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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How old is the narrator?
(a) 19.
(b) 22.
(c) 21.
(d) 17.

2. In what month is the narrator's birthday?
(a) September.
(b) December.
(c) June.
(d) April.

3. The girls ask a question when they reach what area of the store?
(a) The bakery.
(b) The sundries aisle.
(c) The deli.
(d) The meat counter.

4. What does the narrator describe the young women as wearing?
(a) Tank tops.
(b) Towels.
(c) Bathing suits.
(d) Flip-flops.

5. What term does the narrator use in reference to the women in hair curlers who shop in the A and P?
(a) Housewives.
(b) House-slaves.
(c) Housemice.
(d) Stepford wives.

Short Answer Questions

1. The narrator says that there are citizens of his town who have not seen what "for twenty years" (10)?

2. Of whom do the girls ask a question?

3. The narrator's town is "five miles from" (10) what?

4. How does the narrator describe Stokesie's relationship status?

5. The narrator says that from the front doors of the A and P, he can see how many real estate offices?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sammy mean when he describes Stokesie "finding his voice" (9)?

2. What are Sammy's feelings about Stokesie's career goal?

3. Discuss how Updike uses language to indicate the character traits of Sammy.

4. What is Sammy's purpose for using a historical allusion in Paragraph 1?

5. What is the setting of the story "A and P"?

6. What is Stokesie's family situation?

7. Cite and discuss a unique simile used by Updike within the story.

8. How is the motif of sexuality included within the story?

9. In what way is the power of paradox shown within the story?

10. What is ironic about Sammy's reaction when he sees McMahon ogling the young women?

(see the answer keys)

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