Here are the answers to the questions based on the reading passage:
Question 1:
What does Clara decide to buy for her husband?
Answer: A beautiful chain for his pocket watch.
Question 2:
Based on the details in the passage, why is the ending of the story ironic?
Answer: Both Clara and her husband sacrifice something valuable to buy gifts for each other, but the gifts are now useless.
Question 3:
What larger conclusion can be drawn about the theme of the story based on Clara and her husband’s actions?
Answer: Sacrifices made for loved ones can sometimes lead to unexpected and ironic outcomes.
Question 4:
How does the author’s use of irony in “The Gift” contribute to the overall message about love and sacrifice? Provide one specific example from the text to support your answer.
Answer: The author's use of irony highlights the theme that love often involves selfless sacrifices that can lead to unexpected outcomes. For example, Clara sells her hair to buy a beautiful chain for her husband's pocket watch, while her husband sells his watch to buy combs for Clara's hair. This irony emphasizes the depth of their love and illustrates how they both sacrificed something meaningful, ultimately rendering their gifts ineffective but underscoring their devotion.
Question 5:
This question does not have a specific query, but it appears to ask for a response similar to Question 4. If additional information is needed for a fifth question, please provide it, and I would be happy to help!