"The Gift of the Magi" Test Review

Multiple Choice

Part A: Which of the following sentences best states a theme from the story? (RL.8.2)

• Your status does not define you.

• Beauty isn’t everything.

• It is the thought that counts.

• Unselfish love is the greatest of all gifts.

Multiple Select

Part B: Which two details from the text support the answer in Part A? (RL.8.1)

• “The ‘Dillingham’ had been flung to the breeze during a former period of prosperity when its possessor was being paid $30 per week.”

• “Don’t make any mistake, Dell,…about me. I don’t think there’s anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me like my girl any less.”

• “Be good to me, for it went for you. Maybe the hairs of my head were numbered.”

• “She found it at last. It surely had been made for Jim and no one else.”

• “Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication.”

Multiple Choice

Read the sentence from paragraph 44.
“’Dell.’ Said he, ‘let’s put our Christmas presents away and keep ‘em a while. They’re too nice to use just at present.”
How does this sentence contribute to the passage? (RL.8.5)

• It reveals the irony in both characters selling their most treasured possessions for the other’s gift.

• It reveals the pain and guilt of both characters since they can’t enjoy their gifts.

• It reveals the sarcasm each character has because they know what happened to his/her gifts.

• It reveals the happiness that each character felt in receiving the gift that he/she wanted.

Multiple Choice

Part A: What does the term “pier-glass” mean, as it is used in paragraph 7? (RL.8.4)

• A section of decorative stained glass

• A mirror

• A window

• A peep-hole

Multiple Choice

Part B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A? (RL.8.1)

• “Perhaps you have seen a pier-glass in an $8 flat.”

• “…by observing his reflection…”

• “Della, being slender, had mastered the art.”

• “…whirled from the window and stood before the glass.”

Multiple Choice

How does the first paragraph help develop the plot of the story? (RL.8.5)

• It illustrates how rude Della is.

• It illustrates how independent Della is.

• It illustrates how expensive it is to live in London.

• It illustrates how concerned with money Della is.

Multiple Choice

Reread paragraph 45. What does the paragraph reveal about the characters? (RL.8.3)

• Jim and Della are shopping for Christmas presents; the Magi invented the tradition of giving Christmas presents.

• Jim and Della make great sacrifices to give each other special Christmas gifts.

• Jim and Della are poor and cannot give each other what they want for Christmas.

• Jim and Della are deeply religious and hold the Magi in high esteem.

Multiple Choice

How does paragraph 5 contribute to the passage? (RL.8.5)

• It highlights the importance of their wealth and how other things are pointless.

• It highlights the humbleness of the couple and how they value each other’s love.

• It highlights their more modest social position, and also an indication of how important names are in their society.

• It highlights their arrogant nature, and how they look down on other’s not in their social class.

Multiple Choice

How does the phrase “what could I do with a dollar and eighty-seven cents?” in paragraph 22 affect the reader’s view of Della? (RL.8.6)

• It reveals Della’s vanity, and her obsession with money.

• It reveals Della’s desperation, and her inability to manage money.

• It reveals Della’s charming allure, and her ability to easily justify her actions.

• It reveals Della’s love for her husband, and her desire to make his Christmas special.

Multiple Choice

Which quotation from paragraph 38 provides context for the meaning of coveted as it is used in the paragraph? (RL.8.4)

• “And now, they were hers”

• “…that Della had worshipped for long in a Broadway window.”

• “They were expensive combs…”

• “…and yearned over them without the least hope of possession.”