A. Who is the author of “The Gift of the Magi”?
A) Guy de Maupassant
B) O. Henry
C) Anton Chekhov
D) Mark Twain
Answer: B) O. Henry
B. What is the name of the female protagonist in the story?
A) Bella
B) Emma
C) Della
D) Stella
Answer: C) Della
C. What is the name of Della’s husband?
A) James Dillingham Young
B) John Henry Young
C) Robert Dillingham Young
D) William Henry Young
Answer: A) James Dillingham Young
D. How much money does Della have at the beginning of the story?
A) $1.87
B) $2.00
C) $5.00
D) $10.00
Answer: A) $1.87
E. What does Della decide to sell to buy Jim’s gift?
A) Her dress
B) Her hat
C) Her hair
D) Her shoes
Answer: C) Her hair
F. What does Jim sell to buy Della’s gift?
A) His hat
B) His coat
C) His shoes
D) His watch
Answer: D) His watch
G. What gift does Della buy for Jim?
A) A gold ring
B) A watch chain
C) A hat
D) A pair of gloves
Answer: B) A watch chain
H. What does Jim buy for Della?
A) A hair comb set
B) A gold necklace
C) A diamond ring
D) A silk scarf
Answer: A) A hair comb set
I. Where does Della go to sell her hair?
A) Mme. Sofronie’s shop
B) Madame Florine’s salon
C) Miss Emily’s parlour
D) Mrs. Brown’s boutique
Answer: A) Mme. Sofronie’s shop
J. What is Mme. Sofronie’s profession?
A) Perfume seller
B) Hairdresser
C) Wig maker
D) Seamstress
Answer: C) Wig maker
K. How much does Della receive for selling her hair?
A) $10
B) $20
C) $25
D) $30
Answer: B) $20
L. What is the central theme of the story?
A) Betrayal
B) Greed
C) Sacrificial love
D) Revenge
Answer: C) Sacrificial love
M. Which day is the setting of the story?
A) New Year’s Day
B) Thanksgiving
C) Christmas Eve
D) Christmas Day
Answer: D) Christmas Day
N. How does O. Henry describe Jim and Della’s apartment?
A) Spacious and luxurious
B) Small but with expensive furniture
C) Poor and modest
D) Warm and rich
Answer: C) Poor and modest
O. What literary device is prominent in the ending?
A) Simile
B) Dramatic irony
C) Alliteration
D) Personification
Answer: B) Dramatic irony
P. What biblical reference is used in the title and ending?
A) The shepherds
B) The prodigal son
C) The Magi
D) The twelve disciples
Answer: C) The Magi
Q. Why does O. Henry call Jim and Della “the wisest”?
A) Because they outsmarted everyone
B) Because they sacrificed their treasures for love
C) Because they saved money for future
D) Because they prayed regularly
Answer: B) Because they sacrificed their treasures for love
R. How does Della feel after cutting her hair?
A) Regretful and angry
B) Proud and confident
C) Nervous and worried
D) Happy and free
Answer: C) Nervous and worried
S. Which of the following best describes the story’s ending?
A) Tragic
B) Ironic yet beautiful
C) Comic
D) Suspenseful
Answer: B) Ironic yet beautiful
T. What message does the story convey about gifts?
A) They must be expensive
B) They should be practical
C) The value lies in the love behind them
D) They are always useless
Answer: C) The value lies in the love behind them
“One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all.” – What does this line suggest
about Della’s situation?
A) She is confused about her money.
B) She is wealthy but hiding it.
C) She is in a financially difficult situation.
D) She has enough to buy any gift.
Answer: C) She is in a financially difficult situation.
Why did Della count her money three times?
A) She wanted to calculate for shopping.
B) She hoped the amount might increase.
C) She was planning to save it in the bank.
D) She wanted to buy herself a dress.
Answer: B) She hoped the amount might increase.
“There was clearly nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and
howl.” – What emotion does this sentence express?
A) Anger
B) Joy
C) Frustration and helplessness
D) Excitement
Answer: C) Frustration and helplessness
Why is Della’s hair described as her ‘pride and joy’?
A) Because it was long and beautiful.
B) Because she earned money with it.
C) Because Jim loved it the most.
D) Because she never cut it.
Answer: A) Because it was long and beautiful.
“Had the Queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let
her hair hang out the window…” – What does this reference suggest?
A) Della’s jealousy towards the queen
B) Della’s pride in her hair’s beauty
C) Della’s anger at rich people
D) Della’s wish to be a queen
Answer: B) Della’s pride in her hair’s beauty
How much money did Della receive for her hair?
A) $15
B) $20
C) $25
D) $30
Answer: B) $20
What phrase is used to describe Jim’s watch?
A) “Plain and old”
B) “The finest gold”
C) “It had no value”
D) “It was like the King’s treasure”
Answer: D) “It was like the King’s treasure”
“She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result.” – What
does ‘this result’ refer to?
