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Worksheets

The Lottery

Total questions: 40

Worksheet time: 2hrs 27mins

Name
Class
Date
1.
"Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets with stones, and the other boys soon followed his example... eventually, they had a great pile of stones in one corner of the square.." This passage supports the story's:
a)
Foreshadowing
b)
Situational Irony
c)
Plot
d)
Theme
2.
What is the mood as the story begins
a)
Cheerful, bright and colorful
b)
Dreary and ominous; there is a sense of fear and foreboding
c)
Dry and factual like a newspaper article
d)
Boring and nondescript; it is just an average day with an overcast sky
3.

What is the procedure after Bill Hutchinson reveals that his family is selected to draw in the lottery?

a)
The village people will vote for their favorite Hutchinson family members
b)
The Hutchinson family will draw straws to see who takes the prize
c)
The youngest Hutchinson will claim
d)
Slips will be put in the box for each member of the Hutchinson family.
4.
How do most villagers seem to regard the lottery?
a)

They are frightened like a turtle.

b)
They look forward to it.
c)
They hate and avoid it.
d)
They do not like the suspense.
5.
The main theme of this story emphasizes
a)
The value placed on human life.
b)
The importance of tradition and faith in small towns
c)
The need for change in society
d)
The foolishness of blindly following tradition
6.
How does the mood CHANGE from the beginning of "The Lottery" to its conclusion?
a)
The mood changes from depressing and dark to uplifting and happy
b)
The mood changes from silly to sad
c)
The mood goes from bright and lighthearted to dark and disurbing
d)
The mood does not change
7.

What do the townspeople think of the lottery box?

a)

They are afraid of it.

b)

They all want to get rid of it.

c)

They see it as part of a tradition.

d)

They are disinterested in the box.

8.

How does the town respond to Mrs. Hutchinson's lateness?

a)

suspiciously

b)

rudely

c)

angrily

d)

pleasantly

9.

Why does the town have a lottery?

a)

It is a tradition that they believe will bring them a good harvest.

b)

Both the young and old support the lottery.

c)

They like to remember their town's history.

d)

They enjoy the lottery.

10.

Why does Mrs. Hutchinson get upset and then her husband tells Tessie to, "shut up"?

a)

Mr. Summers tricked her husband.

b)

She wasn't chosen for the lottery.

c)

Her husband was chosen for the lottery.

d)

Mr. Summers chose her husband for the lottery.

11.

Mrs. Hutchinson tries to convince the townspeople that...

a)

the lottery should be stopped.

b)

her husband wasn't given a fair chance.

c)

her husband shouldn't be participating.

d)

her husband took the wrong piece of paper.

12.

What happens to Mrs. Hutchinson at the end of the story?

a)

She is killed by the townspeople with stones.

b)

She is tricked into picking the paper with the black mark.

c)

She is banished from the town and never able to return.

d)

She is punished by the townspeople for a crime she committed.

13.

What does Old Man Warner's character represent?

a)

He represents the value of overcoming hardships.

b)

He represents the importance of respecting one's elders.

c)

He represents the acceptance of change over time.

d)

He represents the fear of change and the desire to follow traditions without thinking.

14.

What does the detail, "And someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles," at the end of the text show?

a)

It shows that the children no longer understand the violcnece of the lottery.

b)

It shows that Davy doesn't like his mother and wishes to hurt her.

c)

It shows that no one expects Davy to seriously injure his mother.

d)

It shows that everyone participates in the lottery, even Mrs. Hutchinson's young son.

15.

Match character to description: The ultimate "winner" of the lottery

a)

Mr. Summers

b)

Bill

c)

Mr. Warner

d)

Tessie

16.

Match character to description: The lottery winner's husband

a)

Mr. Summers

b)

Bill

c)

Mr. Warner

d)

Tessie

17.

Match character to description: Old man who has taken part in 77 lotteries

a)

Mr. Summers

b)

Bill

c)

Mr. Warner

d)

Tessie

18.

What are the boys doing at the beginning of the story?

a)

horsing around

b)

standing politely with their parents

c)

collecting stones

d)

running around wildly

19.

Evidence in the story suggests that this is a...

a)

factory town

b)

farming community

c)

suburb of a large city

d)

backwoods settlement

20.

The lottery takes place during...

a)

fall

b)

winter

c)

spring

d)

summer

21.

"It's not the way it used to be," Old Man Warner said clearly. "People ain't the way they used to be." He seems to believe that...

a)

people are more violent today

b)

people don't change much

c)

traditions should change drastically

d)

past ways of living are best

22.

What human trait does Shirley Jackson (author) criticize in this story?

a)

Arrogance

b)

Conformity

c)

Curiosity

d)

Greed

23.

When you expect one thing, but the opposite happens.

a)

Situational Irony

b)

Verbal Irony

c)

Dramatic Irony

24.

When someone says one thing but really means the opposite

a)

Situational Irony

b)

Verbal Irony

c)

Dramatic Irony

25.

When the audience knows more about the events of the story than the characters do.

a)

Situation Irony

b)

Verbal Irony

c)

Dramatic Irony

26.

As the teacher handed back out graded exams, the kid next to you muttered, "Great."

a)

Situational Irony

b)

Verbal Irony

c)

Dramatic Irony

27.

Last night, our local police station was robbed.

a)

Situational Irony

b)

Verbal Irony

c)

Dramatic Irony

28.

In your favorite show, the main character has falled for his co-woker, but she isn't aware of his feelings. He's also not aware that she's married, even though the audience knows this.

a)

Situational Irony

b)

Verbal Irony

c)

Dramatic Irony

29.

A marriage counselor worked so many hours that his frustrated wife filed for divorce.

a)

Situational Irony

b)

Verbal Irony

c)

Dramatic Irony

30.

"Oh, I love it when I do this," my mom said after she spilled coffee on her new blouse.

a)

Situational Irony

b)

Verbal Irony

c)

Dramatic Irony

31.

Toward the end of Romeo & Juliet, the audience knows that Juliet's not really dead, but Romeo does not; he mistakenly thinks she has died and takes action based on that misinformation.

a)

Situational Irony

b)

Verbal Irony

c)

Dramatic Irony

32.

What is the purpose of the lottery in the story?

a)

A. To determine who will be next leader of the village

b)

B. To select a sacrifice for a good harvest

c)

C. To distribute resources evenly among the villagers

d)

D. To decide who will win a cash prize

33.

What phrase best describes the mood the author tries to create in the story?

a)

dread and surprise

b)

excitement and happiness

c)

peace and anticipation

d)

sadness and boredom

34.

"The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day..."The preceding passage is found in the exposition of the story. This passage is developing the _____________ for the reader?

a)

Setting

b)

Theme

c)

Rising action

d)

Characterization

35.

Which of the following describes the irony of the story?

a)

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

b)

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.

c)

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.

d)

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

36.

On what day does the lottery take place?

a)

January 25

b)

September 4

c)

June 27

37.

When is the lottery conducted?

a)

Every 2 weeks

b)

Every year

c)

Once a week

38.

What is the setting of the story?

a)

A small village on a summer day

b)

A large city during winter

c)

A rural farm in autumn

d)

A suburban neighborhood in spring

39.

What is the overall type of conflict in "The Lottery?"

a)
  1. Characters vs. Self

b)
  1. Character vs. Character

c)

Character vs. Society

40.

What is your teacher's last name?

(a)