“The Dinner Party” Review Questions Name: Period:

Mona Gardner

_____ 1. The use of third-person point of view in this story makes the reader feel like a —

A. participant

B. relative

C. spectator

D. friend

_____ 2. What is the initiating event for this story?

A. The American’s challenge for the guests to keep still

B. The change in expression on the face of the hostess

C. The Indian boy placing milk on the veranda

D. The guests screaming as the veranda doors close

_____ 3. Which detail about the setting contributes to the plot of the story?

A. The plant life in India is very exotic.

B. India is located in Southern Asia.

C. India is the second-most populous country in the world.

D. Cobras live in India.

_____ 4. What does the author mean by the phrase “jumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse” in paragraph 2?

A. An appropriate activity

B. A quick movement

C. A fearful reaction

D. An athletic response

_____ 5. What does the author mean by the phrase “like stone images” in paragraph 9?

A. As large as statues

B. Without moving

C. Appearing to shift

D. Without any life

_____ 6. What is a theme of this story?

A. A calm reaction to a crisis is the best choice.

B. Beware of snakes under the dinner table.

C. Men usually react better in a crisis situation.

D. A large group of guests can be difficult to manage.

_____ 7. Why is the hostess’s reaction to the snake important to the story?

A. The character of the native boy is introduced.

B. It offers proof to end the discussion.

C. She is able to focus on her guests.

D. It reinforces the colonel’s view.

_____ 8. How would the story have been different if it had been told from the hostess’s

point of view?

A. Readers would have been aware of the snake’s location earlier.

B. The story would have been much more dramatic.

C. Readers would not have known why the milk was placed outside.

D. The story would have included a description of the dinner menu.

http://instech.knox.k12tn.net/training/claymation/CM/TheDinnerParty%20.html

http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/course/course3/pdfs/8qc806e.pdf

http://higginsenglish.googlepages.com/thedinnerparty

http://schools.shorelineschools.org/shorewood/sw_tech/The%20Dinner%20Party.pdf