The Most Dangerous Game

Which TWO of the following best identify the central themes of this story?

• When violence becomes too common, some people no longer take it seriously.

• Pride in one’s country makes people feel superior to others based on race.

• Humankind’s place in nature is to act with reason, not to become like violent animals.

• The power of love will save people from hurting and harming others.

• Nature provides everything humanity needs and therefore anything else is wasteful.

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Which TWO phrases from the text best support the central themes?

• “‘You’re a big-game hunter, not a philosopher.’” (Paragraph 10)

• “Where there are pistol shots, there are men.” (Paragraph 39)

• "hunting had ceased to be what you call ‘a sporting proposition.’ It had become too easy. I always got my quarry.’” (Paragraph 94)

• “‘One does not expect nowadays to find a young man of the educated class, even in America, with such a naïve, and, if I may say so, mid-Victorian point of view.’” (Paragraph 116)

• “‘Civilized? And you shoot down men?’” (Paragraph 128)

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How does beginning the story with the dialogue between Rainsford and Whitney contribute to the author’s characterization of Rainsford?

• It demonstrates that Rainsford has had a difficult life.

• It establishes his views on hunting and man's place in nature.

• It foreshadows the actions Rainsford will take later in the story.

• It offers background details that show how Rainsford is traumatized by war.

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Which of the following words best reflects the tone of the story?

• Nostalgic

• Optimistic

• Pessimistic

• Suspenseful

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What does the phrase “sporting proposition” most closely mean as it is used in paragraph 94?

• game-like challenge

• hunting license

• available targets

• a simple, easy task

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Which phrase from the text best supports the meaning of "sporting proposition"?

• “‘businessmen often go to pieces when they give up the business that has been their life.’” (Paragraph 88)

• “‘It had become too easy. I always got my quarry.’” (Paragraph 94)

• “‘When I thought of this, it was a tragic moment for me’” (Paragraph 96)

• “‘I had to invent a new animal to hunt’” (Paragraph 100)

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Why does Zaroff think Rainsford is “droll” and “naïve”? (Paragraph 116)

• Zaroff thinks it’s foolish and old-fashioned that Rainsford values human life even after fighting in the war.

• Zaroff thinks it is childish and immature that Rainsford has never tried to kill another human.

• Zaroff judges Rainsford’s American culture because Rainsford feels a religious sense of responsibility.

• Insane Zaroff has been isolated on the island for too long and laughs madly at seeing Rainsford, another civilized man.

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What does Rainsford’s repetition of the word “nerve” in paragraph 169, paragraph 179, and paragraph 197 reveal about his character?

• Rainsford’s repetition characterizes him as forgetful and blundering, which is why he must repeat the word to remember his mission.

• Rainsford’s repetition shows that it is his courage and ability to reason that enables him to survive.

• Rainsford’s repetition was probably taught to him in a private school growing up and is a symbol of his class status.

• Rainsford’s repetition shows just how scared and cowardly he is, suggesting that he will not survive this hunt.

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How does Rainsford’s opinion on animals change throughout the story?

• At first, Rainsford believes only humans can feel, but by the end, he agrees with Whitney that animals can also feel “fear of pain” (Paragraph 13).

• At first, Rainsford thinks that there is only one rational animal, humans, but then he discovers the new animal that Zaroff has “invented” (Paragraph 100).

• At first, Rainsford believes humans are smarter than animals, but then he sees that some humans are actually “a very inferior lot” (Paragraph 131).

• At first, Rainsford sees animals only as prizes for human hunters, but later Rainsford sympathizes with the animal “at bay” when he too becomes the hunted (Paragraph 204).

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“He had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided.” (Paragraph 207) What is the overall effect of the last line of the story?

• The last line leaves the reader to infer that Rainsford has killed Zaroff, contrasting Zaroff’s chilling death with Rainsford’s rewarding night’s sleep.

• The last line leaves the reader to conclude that the events of this story have all been a dream Rainsford had while asleep on the yacht.

• The last line leaves the reader to infer that Rainsford has killed Zaroff, making the ending a triumphant victory for civilization and American values.

• The last line leaves the reader to suppose that Rainsford actually likes the comforts of civilization better than nature and that civilization is man’s place above nature.

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