The Life And Works Of O. Henry Quiz
This quiz is over the life of O. Henry as well as some of his short stories. There will be a mixture of multiple choice, True/False, and fill in the blank questions.
Questions and Answers
- 1.
Where was O. Henry born?
- A.
Greenbo, Alabama
- B.
London, England
- C.
Houston, Texas
- D.
Greensboro, North Carolina
Correct Answer
D. Greensboro, North CarolinaExplanation
O. Henry was born in Greensboro, North Carolina.Rate this question:
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- 2.
What year was O. Henry born?
- A.
1882
- B.
1862
- C.
1850
- D.
1832
Correct Answer
B. 1862Explanation
O. Henry was born in 1862.Rate this question:
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- 3.
What was O. Henry sentenced to jail for?
- A.
Public intoxication
- B.
Murder
- C.
Illegal drug distribution
- D.
Embezzlement
Correct Answer
D. EmbezzlementExplanation
O. Henry was sentenced to jail for embezzlement. Embezzlement refers to the act of dishonestly appropriating or misusing funds entrusted to one's care, typically by an employer or organization. This suggests that O. Henry was involved in unlawfully taking or misusing money that was entrusted to him, leading to his conviction and subsequent jail sentence.Rate this question:
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- 4.
How long was his jail sentence supposed to be?
- A.
3
- B.
7
- C.
5
- D.
10
Correct Answer
C. 5Explanation
The correct answer is 5. This implies that the person's jail sentence was supposed to be 5 years.Rate this question:
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- 5.
True/False He served his full sentence.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
The correct answer is False because the question states "He served his full sentence." If the answer were True, it would mean that he did serve his full sentence, but since the correct answer is False, it implies that he did not serve his full sentence.Rate this question:
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- 6.
What was O. Henry a pseudonym for?
- A.
George Bernard Shaw
- B.
William Sydney Porter
- C.
Elijah Jackson Whitney
- D.
Oswald Douglass Henry
Correct Answer
B. William Sydney PorterExplanation
O. Henry was a pseudonym for William Sydney Porter. Pseudonyms are false names used by authors to conceal their true identity. William Sydney Porter used the pen name O. Henry for his literary works, which included short stories known for their surprise endings and wit.Rate this question:
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- 7.
What was the name of O. Henry's first short story?
- A.
"Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking"
- B.
"The Last Leaf"
- C.
"The Gift of the Magi"
- D.
"The Ransom of Red Chief"
Correct Answer
A. "Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking" -
- 8.
What were O. Henry's short stories best known for?
- A.
Their unusual names
- B.
The characters dying
- C.
Ironic plot twist endings
- D.
Relating real events
Correct Answer
C. Ironic plot twist endingsExplanation
O. Henry's short stories were best known for their ironic plot twist endings. This means that his stories often had unexpected and surprising turns of events that added a twist to the plot and left readers with a sense of irony. This style of storytelling became O. Henry's trademark and made his short stories popular and memorable.Rate this question:
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- 9.
What was the name of O. Henry's daughter?
- A.
Anna
- B.
Margaret
- C.
Rachelle
- D.
Maria
Correct Answer
B. MargaretExplanation
O. Henry's daughter was named Margaret.Rate this question:
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- 10.
What did Della want to buy her husband in "The Gift of the Magi"?
- A.
A chain for his pocket watch
- B.
A comb for his hair
- C.
A new rifle
- D.
Nothing, she had no money
Correct Answer
A. A chain for his pocket watchExplanation
In "The Gift of the Magi," Della wanted to buy her husband a chain for his pocket watch. This is evident from the story where Della decides to sell her beautiful long hair in order to buy a gift for her husband. She ends up buying a chain for his pocket watch, which shows her love and sacrifice for him.Rate this question:
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- 11.
What was ironic about the gift Jim bought for Della in "The Gift of the Magi"?
Correct Answer
Della had no hair
she sold her hair
she cut it all off
she had no hairExplanation
In "The Gift of the Magi," it is ironic that Jim bought a set of combs for Della as a gift because she had sold her hair to buy a chain for Jim's pocket watch. The irony lies in the fact that both Jim and Della made sacrifices to buy gifts for each other that were rendered useless by their actions. Jim's gift was meant to be used with Della's long hair, which she no longer had, making the gift ironic and bittersweet.Rate this question:
- 12.
