When it comes to understanding a text, having a strong grasp of vocabulary is essential. Especially when diving into a classic like “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry, knowing the meanings of key words can deepen our appreciation for the story. This vocabulary worksheet answer key provides learners with the perfect tool to unlock the language used in the story.
With this answer key, students can easily review and check their understanding of important words in “The Gift of the Magi.” Each word is listed with its definition, allowing learners to expand their vocabulary and enhance their comprehension of the story’s themes and nuances. By familiarizing themselves with these words, students can better appreciate the author’s craftsmanship and the deeper meanings embedded within the text.
This vocabulary worksheet answer key also serves as a valuable teaching tool for educators. It offers a structured approach to introducing new words and engaging students in active learning. By incorporating this answer key into their lesson plans, teachers can create interactive exercises, discussions, and assignments that promote understanding and critical thinking. The key helps educators guide students through the story, ensuring a more comprehensive reading experience.
The Gift of the Magi Vocabulary Worksheet Answer Key
In the short story “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry, the author presents a heartwarming tale about sacrifice and love. The story follows the lives of Della and Jim, a young married couple who are struggling financially. Despite their limited resources, they desperately want to give each other a special gift for Christmas.
The vocabulary worksheet for “The Gift of the Magi” is designed to help students understand and remember key terms and phrases from the story. It includes a list of words with their definitions, followed by various exercises to test comprehension. The answer key provides the correct answers for each exercise, allowing students to check their work and learn from any mistakes.
The worksheet covers important vocabulary such as “truant,” meaning someone who is absent without permission; “vex,” which means to annoy or irritate; and “inconsequential,” which describes something that is not important or significant. These words and their definitions are essential for grasping the deeper meaning of the story and appreciating the characters’ actions and emotions.
In addition to defining key terms, the worksheet also includes exercises that require students to use the vocabulary words in sentences, identify synonyms and antonyms, and match words to their definitions. These activities help reinforce the meaning of the words and encourage students to think critically about their usage.
By completing the vocabulary worksheet and using the answer key for “The Gift of the Magi,” students can deepen their understanding of the story and enhance their overall reading comprehension skills. The exercises and answer key provide a valuable tool for teachers to assess students’ understanding of the vocabulary and ensure they are able to apply it in a meaningful way.
Understanding the Story: Summary and Context
The story “The Gift of the Magi” is a classic tale written by O. Henry, originally published in 1905. It tells the story of a young couple, Jim and Della, who are so deeply in love that they are willing to sacrifice their most prized possessions to give each other a special gift for Christmas.
The story is set in a modest apartment during the Christmas season. Both Jim and Della are struggling financially, but they are determined to show their love for each other through the gifts they give. Della, who has beautiful long hair, decides to sell it in order to buy a pocket watch chain for Jim’s treasured pocket watch. Meanwhile, Jim decides to sell his pocket watch in order to buy Della a set of combs for her hair.
The story explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the true meaning of gift-giving. The title “The Gift of the Magi” refers to the biblical story of the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to baby Jesus, symbolizing the significance of giving selflessly and with love. Through their selfless acts, Jim and Della learn the true value of their love and the importance of the thought behind the gift.
“The Gift of the Magi” is a heartwarming story that reminds us of the power of love and the joy of giving. It serves as a timeless reminder of the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of selflessness in our relationships.
Key Vocabulary Words and Definitions
In “The Gift of the Magi,” there are several key vocabulary words that help to enhance our understanding of the story. These words not only help us to understand the plot more fully, but they also allow us to delve deeper into the theme and symbolism of the story.
1. Magi
The word “magi” refers to the wise men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus in the biblical story. In O. Henry’s story, the term is used metaphorically to describe the selflessness and sacrifice of the main characters, Jim and Della.
2. Vestibule
A “vestibule” is an entrance hall or lobby, typically located between the outer door and the interior of a building. In the story, the vestibule is where Della waits nervously for Jim to come home, highlighting her anticipation and excitement for their reunion.
3. Mendicancy
“Mendicancy” refers to the act of begging or being a beggar. In the story, it represents the poverty and financial struggles faced by Jim and Della, as they live a humble life and struggle to make ends meet.
4. Fob chain
A “fob chain” is a short chain or ribbon attached to a pocket watch, typically used to keep it secure and accessible. In the story, Della sells her most prized possession, her beautiful hair, in order to buy a fob chain for Jim’s precious watch, symbolizing her love and sacrifice for him.
5. Imputation
An “imputation” refers to the act of attributing or assigning something, usually negative, to someone else. In the story, Della becomes worried about how Jim will perceive her short hair, fearing that he will think she no longer loves him. This imputation highlights her insecurities and her desire to be loved unconditionally.
6. Meretricious
“Meretricious” means attractive in a cheap, flashy, or vulgar manner. In the story, it is used to describe the combs that Della admires in a shop window, highlighting her longing for material possessions and her desire to please Jim with a beautiful gift.
7. Sublunary
“Sublunary” refers to things that are earthly or mundane. In the story, it is used to contrast the material world with the deeper, spiritual love shared between Jim and Della. Their sacrifice and selflessness elevate their relationship above the sublunary concerns of wealth and possessions.
8. Paradox
A “paradox” is a statement or situation that seems contradictory but may be true. In the story, the paradox lies in the fact that both Jim and Della sacrifice their most prized possessions to buy gifts for each other, only to find that their gifts are no longer usable. This paradox highlights the true meaning of giving and the depth of their love for each other.
9. Irony
“Irony” is a literary device that involves a contrast between expectations and reality. In the story, the irony lies in the fact that both Jim and Della give up their most treasured possessions to buy gifts for each other, only to discover that their gifts are no longer practical. This irony serves to emphasize the sacrifice and the true value of love and selflessness.
