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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 "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 worshipping the god Apollo.
(c) They all want to kill the narrator.
(d) They are Socialists.

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) One small windowless room.
(c) A stately mansion, with beautiful furniture, and ornate windows.
(d) A series of endless corridors, or labyrinth.

3. In "The Two Kings and the Two Labyrinths," whom does the King of Babylon imprison in a labyrinth?
(a) The King of Arabia.
(b) A notorious murderer.
(c) His manservant.
(d) The King of England.

4. In "The Chamber of Statues," where is the king warned not to go?
(a) Russia.
(b) To a bazaar.
(c) On a ship.
(d) The Tower.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. In "The End," whom is the black man waiting for?

2. In "The Secret Miracle," what happens to extend Hladik's life for a time?

3. In "Death and the Compass," what character flaw leads Lonnrot to his death?

4. In "Monk Eastman, Purveyor of Iniquities," what does Eastman do to become a bouncer?

5. In "The Widow Ching--Pirate," what prompts the protagonist to become a pirate?

Short Essay Questions

1. How can the story "Tlon, Uqbar, and Orbis Tertius" best be described?

2. In "A Theologian in Death," what is Melancthon's doctrine and what are the implications of this doctrine?

3. In "The Circular Ruins," a man creates another man in a dream and ultimately discovers that he is a dream himself. Is Borges making a possible connection to the artistic process?

4. In "The Improbable Impostor Tom Castro," what is Tom's relationship to Ebenezer Bogle?

5. In "The Widow Ching--Pirate," Ching becomes a pirate, but does she have any virtuous qualities, even in this criminal profession?

6. In "The Other Death," how does Borges suggest that Pedro Damian could actually be both a hero and a coward?

7. In "The Wait," what does Villari do when his assassins actually show up? Why does he do this?

8. "The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim" is a review of a book that does not exist. How is this significant?

9. In "The Dead Man," why does Bandeira allow Otalora to sleep with his woman and enjoy a sense of power?

10. In "House of Asterion," is there anything sympathetic about Asterion?

(see the answer keys)

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