WorksheetsUnit 3: Big themes | The richer, the poorer
Total questions: 34
Worksheet time: 17mins
What word in the story describes the painful awareness Lottie feels when she sees her aging self in the mirror?
Clarity
Gloom
Confusion
Elation
Which word best describes Lottie's appearance that made it difficult for her to find work after retirement?
Dowdy
Elegant
Dapper
Gleaming
Which term means to increase in value or quality, as in Bees's new coat helping even the poorest places she lived?
Enhance
Diminish
Stagnate
Deplete
Which word means avoiding waste; thrifty, describing the lifestyle Lottie believed would prepare her for a comfortable future?
Frugal
Lavish
Careless
Extravagant
How did Lottie view the expense of buying new clothes for high school?
Frivolous
Essential
Practical
Mandatory
How does Lottie feel at the end of the story when she decides to finally enjoy life?
Giddy
Resigned
Apathetic
Somber
What was the source of Bess’s great sorrow that Lottie initially dismissed?
She had no children
She lost her job
She disliked traveling
She had too many debts
Which word means most modest; lowest in rank or status, used to characterize the simplest person or place?
Humble
Proud
Grand
Opulent
Lottie could not allow herself to do what regarding her desire for nice clothes?
Indulge
Donate
Suppress
Advertise
How did Lottie’s old-fashioned appearance make her seem to potential employers?
Inefficient
Ambitious
Innovative
Resourceful
What did Lottie find unbearable when she looked at her reflection just before Bess’s arrival?
Her own aging face
The untidy room
The empty bankbook
Her new dress
Which word describes the elaborate turkey dinner Lottie prepared for Bess’s arrival?
Lavish
Sparse
Plain
Hasty
Which term means having little to spare financially, contrasting with Lottie’s savings?
Meager
Plentiful
Affluent
Abundant
Although Lottie believed she was being thrifty, what was her way of life actually?
Miserly
Generous
Balanced
Adventurous
Which word means to receive a reward or benefit, as in Bess reaping the harvest of Lottie’s hard work?
Reap
Forsake
Delay
Forego
How did Bess respond to Lottie’s splendid new appearance after the makeover?
She did not comment on it
She praised it enthusiastically
She criticized it sharply
She asked for a loan to copy it
Which word means uncertain, indefinite, or unclear, describing Lottie’s hazy awareness when looking into mirrors?
Vague
Precise
Lucid
Explicit
What is a sudden desire or change of mind, like Lottie’s impulse for new clothes that she tried to suppress?
Whim
Plan
Obligation
Tradition
Which word means having a feeling of vague or unfulfilled longing, capturing Lottie’s tone when she realizes what she has missed?
Wistful
Jubilant
Indifferent
Defiant
As a young adult, why did Lottie choose to work full time in a restaurant instead of marrying or finishing school?
She prioritized financial security
She disliked education entirely
She wanted to travel with friends
She was pressured by neighbors
Who did Bess marry right after high school?
Harry
Tom
George
Sam
What was life like for Bess and Harry after they married?
They traveled widely, often poor but joyful
They settled in one town and grew wealthy
They lived with Lottie and saved diligently
They opened a successful business immediately
By age sixty, Lottie had accumulated wealth but lived what kind of life?
A mean and miserly life
A generous and carefree life
A balanced and content life
A risky and indebted life
What did Lottie do with the house’s utilities in order to save money?
She shut off the heat to cut costs
She installed central air
She upgraded all appliances
She hired a maintenance crew
What happened to Bess’s husband, Harry?
He died while abroad
He left her for another family
He prospered and supported her
He returned and lived with Lottie
Why couldn’t Lottie find new work after she was forced to retire?
Her dowdy look made her seem inefficient
She refused to learn new skills
She moved to a rural town
She demanded too high a salary
Out of what feeling did Lottie pay for Bess to return home?
Familial duty
Public obligation
Professional courtesy
Social pressure
After preparing a freshly remodeled room, what did Lottie ultimately do regarding Bess’s lodging?
She kept the good room for herself and offered Bess a shabbier one
She insisted Bess take the best room
She rented the room to a stranger
She canceled Bess’s visit
What prompted Lottie to go on a spending spree and transform her appearance?
Painful clarity from the mirror; she found her look intolerable
Advice from her employer
A sale advertised by the store
Pressure from Bess
Upon her arrival, what did Bess seem to care about most?
Being with her sister
Taking the fine room
Borrowing money
Admiring new clothes
What profound realization does Lottie have at the end of the story?
She saved money but did not live fully
She should have invested more aggressively
She should have moved to a larger city
She was right to avoid all risk
What comforting advice does Bess give Lottie after her realization?
It is not too late to enjoy the time they have
They should return to strict saving
They must separate to reduce costs
She should sell the house immediately
At the very end of the story, what does Lottie decide to do?
Learn from Bess and begin to enjoy life
Start another job search
Lock away her savings again
Send Bess away
What is the central theme of The Richer, the Poorer regarding wealth?
A life rich in love and experiences is more valuable than hoarding money
Wealth alone guarantees happiness
Austerity is the only path to freedom
Travel is harmful to financial security
