A Christmas Dream, and How It Came True quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. Which literary genres best describe "A Christmas Dream, and How It Came True"?

   • Gothic Horror & Ghost Story
   • Realism & Naturalism
   • Satire & Social Comedy
   • Adventure & Survival Story
   • Correct answer: Moral Tale & Christmas Fantasy

   Moral Tale & Christmas Fantasy is the best fit. The dream has a magical spirit, toy worlds, and miracles, and the whole story is built to teach a lesson to young readers: that the joy of Christmas lies in giving.

   Read the passage
2. 2

   Question 2. Why is Effie tired of Christmas?

   • Her family never gives her any presents she asked for
   • She has to spend the holiday alone while her sisters travel
   • Correct answer: Every Christmas has been the same, with no more surprise in it
   • She is ill and cannot go out to see the Christmas trees in town

   "But it is always the same, and there isn't any more surprise about it." She is bored by heaps of goodies, a great dinner that makes her ill, and toys that break.

   Read the passage
3. 3

   Question 3. Who does mamma say Effie is "as bad as"?

   • Correct answer: Old Scrooge
   • Cinderella
   • Santa Claus
   • Tiny Tim

   "You are as bad as old Scrooge; and I'm afraid something will happen to you, as it did to him, if you don't care for dear Christmas."

   Read the passage
4. 4

   Question 4. How many Christmas days has Effie known?

   • Eight
   • Correct answer: Ten
   • Seven
   • Twelve

   Her mother is sorry to see her so discontented when she "had known but ten Christmas days."

   Read the passage
5. 5

   Question 5. What presents does Effie say she would like instead of the usual pile?

   • A pony of her own and a trip to the city at Christmas
   • No presents at all and a quiet day alone with a book
   • A new doll's house just like the one her sisters have
   • Correct answer: One large, splendid present and one dear little one

   "I should like one large and splendid one, and one dear little one, to remember some very nice person by." The ending fulfills both wishes in a way she does not expect.

   Read the passage
6. 6

   Question 6. Why does Effie say she wishes she were a beggar-girl?

   • Correct answer: Because she thinks poor children have better times than rich ones
   • Because beggar-girls are given the most presents at Christmas time
   • Because she wants to help the poor girl carry her basket
   • Because her mother told her stories about kind beggars

   "Seems to me poor children have better times than rich ones." The girl in the rain laughs and eats a cold potato as if it tasted better than Effie's chicken and ice-cream.

   Read the passage
7. 7

   Question 7. What does "Listless" mean in this story?

   • Eager and full of plans
   • Correct answer: Lacking energy or interest
   • Angry and ready to argue
   • Shy and easily frightened

   Effie asks about Scrooge "with a glimmer of interest in her listless face." Listless means dull, bored, and without energy.

   Read the passage
8. 8

   Question 8. Where does Effie find herself when her dream begins?

   • Riding in a sleigh beside Santa Claus over the rooftops
   • Sitting in a classroom full of dolls with tiny books
   • Correct answer: Lost and hungry, sitting on a stone in a snowy field
   • Dancing at a grand party in a hall full of Christmas trees

   "She found herself sitting on a stone, in the middle of a great field, all alone." She thinks, "I wanted to be a beggar-girl, and now I am one; but I don't like it."

   Read the passage
9. 9

   Question 9. What does the child with the candle say he is?

   • A guardian angel
   • Santa's chief elf
   • The ghost of Scrooge
   • Correct answer: A Christmas spirit

   When Effie asks if he is an angel, he answers, "No; I am a Christmas spirit." He and his mates spend the year preparing for the holiday.

   Read the passage
10. 10

    Question 10. How many sleighs, each with its own Santa Claus, does Effie see leaving the Christmas world?

    • Seven
    • Twelve
    • One
    • Correct answer: Four

    The spirit points "to four gates, out of which four great sleighs were just driving," each with a jolly old Santa Claus in the middle.

    Read the passage
11. 11

    Question 11. What lesson does Effie take from watching the dolls?

    • That school is much more fun when nobody gets bad marks
    • Correct answer: That those who have more should share with those who have less
    • That dolls are happier than real children ever are
    • That toys should be given away as soon as you are tired of them

    A china doll puts her comfortable red cloak around a poor wooden doll, and Effie wishes she could tell a certain rich girl "to be as kind as that china doll."

    Read the passage
12. 12

    Question 12. What does "Humbug" mean in this story?

    • Correct answer: A fraud or fake
    • A secret helper
    • A kind old man
    • A busy worker

    "Why, I thought there was only one Santa Claus, and even he was a humbug." A humbug is a fraud. Scrooge's famous word is "Humbug!" too.

    Read the passage
13. 13

    Question 13. What does Effie see in the poor streets of the city?

