GRADE 8 English – READING:SHORT STORY Quiz

1. Who is the author of the short story 'The Bet'?

Ngugi wa Thiong'o
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Anton Chekhov
Chinua Achebe
Explanation:

Anton Chekhov is the correct choice. He is the Russian author of the short story 'The Bet'.

2. What is the setting of the short story 'The Necklace'?

Paris, France
London, England
New York, USA
Nairobi, Kenya
Explanation:

Paris, France is the correct choice. The story takes place in Paris, following the life of Madame Loisel.

3. What is the main theme of the short story 'The Lottery'?

Tradition and Rituals
Family Relationships
Love and Romance
Adventure and Exploration
Explanation:

Tradition and Rituals is the correct choice. 'The Lottery' explores the dark side of blindly following traditions.

4. Who is the protagonist of the short story 'The Gift of the Magi'?

Della
Mr. James
Jim
Sophia
Explanation:

Della is the correct choice. She is the main character who sacrifices her long hair to buy a gift for her husband.

5. What is the title of the short story by Edgar Allan Poe that features a man obsessed with a black cat?

The Raven
The Fall of the House of Usher
The Black Cat
The Tell-Tale Heart
Explanation:

The Black Cat is the correct choice. The story revolves around the protagonist's descent into madness driven by guilt.

6. What happens to the young boy in the short story 'The Scarlet Ibis'?

He runs away from home
He finds a hidden treasure
He wins a marathon
He dies tragically
Explanation:

He dies tragically is the correct choice. The death of the young boy is a heartbreaking moment in the story.

7. Who wrote the short story 'The Most Dangerous Game'?

Richard Connell
Jack London
Mark Twain
Ernest Hemingway
Explanation:

Richard Connell is the correct choice. He is the author of the thrilling short story about a man hunting humans for sport.

8. In the short story 'The Lady, or the Tiger?', what does the protagonist face in the arena?

A fierce tiger
A venomous snake
A pack of wolves
A hungry lion
Explanation:

A fierce tiger is the correct choice. The protagonist must choose between two doors, one leading to a lady and the other to a tiger.

9. What is the surprise ending of the short story 'The Gift of the Magi'?

The characters become rich
The characters sell their gifts
The characters' gifts are no longer useful
The characters win the lottery
Explanation:

The characters' gifts are no longer useful is the correct choice. The twist ending reveals the irony of their sacrifices.

10. What lesson can be learned from the short story 'The Necklace'?

Money can buy happiness
Always be honest
Appearances can be deceiving
Never take risks
Explanation:

Appearances can be deceiving is the correct choice. The story shows the consequences of being materialistic and longing for social status.

11. Who betrays the protagonist in the short story 'The Bet'?

His best friend
His wife
His brother
His son
Explanation:

His best friend is the correct choice. The protagonist trusted his friend to keep a bet for 15 years but was betrayed.

12. What is the moral of the short story 'The Lottery'?

Question traditions
Family comes first
Trust no one
Luck is not always good
Explanation:

Question traditions is the correct choice. The story highlights the danger of blindly following traditions without questioning their purpose.

13. In the short story 'The Last Leaf', what motivates Johnsy to believe she will die when the last leaf falls?

A fortune teller's prediction
A superstition
A dream she had
An illness
Explanation:

An illness is the correct choice. Johnsy is sick, and she believes that she will die when the last leaf falls.

14. Who gives the necklace to Madame Loisel in the short story 'The Necklace'?

Her mother
Her husband
Her best friend
Her boss
Explanation:

Her husband is the correct choice. He sacrifices his savings to buy his wife a beautiful gown for a party.

15. What leads to the downfall of the protagonist in the short story 'The Tell-Tale Heart'?

A recurring nightmare
A mysterious figure
A sudden illness
A guilty conscience
Explanation:

A guilty conscience is the correct choice. The protagonist's guilt over committing murder leads to his undoing.

16. What motivates the protagonist to follow the black cat in the short story 'The Black Cat'?

Hunger
Desire for a pet
Fear
Curiosity
Explanation:

Curiosity is the correct choice. The protagonist becomes obsessed with the black cat out of curiosity.

17. How does the protagonist in the short story 'The Scarlet Ibis' feel about his disabled brother?

Sympathetic
Envious
Proud
Hateful
Explanation:

Proud is the correct choice. The protagonist feels a mix of love, protectiveness, and pride towards his disabled brother.

