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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In what grade was Peter during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
(a) Fifth.
(b) Sixth.
(c) Eighth.
(d) Fourth.

2. How many children were in the Wall family?
(a) Nine.
(b) Ten.
(c) Six.
(d) Seven.

3. About how many words did the World Book encyclopedia have on Armenia when Balakian tried to research his culture?
(a) 500.
(b) 100.
(c) 400.
(d) 200.

4. What baseball team did Peter and his grandmother root for?
(a) New York Yankees.
(b) Chicago White Sox.
(c) Philadelphia Phillies.
(d) New York Mets.

5. Who was driving when the young men crashed the car in the middle of the night, in "Saturday Autumn II"?
(a) Peter Balakian.
(b) Bill Worth.
(c) Ed Harrison.
(d) Tom Shadek.

6. What prize did William Saroyan turn down for his play, "The Time of Your Life," in 1943?
(a) Nobel.
(b) Tony.
(c) PEN.
(d) Pulitzer.

7. What does the name Arax mean?
(a) Current.
(b) Peace.
(c) Turbulence.
(d) Prosperity.

8. According to Armenian legend, what animal was Adam's first companion in the Garden of Eden?
(a) Elk.
(b) Musk ox.
(c) Snake.
(d) Tiger.

9. In what year did Peter's grandmother die?
(a) 1966.
(b) 1964.
(c) 1962.
(d) 1965.

10. Whose biography was Peter's grandmother reading when he came down late at night to get a bite to eat?
(a) Eleanor Roosevelt.
(b) Abraham Lincoln.
(c) Teddy Roosevelt.
(d) Mary Todd Lincoln.

11. Where were Balakian and his father when the young woman spoke to the father about leaving her abusive husband?
(a) California.
(b) Oregon.
(c) Washington.
(d) Idaho.

12. What kind of ice cream did grandmother buy Peter when they accidentally got off the subway in Harlem?
(a) Creamsicle.
(b) Popsicle.
(c) Italian ice.
(d) Fudgsicle.

13. What grocery store did Peter and his grandmother shop at?
(a) Kroger's.
(b) Safeway.
(c) A&P.
(d) Wegman's.

14. In what year did the book open?
(a) 1957.
(b) 1962.
(c) 1913.
(d) 1959.

15. What was the name of the poet with whom Balakian started his journal?
(a) Karl Shapiro.
(b) William Saroyan.
(c) Jack Wheatcroft.
(d) Bruce Smith.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was the name of the private school Balakian was made to attend for high school?

2. What fruit does the spice mahleb come from?

3. What Ginsberg poem did Balakian's mother want several copies of?

4. What is pakht?

5. What is the name of the yogurt, water, and mint drink commonly found at Balakian family gatherings?

(see the answer keys)

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