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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the irony of Tessie Hutchinson drawing the black dot?
(a) She drew the dot because she was late.
(b) She was the only one who protested the procedure.
(c) Dessenters are a threat to tradition and must be removed.
(d) Tessie did not know the tradition.

2. What accusation does Tessie make to Joe Summers?
(a) That someone else should draw for him.
(b) That he goes first every year to lessen his chances of getting the dot.
(c) That he cheated when he drew his own slip.
(d) That he doesn't like her and arranged for her to get the dot.

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

4. In a large village, how long might the lottery last?
(a) Not long because of better equipment.
(b) An hour because the slips were mailed to the people.
(c) All day because they have more activities in the square.
(d) As much as seven days.

5. 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.

6. Which stones are the most prized for use in the lottery?
(a) Hard, jagged ones.
(b) Shiny, decorative ones.
(c) Heavy, flat ones.
(d) Smooth, round ones.

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

8. What does Mrs. Dunbar hold in her hands?
(a) A slingshot.
(b) A bag full of small stones.
(c) More moderate stones than Mrs. Delacroix.
(d) The Hutchinson baby.

9. What is being used for the first time this year?
(a) Slips of paper instead of wood chips.
(b) A new black box.
(c) A bigger stool.
(d) Black and white ping pong balls.

10. How many slips do the Hutchinson's take out of the box?
(a) Three. One for Bill, Tessie, and Bill, Jr.
(b) Five. One for each member of the family.
(c) Four. One for each the family members except the baby.
(d) Two. One for Bill and one for Tessie.

11. What does Mr. Summers carry onto the village square?
(a) A black, wooden box.
(b) The book of rules.
(c) A milking stool.
(d) The village flag.

12. How do they list the villagers before the lottery begins?
(a) From the oldest to the youngest.
(b) From the youngest to the oldest.
(c) In alphabetical order.
(d) By heads of families.

13. What is Jackson's main theme in the story?
(a) The need for change in a community.
(b) The value of human life.
(c) The need for tradition in small towns.
(d) The stupidity of blindly following tradition.

14. In general, what type of village is the setting of the story?
(a) A retirement village.
(b) A mining village.
(c) A farming village.
(d) A manufacturing village.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Jackson suggest that tradition may be questioned?

2. Who gets to go first in the second drawing?

3. What sound is heard as the papers are opened?

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

5. What finally happens with Tessie?

(see the answer keys)

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