View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is Miguel de Cervantes?
(a) The original author of Don Quixote.
(b) The author of A Farewell to Arms.
(c) The editor of Pierre Menard's manuscripts.
(d) An Italian poet.

2. Which measurement system is discussed in one of Pierre Menard's manuscripts?
(a) Nautical.
(b) Imperial.
(c) Volume.
(d) Metric.

3. What body organ begins a dream of the protagonist in "The Circular Ruins"?
(a) An eye.
(b) An ear.
(c) A heart.
(d) A hand.

4. Who is the narrator in "An Examination of the Work of Herbert Quain"?
(a) Al-Mu'tasim.
(b) Menard.
(c) Quain.
(d) Borges.

5. Where is "The Babylon Lottery" set?
(a) Ancient Babylon.
(b) Modern day Iraq.
(c) Qaphqa.
(d) Las Vegas.

Short Answer Questions

1. What power does the Company have over lottery players?

2. What war is being fought in "The Garden of Forking Paths"?

3. In "The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim," where does the student go after he leaves Indapur?

4. What do the people of Tlon consider to be the most powerful tool mankind can possess?

5. In "The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim," why does the student decide to travel the country?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why can't the inappropriate information in the library of Babel be destroyed?

2. In "The Examination of the World of Herbert Quain," how does Borges use fictional literature to present his themes?

3. How is the universe described in "The Library of Babel"?

4. Describe the satire present in "An Examination of the Work of Herbert Quain."

5. What is the significance of the student in "The Approach of Al-Mu'tasim" relinquishing his social status?

6. What is the most important possession to the people of Tlon?

7. What inconsistencies exist in the writings of Herbert Quain?

8. Who are the Purifiers?

9. Why does Dr. Yu Tsun murder Dr. Albert?

10. Describe the second dream from "The Circular Ruins."

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,164 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample