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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 many young women walk into the grocery store at the start of the story?
(a) 5.
(b) 2.
(c) 4.
(d) 3.

2. How does the narrator describe Stokesie's relationship status?
(a) Engaged.
(b) Divorced.
(c) Married.
(d) Single.

3. The narrator describes the A and P's stock of records as "a waste of" (12) what?
(a) Vinyl.
(b) Wax.
(c) Oil.
(d) Space.

4. The narrator tells the reader, "Here comes the" what "part of the story" (12)?
(a) Dumb.
(b) Sad.
(c) Exciting.
(d) Best.

5. How old is Stokesie?
(a) 26.
(b) 30.
(c) 19.
(d) 22.

Short Answer Questions

1. For how many years does the narrator say the woman he calls the "cash-register-watcher" (1) has been waiting for a cashier to make a mistake?

2. What metaphorical body part or parts does the narrator mention in reference to the "cash-register-watcher" (1)?

3. The narrator says that from the front doors of the A and P, he can see how many banks?

4. The narrator states that the "free-loaders" (10) arrive when what object has broken yet again?

5. The young woman to whom the narrator refers as "Queenie" (5) puts what part of her foot down firmly as she walks around the store?

Short Essay Questions

1. What sorts of details does Updike use to portray the appearance of the store and why?

2. In what way is Sammy demonstrating true empathy toward the young women with his comment beginning with "Poor kids" (11)?

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

4. What simile does Sammy use to describe the layout of the grocery store?

5. What is Stokesie's family situation?

6. Provide evidence for the conclusion that there are many people in Sammy's town who are set in their ways.

7. To what does Stokesie refer when he asks Sammy, "Is it done?" (9)?

8. What is Stokesie's career goal?

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

10. Discuss the way in which Sammy objectifies the three young women.

(see the answer keys)

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