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The Gift of the Magi, O. Henry, Conflict, & Irony

Total questions: 70

Worksheet time: 1hrs 10mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What was Jim's most valuable possession?

a)

uncle's watch

b)

grandfather's watch

c)

the watch Della bought him

d)

the watch chain Della bought him

2.

What is Della's most prized possession?

a)

her hair

b)

Jim's watch

c)

the combs Jim bought her

d)

the watch chain she bought Jim

3.

How much money does Della have to spend on Jim's gift, at the beginning of the story?

a)

$20.00

b)

$1.87

c)

$1.78

d)

$8.71

4.

How does Jim get the money for Della's gift?

a)

He works hard at his job to make the money.

b)

He saves up for over a year.

c)

He sells his gold watch.

d)

He uses some of the money that Della had

5.
How does Della get the money to buy Jim's gift? 
a)

She sells her long hair. 

b)

She secretly has a job. 

c)

She saves and saves money .

d)

She borrows money from her mom.

6.

The fact that Jim bought Della combs for her hair, but she has sold her hair to buy him the watch chain, is known as__.

a)

allusion

b)

irony

c)

sarcasm

d)

coincidence

7.

What is the full name of the couple?

a)

Mr. & Mrs. Jim Dillingham

b)

Mr. & Mrs. James Young

c)

Mr. & Mrs. James Della Young

d)

Mr. & Mrs. James Dillingham Young

8.

Name the conflict: Della is conflicted because she knows that her only possession of value is her hair. She knows if she cuts it off, it will take years for it to grow back.

a)

Man vs. Society

b)

Man vs. Man

c)

Man vs. Self

9.

Name the conflict: Jim and Della struggle to make end's meet and do not have enough money to buy each other a gift.

a)

Man vs. Society

b)

Man vs. Man

c)

Man vs. Self

d)

Man vs Supernatural

10.

What is a clear theme of the story?

a)

Giving someone you love a gift he or she desires shows true love.

b)

Unconditional love is the best kind of gift .

c)

It is more important to give someone something they want, than something they need.

d)

Sometimes things do not work out as planned.

11.

Which quote from O. Henry's story "The Gift of the Magi" best describes the THEME of his story?

a)

"Please God, make him think I'm still pretty" (Henry 4).

b)

"Because it was so plain and simple, you knew it was very valuable" (Henry 3).

c)

"I don't think there's anything in the way of a haircut or a shave or a shampoo that could make me love my girl any less" (Henry 4)

d)

"If a queen had lived in the rooms near theirs, Della would have washed and dried her hair where the queen could see it" (Henry 2).

12.

Who/What are the protagonists?

a)

Madame Sophronie

b)

Poverty and Challenge

c)

Love and Sacrifice

d)

Jim and Della

13.

Where does the play take place?

a)

Houston, Tx

b)

Channelview, Tx

c)

New York City

d)

New Jersey

14.

Why does Jim want to change his name on the mailbox?

a)

He feels that his full name is too important looking compared to what he earns

b)

His name is long, being hard to spell and pronounce

c)

He wants his name to reflect his education

d)

His moving to a new apartment so he needs a new mailbox

15.
The exchange of gifts between Jim and Della is the ______.
a)
exposition
b)
rising action
c)
climax
d)
resolution
16.

How does the setting impact the story?

a)

Christmas time informs the reader that giving is an important element of the story

b)

Winter time informs the reader that the couple is poor and will suffer from the cold

c)

Being so near Coney Island lets the reader know that the characters are fun-loving

d)

Being set in New York informs the reader that the main characters will be poor.

17.

Who were the original Magi?

a)

Jim and Della

b)

O. Henry

c)

The Wise men who brought gifts to Jesus

d)

The narrators telling the story

18.

Why does Jim react so strangely when he comes home and sees Della with short hair?

a)

He is mad because she cut her hair.

b)

He doesn’t recognize her.

c)

He is upset that he had to sell his watch.

d)

He is stunned because he bought Della combs to use in her long hair, but her hair is gone

19.

Della's hair and Jim's watch have always made them feel...

a)

more wealthy than they were

b)

jealous of other's financial position

c)

poor, even though they were proud of their possessions

d)

ashamed what they had

20.

“There was nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl.” Which word in this quoted sentence indicates the couple’s poverty?

a)

nothing

b)

flop

c)

shabby

d)

howl

21.

