Question

read the question carefully and select the best answer.
in \the lottery\, which of the following responses best explains why the village originally held the lottery?

○ the villagers heard that terrible things happened to towns that discontinued the lottery
○ to deter villagers from committing crimes
○ they believed the ritual sacrifice would bring them good fortune
○ their government enforced the tradition

Explanation:

In "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson, the villagers hold the lottery because they believe the ritual sacrifice (the person selected in the lottery) will bring them good fortune, such as a good harvest. The other options: the idea that bad things happened to towns that discontinued the lottery is not the main reason for their continuation; the lottery isn't about deterring crimes; and there's no indication the government enforces the tradition.

Answer:

They believed the ritual sacrifice would bring them good fortune