WorksheetsMiriam Quiz
Total questions: 16
Worksheet time: 12mins
What BEST describes the mood of the story?
tragedy
suspense
comedy
romance
Which is TRUE about Mrs. Miller?
Miriam is her niece.
She finds Miriam to be a wonderful gift in her dreary life.
She has a lonely life.
She was secretly in love with the old man she saw on the street.
Mrs. Miller's entire identity is wrapped up in being "Mrs. H.T. Miller," though her husband has long been dead.
True
False
Which statement is TRUE about Mrs. Miller?
Mrs. Miller feels repelled by Miriam.
Mrs. Miller feels attracted to Miriam.
Miriam makes Mrs. Miller become aware of her loneliness.
Mrs. Miller finds Miriam interesting because she is her company during these days even though Mrs. Miller has plenty of visitors to keep her company.
True
False
When Mrs. Miller goes to the movies, she leaves a light burning in her house. Why does she do this?
Mrs. Miller wants to make it look like someone is home so no one will break into her apartment.
Mrs. Miller believes her husband will return someday if she leaves the lights on.
For Mrs. Miller there is nothing more disturbing than that feeling of loneliness she had and the disturbing sensation of darkness.
In the first paragraph, part of the introduction, it is clear that Mrs. Miller is:
a solitary woman who stays comfortable in her routine
a fun-loving woman who meets people every time she goes out
a psychotic woman who cannot differentiate between reality and fantasy
an old woman who loves trying new things and having new experiences
a dead woman whose soul is the main character in the story looking back on her life.
If we take into account that only Mrs. Miller can see Miriam, we can say that Miriam is:
(Select all that apply)
a part of Mrs. Miller's imagination
used by the author to explain life lessons
a symbol for Mrs. Miller's consciousness
a ghost
Miriam can be related with Mrs. Miller's mental state in the way that every time she appears to Mrs. Miller, it snows, showing the feeling of confusion or uncertainty.
True
False
While Mrs. Miller is a plain woman, content with simple pleasures, Miriam is a stunning child who commands the finest quality in everything from her white silk dress to the silk bows tied in her silvery, flowing hair. What is the BEST choice for what the author was doing?
He was showing how an old lady would be different from a young girl.
He was letting the reader get some background on the characters to help fill the story but there is no evident reason for this.
He was showing a stark contrast between the two women to heighten their differences.
One point of view is that Miriam could be initiating Mrs. Miller into death, slowly but surely. This point of view can BEST be suggested by:
the fact that the little girl had previously resided in an old man's house, but who wasn't as rich as Mrs. Miller. Apparently, Miriam had left that place after the old man's death.
the belief that Miriam's temper tantrums symbolize a series of strokes that Mrs. Miller has, causing her to decline in health.
the idea that Miriam wanted to see the canary because she would be able to silence the canary, which would symbolize death. This makes sense because canaries used to be used in coal mines to warn miners about low oxygen levels.
After Mrs. Miller's box vanishes and she flees to obtain help from her bewildered neighbors, what BEST explains Mrs. Miller's mental state?
She is confused and indecisive.
She finds strength she did not know she had.
She questions her own sanity.
She grows impatient with her neighbor's husband.
Which event hurts Mrs. Miller the MOST?
Miriam destroys Mrs. Miller's bouquet of paper roses: Miriam lifted a shoulder, arched an eyebrow. "As you like," she said, and went directly to the coffee table, seized the vase containing the paper roses, carried it to where the hard surface of the floor lay bare, and hurled it downward. Glass sprayed in all directions and she stamped her foot on the bouquet.
Miriam drops hints for treat like almond cakes and cherries: "That was very nice," she sighed, "though now an almond cake or a cherry would be ideal. Sweets are lovely, don't you think?"
Miriam says, "there's nothing good here," about Mrs. Miller's jewelry but manages to pick out one item that holds sentimental value to Mrs. Miller, a cameo brooch that was a gift from her late husband.
Miriam taunts Mrs. miller about disturbing her canary: "Certainly," said Miriam. "But I don't see why I can't hear him sing." And then, "Have you anything to eat? I am starving! Even mild and a jam sandwich would be fine."
It can be noted that the story has a dreamlike, psychological quality. Viewing the story in this manner, which BEST describes the theme the story is exploring?
chronic pain
learning disabilities
hallucinations
loss of self-confidence
Some critics see Miriam as a representative of Mrs. Miller's childhood self. Looking at the story from this viewpoint, what BEST describes what Miriam's child character does?
She acts as an invention of remembrance, so Mrs. Miller can remember her childhood
She teaches life lessons to Mrs. Miller.
She symbolizes the beauty that Mrs. Miller once had.
She reminds Mrs. Miller to get her life in order before she dies.
What is the BEST answer to describe the end of the story?
The ending lets the reader feel good about Mrs. Miller since she will have a little girl to keep her company.
The ending lets the reader understand that Miriam is a brat.
It is clear that Miriam is a real person.
It is not clear if Miriam is a real person or an invention of Mrs. Miller's imagination.
