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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How do they assemble when it is time to begin the ceremony?
(a) Crowding forward to try and be first to draw.
(b) Coming together in family groups.
(c) Making a huge circle in the town square.
(d) In double file lines.

2. In the story, what idea does Shirley Jackson carefully avoid?
(a) The time it takes to hold the lottery.
(b) Sweepstakes.
(c) Winning the lottery.
(d) The odds of winning.

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

4. What is Mr. Zanini's distinction at the lottery?
(a) He is the oldest man at the lottery.
(b) He is the only single man there.
(c) He is the first one to draw in the lottery.
(d) He is the last one to draw a slip from the black box.

5. How long has the lottery been going on?
(a) Since before people arrived from Europe.
(b) For the last five years.
(c) Over several generations.
(d) Since the Pilgrims.

6. What does the village look like on the morning of the lottery?
(a) It is very metropolitan with shiny glass commercial buildings.
(b) It is gloomy and cold looking with gray houses.
(c) It is dusty and dry with the paint peeling off the houses.
(d) It is in the sun with neat houses, green lawns, and flowers everywhere.

7. What is the date of the lottery?
(a) June 27th
(b) February 2nd
(c) April 1st
(d) July 4th

8. What are the women doing before the lottery?
(a) Avoicing each other's eyes.
(b) Standing together and gossiping.
(c) Putting up the bunting.
(d) Running around looking for their children.

9. Old man Warner suggests that discontinuing the lottery would be doing what?
(a) Taking the life out of the village.
(b) Going back to the Stone Age.
(c) Shaming the ancestors.
(d) Inviting strangers into the village.

10. What finally happens with Tessie?
(a) She has to catch and throw back the stones.
(b) All the villagers stone her to death.
(c) She has a heart attack and dies.
(d) She must dodge all the stones.

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

12. What is Jackson's first element of surprise in the story?
(a) Mr. Graves forgetting the stool.
(b) The boys gathering stones.
(c) Mr. Summers changing the tradition.
(d) Tessie being late for the lottery.

13. Who helps hold the box to keep it steady?
(a) Mr. Martin and his son.
(b) Several of the larger boys.
(c) The mayor and the chief of police.
(d) Mr. Graves and Mr. Summers.

14. What are the men doing before it is time for the lottery to begin?
(a) Standing together and talking politics.
(b) Standing in a group talking about tractors and rain.
(c) Standing together and talking about women.
(d) Standing in a group but not talking.

15. What does Mrs. Delacroix have in her hands?
(a) The Hutchinson baby.
(b) The lottery flag.
(c) A chocolate cake.
(d) A huge stone.

Short Answer Questions

1. How do they list the villagers before the lottery begins?

2. What accusation does Tessie make to Joe Summers?

3. What is Tessie doing in the center of the circle of her friends, neighbors, and family?

4. What is Old man Warner's meaning when he says lottery in June, corn harvest soon?

5. What does Mr. Summers do as soon as he is sworn in?

(see the answer keys)

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