O. Henry's "The Ransom of Red Chief" Quiz

The story's ironic twist primarily suggests that:

• Kidnapping is always a successful criminal strategy

• Children are unpredictable and can disrupt carefully made plans

• Rural families are more wealthy than urban families

• Ransom demands are always negotiable

Bill and Sam's kidnapping plan reveals their character as fundamentally:

• Sophisticated criminals

• Desperate and poorly prepared opportunists

• Violent and dangerous individuals

• Highly intelligent strategists

Johnny's behavior in the story most closely represents:

• A) A typical well-behaved child

• B) A manipulative and challenging personality

• C) A victim of criminal circumstances

• D) A passive and submissive character

The narrative's humor primarily emerges from:

• Violent confrontations

• The reversal of expected kidnapping dynamics

• Detailed descriptions of the landscape

• Complex legal negotiations

The story's central theme can best be described as:

• The predictability of criminal enterprises

• The unpredictability of human behavior

• The importance of careful planning

• The superiority of rural life

Johnny's treatment of his kidnappers suggests:

• He is genuinely afraid

• He enjoys controlling the situation

• He wants to return home immediately

• He respects adult authority

The kidnappers' ultimate decision to pay to get rid of Johnny implies:

• The complete failure of their original plan

• Their exceptional generosity

• Johnny's family's wealth

• The ineffectiveness of law enforcement

O. Henry's writing style in this story most emphasizes:

• Serious dramatic tension

• Comedic role reversal

• Detailed psychological analysis

• Romantic description

The story's perspective on criminal activity suggests:

• Crime is always profitable

• Criminal plans rarely survive first contact with reality

• Kidnapping is an acceptable method of earning money

• Urban criminals are always successful

Johnny's character development throughout the story demonstrates:

• A) A complete lack of emotional complexity

• B) The potential for children to be strategic manipulators

• C) Typical age-appropriate behavior

• D) A passive response to unexpected situations