Question

Read this sentence from "The Gift of the Magi" and answer the question.

Jim stopped inside the door, as immovable as a setter at the scent of quail. What does the reader most infer from Jim’s reaction?


1. that Jim no longer finds Della’s hair attractive

2.that Jim is shocked that Della has cut her hair

3. that Jim realizes that his gift to Della is no longer useable

4.that Jim is hesitant to show his gift to Della immediately

Answer 1

that Jim is shocked that Della has cut her hair

Answer 2

In this sentence from In the excerpt from the short story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry, what the reader most infer from Jim's reaction is 2. that Jims is shocked that Della has cut her hair.

Della is proud of her hair that reaches below her knee, it is like an ornament for her. It's Christmas Eve and in order to buy a present for Jim, Della sells her hair and buys a golden watch chain for Jim. She buys the chain and goes back home to wait for Jim to come. She prays that he still finds her pretty. Jim is shocked when he sees Della with short hair.