View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does the narrator describe the lights inside the A and P?
(a) Loud.
(b) Dim.
(c) Fluorescent.
(d) Flickering.

2. What is NOT a piece of evidence the narrator cites when he hypothesizes that one of the young women has just bought a new swimsuit?
(a) Her stomach is still pale.
(b) It is still bright green.
(c) The seams on the bra are still sharp.
(d) He can see tan lines above her towel.

3. To what historical event does the narrator allude when he depicts the "cash-register-watcher" (1)?
(a) Custer's Last Stand.
(b) The Nuremberg Trials.
(c) The Salem Witch Trials.
(d) The Spanish Inquisition.

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

5. Stokesie says to the narrator, "Oh" (7) what?
(a) Daddy.
(b) Mommy.
(c) Mama.
(d) Baby.

Short Answer Questions

1. What country does the narrator imagine will have taken over the United States by the time Stokesie fulfills his goal?

2. In what part of town is the A and P located?

3. The narrator says that from the front doors of the A and P, he can see about how many "old free-loaders tearing up the street" (10) at any given time?

4. The narrator uses what type of fruit to describe one of the young women's faces?

5. At which "check-out slot" (1) is the narrator working throughout the story?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,009 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample