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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter Abstracts.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why are people gathering in the town square?
(a) There is a band concert that morning.
(b) They are voting whether to discontinue the lottery.
(c) It is the annual lottery day.
(d) The mayor is making a speech.

2. What are some villages rumored to be doing with their lottery?
(a) Discontinuing it.
(b) Holding parades before the lottery.
(c) Combining it with another holiday.
(d) Adding a consolation prize.

3. Who gets to go first in the second drawing?
(a) The oldest son draws first.
(b) Bill draws first.
(c) The three children draw first.
(d) Tessie insists on drawing first.

4. What serious formality occurs before the lottery begins?
(a) The singing of the village anthem.
(b) The pledge of allegiance.
(c) The swearing in of the officials.
(d) The blessing of the box.

5. Who will participate in the ritual?
(a) The children only because it is their holiday.
(b) The women because Tessie is a woman.
(c) All Tessie's friends, neighbors, and family members.
(d) Only the men of the village.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the lottery hint at?

2. In the story, what idea does Shirley Jackson carefully avoid?

3. What element of surprise does Jackson use in the story?

4. How long has the lottery been going on?

5. In a large village, how long might the lottery last?

(see the answer key)

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