The Gift of the Magi
O. Henry
Reading Comprehension Activity
From where does Della get the $1.87 according to the text?
By shoveling sidewalks in front of stores
By haggling with merchants
By doing side work for the grocer, butcher, and vegetable man
By stealing the money from stores
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Explain your answer by using the text. Write in complete sentences.
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Why is Della upset at the beginning of the story?
She lost her job shoveling in front of the stores on her block.
She has been fighting with Jim.
She was recently arrested by the mendicancy squad.
She does not have enough money to buy a nice present for Jim.
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Cite evidence from the text to support your answer. Write in complete sentences.
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What are Jim and Della's most valued possessions?
Jim's shoes and Della's cooking pot
Jim's watch and Della's hair
Jim's watch and Della's hat
Jim's brief case and Della's jacket
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How do you know this? Support your answer with evidence from the text. Write in complete sentences.
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Why does Della go to Madame Sofronie's?
To sell her hair
To look for work
To shovel Madame Sofronie's sidewalk
To beg for money
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Does Madame Sofronie treat Della fairly? Why or why not? Write in complete sentences.
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Which figurative language technique is used in the following sentence?
"I couldn't have lived through Christmas without giving you a present."
Metaphor
Personification
Understatement
Simile
Hyperbole
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How do you figure? Explain your answer in complete sentences.
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Which best explains why Jim is so stunned when he first sees Della?
He bought her a gift that she can't use.
He doesn't like how his wife looks with her hair short.
He doesn't recognize his wife.
He is shocked that she bought him such a nice gift.
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How do you know this? Use evidence from the text to explain your answer.
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Which best describes the narrator's tone in this sentence?
"Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication."
Reminiscent
Serious
Intolerant
Humorous
Melancholy
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Why do you think this? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
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With which statement would the narrator most likely agree?
Jim and Della's gifts were bad because they wasted their money on things that they can't use.
Jim and Della's gifts were bad because they did not consider one another's needs.
Jim and Della's gifts were good because they sacrificed so much for one another.
Jim and Della's gifts were good because they will get a lot of use out of the nice things that they bought for one another.
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Why do you think this? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
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Which event happened last?
Della went to Madame Sofronie's
Della bought Jim a gift.
Della cried about only having $1.87.
Della cut her hair.
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Briefly summarize the text. List five key events in the order in which they happen.
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Which statement best expresses the theme of this story?
The best gifts involve sacrifice.
Spending time with the people you love is more important than getting them gifts.
Don't waste your money on expensive gifts.
Make sure that you give people gifts that they can actually use.
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Why do you think this? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
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The Gift of the Magi
By O. Henry
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