(A) Short Story Reading Comprehension Exercise: It's A Wonderful Life

Name ______________________________________________ Period ____ Total Points: ____/40 or ____/100
(A) Short Story Reading Comprehension Exercise

It’s a Wonderful Life
Story Order - 15 Points Total
Directions: Place the following plot statements from the first half of the story into their correct chronological
order by placing 1 on the first occurrence and placing a 7 on the latest. You will do the same in the second
section with the added responsibility of circling the number that indicates the climax of the story. NOTE! It is
NOT necessary to have the sequence of events in perfect order. If you are within ONE of the correct number,
that is an acceptable answer.
First half of the story:

5_____ George finds out his wife, Mary, married someone else
3_____ George inspects a tree that is different from when he last saw it.
1_____ George thinks about committing suicide on a bridge.
7_____ George goes home to see his parents
2_____ George meets an old man who seems to know a lot about his life.
6_____ George gets barked and growled at by his dog.
4_____ George discovers the bank he worked for is closed.
Second half of the story:

5_____ George brings a friend and rushes to the bank to see if it is open.
2_____ George goes to Mary’s house to see her.
7_____ George finds a blue handled brush in a sofa and realizes it was no dream.
1_____ George discovers that his brother died because he wasn’t there to save him.
4_____ George changes his mind and runs to the bridge to find the old man.
3_____ Mary’s husband kicks George out.
6_____ George hurries to see his brother and parents.
Story Order _____/14 (+1 bonus if all are correct)
Climax _____/1
True or False - 10 Points
If the statement below is true, mark an “T” on the line next to it; if not, mark an “F
1. T____ This story takes place on Christmas Eve.
2. T____ The protagonist poses as a salesman to get into peoples’ houses.
3. F____ Neither his parents nor brother recognize him.
4. T____ The bank he worked at is no longer open.
5. F___ His wife is unmarried and there are no children.
6. F___ The police try to arrest him, but he is able to escape.
7. F___ His old dog, Brownie, is the only one who recognizes him.
8. T___ George gives Mary a bright blue brush from his satchel of brushes.
9. F___ The little man (angel) who helps him, gets his angel’s wings in the end.
10. T___ It wasn’t a dream, because he discovers the same blue brush in his own home at the end of the story.
True or False _____/10 (+1 bonus if all are correct)
(Over)
Multiple Choice (Inference) - 10 Points Total
Directions - Circle the letter of the answer that best completes the question
1. Why does George most likely wish to end his life at the bridge?
A. He feels his wife does not love him.
B. He feels his life has had no purpose.
C. He feels lost and alone.
D. He has not recovered from the loss of his son.
2. What is George’s occupation?

A. Salesman C. Bank clerk
D. Delivery man D. Teacher
3. Why was everyone so angry at the man who took the job that George was supposed to have?
A. He stole a large amount of money.
B. He killed a boy accidentally.
C. He set the City Hall on fire.
D. He cheated the citizens in a lottery scam.
4. What happened to George’s brother in the world where George wasn’t born?
A. He was killed in a fire. C. He died of polio.
B. He stole money from the bank. D. He drowned.
5. What is the great gift that George was willing to give up?
A. The gift of hope C. The gift of joy
B. The gift of life D The gift of laughter
6. What is the main conflict that George faces in this story?

A. Man vs Man C. Man vs Nature
B. Man vs Self D. Man vs Society
7. Why does George most likely decide to give up his wish and ask for his old life back?
A. His new world isn’t as much fun as he thought it would be.
B. It is too difficult living in a world where no one knows you.
C. He realizes that everyone needs him and he must go back.
D. He misses his family too much and has become lonesome for them.
8. What is the central idea that the author is trying to bring out in this story?
A. That everyone is important and makes a difference even if they don’t know it.
B. Suicide is not an acceptable choice, no matter how bad your life seems.
C. Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it.
D. The “grass is always greener on the other side” and you should be content with what you have.
9. What is one similarity between George’s old life and his new one?
A. The bank is still operating. C. Mary bought the same couch.
B. Mary works as a librarian. D. His dog still recognizes him.
10. This story is told from which point of view?

