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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In college, Wallace began to fall behind in his peers _______.
(a) Mentally.
(b) Creatively.
(c) Intellectually.
(d) Physically.

2. Wallace claims that television teaches viewers that _______ is the most important quality in a person.
(a) Being watched.
(b) Talent.
(c) Intelligence.
(d) Beauty.

3. On his second day of the desert competition, why does Wallace repeatedly use the bathroom?
(a) Because he doesn't like the people he's with.
(b) Because he's sick.
(c) Because he has to take medication.
(d) Because he drank too much water.

4. In Hix's argument, "Morte d'Author," European post-structuralists argue what about authors?
(a) They are too powerful.
(b) They are outdated.
(c) The concept doesn't make sense.
(d) The concept is arbitrary.

5. Two women who mistake Wallace for working for Harper's Bazaar compliment him on his magazine's _________.
(a) Editing.
(b) Advice.
(c) Design.
(d) Recipes.

6. According to Wallace, why do Midwesterners take their vacations to be around people?
(a) Because they are claustrophobic.
(b) Because they need to be complimented.
(c) Because they need to belong.
(d) Because they're isolated otherwise.

7. Why can't Wallace watch the car race?
(a) It's too noisy.
(b) It's too long.
(c) It's not entertaining.
(d) It's too dangerous.

8. According to Wallace, how did Leyner's image-fiction attempt to solve irony?
(a) It ignored it.
(b) It negated it.
(c) It embraced it.
(d) It mocked it.

9. According to Wallace, what elements do Lynch's films draw out?
(a) Dark.
(b) Common.
(c) Imaginary.
(d) Unseen.

10. Wallace isn't sure what _____ everyone at the car race is waiting for.
(a) Food.
(b) News.
(c) Event.
(d) Victory.

11. Why do the students disagree with their professor in "E Unibus Pluram"?
(a) They believe their professor is always right.
(b) They believe writing is better when it's not time specific.
(c) They believe all writing must take place in a specific time.
(d) They believe writing should be composed primarily of historical references.

12. According to Wallace, commercials make people watch more television because they want to understand the _______.
(a) Product.
(b) World.
(c) In-joke.
(d) Concept.

13. When did Lynch first become critically reviled?
(a) After the second season of "Twin Peaks."
(b) When he got divorced.
(c) After "Blue Velvet."
(d) When he started working in TV.

14. Hix comments that he feels the post-structuralists' argument makes the concept of an author _______.
(a) Inflated.
(b) Empty.
(c) Incorrect.
(d) Perfect.

15. Wallace studied Mathematics in college because the straight lines reminded him of what?
(a) Lines of Midwestern geography.
(b) The windows of skyscrapers.
(c) The grids of sudoku.
(d) His dreams.

Short Answer Questions

1. Wallace believes that Lynch's films are the most successful when what is developed?

2. Wallace describes his tennis career as ______ successful.

3. According to Wallace, why does watching television beget more television?

4. What article of clothing distinguishes a "Kmart Person"?

5. As a child, what did Wallace believe the purpose of carnivals was?

(see the answer keys)

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