Black Cat Paired

What is the author's purpose in writing the article "Black Cats"

• To inform the reader about the history of black cat superstitions.

• To persuade the reader to adopt a black cat.

• To entertain the reader with stories about black cats.

• To convince the reader that black cats are good luck.

Which quotation from the article best reflects an experience similar to that of the narrator in "The Black Cat?"

• "The superstition about black cats has been traced back to Vikings who settled in France (the Norse) and people in Germanic societies. Many of these societies would be considered primitive by modern standards."

• "The black cat became associated with these magical beliefs. People thought bad things that happened were caused by evil done by the devil or his minions. Black cats and black birds became associated with witches as creatures sent to aid witches with their nefarious plans."

• "With the settling of America, people carrying on Nordic and Germanic beliefs and traditions moved in and brought their superstitions with them."

• "There was even a dark time in American history called the Salem Witch Trials, when 200 women were accused of witchcraft and 14 were executed for a variety of offenses that had nothing to do with them actually being witches."

Read these quotations. (quotes from both texts) Both quotations use descriptions that conveys a sense of —

"The black cat became associated with these magical beliefs. People thought bad things that happened were caused by evil done by the devil or his minions. Black cats and black birds became associated with witches as creatures sent to aid witches with their nefarious plans."

"The fury of a demon instantly possessed me. I knew myself no longer. My original soul seemed, at once, to take its flight from my body; and a more than fiendish malevolence, gin-nurtured, thrilled every fibre of my frame."

• Darkness and confusion

• Fear and paranoia

• Love and companionship

• Violence and remorse

What common misconception about black cats is addressed in the article but not in Poe's story?

• A) That black cats are a specific breed

• B) That black cats can talk

• C) That black cats always have green eyes

• D) That black cats can predict the weather

Which theme is present in both Poe's "The Black Cat" and the article?

• A) The scientific explanation of black cat genetics

• B) The role of alcohol in shaping perceptions of black cats

• C) The influence of superstitious beliefs on human behavior

• D) The importance of adopting black cats from shelters

What aspect of "magical thinking" is evident in both Poe's story and the article?

• A) The belief that black cats can predict the future

• B) The association of black cats with supernatural or evil forces

• C) The idea that black cats bring good fortune in love

• D) The concept that black cats can transform into other animals

How does the narrator's relationship with the black cat in Poe's story contrast with the article's description of modern attitudes towards black cats?

• A) The narrator loves the cat, while modern attitudes are generally negative

• B) The narrator fears the cat, while modern attitudes are more rational and positive

• C) Both the narrator and modern people view black cats as symbols of good luck

• D) The narrator and modern attitudes both emphasize the supernatural aspects of black cats