A. First C. Third person
B. Second D. Third person omniscient
Inference - _____/10 (+1 bonus if all are correct)

A Name ______________________________________________
Vocabulary In Context - 5 Points Total - It’s a Wonderful Life
1. On page _____, paragraph _____, line _____, the word/phrase, “resentfully” is used. By context this implies
A. curiously
B. pleasantly
C. cautiously
D. angrily
2. On page _____, paragraph _____, line _____, the word/phrase, “went bust” is used. By context this
implies ...
A. it went out of business
B. it was torn down
C. it was unoccupied
D. it was for sale
3. On page _____, paragraph _____, line _____, the word/phrase, “menacingly” is used. By context this
implies ...
A. in a friendly way
B. in a threatening way
C. in a cautious way
D. in a sad way
4. On page _____, paragraph _____, line _____, the word/phrase, “awkwardness” is used. By context this
implies
A. George was aggressive
B. George was friendly
C. George was loud
D. George was uncomfortable
5. On page _____, paragraph _____, line _____, the word/phrase, “indifferently” is used. By context this
implies
A. as though she didn’t really care
B. as though she were pleased to see him
C. as though she were unsure of what to do
D. as though she were offended by him
Vocabulary _____/5
(Over)
Response to Literature - 60 points
Directions: You will compose a two paragraph response to a task the teacher sets before you. You will be
graded on:
- how well you construct and support your response (30 points down to 20)
- the number of sentences you compose for your response (10 points for 10, 9 for 9, 8 for 8, 7 for 7 etc.)
- the number mistakes you make in punctuation, capitalization and sentence structure (Each mistake counts as
one point off.). You may lose up to twenty points in grammatical errors.
You are allowed the use of a dictionary and the short story when developing your response. Note that each
sentence MUST BE NUMBERED. Bonus points may be added for students who compose paragraphs that:
- cite notably good examples from the text to support their beliefs
- use higher level vocabulary
- link the two paragraphs well to form a thoughtful answer
Task: ____________________________________________________________________________________
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Response to Literature: _____/ 30 (Support) _____/ 10 (Sentences) _____/20 (Errors) _____/ 60 (Total)
(A) Short Story Reading Comprehension Exercise


_____ George finds out his wife, Mary, married someone else
_____ George inspects a tree that is different from when he last saw it.
_____ George thinks about committing suicide on a bridge.
_____ George goes home to see his parents
_____ George meets an old man who seems to know a lot about his life.
_____ George gets barked and growled at by his dog.
_____ George discovers the bank he worked for is closed.

_____ George brings a friend and rushes to the bank to see if it is open.
_____ George goes to Mary’s house to see her.
_____ George finds a blue handled brush in a sofa and realizes it was no dream.
_____ George discovers that his brother died because he wasn’t there to save him.
_____ George changes his mind and runs to the bridge to find the old man.
_____ Mary’s husband kicks George out.
_____ George hurries to see his brother and parents.
Climax _____/1
1. ____ This story takes place on Christmas Eve.
2. ____ The protagonist poses as a salesman to get into peoples’ houses.
3. ____ Neither his parents nor brother recognize him.
4. ____ The bank he worked at is no longer open.
5. ___ His wife is unmarried and there are no children.
6. ___ The police try to arrest him, but he is able to escape.
7. ___ His old dog, Brownie, is the only one who recognizes him.
8. ___ George gives Mary a bright blue brush from his satchel of brushes.
9. ___ The little man (angel) who helps him, gets his angel’s wings in the end.
10. ___ It wasn’t a dream, because he discovers the same blue brush in his own home at the end of the story.
(Over)
A. He feels his wife does not love him.
B. He feels his life has had no purpose.
C. He feels lost and alone.
D. He has not recovered from the loss of his son.

A. Salesman C. Bank clerk
D. Delivery man D. Teacher
B. He killed a boy accidentally.
C. He set the City Hall on fire.
D. He cheated the citizens in a lottery scam.
B. He stole money from the bank. D. He drowned.

