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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Argumentum Ornitholicum," if the number of birds is indefinite, what is implied?
(a) Math has no use.
(b) God does not exist.
(c) God exists.
(d) The end of the world is at hand.

2. In "Avelino Arredondo," to what does Avelino belong?
(a) A shadowy cabal.
(b) The Calvinists.
(c) The Red party.
(d) The White Party.

3. In "The Plot," a gaucho's murder is similar to the murder of what famous figure?
(a) Abraham Lincoln.
(b) Julius Caesar.
(c) Jesus.
(d) The Archduke Ferdinand.

4. In "August 25, 1983," what is the young Borges told?
(a) The time of his death.
(b) He has committed blasphemy.
(c) He has never been a writer.
(d) He will write his great book.

5. In "August 25, 1983," what hotel room does Borges go to?
(a) The room is numberless.
(b) 19.
(c) 63.
(d) 49.

6. In "The Disk," what god is associated with the disk?
(a) Isis.
(b) Vishnu.
(c) Odin.
(d) Thor.

7. In "Juan Murana," what is the name the aunt uses for the knife that kills the landlord?
(a) The Sting.
(b) Gold Death.
(c) Juan.
(d) El Tiburon.

8. In "The Rose of Paracelsus," what does the young man want Paracelsus to do?
(a) Burn a rose and then recreate it.
(b) Simply appreciate the beauty of a rose.
(c) Turn one rose into a thousand.
(d) Turn a rose into gold.

9. In "The Congress," why does the Congress fall apart?
(a) Its founder goes bankrupt.
(b) All its members mysteriously fall ill.
(c) It is disbanded by some Socialists.
(d) Internal political battles ruin it.

10. In "Everything and Nothing," which of the following best describes Shakespeare?
(a) He believes he should have spent more time with his wife, and less time writing plays.
(b) He is jealous of Ben Jonson.
(c) He has no personal identity other than that of the characters he creates.
(d) His many imitators infuriate him.

11. In "The Other Duel," though Cardosa and Silveira have a long-standing feud, what do they both do?
(a) Write a novel together.
(b) Fish together every Saturday.
(c) Open a store together.
(d) Join a rebel force.

12. In "Shakespeare's Memory," what do Shakespeare's memories do for Hermann?
(a) Allow him to become the reigning poet of the earth.
(b) Give him some very small success, but mostly overwhelm him.
(c) Make him realize Shakespeare's inadequacy, and how Shakespeare had somehow duped countless millions into believing in his greatness.
(d) Make him catatonic.

13. What idea is the main concern of "Paradiso, XXXI, 108"?
(a) Giving a detailed description of Heaven.
(b) Experiencing and seeing God.
(c) Putting forth an analysis of Dante.
(d) The absolute misery of life.

14. In "The Night of the Gits," who is The Captive?
(a) A war prisoner.
(b) A man entranced by literature.
(c) A prostitute.
(d) An innocent boy.

15. In "Pedro Salvadores," Pedro belongs to which party?
(a) The Aristotlean Thinkers.
(b) The Nazi party.
(c) The Unitarian party.
(d) The Whigs.

Short Answer Questions

1. "Brodie's Report" can best be described as which of the following?

2. In "The Ethnographer," what does Fred Murdock do with the secret he learns from the Indians?

3. In "The Maker," the protagonist is what Greek writer?

4. In "Parable of the Palace," why does the Emperor execute the poet?

5. In "The Interloper," which of the following best characterizes the treatment of Julia by the two brothers?

(see the answer keys)

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