The Story of an Hour

"Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death."

Which word best expresses the tone created by the word afflicted in the passage?

• Sympathy

• Disgust

• Horror

• Confusion

"It was her sister Josephine who told her, in broken sentences; veiled hints that revealed in half concealing." (Paragraph 2)

The use of the word veiled supports the idea that Josephine ________.

• has exciting news and wants to build suspense

• was unsure how to explain the events that unfolded

• has a speech impediment that made it hard to speak

• was reluctant to tell Mrs. Mallard the terrible news

"She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister's arms. When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone."

What type of figurative language is used in the excerpt above?

• Simile

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Idiom

"What was it? She did not know; it was too subtle and elusive to name. But she felt it, creeping out of the sky, reaching toward her through the sounds, the scents, the color that filled the air."

Which part of the excerpt clarifies the meaning of the word elusive?

• What was it? She did not know.

• She felt it.

• Reaching toward her through the sounds

• The color that filled the air

Which word best describes Josephine and Richard's treatment of Mrs. Mallard?

• Sincere

• Candid

• Delicate

• Professional

Which two literary techniques does the author use in paragraph 4?

• Simile and Metaphor

• Idiom and Hyperbole

• Imagery and Personification

• Irony and Hyperbole

Paragraphs 5 and 6 contribute to the development of the story by ______.

• continuing the somber, gloomy tone of the passage

• describing the lively scene outside the window

• commenting on the trivial aspects of the daily life of women in the 1900's

• emphasizing the childishness of Mrs. Mallard's reaction

Which two quotes from paragraphs 5 and 6 supports that this piece of the text describes a lively scene?

• She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life.

• The notes of a distant song which someone was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves.

• She sat with her head thrown back upon the cushion of the chair, quite motionless...

• ....a sob came up into her throat and shook her, as a child who has cried itself to sleep continues to sob in its dreams.

Which word has the same connotation as tumultuously in paragraph 9?

• festively

• joyously

• noisily

• unrestrainedly

How has Mrs. Mallard's mood changed by the end of paragraph 13?

• She has calmed down.

• She has become more distressed.

• She begins to feel lonely.

• She becomes enthusiastic.