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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What language is "The Ode of Imru'u I-Qays" written in?
(a) Latin.
(b) Spanish.
(c) Arabic.
(d) French.

2. What does Mary say Ellen's home "cries out for"?
(a) A child.
(b) A heart.
(c) A tribe.
(d) A maid.

3. In "The Ode of Imru'u I-Qays", what distracts the woman from making love with her husband?
(a) The cry of her child.
(b) The barking of a neighbor's dog.
(c) The sound of coins being dropped into a jar.
(d) The smell of food cooking.

4. Which of the women identifies herself primarily as a dancer?
(a) Alice.
(b) Joan.
(c) Johnnetta.
(d) Mary.

5. Which word completes the following sentence: "All of the women in the book have repeatedly salvaged the capacity for ______________ in an imperfect system"?
(a) Dependency.
(b) Forgiveness.
(c) Romance
(d) Commitment.

6. What is the key to organizing multiple lives at once?
(a) Money.
(b) Support.
(c) Structure.
(d) Flexibility.

7. Which of the following is NOT a sickness Joan's children suffered from when they were young?
(a) Chicken pox.
(b) Measles.
(c) Scarlet fever.
(d) Mumps

8. What is the name of the homeless shelter that provides shelter and food for as many people as possible, every night?
(a) Maple Mountain Resort.
(b) Palm Springs Shelter.
(c) Oak Valley.
(d) Pine Street Inn.

9. To what food item did Joan compare her first home with Erik?
(a) A head of lettuce.
(b) A peanut.
(c) An egg.
(d) A loaf of bread.

10. Which of the following films does Mary use to demonstrate her theories about traditional gender roles?
(a) "Braveheart".
(b) "The Blue Lagoon".
(c) "The Crucible".
(d) "High Noon".

11. Which of the following is the theme of the final chapter of "Composing a Life"?
(a) Familial Humanity.
(b) Individual Humanity.
(c) Societal Humanity.
(d) Global Humanity.

12. Who gave Joan's son Jon a blood transfusion when he was sick in the hospital?
(a) His younger sister.
(b) His grandfather.
(c) His aunt.
(d) His mother.

13. Which woman would Mary most likely call "superwoman"?
(a) Alice.
(b) Herself.
(c) None of the women.
(d) Johnnetta.

14. According to Mary, what is the danger in gardening?
(a) Your flowers and produce may never grow.
(b) You may have abundant growth that you cannot maintain.
(c) Your neighbor may covet your garden.
(d) Vandals may steal or destroy your flowers.

15. Which of the women adopted a daughter named Sarah late in life?
(a) Mary.
(b) Joan.
(c) Alice.
(d) Ellen.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Mary, what is the one thing all five women in the book are striving for?

2. After a period of disillusionment, each of the women in the book have learned how to create commitment without what?

3. According to Mary, what is the one thing productivity hinges on?

4. Who does Mary claim creates the most amount of work for a woman in the household?

5. Why was Mary jealous of her colleagues when she was living in Amherst?

(see the answer keys)

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