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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Mary, what societal role is care taking usually assigned to?
(a) To mothers.
(b) To women.
(c) Care taking isn't assigned to any particular role anymore.
(d) To the wealthy.

2. What college did Mary once teach at?
(a) Amherst.
(b) Princeton.
(c) Oxford.
(d) Harvard.

3. In what way did Erik constantly show care for his wife and Mary during their interview sessions?
(a) He gave the women should massages.
(b) He gave the women space to speak in private.
(c) He regularly told the women how proud he was of them.
(d) He regularly brought the women tea.

4. Who does Mary claim creates the most amount of work for a woman in the household?
(a) Children.
(b) Pets.
(c) Men.
(d) The women themselves.

5. Why are men often encouraged to remove distractions from their lives?
(a) Because the male brain is wired differently than female brains.
(b) So they can concentrate on one thing at a time.
(c) So they can become experts in their field.
(d) To ensure maximum financial success.

6. In what country was Erik, Joan's husband, born?
(a) Denmark.
(b) Austria.
(c) Germany.
(d) Poland.

7. Which woman does Mary claim learned to "compose the disparate elements of her life in new and less rigid ways".
(a) Joan.
(b) Alice.
(c) Johnnetta.
(d) Ellen.

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

9. Why was Mary jealous of her colleagues when she was living in Amherst?
(a) Because they all have happy marriages.
(b) Because they are all able to have children.
(c) Because they all love their jobs.
(d) Because they could relax at home after work.

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

11. Which woman claims to be completely unable to manage multi-tasking?
(a) Ellen.
(b) Johnnetta.
(c) Alice.
(d) Joan.

12. Which word fills in the following sentence from the final chapter in "Composing a Life": All five women live with high levels of _____________?
(a) Affection.
(b) Ambition.
(c) Adamance.
(d) Ambiguity.

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

14. Which of the following activities helps Johnnetta deal with her stress?
(a) Writing.
(b) Reading.
(c) Swimming.
(d) Walking.

15. In what way does Mary describe women who are multi-taskers?
(a) As people constantly solving puzzles.
(b) As people with unfair burdens.
(c) As people with split personalities.
(d) As people living multiple lives.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which of the following women lives in Chestnut Hill, in Boston?

2. What genre is "The Ode of Imru'u I-Qays"?

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

4. Which of the following items does NOT make up the decoration in Johnnetta's home?

5. To what does Mary compare the experience of being nominated for presidency but never taking the position?

(see the answer keys)

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