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Possibility of Evil and Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket

Total questions: 20

Worksheet time: 15mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the main purpose of the first two paragraphs in "The Possibility of Evil"?

a)
The author gives an explanation of who Miss Strangeworth is as well as a background of the setting.
b)
The author gives an explanation of Mr. Lewis and his background on Pleasant Street
c)
The author gives an explanation of the plants and where they are located throughout Pleasant Street
2.
Which option is the best description of Miss Strangeworth?
a)
She is 71 years old with big blue eyes. She is proud of her town and her roses. She knows everyone.
b)
She is a new citizen of the town, and she is very reserved and shy.
c)
She is a well-known actress and thinks of the other citizens as lower class.
3.
Why did Miss Strangeworth never give away her roses?
a)
They belong to Pleasant Street, and she does not want anyone carrying them away.
b)
She does give away her roses, but only if you ask nicely.
c)
She thinks of the roses as her "children" and does not want to give them up.
4.
What is the relationship between Miss Strangeworth and Mrs. Harper?
a)
They are not really friends.
b)
They are sisters.
c)
They are best friends.
5.
What is Miss Strangeworth's intentions when sending letters to Mrs. Crane, Mrs. Harper, and Mrs. Foster?
a)
She is just nosey.
b)
She is just sending a reminder about the potluck.
c)
She wants to invite them to a wedding.
6.
How does Miss Strangeworth justify sending the letters?
a)
She lets people know that someone is keeping an eye on them, and she won't let them get away with "things."
b)
She wants everyone to know about the upcoming events in the town.
c)
She is just an old lady who likes sending letters.
7.

What is the key turning point in "The Possibility of Evil"?

a)
When the Harris boy and Don Crane find one of Mrs. Strangeworth's letters
b)
When Miss Strangeworth is arrested for mail fraud
c)
When Mr. Lewis is sentenced to 20 years in prison
8.
What might Miss Strangeworth's roses symbolize?
a)
Her reputation
b)
The small town
c)
Don Crane
9.

What might the letters symbolize in "The Possibility of Evil"?

a)
Everyday evil
b)
Miss Strangeworth
c)
The small town
10.
Based on Miss Strangeworth's actions in the story, what do you think will happen to her?
a)
Miss Strangeworth won't accept the responsibility of hurting other people.
b)
Miss Strangeworth will be kidnapped and held for ransom.
c)
Miss Strangeworth will destroy her roses and any other roses she finds.
11.

Which statement best expresses the main theme in "Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket"?

a)
Time is limited and should be spent on what one values most.
b)
It is necessary to make sacrifices if one is to advance their career.
c)
One should not take major risks without a strong support system.
12.

In "Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket," what does the exchange between Tom and Clare in paragraphs 3-8 reveal about their different points of view?

a)
Clare thinks Tom works too much, while Tom thinks he needs to work more.
b)
Clare thinks she works too much, while Tom thinks she needs to work more.
c)
Clare thinks Tom cares too much about money, while Tom thinks she doesn't care enough.
13.

In "Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket," why does the author describe in detail the countless hours of work and research Tom recorded on the yellow paper?

a)
to highlight that Tom is a very dedicated to his work
b)
to highlight how important the paper is to Tom
c)
to highlight the lengths Tom will go through in order to retrieve the paper
d)
all of the options are correct
14.

A simile is a comparison between two unlike things using the phrase like or as. What impact does the simile "the strength draining like water from his knees and calves" have on the passage in "Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket"? (Paragraph 31)

a)
It allows the reader to understand how quickly the strength and courage is leaving Tom.
b)
It allows the reader to understand the affects of dehydration on Tom's muscles.
c)
It allows the reader to understand that Tom drank too much water before going out on the ledge and now needs to use the bathroom.
15.

In "Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket," what does Tom, and the reader, realize in paragraph 44?

a)
That he has only been out on the ledge for a few minutes.
b)
That he has been out on the ledge for hours and Clare will be home soon.
c)
That he is going to freeze to death outside of his building.
16.

In "Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket," what is the author's likely purpose for having a lengthy story take place over a span of minutes?

a)
to highlight how long-lasting change takes days to achieve
b)
to highlight how time speeds up when someone is close to death
c)
to highlight how time can seem to slow down when someone is doing something stressful
17.

In "Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket," why does Tom feel that his life would be “a wasted life” if he were to fall and die?

a)
He knows that Clare is going to leave him if he survives.
b)
He has realized that he has spent too much of his life with Clare and not enough time working.
c)
He has realized that he has spent too much of his life working and not enough time with Clare.
18.

In "Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket," why does Tom yell Clare’s name as he breaks the window?

a)
He is always mad at her, so he uses her name to gather strength.
b)
Tom sees her walking through the door as he falls into the apartment.
c)
Tom realizes that she is the reason he fought so hard to get back to the apartment, not the yellow paper.
19.

Why doesn't Tom go out to retrieve the paper at the end of "Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket"?

a)
He knows that it is now raining and the paper is likely ruined.
b)
He has decided that he is going to quit his job on Monday, so he has no need for the paper anymore.
c)
He has realized that his life, and spending time with his wife, is more important than work.
20.

Choose the best THESIS STATEMENT for a paragraph explaining how a literary device from the story helps the reader understand the theme of "Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket."

a)
In Jack Finney's "Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket," the author uses indirect characterization to show the theme that time is limited and should be spent on what people value most.
b)
The theme that you need to make sure you spend time with your family is shown when Tom lets the paper fly out the window at the end of "Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket" by Jack Finney.
c)
The theme of family is seen in Jack Finney's short story "Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket." This theme is shown through conflict.

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