18. What is the main conflict in the short story 'The Most Dangerous Game'?

Man vs. Society
Man vs. Man
Man vs. Nature
Man vs. Machine
Explanation:

Man vs. Man is the correct choice. The story revolves around the deadly game between two hunters.

19. What is the consequence of the protagonist's choice in 'The Lady, or the Tiger'?

He is punished
He is banished
He is forgiven
He is rewarded
Explanation:

He is punished is the correct choice. The story ends with a dramatic and ambiguous outcome of the protagonist's fate.

20. What is the climax of the short story 'The Gift of the Magi'?

The couple's first meeting
The exchange of gifts
The discovery of a treasure
The reveal of the sacrificial gifts
Explanation:

The reveal of the sacrificial gifts is the correct choice. The climax shows the irony of their sacrifices.

21. How does the protagonist in 'The Necklace' try to replace the lost necklace?

By buying a new one
By borrowing money
By stealing one
By making a replica
Explanation:

By borrowing money is the correct choice. Madame Loisel borrows money to buy a replacement necklace without her friend knowing.

22. Who wins 'The Bet' in the short story with the same title?

The judge
The lawyer
The police officer
The banker
Explanation:

The lawyer is the correct choice. He wins the bet by enduring solitary confinement for 15 years and proving a point about the death penalty.

23. What is the motivation behind the lottery in the short story 'The Lottery'?

Community bonding
Celebration of harvest
Random prize distribution
Selection of a sacrifice
Explanation:

Selection of a sacrifice is the correct choice. The lottery's purpose is to select a person who will be stoned to death as a sacrifice.

24. How does the short story 'The Scarlet Ibis' symbolize the ibis bird?

Strength and power
Sorrow and regret
Unity and harmony
Hope and freedom
Explanation:

Sorrow and regret is the correct choice. The ibis bird symbolizes the themes of death and the regret of not appreciating what is truly precious in life.

25. What lesson can be learned from the short story 'The Most Dangerous Game'?

Trust no one
Respect nature
Follow the rules
Survival of the fittest
Explanation:

Survival of the fittest is the correct choice. The story showcases the brutal competition between the hunter and the hunted in a deadly game.

26. What leads to the ironic twist in the short story 'The Tell-Tale Heart'?

A hidden treasure
A mysterious visitor
A loud noise
The protagonist's guilt
Explanation:

The protagonist's guilt is the correct choice. His guilt over the murder he committed leads to the surprising twist in the story.

27. Who is the author of the short story 'The Bet'?

Mark Twain
Ngugi wa Thiong'o
Chinua Achebe
Leo Tolstoy
Explanation:

Leo Tolstoy is the correct choice as he is the author of the short story 'The Bet'.

28. What is the setting of the short story 'The Necklace'?

London
New York
Paris
Nairobi
Explanation:

Paris is the correct choice as it is the setting of the short story 'The Necklace'.

29. In 'The Gift of the Magi', what did Jim and Della each sacrifice to buy gifts for each other?

Watch and Hair
Horse and Jewelry
Watch and Hair Comb
Camera and Watch
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Watch and Hair Comb' as Jim sells his watch and Della sells her hair to buy gifts for each other.

30. What does the black spot on the 'Signalman's' sleeve symbolize?

Happiness
Wealth
Danger
Death
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Death' as the black spot on the 'Signalman's' sleeve is seen as a foreshadowing of death.

31. Who wrote the short story 'The Lady with the Pet Dog'?

T.S. Eliot
James Joyce
Virginia Woolf
Anton Chekhov
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Anton Chekhov' as he is the author of the short story 'The Lady with the Pet Dog'.

32. What genre does the short story 'The Lottery' belong to?

Science Fiction
Horror
Fantasy
Romance
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Horror' as the short story 'The Lottery' belongs to the horror genre.

33. What is the central theme of the short story 'The Most Dangerous Game'?

Love
Friendship
Survival
Adventure
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Survival' as the central theme of the short story 'The Most Dangerous Game' is the struggle for survival.

34. Who is the main character in the short story 'The Tell-Tale Heart'?

Sam
Jim
The narrator
John
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'The narrator' as he is the main character in the short story 'The Tell-Tale Heart'.

