The Monkey's Paw
What is the weather like at the start of the story?
A. Hot and sunny
B. Cold and wet
C. Snowy and quiet
D. Windy and Clear
B. Cold and Wet
How old is Dickie on the day of his test?
A. 10
B. 12
C. 14
D. 16
B. 12
Which of the following is an example of situational irony in "Examination Day"?
A. Dickie is happy it is his birthday.
B. We expect a test to be a good thing, but in this story, "passing" results in death.
C. The parents are watching television.
D. The government officials are very polite to their face, but once Dickie is in the test, they are rude to them.
B. We expect a test to be a good thing, but in this story, "passing" results in death.
Compare the "power" in both stories. What is the difference between the power in "The Monkey's Paw" versus "Examination Day"?
A) Both powers are magical and cannot be explained.
B) Both powers are controlled by the parents.
C) One is a supernatural force, while the other is a human force.
D) One is helpful, while the other is harmful.
C) One is a supernatural force (fate), while the other is a human force (government).
Which character is most responsible for the tragedy in "The Monkey's Paw"?
A) Mr. White for making the choice to interfere with fate.
B) Herbert for suggesting the 200 pounds.
C) Sergeant-Major Morris for bringing the paw.
D) Mrs. White for wanting her son back.
A) Mr. White for making the choice to interfere with fate.
What does the first owner of the monkey's paw wish for with his 3rd wish?
A. More money
B. To travel to India
C. Death
D. To destory the paw
C. Death
What is the first specific sign the reader gets that Dickie is naturally curious and intelligent?
A. He tells his parents he wants to be a scientist.
B. He asks why the sun is at a different height in the sky and why the grass is green.
C. He finishes his birthday cake faster than anyone else.
D. He builds a complicated machine out of his birthday presents.
B. He asks why the sun is at a different height in the sky and why the grass is green.
What does the monkey’s paw symbolize?
A. Good luck and wealth
B. The beauty of nature
C. Greed and the danger of interfering with fate
D. The friendship between the Whites and Morris
C. Greed and the danger of interfering with fate
Both stories end with the loss of a child. Which story’s ending feels more "avoidable," and why?
A) "Examination Day," because Dickie could have pretended to be dumb.
B) "The Monkey's Paw," because the Whites chose to use the paw despite the warnings.
C) Neither; both were destined to happen.
D) Both; the parents should have moved away.
B) "The Monkey's Paw," because the Whites chose to use the paw despite the warnings.
In "Examination Day," the government building is described as a "structure of bleak gray stone." What does the word "bleak" suggest about the mood?
A. It is cold, harsh, and unwelcoming.
B. It is colorful and full of life.
C. It is very old and falling apart.
D. It is high-tech and modern.
A. It is cold, harsh, and unwelcoming.
How much money do the White's receive as compensation for their loss?
A. 100 pounds
B. 200 dollars
C. 500 dollars
D. 200 pounds
D. 200 pounds
In "Examination Day," the government's phone call at the end is described as "clinical" and "business-like." What does this tell the reader about their society?
A. The government is very efficient and helpful.
B. The government does not value human life or family emotions.
C. The government is afraid of the parents.
D. The officials are in a hurry to get to lunch.
B. The government does not value human life or family emotions.
Which part of the Plot Diagram represents the moment in "The Monkey's Paw" when the knocking at the door suddenly stops?
A. Falling Action / Resolution
B. Climax
C. Rising Action
D. Exposition
A. Falling Action / Resolution
Which literary device is most effective in making the endings of both stories shocking?
A) Alliteration
B) First-person narration
C) Onomatopoeia
D) Irony
D) Irony
At the end of "Examination Day," the official asks if the parents want the body "interred" by the government. What is the meaning of "interred"?
A. Buried in a grave.
B. Sent to a boarding school.
C. Given an award for a high score.
D. Interviewed for a job.
A. Buried in a grave.
In "The Monkey's Paw," what is the climax of the story?
A. When the Sergeant-Major tells his stories.
B. When Herbert goes to work.
C. The moment someone is knocking at the door and Mr. White makes the final wish.
D. When the visitor from Maw and Meggins arrives.
C. The moment someone is knocking at the door and Mr. White makes the final wish.
In "Examination Day," how does the father’s reaction to Dickie’s questions differ from the mother’s reaction?
