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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Is everyone present as the lottery ceremony begins?

2. Why does the lottery begin late in this village?

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

4. What accusation does Tessie make to Joe Summers?

5. Why is everyone participating, even the Hutchinson children?

Short Essay Questions

1. Until she is knocked unconscious, what does Tessie keep trying to do?

2. What kind of lists are required for the conduct of the lottery?

3. What does the setting of THE LOTTERY say about the citizens of the village.

4. As Mr. Summers turns to face the gathered villagers, what disturbance occurs?

5. What happens next after it is settled that Bill Hutchinson holds the paper with the black dot?

6. What are some other town functions that Mr. Summers presides over?

7. Eventually, how do the people assemble as they wait for the lottery?

8. Describe the kind of morning it is on the day of the lottery.

9. How do the villagers know that Bill Hutchinson is holding the slip of paper with the black dot?

10. According to the rules of the lottery, how long does the stoning go on?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a paper about how children might be affected by the violence of the lottery. What will Davie Hutchinson be like when he is a teenager?

Essay Topic 2

Write a paper where the towns people hold a meeting to decide if they will do away with the lottery. Use the characters from Shirley Jackson's story. Who, besides Old man Warner, will oppose the idea of doing away with it?

Essay Topic 3

Write a paper comparing THE LOTTERY with the infamous Salem witch trials. What is the common psychological thread that runs through the people of the village and the citizens of Salem intent on removing witches?

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This section contains 620 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample