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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What literary device is used in this sentence: "He was at once deafened by the storm of shouting."
(a) Symbolism.
(b) Metaphor.
(c) Irony.
(d) Foreshadowing.

2. Where, in regard to the ring, is the artist stationed?
(a) Front and center.
(b) Behind.
(c) Outside.
(d) In the middle.

3. The passing father might tell his children of "earlier years when he had watched similar but ___________ performances."
(a) Sadder.
(b) More excruciating.
(c) Much more thrilling.
(d) More barbaric.

4. What do the stragglers do when passing the artist's cage in the circus?
(a) Wait for him to talk.
(b) Hardly glance at him.
(c) Stand a long time.
(d) Give him money.

5. Contrary to people's regard, the hunger artist states that he could do what if given the opportunity at the circus?
(a) Walk on fire.
(b) Learn to walk the tightrope.
(c) Quit starving.
(d) Establish a record never yet achieved.

6. What does a passing father occasionally stop and point out to his children?
(a) Why he is in a cage.
(b) What the phenomenon means.
(c) Who the poor man is.
(d) What happens if they don't eat.

7. What does the artist do when someone would suggest his melancholy is probably caused by his fasting?
(a) Call to the heavens.
(b) Weep endlessly.
(c) Break into an outburst of fury.
(d) Laugh at them.

8. What will surely come into fashion at a later date?
(a) Hunger strikes.
(b) Fasting.
(c) Trapeze artists.
(d) Bear-baiting.

9. Under what circumstances does the circus make use of the hunger artist?
(a) He feeds the animals.
(b) He behaves.
(c) He is not paid.
(d) He doesn't ask much.

10. By how many has the hunger artist been applauded in his time?
(a) Gazillions.
(b) Millions.
(c) Hundreds.
(d) Thousands.

11. How does the impresario punish the artist's rages?
(a) Scream at the artist.
(b) Apologize publically.
(c) Beat the artist.
(d) Feed the artist.

12. What is one reason the hunger artist cannot adopt another profession?
(a) He is unskilled.
(b) He can't read.
(c) He is too poor.
(d) He is too old.

13. How does the impresario feel about his method of punishments?
(a) He feels obligated.
(b) He hates it.
(c) He longs for it.
(d) He enjoys it.

14. To whom does the hunger artist hire himself out?
(a) A museum.
(b) A local fair.
(c) A large circus.
(d) An art gallery.

15. What does the impresario bring out to show the audience?
(a) Photographs of the artist eating.
(b) Souvenir post cards.
(c) Photographs of the nearly dead artist.
(d) Photographs of the healthy artist.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the artist do when the photographs are produced?

2. What is the rare stroke of luck the artist encounters at the circus?

3. What does the artist, who has longed for these audience viewings at the circus, come to do?

4. What always unnerves the artist and proves too much for him?

5. When the hordes came pouring out to see the _____, they can hardly avoid passing the artist's cage.

(see the answer keys)

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