A) The father is proud, while the mother is worried.
B) The father is tense and tells him to be quiet, while the mother tries to remain cheerful but stays silent.
C) The father wants to help him study, while the mother wants him to play.
D) Both parents are excited to see how much Dickie knows.
B) The father is tense and tells him to be quiet, while the mother tries to remain cheerful but stays silent.
How does the mood change in the Whites' home after the first wish is granted?
A. It becomes more exciting and hopeful.
B. It shifts from cozy and warm to dark, cold, and filled with grief.
C. It stays the same throughout the story: gloomy.
D. It becomes humorous because the wish didn't seem to work.
B. It shifts from cozy and warm to dark, cold, and filled with grief.
Part A: In both stories, a child dies. What is the common cause of these deaths related to the parents' actions?
A. Both sets of parents actively tried to harm their children.
B. Both sets of parents followed a "system" that they knew was dangerous.
C. Both sets of parents forgot it was their son's birthday.
D. Both sets of parents were too poor to take care of their children.
Part B: How does this shared cause affect the mood of both endings?
A. It makes the endings feel funny and lighthearted.
B. It makes the endings feel adventurous and exciting.
C. It makes the endings feel hollow and tragic because the loss cannot be undone.
D. It makes the endings feel hopeful because the parents learned a lesson.
Part A: B. Both sets of parents followed a "system" that they knew was dangerous.
Part B: C. It makes the endings feel hollow and tragic because the loss cannot be undone.
In "The Monkey's Paw," the Sergeant-Major says the paw had a spell put on it to show that "fate ruled people's lives." Based on the story, what does "fate" mean?
A. A scientific law that explains magic.
B. The amount of money a person is destined to earn.
C. A power believed to control events before they happen.
D. A choice made by a government leader.
C. A power believed to control events before they happen.
In "The Monkey's Paw," Mr. White makes the final wish. If Mrs. White had made the wish instead, how would the theme of the story likely have changed?
A) It would have been a happy ending.
B) It wouldn't change; the paw is always evil.
C) The story would have ended immediately.
D) It might emphasize a mother's refusal to accept fate, even if it leads to horror.
D) It might emphasize a mother's refusal to accept fate, even if it leads to horror.
If Dickie had been less intelligent, what would his life most likely have been like?
A) He would have been sent to a normal, different school.
B) He would have lived a long, "average" life under government control.
C) He would have become a government leader.
D) He would have been executed anyway.
B) He would have lived a long, "average" life under government control.
What is the shared theme of both stories?
A) Honesty is always the best policy.
B) People make their choices; there are no mistakes in life.
C) Be careful what you wish for, as there are often hidden costs.
D) Traveling to new lands brings great wisdom.
C) Be careful what you wish for, as there are often hidden costs.
Part A: What do the "Monkey's Paw" and "Dickie’s IQ" share in common as literary symbols?
A. They are both symbols of hope and a better future for the families.
B. They are both things that the children worked hard to earn.
C. They are both items that were stolen from the government.
D. They are both "dangerous gifts" that seem like advantages but lead to destruction.
Part B: How do the authors use these symbols to influence the reader's emotions?
A. They make the reader feel excited about the possibilities of magic and science.
B. They create a sense of "dread," making the reader worry about the characters before the tragedy even happens.
C. They make the reader feel confused about who the "bad guy" is.
D. They make the reader feel happy that the stories ended the way they did.
Part A: D. They are both "dangerous gifts" that seem like advantages but lead to destruction.
Part B: B. They create a sense of "dread," making the reader worry about the characters before the tragedy even happens.
Near the end of the story, as the knocking grows louder, Mr. White is "on his hands and knees" groveling on the floor to find the paw. What does this reveal about him?
A. He is greedy and wants to wish for more money.
B. He is hiding from his wife because he is a coward.
C. He has realized his mistake and is desperate to protect his family from the consequences.
D. He has given up and is too tired to stand.
C. He has realized his mistake and is desperate to protect his family from the consequences.