The Lottery Questions

The description of the lottery in paragraph 1 is meant to make the reader feel —

• suspicious about the true meaning of the Lottery

• that the Lottery is a pleasant tradition

• certain that something bad will happen

• that the lottery is very important

Which of the following describes a theme of the text?

• Even if something is cruel, people have the tendency to follow the crowd and participate.

• Sometimes a few people must be sacrificed to ensure the group's survival.

• Important decisions should not be made by lotteries.

• Traditions help people understand the past.

PART A: What purpose does Old Man Warner's character best serve in the story?

• He represents the value of overcoming hardship.

• He represents the importance of respecting one's elders.

• He represents the acceptance of change in traditions over time.

• He represents the fear of change and desire to follow traditions.

PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• "and the black box now resting on the stool had been put into use even before Old Man Warner, the oldest man in town, was born." (Paragraph 5)

• "'They do say,' Mr. Adams said to Old Man Warner, who stood next to him, 'that over in the north village they're talking of giving up the lottery.'" (Paragraph 31)

• "'There's always been a lottery,' he added petulantly. 'Bad enough to see young Joe Summers up there joking with everybody.'" (Paragraph 32)

• "'Seventy-seventh year I been in the lottery,' Old Man Warner said as he went through the crowd. 'Seventy-seventh time.'" (Paragraph 40)

How does the detail "And someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles" contribute to the text (Paragraph 76)?

• It emphasizes that the children no longer understand the violence of the lottery

• It shows that Davy doesn't like his mother and wishes to hurt her.

• It reveals that no one expects Davy to seriously injure his mother

• It stresses that everyone participates in the lottery, even Mrs. Hutchinson's son.

Why do the townspeople agree to take part in the lottery and turn against each other? Do you think their willingness to take part in the lottery makes them bad people? USE COMPLETE SENTENCES.

Answer explanation

Use complete sentences and answer every part of the question.