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Here is the solution to the Grade 7 Reading Comprehension Worksheet “The Lottery Ticket” by Anton Chekhov, with clear explanations for each question.

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1. What is the main idea of the whole passage?

Answer:
The main idea of the passage is that sudden thoughts of wealth can quickly change people’s behavior and relationships — even when the wealth is imaginary. Ivan and Masha Dmitritch, a content middle-class couple, become consumed by greed and suspicion after mistakenly believing they’ve won the lottery. Their brief fantasy of riches reveals hidden selfishness and resentment, showing how money can corrupt even happy marriages.

Explanation:
The story begins with the couple living peacefully and modestly. When they think they’ve won, their minds immediately race to how they’ll spend the money — and who will control it. Instead of sharing joy, they begin to resent each other. The twist at the end (they didn’t win) proves that the real conflict wasn’t about money — it was about their true feelings, which were exposed by the *idea* of winning. The main idea is not just about a lottery mistake, but about human nature and how fantasies of wealth can reveal our inner flaws.

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2. Give the description of the main characters.

Answer:

- Ivan Dmitritch: He is a middle-class man who lives comfortably but modestly with his family. He is initially satisfied with his life and doesn’t believe in luck. However, once he thinks he’s won the lottery, he becomes greedy, starts imagining himself as wealthy and powerful, and grows suspicious of his wife. He shows a hidden selfish side, especially when he imagines traveling abroad alone and resents her desire to claim the winnings.

- Masha (his wife): She is Ivan’s wife, who also lives a simple, content life. At first, she shares his excitement over the possible win and dreams of an estate and new furniture. But as Ivan talks more about spending the money, she becomes envious and suspicious — thinking he will take all the money for himself. Her reaction shows that she, too, has selfish desires and fears losing control over the imagined fortune.

Explanation:
Both characters start as ordinary, happy spouses. But the moment they imagine winning, their true personalities emerge. Neither is evil — they’re just ordinary people caught up in a fantasy. Chekhov uses them to show how easily greed and distrust can poison relationships, even between loving partners. Their descriptions are important because they contrast their peaceful beginning with their bitter, jealous ending — proving how fragile happiness can be when money enters the picture.

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3. Write a summary. Tell what is most important.

Answer:

Ivan and Masha Dmitritch are a humble, content married couple who live on a small income. One evening, while reading the newspaper, they think they’ve won the lottery because their ticket series (9,499) matches the winning series listed — though they don’t check the actual ticket number. Overjoyed, they begin dreaming about how they’ll spend the prize money: buying an estate, traveling, paying off debts. But soon, their excitement turns into jealousy and hatred. Ivan imagines going to France alone; Masha fears he’ll keep all the money. They look at each other with suspicion, revealing deep-seated selfishness. In the end, Ivan discovers the winning ticket number is 46 — not 26 — meaning they didn’t win at all. Their brief fantasy exposes how money can destroy trust and love, even when it doesn’t actually exist.

What is most important:
The most important point is that the couple’s relationship breaks down not because they lost money, but because they *thought* they had won. The story shows that greed and fear of loss can ruin happiness — even when there’s nothing real to lose. The real tragedy isn’t losing the lottery — it’s losing each other’s trust over a dream.

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✔ Final Tip for Students:
When answering reading comprehension questions, always go back to the text for evidence. For example, when describing characters, quote or paraphrase specific lines from the story. For main idea and summary, focus on the big picture — what changed, why it matters, and what lesson the author wants you to learn.

Let me know if you’d like this turned into a printable worksheet or need help with more questions!