B. It is too difficult living in a world where no one knows you.
C. He realizes that everyone needs him and he must go back.
D. He misses his family too much and has become lonesome for them.
A. That everyone is important and makes a difference even if they don’t know it.
B. Suicide is not an acceptable choice, no matter how bad your life seems.
C. Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it.
D. The “grass is always greener on the other side” and you should be content with what you have.
A. The bank is still operating. C. Mary bought the same couch.

A. First C. Third person
B. Second D. Third person omniscient

A Name ______________________________________________
A. curiously
B. pleasantly
C. cautiously
D. angrily
implies ...
A. it went out of business
B. it was torn down
C. it was unoccupied
D. it was for sale
implies ...
A. in a friendly way
B. in a threatening way
C. in a cautious way
D. in a sad way
implies
C. George was loud
D. George was uncomfortable
implies
A. as though she didn’t really care
B. as though she were pleased to see him
C. as though she were unsure of what to do
D. as though she were offended by him
Vocabulary _____/5
(Over)
graded on:
Task: ____________________________________________________________________________________
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(B) Short Story Reading Comprehension Exercise


2_____ George meets an old man who seems to know a lot about his life.
6_____ George gets barked and growled at by his dog.
4_____ George discovers the bank he worked for is closed.
5_____ George finds out his wife, Mary, married someone else
3_____ George inspects a tree that is different from when he last saw it.
1_____ George thinks about committing suicide on a bridge.
7_____ George goes home to see his parents

4_____ George changes his mind and runs to the bridge to find the old man.
3_____ Mary’s husband kicks George out.
6_____ George hurries to see his brother and parents.
5_____ George brings a friend and rushes to the bank to see if it is open.
2_____ George goes to Mary’s house to see her.
7_____ George finds a blue handled brush in a sofa and realizes it was no dream.
1_____ George discovers that his brother died because he wasn’t there to save him.

Climax _____/1
1 F___ His old dog, Brownie, is the only one who recognizes him.
2. T___ George gives Mary a bright blue brush from his satchel of brushes.
3. F___ The little man (angel) who helps him, gets his angel’s wings in the end.
4. T___ It wasn’t a dream, because he discovers the same blue brush in his own home at the end of the story.
5. T____ This story takes place on Christmas Eve.
6. T____ The protagonist poses as a salesman to get into peoples’ houses.
7. F____ Neither his parents nor brother recognize him.
8. T____ The bank he worked at is no longer open.
9. F___ His wife is unmarried and there are no children.10
10. F___ The police try to arrest him, but he is able to escape.
Over)

A. Delivery man C. Teacher
B. Salesman D. Bank clerk
A. He feels lost and alone.
B. He has not recovered from the loss of his son.
C. He feels his wife does not love him.
D. He feels his life has had no purpose.
B. He drowned. D. He stole money from the bank.
B. He set the City Hall on fire.
C. He cheated the citizens in a lottery scam.
D. He killed a boy accidentally.
B. He realizes that everyone needs him and he must go back.
C. He misses his family too much and has become lonesome for them.
D. It is too difficult living in a world where no one knows you.
A. Suicide is not an acceptable choice, no matter how bad your life seems.
B. Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it.
C. The “grass is always greener on the other side” and you should be content with what you have.
D. That everyone is important and makes a difference even if they don’t know it.
A. Mary bought the same couch. C. The bank is still operating.

A. First C. Second
B. Third person D. Third person omniscient

B Name ______________________________________________
A. cautiously
B. angrily
C. curiously
D. pleasantly
implies ...
A. it was unoccupied
B. it went out of business
C. it was torn down
D. it was for sale
implies ...
A. in a cautious way
B. in a sad way
C. in a friendly way
D. in a threatening way
implies
C. George was uncomfortable
D. George was loud
implies
A. as though she were unsure of what to do
B. as though she were offended by him
C. as though she didn’t really care
D. as though she were pleased to see him
Vocabulary _____/5
(Over)
graded on:
Task: ____________________________________________________________________________________
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(B) Short Story Reading Comprehension Exercise


_____ George meets an old man who seems to know a lot about his life.
_____ George gets barked and growled at by his dog.
_____ George discovers the bank he worked for is closed.
_____ George finds out his wife, Mary, married someone else
_____ George inspects a tree that is different from when he last saw it.
_____ George thinks about committing suicide on a bridge.
_____ George goes home to see his parents

_____ George changes his mind and runs to the bridge to find the old man.
_____ Mary’s husband kicks George out.
_____ George hurries to see his brother and parents.
_____ George brings a friend and rushes to the bank to see if it is open.
_____ George goes to Mary’s house to see her.
_____ George finds a blue handled brush in a sofa and realizes it was no dream.
_____ George discovers that his brother died because he wasn’t there to save him.

