Which of the following best describes a theme of the text "The Lottery"?
Question 1 options:
The safety of the group is more important than the safety of an individual
Traditions are necessary to maintain order
People will follow the crowd, even if something is cruel
It is foolish to leave decisions up to lotteries
People will follow the crowd, even if something is cruel
Which evidence from the text best describes the answer the Question 1?
Question 2 options:
"Mr. Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box. There was a story that the present box had been made with some pieces of the box that had preceded it, the one that had been constructed when the first people settled down to make a village here." (Paragraph 5)
"The people had done it so many times that they only half listened to the directions; most of them were quiet, wetting their lips, not looking around." (paragraph 20)
"They do say," Mr. Adams said to Old Man Warner, who stood next to him, "that over in the north village they're talking of giving up the lottery."
Old Man Warner snorted. "Pack of crazy fools," he said. "Listening to the young folks, nothing's good enough for them. Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves, nobody work any more, live that way for a while. Used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.' First thing you know, we'd all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns. There's always been a lottery," he added petulantly. (Paragraph 31-32)
Tessie Hutchinson was in the center of a cleared space by now, and she held her hands out desperately as the villagers moved in on her. "It isn't fair," she said. A stone hit her on the side of the head.
Old Man Warner was saying, "Come on, come on, everyone." Steve Adams was in the front of the crowd of villagers, with Mrs. Graves beside him.
"It isn't fair, it isn't right," Mrs. Hutchinson screamed, and then they were upon her. (paragraph 77-78)
The evidence that best describes the answer to Question 1 is:
- "The people had done it so many times that they only half listened to the directions; most of them were quiet, wetting their lips, not looking around." (paragraph 20)
This shows that even though the people are aware of the cruelty of the lottery, they still go along with it without questioning or protesting.
Re-read the line from the text:
And someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles.
How does that line developed the theme of the story?
Question 3 options:
It illustrates that the children do not understand the violence of the lottery
It shows that Davy dislikes his mother and wants to hurt her
It emphasizes that no one actually expects Davy to participate in the lottery
It stresses that everyone follows the tradition of the lottery, even the children of the 'winner'
The line "And someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles" develops the theme that everyone follows the tradition of the lottery, even the children of the 'winner'. This line shows that even the young child, Davy, is participating in the act of stoning his own mother, illustrating how deeply ingrained and unquestioned the tradition of the lottery is within the community.
Which evidence from the text best illustrates that the creature is in despair?
Question 6 options:
"It was odd," (the farmer) said, "the way it would imitate what one said. You know, like a parrot does. Not real talking of course, just imitation. (paragraph 12).
"Your logic is at fault," the creature had told them. "I have disproved your conclusions again and again. You will not listen or try to understand" (paragraph 30)
[The creature] broke off there. Yet some sort of pride, or stubbornness, or courage, made it refuse to crawl, no matter what they threatened or did. (paragraph 49)
"It would stare up wildly into the roof... as though it sought desperately for help that would not come" (paragraph 72)
The evidence that best illustrates that the creature is in despair is: "It would stare up wildly into the roof... as though it sought desperately for help that would not come" (paragraph 72). This line shows the creature's desperation as it looks for help that it knows will not come.
How does the creature's view of himself differ from how the humans view him?
Question 7 options:
The creature sees himself as peaceful, but humans think he is violent
The creature sees himself as a man, while humans see him as an animal
The creatures sees himself as superior to humans, while humans think he is inferior
The creature sees himself as forgiving, but humans think he is petty
The creature sees himself as a man, while humans see him as an animal.
The creature's initial refusal to walk on four legs illustrates --
Question 8 options:
his ignorance
his arrogance
his determination
his laziness