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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When Sarah and J.B. invite the soldiers into the house, where do they go to sit and talk?
(a) In the kitchen.
(b) In front of the fire.
(c) On the back porch.
(d) To the front porch.

2. What does existentialism say about God?
(a) God indulges in making mankind suffer.
(b) There is no God.
(c) God makes bad things happen.
(d) God doesn't make anything happen to mankind.

3. J.B.'s song at the end of Scene 1represents what?
(a) The mood of the play.
(b) The theme of the play.
(c) The motive of the play.
(d) The tone of the play.

4. Sarah compares their children to J.B., saying that they both show gratitude the way a woman does what?
(a) Uses purses.
(b) Wears a nice dress.
(c) Wears nice jewelry.
(d) Wears a nice pair of shoes.

5. After coming down from their platform, how do Nickles and Zuss return to their platform?
(a) Arm in arm.
(b) In handcuffs.
(c) With their feet tied.
(d) With their hands tied.

6. Some people say that J.B. is lucky, but J.B. attributes his "luck" to what?
(a) God's blessings.
(b) God's thanks.
(c) God's knowledge.
(d) God's acts.

7. J.B. sings a song that says, "To be, become, and end are all _____."
(a) Angelic.
(b) Natural.
(c) Beautiful.
(d) Honorable.

8. Nickles says that the real reason for suffering is to learn that everything ends in what?
(a) Death and sorrow.
(b) Death and emptiness.
(c) Death and dirt.
(d) Death and pity.

9. Sarah lives her life indulging in blaming rage and what?
(a) Fearless blessings.
(b) Faithful obedience.
(c) Fearful obedience.
(d) Fearful gratitude.

10. Mr. Nickles and Mr. Zuss, in the Prologue, say that the audience is what?
(a) Earth.
(b) Angels.
(c) The ocean.
(d) At rest.

11. When Mr. Zuss says that the world is a great place, what does Mr. Nickles say it is?
(a) A trash pile.
(b) A waste land.
(c) A dung-heap.
(d) A garbage dump.

12. Who says "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away," after all the children are dead?
(a) Zuss.
(b) Sarah.
(c) Nickles.
(d) J.B.

13. Nickles and Zuss are what type of characters?
(a) Antagonists.
(b) Protagonists.
(c) Scenic.
(d) Narrators.

14. After Sarah sings her song, the children ask J.B. to do what?
(a) Put the train together.
(b) Play the piano.
(c) Sing the same song.
(d) Sing a different song.

15. When J.B. makes a reference to Sarah's love of flowers, he is referring to what?
(a) Their blessings.
(b) Their family.
(c) Their children.
(d) Their possessions.

Short Answer Questions

1. Sarah sings a song to the children that wonders what?

2. Existentialism is a philosophical movement of what century?

3. Zuss wonders if J.B. knows that he is a(n) ______ in the story.

4. Where does Sarah believe that blessings come from?

5. The argument of the play is that the only way to live and transcend suffering is through what?

(see the answer keys)

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