View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

3. What is the traditional job of the village boys on Lottery Day?
(a) They collect stones and bring them to the town square.
(b) They play an exhibition football game before the lottery.
(c) They keep the younger children off the grass.
(d) They form an honor guard for the lottery box.

4. What is on Tessie Hutchinson's paper?
(a) A black spot.
(b) Nothing.
(c) The number 6.
(d) A message.

5. How do most of the villagers appear to regard the lottery?
(a) They hate it.
(b) They look forward to it.
(c) They do not like the suspense.
(d) They are confused about it.

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

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

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

9. Though they do not remember all the ancient ritual, what do the villagers all remember?
(a) The burning of the box.
(b) The stones.
(c) The march.
(d) The song.

10. 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.

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

12. Who is assigned to conduct the lottery?
(a) Mr. Martin.
(b) Mr. Hutchinson.
(c) Mr. Summers.
(d) Mr. Graves.

13. 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.

14. What does Jackson hint in the story when Tessie is very late arriving?
(a) That Tessie is not originally from the village.
(b) That Tessie is a scatter brain.
(c) That Tessie is always late for everything.
(d) That Tessie has a premonition of something bad.

15. What sound is heard as the papers are opened?
(a) A collective sigh.
(b) The women speaking all at once.
(c) Nothing. It is very quiet.
(d) The school marching band.

Short Answer Questions

1. What are some villages rumored to be doing with their lottery?

2. Who is to draw for the Watson family?

3. What do some people think about discontinuing the lottery?

4. Is everyone present as the lottery ceremony begins?

5. What are the men doing before it is time for the lottery to begin?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 653 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample