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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. The narrator describes his legs as feeling as though he’s just done what when he gets up to look for a pen and paper?
(a) Some pushups
(b) Some swimming
(c) Some running
(d) Some sit-ups

2. Where does the narrator tell the blind man the show about cathedrals has traveled to, where there are “paintings on the walls of this one church”?
(a) Italy
(b) Denmark
(c) Finland
(d) Romania

3. How does the narrator describe the windows he draws on the cathedral in the story?
(a) Squared
(b) Arched
(c) Triangular
(d) Wide

4. The narrator says in the beginning of the story that the last time his wife saw the blind man was how many years ago?
(a) 4
(b) 7
(c) 2
(d) 10

5. How did the narrator’s wife’s first marriage end?
(a) Her husband was murdered
(b) She and her husband got divorced
(c) Her husband committed suicide
(d) Her husband was incarcerated

6. Travis A.F.B. is described as being near what city in the short story?
(a) Atlantic City
(b) Sacramento
(c) Kansas City
(d) Atlanta

7. Where does the narrator’s wife go to pick up her blind friend who comes to visit?
(a) The airport
(b) The train station
(c) The bus station
(d) A museum

8. The narrator says in the beginning of the story, “My idea of blindness came from” what?
(a) Magazines
(b) The movies
(c) Church sermons
(d) Word of mouth

9. The narrator finds a pen for the blind man where in his house?
(a) In a basket on his wife’s table
(b) In his desk drawer
(c) On the kitchen counter
(d) In the garage

10. What does the blind man do as the narrator attempts to explain cathedrals to him?
(a) He taps on the table repeatedly
(b) He runs his fingers through his beard
(c) He snaps his fingers rhythmically
(d) He hums a tune softly

11. What did the narrator’s wife’s first husband do when he found her after her overdose?
(a) He kicked the door
(b) He said a prayer
(c) He started to cry
(d) He called an ambulance

12. What does the narrator describe to the blind man as the things that are tormenting the monks on the television show?
(a) Ghosts
(b) Skeletons
(c) Tigers
(d) Bears

13. What does the narrator say that he, his wife, and the blind man did after scarfing down their dinner in the story?
(a) For a few moments, we sat as if stunned
(b) We wondered if each of us could keep it all down
(c) We all wondered if anyone would take another serving
(d) After that we could not even look at the pie

14. What does the blind man remark about the narrator’s television set, saying, “Don’t ask me how, but I can tell”?
(a) That it is a color television set
(b) That the sound seems rough
(c) That it is a small television set
(d) That it is an old television set

15. What were the literary formats that Raymond Carver’s career was dedicated to?
(a) Short stories and poetry
(b) Novels and biographies
(c) Nonfiction histories and short stories
(d) Essays and memoirs

Short Answer Questions

1. When the blind man asks the narrator to describe a cathedral to him, what is the first thing the narrator says?

2. How long ago does the narrator say his wife offered to let him listen to a tape from the blind man in the beginning of the story?

3. Where does the narrator spread out the pen and paper when he returns with it in the story?

4. How long does the narrator say he’s been in his current position (of employment) when asked by the blind man?

5. What is another word for “arc-boutant” used in the story?

(see the answer keys)

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