A) The happiness she felt
B) The small amount she could save
C) The combs she bought
D) The haircut she got
Answer: B) The small amount she could save
Why did Della quickly straighten her hair after curling it?
A) She wanted to look neat before Jim came.
B) She did not like curls.
C) The weather was too hot.
D) She wanted to hide her haircut.
Answer: A) She wanted to look neat before Jim came.
When Jim saw Della’s hair cut, what was his reaction?
A) He was angry.
B) He was shocked and silent.
C) He started laughing.
D) He left the house.
Answer: B) He was shocked and silent.
“They are too nice to use just at present.” – What is Jim referring to here?
A) The combs he bought for Della
B) The watch chain
C) His shoes
D) The dinner
Answer: A) The combs he bought for Della
What does O. Henry compare Jim and Della to in the ending?
A) Children
B) The Magi
C) The angels
D) The shepherds
Answer: B) The Magi
Why are Jim and Della called ‘foolish children’ by the narrator?
A) Because they wasted their money
B) Because they sold their prized possessions
C) Because they loved each other deeply
D) Because they bought cheap gifts
Answer: B) Because they sold their prized possessions
Which line reflects the irony in the story?
A) “Jim was never late.”
B) “I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs.”
C) “Her hair reached below her knees.”
D) “Della looked beautiful.”
Answer: B) “I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs.”
How does Della react when Jim gives her the combs?
A) She cries out of happiness.
B) She returns the gift.
C) She runs away.
D) She gives them back to Jim.
Answer: A) She cries out of happiness.
What is implied by the sentence – “Of all who give gifts, these two were the wisest”?
A) Their gifts were the most expensive.
B) Their gifts were the most practical.
C) They showed true love through sacrifice.
D) They followed tradition properly.
Answer: C) They showed true love through sacrifice.
Why did Della feel anxious after cutting her hair?
A) She feared Jim would not love her.
B) She regretted losing her hair.
C) She thought the combs would not fit.
D) She felt cold.
Answer: A) She feared Jim would not love her.
Which phrase describes the apartment’s condition?
A) Luxurious and bright
B) Shabby but with love
C) Dirty and broken
D) Spacious and royal
Answer: B) Shabby but with love
“Eight dollars a week or a million a year – what is the difference?” – What does this
reflect about the author’s message?
A) Money is the most important thing.
B) Love makes money unimportant.
C) Both are equally necessary.
D) People should save more.
Answer: B) Love makes money unimportant.
What was Jim’s weekly salary before it was reduced?
A) $20
B) $30
C) $40
D) $50
Answer: C) $30
"One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all. And sixty cents of it was in pennies. Pennies
saved one and two at a time by bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher
until one’s cheeks burned with the silent imputation of parsimony that such close dealing
implied."
What is the total amount Della has saved?
A) $1.27
B) $1.87
C) $2.87
D) $1.67
Answer: B) $1.87
What does the phrase “bulldozing the grocer and the vegetable man and the butcher” imply
about Della?
A) She threatened them for money.
B) She negotiated forcefully for every cent.
C) She stole from them.
D) She worked for them.
Answer: B) She negotiated forcefully for every cent.
Why did Della’s cheeks burn?
A) She felt shy bargaining.
B) She was embarrassed by her extreme thriftiness.
C) The market was hot.
D) She was angry at the shopkeepers.
Answer: B) She was embarrassed by her extreme thriftiness.
What does “imputation of parsimony” mean in this context?
A) Accusation of greed
B) Accusation of stinginess
C) Praise for saving
D) Blame for spending
Answer: B) Accusation of stinginess
"Della finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag. She stood by the window
and looked out dully at a gray cat walking a gray fence in a gray backyard."
What is the mood conveyed by this description?
A) Happiness and peace
B) Bright hopefulness
C) Dullness and despair
D) Excitement and suspense
Answer: C) Dullness and despair
Why does the author repeat the word “gray”?
A) To emphasise beauty
B) To show lifelessness and monotony
C) To describe Della’s dress colour
D) To foreshadow a storm
Answer: B) To show lifelessness and monotony
What does Della do after crying?
A) Calls Jim
B) Starts cooking
C) Uses powder to hide her sadness
D) Sells her hair
Answer: C) Uses powder to hide her sadness
"She had been saving every penny she could for months, with this result. Twenty dollars a week
doesn’t go far. Expenses had been greater than she had calculated."
What is Della’s husband’s weekly salary?
A) $10
B) $15
C) $20
D) $25
Answer: C) $20
What does “this result” refer to here?
A) She saved enough to buy a comb.
B) She could save only $1.87 despite months of effort.
C) She earned a promotion.
D) She bought a watch chain.
Answer: B) She could save only $1.87 despite months of effort.
Which word best describes Della’s attitude towards their expenses?