35. What does the rocking horse symbolize in the short story 'The Rocking-Horse Winner'?

Wealth
Love
Luck
Friendship
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Luck' as the rocking horse symbolizes luck in the short story 'The Rocking-Horse Winner'.

36. In 'The Gift of the Magi', what did Della buy as a gift for Jim?

Watch Chain
Tie Pin
Comb Set
Magazine
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Watch Chain' as Della bought a watch chain as a gift for Jim in 'The Gift of the Magi'.

37. What is the profession of the protagonist in the short story 'A Rose for Emily'?

Lawyer
Teacher
Doctor
Spinster
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Spinster' as the protagonist in the short story 'A Rose for Emily' is a spinster who lives a reclusive life.

38. What is the moral lesson in the short story 'The Happy Prince'?

Gratitude
Generosity
Selflessness
Kindness
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Generosity' as the moral lesson in the short story 'The Happy Prince' is about the importance of generosity.

39. What is the title of the short story by Edgar Allan Poe where the narrator is obsessed with the old man's vulture eye?

The Raven
The Black Cat
The Tell-Tale Heart
The Cask of Amontillado
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'The Tell-Tale Heart' where the narrator is obsessed with the old man's vulture eye.

40. Which character is known for their extreme greed in the short story 'The Monkey's Paw'?

Sergeant-Major Morris
Herbert
Mrs. White
Mr. White
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Mr. White' as he is known for his extreme greed in the short story 'The Monkey's Paw'.

41. Who is the author of the short story 'The Interlopers'?

Guy de Maupassant
Saki
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Edgar Allan Poe
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Saki' as he is the author of the short story 'The Interlopers'.

42. What is the significance of the title 'The Masque of the Red Death'?

Hiding from Death
Death of a Masquerade Ball
Red Ball Gown
Invitation to a Party
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Death of a Masquerade Ball' as the title 'The Masque of the Red Death' refers to a deadly masquerade ball.

43. What is the case study being analyzed in the short story 'The Yellow Wallpaper'?

Childhood Trauma
Domestic Violence
Psychological Disorders
Addiction
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Psychological Disorders' as the case study being analyzed in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is related to mental health issues.

44. What is the theme of the short story 'The Snows of Kilimanjaro'?

Friendship
Death
Adventure
Love
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Death' as the theme of the short story 'The Snows of Kilimanjaro' revolves around death and regret.

45. Who wrote the short story 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'?

J.D. Salinger
F. Scott Fitzgerald
James Thurber
Ernest Hemingway
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'James Thurber' as he is the author of the short story 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty'.

46. What is the central conflict in the short story 'The Open Window'?

Man vs. Nature
Man vs. Ghosts
Man vs. Society
Man vs. Self
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Man vs. Nature' as the central conflict in the short story 'The Open Window' involves a man confronting the elements of nature.

47. What is the moral lesson in the short story 'The Ransom of Red Chief'?

Honesty is the Best Policy
Money Can't Buy Happiness
Be Careful What You Wish For
Crime Doesn't Pay
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Be Careful What You Wish For' as the moral lesson in the short story 'The Ransom of Red Chief' is about unintended consequences of one's wishes.

48. Who is the antagonist in the short story 'The Sniper'?

The Old Woman
The Enemy Sniper
The Sniper's Brother
The Sniper Himself
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'The Enemy Sniper' as he is the antagonist in the short story 'The Sniper'.

49. What is the main conflict in the short story 'The Gift of the Magi'?

Man vs. Machine
Man vs. Self
Man vs. Society
Man vs. Nature
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Man vs. Self' as the main conflict in the short story 'The Gift of the Magi' involves the internal struggles of the characters.

50. What literary device is used in the short story 'The Necklace' to create suspense?

Irony
Foreshadowing
Flashback
Symbolism
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Foreshadowing' as it is the literary device used in the short story 'The Necklace' to create suspense.

51. Who is the protagonist in the short story 'The Lottery'?

Mr. Summers
Old Man Warner
Bill Hutchinson
Tessie Hutchinson
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'Tessie Hutchinson' as she is the protagonist in the short story 'The Lottery'.

52. What is the ending of the short story 'To Build a Fire' by Jack London?

The man meets other travelers
The man survives
The man dies
The man's dog dies
Explanation:

The correct choice is 'The man dies' as the ending of the short story 'To Build a Fire' by Jack London depicts the death of the man due to extreme cold.