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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. In chapter three, what is the name of the publication in which Alice is featured in a fashion spread?
(a) Times Magazine.
(b) Monocle.
(c) Time.
(d) The New Yorker.

2. What does Alice's father do for a living?
(a) Alice's father is a vending machine repairman.
(b) Alice's father is a self-taught inventor.
(c) Alice's father is a researcher.
(d) Alice's father is a coal miner.

3. According to Calvin, why does he show Alice everything he writes in rough draft?
(a) Calvin does not trust his editor at work.
(b) It saves Calvin time.
(c) Calvin values Alice's opinion and wants to impress her.
(d) Calvin thinks it gives her an opportunity to improve her own writing.

4. At which institution does Alice teach English in her mid-twenties?
(a) Yale University.
(b) Hofstra Universtity.
(c) Wellesley College.
(d) New York University.

5. In chapter three, who writes the article that accompanies the fashion spread in which Alice is featured?
(a) Mina Shaughnessy.
(b) Nora Ephron.
(c) Calvin.
(d) Alice Trillin.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the name of Calvin's youngest daughter?

2. At the end of chapter three, Calvin describes an event in Alice's life that takes her by surprise. What happens?

3. What is the theme of the poem at the introduction of chapter three?

4. Calvin states that he never sees Alice read which type of magazine?

5. In chapter three, Calvin includes an excerpt from an article that Alice writes about her parents. Which of the following statements summarizes the point makes in the excerpt?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what ways do you think Alice serves as Calvin Trillin's muse? Include characteristics that inspire his writing.

2. Does Alice believe she is accurately portrayed in Trillin's books and articles? Briefly describe why or why not.

3. In what ways is Alice's beauty a hardship?

4. What does Alice keep in her Important Things envelope? Why are the things inside it so important to her?

5. In chapter one, Trillin reveals that although his readers become familiar with Alice as a sensible, somewhat serious character in his books and articles, they never really know her. Why?

6. According to Calvin Trillin, Alice's beauty gives her some advantages. Explain.

7. What event causes Alice to feel as though she loses her looks?

8. In chapter one, Calvin Trillin states that the stories he writes about his family can be compared what kinds of television shows?

9. In chapter three, why does Alice accept the request to be photographed in a fashion issue of a magazine?

10. In chapter three, Calvin Trillin explains that Alice's role as caretaker to her parents has a positive impact on her life. How?

(see the answer keys)

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