The Lottery 2

A. Mood is defined as how the reader feels while reading the text. What is the mood in paragraphs 1-2?

• Cheerful

• Solemn

• Impatient

• Celebratory

B. Select the quote that best illustrates the mood of paragraphs 1-2.

• "...The whole lottery took less than two hours, so it could begin at ten o'clock in the morning and still be through in time to allow the villagers to get home for noon dinner."

• "School was recently over for the summer, and the feeling of liberty sat uneasily on most of them..."

• "Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones..."

• "The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green."

The mood of the text shifts in paragraph 3. Which two quotes best illustrate the mood shift?

• "Their [the men's] jokes were quiet and they smiled rather than laughed."

• "They [the women] greeted one another and exchanged bits of gossip..."

• "Bobby Martin ducked under his mother's grasping hand and ran, laughing, back to the pile of stones."

• "His [Bobby's] father spoke up sharply..."

In paragraph 5 and 6, Jackson begins discussing the villagers and their relationship to the black box. What can inferences can be made about this relationship? Choose two answers.

• The villagers dislike the lottery tradition and prefer to ignore discussions about it when they can.

• The villagers adhere to tradition without wavering, and therefore refuse to change the box.

• The villagers are too destitute (poor) to buy a new box, so they refuse to discuss buying a new one.

• The villagers think the box is unimportant and other receptacles can be used to house the slips of paper instead.

In paragraph 6, Jackson states, "She [Tessie] hesitated for a minute, looking around defiantly, then set her lips and went up to the box." What is the best synonym for "defiantly" in this context"

• Agreeably

• Doubtfully

• Fearfully

• Disobediently

For what reason did the author choose to include the line "And someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles"?

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

• It shows that Davy does not 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.

Which of the following describes the irony of the story?

• At the beginning of the story, the reader learns Tessie Hutchinson will be selected for the lottery, but she is unaware of this.

• At the beginning of the story, the reader is set up to believe that the lottery is a positive tradition, but it ends with Tessie Hutchinson's death.

• At the beginning of the story, the reader learns that the children gather stones, but none of the children understand the purpose of the stones.

• At the beginning of the story, we think Bill Hutchinson is a kind man, but he is actually cruel.

Which statement best describes the central idea of the text?

• While traditions are sometimes outdated, they are necessary to preserve the past.

• It is natural for people to follow their individual conscience rather than conform to a group.

• Sometimes a few people must be sacrificed to secure the survival of all.

• It can be dangerous to blindly follow traditions and conform to society's expectations.