1. The most ironic thing about Van der Vyver's reaction to the death of the young black boy is (1 point)
(0 pts) his stoic appearance as he stands at the gravesite.
(0 pts) the money provided by the farmer for an elaborate funeral.
(0 pts) his emotional breakdown and tears after telling what happened.
(0 pts) the honesty shown by the farmer when making his confession.

2. Read the following sentence from "The Moment Before the Gun Went Off."
He knows that the story of the Afrikaner farmer—regional Party leader and Commandant of
the local security commando—shooting a black man who worked for him will fit exactly into
their version of South Africa, it's made for them.
Which of the following sentences best explains the irony implied by this sentence?

(0 pts) Van der Vyver does not enjoy his role as a Party leader and Commandant.
(0 pts) South African laws will help Van der Vyver avoid jail time for his role in the boy's
accidental death.
(0 pts) Van der Vyver is not a typical South African farmer; he feels remorse and takes
responsibility for the accident.
(0 pts) South African farmers are stereotyped as harsh and uncaring and Van der Vyver's role
in the accident makes for a good story.

3. At the end of "The Moment the Gun Went Off," the author reveals the surprising truth about the
young black boy's parentage. What type of irony does this represent? (1 point)
(0 pts) tragic
(0 pts) verbal
(0 pts) dramatic
(0 pts) situational
4. Choose the definition below that matches the bold word in the following sentence: "The Moment Before theGunWentOff"

The young black callously shot through the negligence of the white man was not the farmer’s boy; he
was his son. (1 point)
(0 pts) heartlessly
(0 pts) greedily
(0 pts) deliberately
(0 pts) accurately
1 /1 point
True or False
5. Over-using to be verbs can weaken a sentence. (1 point)
(0 pts) true
(0 pts) false

Respuesta :

1. The most ironic thing about Van der Vyver's reaction to the death of the young black boy is his emotional breakdown and tears after telling what happened.
2. The sentence that best explains the irony implied by the above sentence is the third choice.

Van der Vyver is not a typical South African farmer; he feels remorse and takes responsibility for the accident.

3. The type of irony that it represents is situational.

4. The young black callously shot through the negligence of the white man was not the farmer’s boy; he was his son heartlessly.

5. Over-using to be verbs can weaken a sentence. The statement is true.

These questions belong to the short story "The Moment when the Gun Went Off" written by Nadine Gordimer. The setting of the story is Africa in the years previous to the fall of the Apartheid.

The correct answers are the following:

  1. The most ironic thing about Van der Vyver's reaction to the death of the young black boy is his emotional breakdown and tears after telling what happened.
  2. The sentence that best describes the irony is: "Van der Vyver is not a typical South African farmer; he feels remorse and takes responsibility for the accident."
  3. This represents a situational irony. Situational irony occurs when something completely unexpected and contrary to what was expected happens.
  4. The word referred to is "callously" and it means heartlessly.
  5. The statement "Over-using to be verbs can weaken a sentence" is true.