Why was Della nervous for Jim to come home?

a)

She was afraid Jim wouldn’t think she was pretty anymore

b)

She was afraid that Jim would view the sacrifice as too much.

c)

She was afraid that Jim would be angry with her by her implulsive decision to cut her hair.

d)

She was afraid that Jim would think his gift was too nice.

22.

What type of irony is used when the reader knows Della sold her hair, but the character of Jim does not?

a)

Dramatic irony

b)

Situational irony

c)

Verbal irony

23.

What type of irony is used when Jim buys combs for Della, but now she has short hair?

a)

Dramatic irony

b)

Situational irony

c)

Verbal irony

24.

When Della opens her gift, she is overcome with mixed feelings that include all of the following EXCEPT:

a)

self-pity

b)

shock

c)

delight

d)

disbelief

25.

At the end of the story, Jim puts his gift from Della away for safekeeping because:

a)

it reminds him of his loss of the watch

b)

it is valuable in terms of money

c)

it is valuable in emotional terms

d)

he doesn't have a current use for it

26.

“Della finished her cry … and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard.” The repetition of the word “gray” reinforces the _________ mood.

a)

Pitiful

b)

Holiday

c)

Dreary

d)

Lonely

27.

Della chooses the gift she gets for Jim because it:

a)

costs just the right amount

b)

seems to be made for him.

c)

will make his old watch look like new.

28.

O. Henry references the Magi in both the title and the story itself. What kind of literary device is this?

a)

Foreshadowing

b)

Allusion

c)

Metaphor

29.

Which statement best expresses the theme of the story?

a)

Giving gifts is a way to show that you are aware of someone's needs

b)

Spending time with people you love is more important than getting them gifts.

c)

The love and sacrifice that goes into a gift is more important than the gift itself.

30.

Which inference can be best made about Della?

a)

She wants to please Jim.

b)

She is impulsive and makes decisions quickly.

c)

She tends to cry when she is overly frustrated

31.

Which inference can be best made about Jim?

a)

He is quiet.

b)

He is successful, even thought he does not make much money.

c)

He is selfless and loves his wife.

32.

Why does the narrator compare Della and Jim to the Magi?

a)

He compares them to the Magi because their sacrifices demonstrated both wisdom and love.

b)

He compares them to the Magi because they are very religious.

c)

He compares them to the Magi because the story was all about gift giving and gift getting

33.

Ransack

a)

Not arrogant

b)

Absent without permission

c)

To frighten greatly

d)

To search thoroughly

34.

Sentiment

a)

A tender, romantic, or nostalgic feeling or emotion

b)

Mentally quick

c)

Not arrogant

d)

Extreme stinginess

35.

Nimble

a)

Moving quickly and lightly

b)

To cease to exist

c)

To move hesitatingly, as if about to give way

d)

To predict in advance

36.

Ecstatic

a)

desire strongly or persistently

b)

Characterized by strong enthusiasm

c)

Feeling great rapture or delight

d)

To endure the loss of

37.

Yearn

a)

Desire strongly or persistently

b)

To take charge of or deal with

c)

To endure the loss of

d)

Mentally quick

38.

Adorn

a)

Characterized by strong enthusiasm

b)

Feeling great rapture or delight

c)

Clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

d)

To make more attractive, as by adding ornament or color

39.

Ardent

a)

A prolonged intense look

b)

Characterized by strong enthusiasm

c)

A destructive action

d)

To move hesitatingly, as if about to give way

40.

Dramatic Irony

a)

The audience knows more than the character

b)

A person says or writes one thing and means another, or uses words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning.

c)

When the outcome of a situation is totally different from what people expect.

d)

The message, moral, or meaning the author is teaching us through the story

41.

Verbal Irony

a)

The meaning, message, or moral the author is teaching the reader.

b)

The audience knows more than the character.

c)

When the outcome of a situation is totally different from what people expect.

d)

A person says or writes one thing and means another, or uses words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning.

42.

Situational Irony

a)

When the outcome of a situation is totally different from what people expect.

b)

A person says or writes one thing and means another, or uses words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning.

c)

The message, meaning, or moral the author is teaching the reader.

d)

The audience knows more than the character does.

43.

What is theme?

a)

A person says or writes one thing and means another, or uses words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning.

b)

The audience knows more than the character does.

c)

The message, meaning, or moral the author is teaching the reader.

d)

When the outcome of a situation is totally different from what people expect.

