AnswersIDEAL ENGLISH 9 SUMMER 2026 SabatiniCharacterization, Theme, and Irony in "The Gift of the Magi"

Characterization, Theme, and Irony in "The Gift of the Magi" Answers

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Read this sentence about Della from "The Gift of the Magi."Once she faltered for a minute and stood still while a tear or two splashed on the worn red carpet.

A
Sacrifice is more important than true love.
B
Sacrifice for a loved one is not always easy.
C
Sacrifice is part of a life lived to the very fullest.
D
Sacrifice for a loved one does not always pay off.
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practices religionenjoys fancy mealsfollows daily routinesenjoys living in the city

A
practices religion
B
enjoys fancy meals
C
follows daily routines
D
enjoys living in the city
3

Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi."Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setter at the scent of quail. His eyes were fixed upon Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not read, and it terrified her. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor disapproval, nor horror, nor any of the sentiments that she had been prepared for. He simply stared at her fixedly with that peculiar expression on his face.

A
indirectly, through his lack of action.
B
directly, through his physical appearance.
C
directly, through his personality that is concerned with change.
D
indirectly, through his lack of feelings for Della.
4

Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi."And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest.

A
even wise people do foolish things at times.
B
those who sacrifice for others are great people.
C
sacrificing one’s most prized possessions is foolish.
D
wise people are often those with the fewest possessions.
5

Read this characterization of Della from "The Gift of the Magi."Then she heard his step on the stair away down on the first flight, and she turned white for just a moment.

A
has very fair skin.
B
is afraid of Jim’s reaction.
C
is beginning to get an illness.
D
had become extremely angry.
6

Which could best serve as the theme of a story about holiday gift giving?

A
gift giving
B
The value of a gift is not in its price, but rather in its sentiment.
C
Giving homemade gifts is better than giving store bought gifts.
D
Miriam painted a picture of the ocean to gift to her brother for Hanukkah.
7

In "The Gift of the Magi," O. Henry most likely uses the irony of the couple’s gifts to express the theme that

A
expensive gifts are sometimes a mistake.
B
love and sacrifice for others is the highest virtue.
C
material goods usually increase in value over time.
D
it is best to retain one’s most prized possessions.
8

At the end of "The Gift of the Magi," Jim says that he and Della should forget their gifts for a while and eat supper. This suggests the theme

A
"Love is understanding."
B
"Love is romantic."
C
"Love is easily lost."
D
"Love is being together."
9

Read the story.Sam was home one night when the lights went out during a thunderstorm. He was looking in the kitchen closet for a flashlight to help him see, but it was hard to find the flashlight in the dark without using a flashlight! His circumstances struck Sam as pretty funny.

A
verbal irony
B
dramatic irony
C
situational irony
D
historical irony
10

Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi."Where she stopped the sign read: "Mme. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds." One flight up Della ran, and collected herself, panting. Madame, large, too white, chilly, hardly looked the "Sofronie.""Will you buy my hair?" asked Della."I buy hair," said Madame. "Take yer hat off and let’s have a sight at the looks of it."Down rippled the brown cascade."Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with a practised hand.

A
direct characterization, using her words and feelings.
B
indirect characterization, using her thoughts and action.
C
direct characterization, describing her physical appearance.
D
indirect characterization, describing her personality.

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