AFTER READING

Answer the following questions:

1. Where did Jim and Delia live?

2. What did you learn about the young family?

3. Where did all their money go?

4. What treasures were they very proud of?

5. What was Delia’s hair like? Describe it.

6. Why did she make up her mind to cut it?

7. How did she feel about having her hair cut?

8. How much money did she get for her hair?

9. Was it enough to buy a present for Jim?

10. What kind of present did she want to give him?

11. What was Jim’s reaction when he saw his wife? Was he surprised? shocked? happy?

12. What present did he prepare for Delia? Did Jim like the chain?

13. How did she feel about it?

14. Did Jim like the chain? Prove it.

15. Was giving Christmas presents a custom or pleasure with Jim and Delia? Why?

16. What is the main idea of the story? Comment on the title.

Ответьте на вопросы пожалуйста

Below are answers based on O. Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi.”

1. Jim and Delia lived very modestly—in a small, sparsely furnished apartment in the city (New York). Their home was humble, reflecting their financial struggles.

2. The young family was very poor, yet they were rich in love and devotion. Despite their limited means, both Jim and Delia cared deeply for each other and were willing to sacrifice their most prized possessions to show that love.

3. All their money had been spent on the necessities of daily life. They had very little left over because they earned modest incomes and had to stretch every dollar just to get by.

4. The treasures for which they were most proud were their prized possessions: Delia’s long, beautiful hair and Jim’s cherished gold pocket watch. Each held deep sentimental value.

5. Delia’s hair was described as long, luscious, and beautiful—a crowning glory that many admired. It was something she had taken pride in and was part of her identity.

6. Delia decided to cut her hair because she wanted to sell it in order to buy Jim a special Christmas gift—a fine chain for his precious watch. It was a heart-wrenching decision made out of love and self-sacrifice.

7. She felt deeply saddened and yet resolute about cutting her hair. Though it was painful to give up what she cherished, her willingness to do so came from her love for Jim and her desire to make him happy.

8. Delia managed to get twenty dollars for her hair when she sold it. This sum was all she had, but it was enough for her purpose.

9. Yes, the twenty dollars was exactly enough for her to buy what she thought was the perfect present for Jim—a beautiful chain for his watch.

10. Delia wanted to give Jim a gift that would honor his cherished gold watch. Specifically, she selected an elegant chain designed to complement and secure his watch.

11. When Jim saw his wife, his reaction was a mixture of emotions—profound love, gentle sorrow, and tender admiration. Although he wasn’t “shocked” in a negative way, he was deeply moved and filled with bittersweet emotion at the sight of her sacrifice.

12. Jim, in turn, had prepared a special present for Delia—a set of ornate combs, the kind she had long admired but never owned. (Note: The “chain” was the gift Delia had bought for Jim; Jim’s gift was the combs.) Even though Jim’s gift was not a chain, his gesture was equally selfless. Regarding the chain he received from Delia, Jim recognized its true value not as a material item (since he had sold his watch for her gift) but as a symbol of her love and sacrifice.

13. Delia felt a mix of joy and sorrow about the gifts. She was overjoyed that Jim had thought of her and chosen a meaningful gift, yet she was also saddened by the realization that her own sacrifice (cutting her hair) rendered the combs unusable. Her emotions were tender and bittersweet.

14. Jim did “like” the chain—not in a utilitarian sense (since without his watch it had no practical use) but as a priceless symbol of Delia’s love. His silent acceptance and heartfelt reaction demonstrated that he treasured the sentiment and self-sacrifice behind it. In his own sacrifice (selling his watch to buy the combs), Jim proved that the true value of the gift was in the sacrifice, not the item itself.

15. For Jim and Delia, giving Christmas presents was not merely a customary ritual; it was an act of deep personal pleasure and sacrifice. Every gift was packed with meaning and was a tangible expression of the love they shared. In a life lacking material wealth, each present was a costly, emotional investment in their relationship.

16. The main idea of “The Gift of the Magi” is that true love is defined by selflessness and sacrifice. Both Jim and Delia give up their most treasured possessions to bring happiness to the other, highlighting that the spirit of giving comes from the heart rather than material value. The title refers to the biblical Magi—wise men who offered gifts—and suggests that Jim and Delia’s sacrifices make them wise in the art of giving. Their gifts, though ironic in their practicality, are precious because they are born out of pure, selfless love.

These answers encapsulate the key points of the story and its deeper meaning.