<u>Answer:</u> a) The reader must infer that Mr. Watson is last year's victim since his son, Jack, is designated as head of household.
The story is "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson.
The passage the question is referring to is the following:
<em>
"Right." Sr. Summers said. He made a note on the list he was holding. Then he asked, "Watson boy drawing this year?"
</em>
<em>A tall boy in the crowd raised his hand. "Here," he said. "I'm drawing for my mother and me." He blinked his eyes nervously and ducked his head as several voices in the crowd said things like "Good fellow, Jack." and "Glad to see your mother's got a man to do it."</em>
We have previously learned that if a household does not have a "father" to draw for the family, the responsibility passes to the oldest son. In this case, Jack is drawing for him and his mother, which implies that there is no "father" to do it. Therefore, we can assume that his father, Mr. Watson, has been killed in the lottery of previous years,
