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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Jackson satirizing by having the children participate so willingly in the stoning?
(a) Bringing children up with adults' biases.
(b) Parents who let their children run their lives.
(c) Well behaved children.
(d) Hansel and Gretle.

2. What does everyone get at this point?
(a) Blank papers.
(b) Instructions.
(c) Refreshments.
(d) Stones.

3. Why are the children running around that morning?
(a) Lottery Day is a special holiday for children.
(b) The teachers are in the lottery so they come to see them.
(c) It is Saturday and there is no school.
(d) Lottery Day is a school holiday.

4. What is Mrs. Hutchinson's behavior as she makes her way to her family?
(a) Laughing and apologizing for being late.
(b) Perplexed and confused.
(c) Somber and angry.
(d) Anxious and in a hurry.

5. Why is everyone participating, even the Hutchinson children?
(a) Because they will be jailed if they do not.
(b) Because it is a village activity.
(c) Because they are all hypnotized.
(d) Because they have nothing better to do.

6. What do some people think about discontinuing the lottery?
(a) Some people want to discontinue the lottery.
(b) Some people want to hold the lottery twice a year.
(c) Some people want to change the date of the lottery.
(d) Some people want to make the lottery grander.

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

8. When Mr. Summers says it is time, what does everyone do?
(a) Look at their papers and hold them up.
(b) Look at their papers and not show them.
(c) Tear their papers into small pieces.
(d) Drop their papers in the box.

9. Has there ever been any other breaks with tradition?
(a) No. This was the first time any changed was made.
(b) Yes. The ritual chant and the special salute were discarded.
(c) Yes, they used to hold the lottery only at night.
(d) Yes, the box used to be white.

10. Is Mr. Summers exempt from the lottery?
(a) Yes. Otherwise they would have to get a new administrator every year.
(b) Yes. But he makes a pretense of drawing anyway.
(c) No. But he is the only one allowed to look into the box while drawing.
(d) No. He calls out his own name, too.

11. What holiday is mentioned in the story that suggests this village is in America?
(a) Christmas.
(b) Groundhog Day.
(c) Halloween.
(d) The 4th of July.

12. Which man holds the winning paper?
(a) Bill Hutchinson.
(b) Old man Warner.
(c) Bob Martin.
(d) Mr. Graves.

13. What is Jackson saying about tradition.
(a) That very few people question it.
(b) That it is necessary to keep a culture alive.
(c) That it is bad luck to change it.
(d) That tradition is better than creating new ways.

14. Who is the last person accounted for before the lottery begins?
(a) The tall Watson boy.
(b) Old man Warner.
(c) Mrs. Dunbar.
(d) Tessie Hutchinson.

15. What is Tessie doing in the center of the circle of her friends, neighbors, and family?
(a) Dancing the lottery jig.
(b) Sitting on a makeshift throne.
(c) Gloating that she is the winner.
(d) Holding out her hands and crying that it is not fair.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Jackson hint in the story when Tessie is very late arriving?

2. What is the age of majority in the village?

3. What is on Tessie Hutchinson's paper?

4. What type of story is THE LOTTERY?

5. What does Tessie's paper mean?

(see the answer keys)

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