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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. What is Charley's assessment of the funeral?
(a) It should not have happened yet.
(b) It was too cheap.
(c) It was very nice.
(d) It was moving.

2. What lie does Biff accuse Happy of telling?
(a) That he is getting married.
(b) That he is office manager.
(c) That he is an assistant buyer.
(d) That he is head of sales.

3. What is Happy's version of the great dream?
(a) To buy a condo in Florida
(b) To come out number-one man
(c) To buy a ranch and build guest houses on it
(d) To be merchandise manager

4. What does Linda think is best?
(a) For Happy to clear away the garden tools
(b) For Biff to leave
(c) For Happy to leave
(d) For Willy to have supper

5. To what "cowardly thing" does Ben refer?
(a) Bankruptcy
(b) Scapegoating another person
(c) Suicide
(d) Divorce

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the reason Biff gives Willy for Birnbaum's dislike of him?

2. How has Biff passed Math in the past?

3. What is Willy doing in the garden?

4. What is Linda's response to the flowers?

5. What does Willy imagine his funeral will reveal about him?

Short Essay Questions

1. Has Willy any idea of what it is that has caused his estrangement from Biff?

2. Why does Linda want to prevent the boys speaking to their father?

3. How does Happy think Biff should handle telling Willy the bad news when he arrives at the restaurant?

4. What insight does Biff experience in the few moments he does get to see Bill Oliver?

5. In what way is Willy's life echoed in Biff's account of his attempt to see Bill Oliver?

6. Why did Willy never find true happiness?

7. Is Death of a Salesman an uncompromising indictment of "The American Dream"?

8. What is Willy's final fantasy?

9. How does Biff feel about lying to his father about the Bill Oliver interview?

10. Is Charley's summation of Willy and his life as a salesman an accurate one?

(see the answer keys)

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