Climax _____/1
1 ____ His old dog, Brownie, is the only one who recognizes him.
2. ____ George gives Mary a bright blue brush from his satchel of brushes.
3. ____ The little man (angel) who helps him, gets his angel’s wings in the end.
4. ____ It wasn’t a dream, because he discovers the same blue brush in his own home at the end of the story.
5. ____ This story takes place on Christmas Eve.
6. ____ The protagonist poses as a salesman to get into peoples’ houses.
7. ____ Neither his parents nor brother recognize him.
8. ____ The bank he worked at is no longer open.
9. ____ His wife is unmarried and there are no children.10
10. ___ The police try to arrest him, but he is able to escape.
Over)

A. Delivery man C. Teacher
B. Salesman D. Bank clerk
A. He feels lost and alone.
B. He has not recovered from the loss of his son.
C. He feels his wife does not love him.
D. He feels his life has had no purpose.
B. He drowned. D. He stole money from the bank.
B. He set the City Hall on fire.
C. He cheated the citizens in a lottery scam.
D. He killed a boy accidentally.
B. He realizes that everyone needs him and he must go back.
C. He misses his family too much and has become lonesome for them.
D. It is too difficult living in a world where no one knows you.
A. Suicide is not an acceptable choice, no matter how bad your life seems.
B. Be careful what you wish for, because you might get it.
C. The “grass is always greener on the other side” and you should be content with what you have.
D. That everyone is important and makes a difference even if they don’t know it.
A. Mary bought the same couch. C. The bank is still operating.

A. First C. Second
B. Third person D. Third person omniscient

B Name ______________________________________________
A. cautiously
B. angrily
C. curiously
D. pleasantly
implies ...
A. it was unoccupied
B. it went out of business
C. it was torn down
D. it was for sale
implies ...
A. in a cautious way
B. in a sad way
C. in a friendly way
D. in a threatening way
implies
C. George was uncomfortable
D. George was loud
implies
A. as though she were unsure of what to do
B. as though she were offended by him
C. as though she didn’t really care
D. as though she were pleased to see him
Vocabulary _____/5
(Over)
graded on:
Task: ____________________________________________________________________________________
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(A) Short Story Reading Comprehension Exercise: It's A Wonderful Life

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(A) Short Story Reading Comprehension Exercise: It's A Wonderful Life

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Name ______________________________________________ Period ____ Total Points: ____/40 or ____/100

(A) Short Story Reading Comprehension Exercise

First half of the story:

Second half of the story:

2. What is George’s occupation?

6. What is the main conflict that George faces in this story?

10. This story is told from which point of view?

Inference - _____/10 (+1 bonus if all are correct)

(A) Short Story Reading Comprehension Exercise

First half of the story:

Second half of the story:

4. What is George’s occupation?

6. What is the main conflict that George faces in this story?

10. This story is told from which point of view?

Inference - _____/10 (+1 bonus if all are correct)

(B) Short Story Reading Comprehension Exercise

First half of the story:

Second half of the story:

Story Order _____/14 (+1 bonus if all are correct)

1. What is George’s occupation?

8. This story is told from which point of view?

Inference - _____/10 (+1 bonus if all are correct)

(B) Short Story Reading Comprehension Exercise

First half of the story:

Second half of the story:

Story Order _____/14 (+1 bonus if all are correct)

1. What is George’s occupation?

8. This story is told from which point of view?

Inference - _____/10 (+1 bonus if all are correct)

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Name __________________________________________ Period Total Points: /40 or /100