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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "A Survey of the Works of Herbert Quain," Quain's work can best be described as which of the following?
(a) Bizarrely structured, and based on outrageous and esoteric themes.
(b) Coded to teach medical students how to perform surgery.
(c) Seemingly pornographic, but with a religious message embedded within.
(d) Straightforward.

2. In "The House of Asterion," Asterion lives in a place that can best be described as which of the following?
(a) A forest.
(b) A series of endless corridors, or labyrinth.
(c) One small windowless room.
(d) A stately mansion, with beautiful furniture, and ornate windows.

3. In "The Two Kings and the Two Labyrinths," what is the labyrinth in which the King of Babylon is imprisoned?
(a) A desert.
(b) A huge forest.
(c) A ship on the ocean.
(d) A maze of steel corridors.

4. In "A Biography of Tadeo Isidoro Cruz (1829-1874)," what is Tadeo's punishment for killing a man?
(a) He is whipped.
(b) He goes to jail.
(c) He is put into slavery.
(d) He is sent to the army.

5. In "The Cruel Redeemer Lazarus Morell," what stops Lazarus from completing his sinister plans?
(a) He decides to become a politcian.
(b) He has a moral awakening.
(c) An upright uncle shows him the folly of his ways.
(d) Illness and death.

6. In "Death and the Compass," where is Dr. Yarmolinsky killed?
(a) In the streets.
(b) A pool hall.
(c) In a horse carriage.
(d) A Jewish Talmudic Conference.

7. In "The Theologians," what best describes Borges's characterization of theological disputes?
(a) They are clear-cut: there is a good side and a bad side.
(b) They are pleasant means of expressing one's ideas.
(c) They are absurd, contradictory, and essentially lead to madness.
(d) They are necessary and useful means of achieving immutable truth.

8. In "The Other Death," how does the author suggest that Damian could be both a hero and a coward?
(a) Though he fled from the battlefield, 40 years later on his deathbed, Damian, through a miracle, wills himself to be a hero.
(b) He conveys how Damian would run, then fight, run, then fight, continuously during the battle.
(c) He doesn't; Damian is portrayed as strictly a hero.
(d) He doesn't; Damian is portrayed as only a coward.

9. In "Deutsches Requiem," what group does Otto join?
(a) The French Resistance.
(b) The Nazi party.
(c) An association of atheists.
(d) The Stalinists.

10. In "Averroes' Search," what concept or concepts can Averroes not comprehend?
(a) Christianity.
(b) Greek tragedy and comedy.
(c) The philosophy of Plato.
(d) The philosophy of Aristotle.

11. In "The Cruel Redeemer Lazarus Morell," what city does Lazarus plan to overtake?
(a) Galveston.
(b) New Orleans.
(c) Miami.
(d) Baton Rouge.

12. In "The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim," what does the law student think he has done that causes him to live in exile with India's most wretched populace?
(a) Killed a Hindu.
(b) Committed blasphemy.
(c) Committed adultery.
(d) Killed a Muslim.

13. In "The Secret Miracle," how is Hladik eventually killed?
(a) He is gassed.
(b) He is shot by a firing squad.
(c) He is hung.
(d) He is given a pill.

14. In "The Man on the Threshold," what is suspected of all the people who are celebrating?
(a) They all know what happened to Judge Glencairn.
(b) They are Socialists.
(c) They are worshipping the god Apollo.
(d) They all want to kill the narrator.

15. In "The Wait," where does Villari fear he has been recognized?
(a) At the dentist.
(b) In a bar.
(c) At a bullfight.
(d) On the street.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim," who or what is Al-Mu'tasim supposed to be?

2. In "The Zahir," how does the narrator rid himself of the coin?

3. In "The Immortal," which of the following best describes the result of attaining immortality?

4. In "The Mirror of Ink," what does the ruler want the sorcerer to show him?

5. In "A Survey of the Works of Herbert Quain," Quain writes one of his books based on which of the following?

(see the answer keys)

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