A) Careless
B) Indifferent
C) Concerned
D) Ignorant
Answer: C) Concerned
"There was nothing to do but flop down on the shabby little couch and howl. So Della did it."
The phrase “flop down” suggests:
A) Sitting gracefully
B) Lying down lazily
C) Dropping down helplessly
D) Jumping in excitement
Answer: C) Dropping down helplessly
What emotion is Della experiencing here?
A) Anger
B) Happiness
C) Determination
D) Frustration and sorrow
Answer: D) Frustration and sorrow
"Now, there were two possessions of the James Dillingham Youngs in which they both took a
mighty pride. One was Jim’s gold watch…The other was Della’s hair."
What does this reveal about Jim and Della?
A) They were proud of their wealth.
B) They valued their possessions as part of their identity.
C) They did not care for material things.
D) They loved decorating their house.
Answer: B) They valued their possessions as part of their identity.
What type of watch did Jim have?
A) Silver
B) Diamond-studded
C) Gold
D) Wooden
Answer: C) Gold
What was the other prized possession apart from the watch?
A) Della’s necklace
B) Della’s hair
C) Their sofa
D) Their wedding ring
Answer: B) Della’s hair
"She sold her hair for twenty dollars. With the money, she bought a platinum fob chain simple
and chaste in design, properly proclaiming its value by substance alone and not by meretricious
ornamentation."
What is the meaning of “fob chain”?
A) A chain for the neck
B) A chain for the wrist
C) A chain for the waist
D) A chain for the watch
Answer: D) A chain for the watch
Why is the chain described as “simple and chaste in design”?
A) It was plain yet elegant.
B) It was too cheap.
C) It was heavily decorated.
D) It was fake.
Answer: A) It was plain yet elegant.
What does “meretricious ornamentation” imply?
A) True beauty
B) False showy decoration
C) Expensive jewels
D) Antique craftsmanship
Answer: B) False showy decoration
"She looked at her reflection long, carefully, and critically."
Why does Della examine herself critically?
A) She was checking her makeup.
B) She was admiring her beauty.
C) She was worried about Jim’s reaction to her short hair.
D) She was planning to go out.
Answer: C) She was worried about Jim’s reaction to her short hair.
"Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setter at the scent of quail."
What does this simile imply about Jim’s reaction?
A) He was delighted.
B) He was stunned and speechless.
C) He was angry and shouted.
D) He was sleepy.
Answer: B) He was stunned and speechless.
"I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs."
What does this line reveal about Jim’s character?
A) He was careless.
B) He was materialistic.
C) He loved Della deeply and sacrificed his treasure.
D) He was selfish.
Answer: C) He loved Della deeply and sacrificed his treasure.
What is the irony in this line?
A) Della already had combs.
B) Jim did not need a chain anymore as he sold his watch.
C) Combs were too cheap.
D) He bought combs instead of a dress.
Answer: B) Jim did not need a chain anymore as he sold his watch.
"Of all who give gifts, these two were the wisest."
Why does the author say they were the wisest?
A) Because they gave the costliest gifts
B) Because they sacrificed their treasures out of love
C) Because they bought gifts in time
D) Because they planned their gifts together
Answer: B) Because they sacrificed their treasures out of love
What is the biblical reference here?
A) The disciples
B) The prodigal son
C) The Magi (Three Wise Men)
D) The Good Samaritan
Answer: C) The Magi (Three Wise Men)
"Eight dollars a week or a million a year – what is the difference?"
What theme does this line highlight?
A) Money is most important
B) There is no difference between rich and poor
C) Love matters more than wealth
D) Millionaires are unhappy
Answer: C) Love matters more than wealth
"The magi, as you know, were wise men—wonderfully wise men—who brought gifts to the Babe
in the manger."
Why does the author mention the magi?
A) To praise their wealth
B) To compare them with Jim and Della’s wisdom in love
C) To show that gifts must be gold
D) To narrate history
Answer: B) To compare them with Jim and Della’s wisdom in love
What gifts did the magi bring according to biblical reference?
A) Gold, myrrh, frankincense
B) Silver, pearls, silk
C) Water, food, flowers
D) Rice, milk, bread
Answer: A) Gold, myrrh, frankincense
"They invented the art of giving Christmas presents."
According to the narrator, who invented the art of giving gifts?
A) Rich merchants
B) The magi
C) Poor people
D) The king
Answer: B) The magi
"She hugged the chain to her bosom and at length was able to look up with dim eyes and a
smile."
What emotion does Della feel here?
A) Anger
B) Greed
C) Gratitude and love
D) Jealousy
Answer: C) Gratitude and love
Why are Della’s eyes ‘dim’?
A) Because of poor light
B) Because she was crying out of love and sacrifice
C) Because she was ill
D) Because she was sleepy
Answer: B) Because she was crying out of love and sacrifice
