Semester 1!

What is the effect of the author's decision to capitalize the words "The Watch" in the last sentence of the excerpt?

• It emphasizes the importance of Jim's most prized possession and Della finding an accessory deserving of it.

• It suggests that Jim views his watch with an exaggerated sense of pride, and no accessory Della could buy would be good enough.

• It suggests how expensive the watch is and the importance of Della finding an equally valuable accessory.

• It illustrates how poor Jim and Della are, and that Della's decision to buy the accessory is a mistake they may both regret.It illustrates how poor Jim and Della are, and that Della's decision to buy the accessory is a mistake they may both regret.

Answer explanation

This is the best answer. The capitalization of "The Watch" emphasizes how important Jim's watch is to him. After searching all over town, Della has succeeded in finding the perfect accessory for the watch.

How are the combs symbolic in terms of Della's character development over the course of the story? 

• The combs once symbolized Della’s lack of wealth, but they now symbolize the wealth she has gained.

• The combs once symbolized Della’s pride in her appearance, but they now symbolize her failure to please Jim.

• The combs once symbolized Della’s great beauty, but they now symbolize her unsightly appearance.

• The combs once symbolized Della’s material desires, but they now symbolize the great sacrifice she made for love.

Answer explanation

This is the best answer. The combs initially symbolized Della's material desire to own something beautiful for her hair, but they come to symbolize both the loss of something she loves, her hair, and the sacrifice she made out of love for Jim.

How does the irony in this situation serve to develop a theme of the story?

• Jim and Della have both sold their most prized possessions for which both gifts were intended. This contributes to the theme of sacrificing for love.

• Jim and Della decide not to use the gifts they were both so happy to receive. This contributes to the theme of the uncertainty of love.

• Jim and Della both make the difficult decision to set aside their gifts to each other. This contributes to the theme of strength in the face of adversity.

• Jim and Della have both lost something they loved and have gained nothing. This contributes to the theme of feeling hopeless as a result of misunderstanding.

Answer explanation

This is the best answer. Situational irony occurs when contradictory actions upset the reader's expectations. In this instance, even though Della could not wear the combs, she fully anticipates being able to give the chain to Jim, believing he still owns the watch. The events ultimately develop a theme involving sacrificing for love.

Della sells her hair to buy Jim a chain for his watch, and Jim sells his watch to buy Della a comb for her hair. What type of irony is this?

• Dramatic Irony

• Situational Irony

• Verbal Irony

• Humorous Irony

The purpose of the first two paragraphs is to:

• Make the reader laugh with descriptions like “bulldozing the grocer”.

• Show exactly how Jim and Della are motivated as characters

• Establish the setting and Jim and Della’s financial situation

• Foreshadow what will happen later in the story

Which possessions do Jim and Della value most?

• Jim's watch and Della's earrings

• Jim's watch and Della's hair

• Jim's wallet and Della's hair combs

• Jim's watch and Della's hair combs

What evidence has O'Henry provided in the text to support the inference that Della and Jim do not have a lot of money?

• "shabby little couch" and "electric button from which no mortal finger could coax a ring"

• "Della finished her cry" and "stood by the window"

• "Three times Della counted it" and "And the next day would be Christmas"

From where does Della get the $1.87 according to the text?

• Selling her jewelry

• Selling her hair

• Working by cleaning other flats

• Pennies saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer

According to the narrator, who were the Magi?

• Wise men

• Neighbors

• Store owners

• Family

Which theme does the imagery in this excerpt best support?

• The repetition of technology can be comforting.

• Humans find it easy to ignore technology in their daily lives.

• Technology persists even in the absence of human beings.

• Nature survives any catastrophe, while technology fails.

Answer explanation

This is the best answer. The alarm is going off and the weather box is still working, but no human beings are present to notice.