10. Theme
A “theme” is a central idea or message that a writer seeks to convey through their work. In “The Gift of the Magi,” the theme revolves around the importance of selflessness and sacrifice in love. Jim and Della’s actions highlight the transformative power of true love and the ability to prioritize the well-being and happiness of someone else above material possessions.
Conclusion
These key vocabulary words and their definitions are integral to understanding the depth and meaning of “The Gift of the Magi.” They enrich our reading experience by providing insight into the characters, their motivations, and the overarching themes of the story.
Unscramble the Words Activity
In order to enhance vocabulary skills and develop problem-solving abilities, the “Unscramble the Words” activity is an engaging and interactive exercise for students. This activity requires students to unscramble a set of jumbled letters in order to form a correct word. It enhances their knowledge of word formation, spelling, and understanding of various word categories such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
The activity can be designed in different ways, depending on the level of difficulty and the vocabulary set the students are working on. Students can either work individually or in pairs to unscramble the words. Each word can be presented as a set of jumbled letters or as a series of mixed-up letter tiles that students need to rearrange to form a word.
As students work through the activity, they are encouraged to use word recognition skills to identify familiar words and apply their knowledge of word formation rules to unscramble more complex words. They can also use context clues or their understanding of word meanings to help them solve the puzzles. The activity can be a timed challenge or a relaxed exercise, depending on the goals set by the teacher.
To make the activity more interesting and interactive, teachers can incorporate additional elements such as rewards or bonuses for completing certain levels or finding hidden words. They can also provide hints or clues to support struggling students or introduce a competitive element by keeping a score or leaderboard.
Overall, the “Unscramble the Words” activity is an effective way to engage students in vocabulary building and problem-solving. It promotes critical thinking, language skills, and the ability to work collaboratively or independently. By incorporating this activity into the curriculum, teachers can create a dynamic and engaging learning environment that encourages active participation and fosters a love for language learning.
Fill in the Blanks Exercise
This fill in the blanks exercise is designed to test your understanding of the vocabulary used in “The Gift of the Magi”. Read the sentences below and choose the correct word from the options provided to fill in the blanks.
1. Della and Jim were a young couple who lived in a small ________.
- a) cottage
- b) apartment
- c) mansion
2. Della had beautiful, long ________.
- a) hair
- b) nails
- c) teeth
3. Jim’s most prized possession was his ________.
- a) watch
- b) car
- c) computer
4. Della wanted to buy Jim a nice ________ for Christmas.
- a) sweater
- b) tie
- c) present
5. Jim’s gift for Della was a set of ________.
- a) earrings
- b) shoes
- c) gloves
6. Della cut off her ________ to buy Jim a gift.
- a) hair
- b) hand
- c) foot
7. Jim sold his ________ to buy Della a gift.
- a) watch
- b) car
- c) computer
8. Della bought Jim a ________ for Christmas.
- a) watch chain
- b) phone case
- c) camera strap
9. Jim bought Della a set of ________ for Christmas.
- a) earrings
- b) shoes
- c) gloves
10. When Della and Jim exchanged their gifts, they realized the ________ of their love.
- a) value
- b) importance
- c) sacrifice
Check your answers below:
| Question | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | a) cottage |
| 2 | a) hair |
| 3 | a) watch |
| 4 | c) present |
| 5 | a) earrings |
| 6 | a) hair |
| 7 | a) watch |
| 8 | a) watch chain |
| 9 | a) earrings |
| 10 | c) sacrifice |
Matching Activity: Words and Definitions
In this matching activity, you will be asked to match words with their corresponding definitions. This exercise will help you expand your vocabulary and improve your understanding of the text.
Instructions:
- Word: sacrifice
- Word: poverty
- Word: sentimental
- Word: dilemma
- Word: irony
- Word: impoverished
Definition: the act of giving up something you want or need in order to help others
Definition: the state of being extremely poor and lacking the basic necessities of life
Definition: having or showing tender emotions or feelings of nostalgia
Definition: a difficult situation or problem that requires a choice between two equally undesirable options
Definition: the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning
Definition: being extremely poor or lacking in material resources
Take your time and carefully consider the meanings of each word before making your choices. Once you are finished, check your answers to see how well you did. Good luck!
True or False Quiz
Welcome to our True or False Quiz! Test your knowledge with these statements. Read each statement carefully and decide whether it is true or false. Good luck!
Quiz Questions:
- Statement 1: In “The Gift of the Magi,” the husband sells his watch to buy his wife a gift.
- Statement 2: The gift that Jim buys for Della is a set of combs.
- Statement 3: Della cuts and sells her long hair to buy a chain for Jim’s watch.
- Statement 4: At the end of the story, Della and Jim exchange their gifts and realize the sacrifice they made for each other.
- Statement 5: “The Gift of the Magi” is a story about two wealthy individuals who exchange lavish gifts.
Answers:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1 | false |
| 2 | false |
| 3 | true |
| 4 | true |
| 5 | false |
How did you do? Let’s check your answers:
- If you answered false to statement 1, you’re correct. In the story, Jim sells his watch, not his wife.
- If you answered false to statement 2, you’re right. Jim buys a platinum watch chain for Della, not combs.
- If you answered true to statement 3, well done! Della indeed cuts and sells her hair to buy a chain for Jim’s watch.
- If you answered true to statement 4, you’re correct. Della and Jim exchange their gifts and realize the sacrifice they made for each other.
- If you answered false to statement 5, good job! “The Gift of the Magi” is a story about two modest individuals who cannot afford extravagant gifts.
We hope you enjoyed the quiz and learned something new about “The Gift of the Magi”!