    • Little spirits sewing warm clothes to sell in the city shops
    • Santa Claus delivering presents from his sleigh to every house
    • Correct answer: Kind people secretly bringing food, fires, and filled stockings
    • Rich families inviting poor children to grand dinners in their homes

    "Let me show you our best workers." Sweet-faced men and women slip money into empty pockets, kindle fires, spread tables, and fill the children's stockings.

    Read the passage
14. 14

    Question 14. What does the spirit tell Effie before he vanishes?

    • Correct answer: That she can make merry Christmases too if she will
    • That she must never ask for presents ever again
    • That she will meet him again next Christmas Eve
    • That she should give away all of her toys to the orphans

    "You can if you will. I have shown you the way. Try it, and see how happy your own holiday will be hereafter."

    Read the passage
15. 15

    Question 15. What does mamma say will happen at home on Christmas?

    • A new doll's house to replace the one she gave away
    • A trip to visit Effie's sisters in another city
    • A grand party at home with all of Effie's friends
    • Correct answer: No tree, party, dinner, or presents at home at all

    "There will be no tree, no party, no dinner, in this house at all, and no presents for you. Won't that be a surprise?"

    Read the passage
16. 16

    Question 16. How many orphan girls come to the party?

    • Thirty
    • Ten
    • Correct answer: Twenty-four
    • Twelve

    "In marched twenty-four little blue-gowned orphan girls, singing sweetly."

    Read the passage
17. 17

    Question 17. How is Effie dressed for the party?

    • As Tiny Tim, carrying a little crutch
    • Correct answer: As the spirit from her dream, with holly
    • As Santa Claus, with a long white beard
    • As Cinderella, in a ball gown and slippers

    Out of the box come a white fur coat and boots, a holly wreath, and a candle. "Why, Nursey, I look like the spirit in my dream!"

    Read the passage
18. 18

    Question 18. What does Effie do when lame Katy wishes she dared to kiss her?

    • She sends Katy back to her place in the line
    • Correct answer: She hugs and kisses her, remembering Tiny Tim
    • She gives Katy her own fur coat and boots
    • She asks mamma to take Katy home to live

    "Effie heard her, and remembering Tiny Tim, ran down and put her arms about the pale child, kissing the wistful face."

    Read the passage
19. 19

    Question 19. What does "Wistful" mean in this story?

    • Correct answer: Sadly longing for something
    • Openly angry and jealous
    • Cheerful and carefree
    • Proud and self-satisfied

    Katy wonders "how it seemed to sit in a mother's lap, as Effie was doing." Effie kisses "the wistful face": wistful means sadly longing for something one does not have.

    Read the passage
20. 20

    Question 20. Who does Effie say deserves the thanks for the party?

    • That the party was her own idea from the start
    • That Santa Claus sent all the presents
    • Correct answer: That her mother deserves the thanks
    • That the orphans should thank Nursey

    "You may; but mamma deserves the thanks. She did it all; I only dreamed about it." The once-spoiled girl has become humble.

    Read the passage
21. 21

    Question 21. How does Effie's wish for two presents come true?

    • She gets a new doll's house and a pony
    • Her older sisters send her two presents from far away
    • Mamma buys her the two gifts after all
    • Correct answer: The party is the big one; Katy's doll the little one

    "I had my splendid big present, and here is the dear little one to keep for love of poor Katy; so even that part of my wish came true."

    Read the passage
22. 22

    Question 22. What is the central theme of the story?

    • Wishes made at Christmas never come true
    • Correct answer: The joy of Christmas comes from giving
    • Rich children are always happier than poor
    • Dreams are only silly stories to forget

    Effie receives no presents and gives everything away, yet she likes this Christmas best of all, and keeps a new love for Christmas through a long life spent in doing good.

    Read the passage
23. 23

    Question 23. Which of these events actually happened in the story?

    • Effie reads A Christmas Carol all in one afternoon before tea.

      Happened

      She curls up in the sofa corner and reads it all before tea, laughing and crying over many parts.

    • The spirit leaves deep footprints in the snow as he walks toward Effie.

      Didn't happen

      He comes nearer "leaving no trace of footsteps in the snow."

    • Effie gives away her old toys, which appear on the orphans' trees.

      Happened

      On the smaller trees she sees many of her own discarded toys, along with those Nursey bought.

    • Effie wakes up from her dream crying and frightened.

      Didn't happen

      Mamma wakes her and asks why she is smiling in her sleep.

    • Mamma kisses every orphan girl goodnight.

      Happened

      "Mamma kissed every one."

    • The party is held in Effie's own house.

      Didn't happen

      They drive to another building; Effie's house is left "the one dark and silent one in the row."

    Read the passage