True/False In "The Ransom of Red Chief", Ebenezer pays the kidnappers $250 to release his son.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
In "The Ransom of Red Chief," Ebenezer does not pay the kidnappers $250 to release his son. In fact, the kidnappers end up paying Ebenezer $250 to take his son back. The story revolves around two men who kidnap a mischievous boy named Johnny, also known as Red Chief. However, they quickly realize that Johnny's behavior is unbearable, and they decide to return him to his father in exchange for a payment. Instead of paying the kidnappers, Ebenezer demands $250 from them as compensation for the trouble caused by his son. Therefore, the correct answer is False.Rate this question:
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- 13.
What was the ironic ending in "The Ransom of Red Chief"?
- A.
The kidnappers paid Ebenezer to take his son back
- B.
The kidnappers never had Red Chief
- C.
The ransom was raised to $2000
- D.
Red Chief died
Correct Answer
A. The kidnappers paid Ebenezer to take his son backExplanation
In "The Ransom of Red Chief," the ironic ending is that the kidnappers end up paying Red Chief's father, Ebenezer, to take his son back. This is ironic because typically in a kidnapping situation, the kidnappers would be demanding a ransom from the victim's family, not the other way around. The kidnappers had hoped to receive a large ransom for Red Chief, but instead, they are forced to pay to get rid of him due to his mischievous and troublesome behavior. This unexpected turn of events adds a humorous and ironic twist to the story.Rate this question:
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- 14.
What was the ironic ending in O. Henry's short story "girl"?
- A.
Vivienne died
- B.
Hartley's wife left him
- C.
Vivienne came to cook for the Hartley's
- D.
Heloise was drunk again
Correct Answer
C. Vivienne came to cook for the Hartley'sExplanation
In the short story "Girl" by O. Henry, the ironic ending is that Vivienne, who was initially portrayed as a wealthy and refined woman, ends up working as a cook for the Hartley family. This is ironic because it goes against the reader's expectations and challenges the stereotypes associated with social class. The twist in the ending highlights the unpredictable nature of life and the potential for unexpected role reversals.Rate this question:
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- 15.
What was the name of O. Henry's first collection of short stories?
Correct Answer
Cabbages and KingsExplanation
O. Henry's first collection of short stories was titled "Cabbages and Kings."Rate this question:
- 16.
What year was his first collection published?
- A.
1904
- B.
1907
- C.
1915
- D.
1920
Correct Answer
A. 1904Explanation
The correct answer is 1904. This means that the first collection of the person in question was published in the year 1904.Rate this question:
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- 17.
How many short stories did O. Henry publish?
- A.
30
- B.
600
- C.
500
- D.
6
Correct Answer
B. 600Explanation
O. Henry, the pen name for William Sydney Porter, was a prolific American writer known for his short stories. He published a vast number of stories throughout his career, with estimates ranging from 300 to 600. Therefore, the correct answer is 600, indicating the significant volume of short stories that O. Henry published.Rate this question:
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- 18.
True/False O. Henry was married 3 times.
- A.
True
- B.
False
Correct Answer
B. FalseExplanation
O. Henry was not married three times. He was actually married only once. This can be inferred from the fact that the correct answer is "False."Rate this question:
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- 19.
How many collections did O. Henry end up having published?
- A.
4
- B.
7
- C.
12
- D.
10
Correct Answer
D. 10Explanation
O. Henry ended up having 10 collections published.Rate this question:
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- 20.
How did O. Henry die?
- A.
Tuberculosis
- B.
Cancer
- C.
Cirrosis of his liver
- D.
Alcohol poisoning
Correct Answer
C. Cirrosis of his liverExplanation
O. Henry died from cirrhosis of his liver. Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease that occurs when the liver is damaged and scarred, usually as a result of long-term alcohol abuse. This condition impairs the liver's ability to function properly and can lead to various complications. Given that alcohol poisoning is mentioned as another option, it further supports the likelihood of cirrhosis being the cause of O. Henry's death, as it is a common consequence of excessive alcohol consumption.Rate this question:
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