44.

What word does this definition reflect? Stir up; provoke

a)

instigate

b)

vestibule

c)

agile

d)

falter

45.

What word does this definition reflect? the use of good judgement and common sense

a)

ransack

b)

prudence

c)

agile

d)

falter

46.

What was O. Henry's real name?

a)

Porter O. Henry

b)

William Sydney Porter

c)

Sydney William Porter

d)

Porter Sydney Williams

47.

What is tuberculous?

a)

A liver disease

b)

An infectious disease of the liver that comes from a virus

c)

An infectious disease which affects the lungs

d)

A virus which affects the nervous system

48.

What disease did O.Henry's wife have?

a)

cirrhosis of the liver

b)

influenza

c)

pneumonia

d)

tuberculosis

49.

What was O. Henry accused of when he was a banker?

a)

Fraud

b)

Embezzlement

c)

Theft

d)

Exhausion

50.

What is a pen name?

a)

A fake name used when someone in jail wants to write something

b)

A name that a person uses instead of his or her name when trying to sell books

c)

A name that an author uses to replace his or her name

51.

How many short stories did O. Henry write?

a)

831

b)

138

c)

381

52.

How do O. Henry's stories end?

a)

with a moral or lesson

b)

an unfinished ending

c)

a twist ending

53.

How did O. Henry die?

a)

cirrhosis of the liver

b)

tuberculosis

c)

from being cooped

54.

"Life is made up of sobs, sniffles, and smiles." This phrase is an example of _

a)

metaphor

b)

alliteration

c)

allusion

55.

What are the two themes of "The Gift of the Magi?"

a)

Love and Poverty

b)

Poverty and Sacrifice

c)

Love and Sacrifice

56.

What/Who is the antagonist of this story?

a)

Madame Saphronie

b)

Poverty

c)

Hair

d)

Greed

57.

What was Della's reasoning when she told Madame Sophronie to give her the money quickly?

a)

She knew is would be almost unbearable, so she wanted it over as fast as possible.

b)

She did not want to be given the opportunity to change her mind

c)

She was anxious to get shopping for Jim's gift

58.

Look at the image by hovering over it. What kind of irony is represented?

a)

Verbal

b)

Situational

c)

Dramatic

59.

Look over over the image by hovering over it. What kind of irony is represented?

a)

Situatonal

b)

Verbal

c)

Dramatic

60.

Look at the image by hovering over it. What kind of irony is represented?

a)

Dramatic

b)

Verbal

c)

Situational

61.

Look at the image by hovering over it. What type of irony is represented?

a)

situational

b)

dramatic

c)

verbal

62.

What is this phrase an example of? "Della knew her hair was more beautiful than the queen's jewels."

a)

Simile

b)

Metaphor

c)

Personification

d)

Allusion

e)

Imagery

63.

Why was "The Watch" capitalized?

a)

To show the reader that we are to pay close attention to this item

b)

It is a proper noun

c)

to emphasize the importance of Jim's watch

64.

What is a symbol?

a)

Making reference to another book or character

b)

Giving an inanimate object human characteristics

c)

Something abstract which stands for something concrete

d)

Something concrete which stands for something abstract

65.

What does Della's hair symbolize?

a)

beauty, treasure, uniqueness

b)

steadiness, family, treasure

c)

poverty, sacrifice, beauty

d)

love, sacrifice, beauty

66.

What does Jim's watch symbolize?

a)

Beauty, treasure, timeliness

b)

Steadiness, family, treasure

c)

Poverty, love, beauty

d)

Love, sacrifice, poverty

67.

What is the difference between verbal irony and sarcasm?

a)

the level of rudeness of the comment

b)

how the person who is listening interprets the remark

c)

the opposite of what you mean

d)

the intent of the remark, what is meant

68.

Which is a simile?

a)

"Sobs, smiles, and sniffles."

b)

"Time flew by."

c)

"Down cascaded the brown waterfall."

d)

"Jim was as quiet as a hunting dog when it was near a bird."

69.

What does the underlined portion of this passage mean? "Love and large-hearted giving when added together, can leave deep marks."

a)

Love and large-hearted giving can cause pain

b)

Love and large-hearted giving can ruin relationships

c)

Love and large-hearted giving can lead to regret

70.

What does this passage represent? "Listen! You do not have to be Einstein to understand this lesson."

a)

metaphor

b)

simile

c)

alliteration

d)

allusion