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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. Who taught Smith “to have one layer of skin less than the others, and therefore to feel it all” (92)?
(a) Zora Neal Hurston.
(b) Zulfi.
(c) Pablo.
(d) Carol.

2. From whom does Smith say she learned a “readiness to admit failure and weakness” (85)?
(a) Her husband.
(b) Her mother.
(c) Her father.
(d) Ben.

3. What phrase does Smith use to describes Cy’s style in “A Hovering Young Man”?
(a) Childish foolishness.
(b) Youthful exuberance.
(c) Young eccentricity.
(d) Youthful ignorance.

4. Where are Smith and husband planing to fly to as soon as they are able in “A Character in a Wheelchair in the Vestibule”?
(a) Barcelona.
(b) London.
(c) Paris.
(d) Rome.

5. From whom did Smith learn how “to consider yourself lucky” (88) even under difficult circumstances?
(a) Kirin.
(b) Kelly.
(c) Darren.
(d) Mr. Rainbow.

Short Answer Questions

1. What event has triggered Smith and her husband to leave New York City in “A Character in a Wheelchair in the Vestibule”?

2. Who does Smith credit for “delirium, delight, youth, sunshine, love letters, love songs” (92)?

3. How does Smith describe the clientele of the nail salon she frequents?

4. How does Smith inform other people about the intriguing sign she saw in the park?

5. What does Smith call the particular form of contempt she sees from Dominic?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Smith tell her students about style each semester?

2. What does Barbara say to Smith just before she is heading her rental car to leave the city?

3. How does Smith describe the concept of British “class contempt” (74) in “Post-script: Contempt as a Virus”?

4. How does Smith describe Barbara physically?

5. Why does Smith say, despite her issues with institutions, that she is glad Cy is connected to one?

6. Which famous New Yorker did Smith read about at the start of the pandemic and reference in “A Character in a Wheelchair in the Vestibule”?

7. How does Smith describe the way in which Barbara and other women in the city get older?

8. Who does Smith see in the ATM vestibule and what is her relationship with him?

9. How does Smith describe the way enslavers looked upon the Blacks they kidnapped and brought over on slave ships 400 years ago?

10. What does Smith admit is different between how public school closings impact Ben versus how they impact her family?

(see the answer keys)

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