Short Stories Quiz - CBSE Class 8 English

Free practice quiz: Short Stories (CBSE Class 8 English). 20 multiple-choice questions with answers and explanations. Play online, no sign-up needed.

This CBSE Class 8 English practice quiz has 20 multiple-choice questions on Short Stories, and 20 of them come with an explanation. Try the 5 sample questions below (tap an option to check yourself), then play the full quiz online. No sign-up needed.

Sample questions

1. Which short story features a clever fox and a foolish crow?

   1. The Fox and the Crow
   2. The Tortoise and the Hare
   3. The Lion and the Mouse
   4. The Ant and the Grasshopper
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   Answer: A. The Fox and the Crow

   The short story 'The Fox and the Crow' is a classic tale about a clever fox who tricks a crow into dropping its piece of cheese.

2. In 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant, what primary trait leads to Mathilde's downfall?

   1. Greed
   2. Pride
   3. Laziness
   4. Dishonesty
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Pride

   Mathilde's pride leads her to borrow a necklace to appear wealthier than she is, which eventually leads to her financial ruin.

3. In 'The Monkey's Paw' by W.W. Jacobs, how many wishes are granted by the paw?

   1. One
   2. Two
   3. Three
   4. Four
   Show answer

   Answer: C. Three

   The monkey's paw grants three wishes to each owner, but with dire consequences.

4. Which superstition is central to the plot of 'The Monkey's Paw'?

   1. Breaking a mirror
   2. Walking under a ladder
   3. Granting three wishes
   4. A black cat crossing your path
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   Answer: C. Granting three wishes

   The monkey's paw is said to grant three wishes, but each wish comes with an unforeseen and often tragic consequence, underscoring the theme of unintended consequences.

5. In 'The Gift of the Magi', what ironic twist concludes the story?

   1. Both gifts are used
   2. Neither gift is used
   3. They exchange gifts
   4. They lose the gifts
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   Answer: B. Neither gift is used

   The irony in 'The Gift of the Magi' is that both Della and Jim sell their most prized possessions to buy gifts for each other that neither can use.

More questions in this quiz

Answers and explanations are in the full quiz.

1. Who wrote the short story 'The Gift of the Magi'?
2. In 'The Tell-Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe, what drives the narrator to murder the old man?
3. What is the moral of the story 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'?
4. What happens at the end of 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson?
5. Who is the main character in the short story 'The Tell-Tale Heart'?
6. What is the main theme in 'The Story of an Hour' by Kate Chopin?
7. What is a significant symbol in 'The Scarlet Ibis' by James Hurst?
8. What is the significance of a black spot in 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson?
9. What is the central conflict in 'Harrison Bergeron' by Kurt Vonnegut?
10. What literary technique is predominantly used in 'The Lottery' to create suspense and irony?
11. Which character trait of Doodle is highlighted in 'The Scarlet Ibis'?
12. What is the irony in 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant?
13. How does Poe utilize unreliable narration in 'The Tell-Tale Heart'?
14. In James Hurst's 'The Scarlet Ibis', what does the dead ibis symbolize?
15. What does the old man's 'vulture eye' in 'The Tell-Tale Heart' symbolize?

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