Question

Read the following excerpt from “The Gift of the Magi” and answer the question. For there lay The Combs--the set of combs, side and back, that Della had worshipped long in a Broadway window. Beautiful combs, pure tortoise shell, with jewelled rims--just the shade to wear in the beautiful vanished hair. They were expensive combs, she knew, and her heart had simply craved and yearned over them without the least hope of possession. And now, they were hers, but the tresses that should have adorned the coveted adornments were gone. But she hugged them to her bosom, and at length she was able to look up with dim eyes and a smile and say: "My hair grows so fast, Jim! And them Della leaped up like a little singed cat and cried, "Oh, oh!" Jim had not yet seen his beautiful present. She held it out to him eagerly upon her open palm. The dull precious metal seemed to flash with a reflection of her bright and ardent spirit."Isn't it a dandy, Jim? I hunted all over town to find it. You'll have to look at the time a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch. I want to see how it looks on it." Instead of obeying, Jim tumbled down on the couch and put his hands under the back of his head and smiled."Della," said he, "let's put our Christmas presents away and keep 'em a while. They're too nice to use just at present. I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. And now suppose you put the chops on." The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi. Which words in the passage above does the author use to suggest the theme of the story? “give” and “receive” “manger” and “flat” “sacrificed” and “giving" “lamely” and “uneventful”

Answer 1

The correct answer is A. “give” and “receive”

Explanation:

The theme is conveyed through elements such as the actions of the characters, and their values. In the case of "The Gift of the Magi," the underlying idea (theme) is the importance of giving because those who give always receive something back; this is illustrated through the actions of Della and Jim, who give their best possession to buy a gift for the other, and in exchange, receive an equally important gift, although those are useless.

Indeed, Della sells her hair to buy Jim a chain for his clock, while Jim sells his clock to buy Della some expensive combs; this shows the importance of love and the relationship between giving and receiving. Additionally, this theme of give and receive is stated by the narrator in "that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts".