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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In what town did Arthur and Robert stay when they went to Mexico together?
(a) Baja.
(b) Ensenada.
(c) Tijuana.
(d) Mexico City.

2. What color is the flesh of the beaked parrot-fish Arthur sees in the Mexican market?
(a) Blue.
(b) White.
(c) Black.
(d) Pink.

3. In what sport had Arthur's one moment of athletic prowess occurred when he was 12 years old?
(a) Basketball.
(b) Baseball.
(c) Soccer.
(d) Lacrosse.

4. On what holiday in 1987 did Arthur Less meet his one-time rival Carlos?
(a) Halloween.
(b) New Year's Day.
(c) Labor Day.
(d) Memorial Day.

5. What drug did Arthur and Robert take together during their trip to Mexico?
(a) LSD.
(b) Ecstasy.
(c) Mescaline.
(d) Peyote.

6. In what desert does Arthur Less plan to turn 50 years old?
(a) The Sahara.
(b) The Mojave.
(c) The Gobi.
(d) The Sierra.

7. What is the name of Arthur's hotel in Mexico?
(a) The Cherry Tree.
(b) The Eternal Flame.
(c) The Monkey House.
(d) El Zapateria.

8. In what decade of life had Arthur Less been when his work was first published?
(a) His twenties.
(b) His teens.
(c) His forties.
(d) His thirties.

9. What language does Arthur mention to his literary escort that he had studied in high school, referring to his choice as a big mistake?
(a) German.
(b) French.
(c) Latin.
(d) Spanish.

10. In what city do Arthur and Robert first meet on a beach?
(a) San Diego.
(b) San Francisco.
(c) Alameda.
(d) Sunnyvale.

11. What lie does Arthur tell to his escort upon his arrival in Mexico?
(a) That he has never been to Mexico before.
(b) That he is rich.
(c) That he has read the escort's book of poetry.
(d) That he has won a Pulitzer Prize.

12. What is the name of the science fiction writer's most famous character?
(a) Peabody.
(b) X3000.
(c) Sherman.
(d) George.

13. What reason is given for Arthur's lack of a watch in the novel's opening scene?
(a) It was stolen.
(b) He had left it at home.
(c) His faith is fast.
(d) He favors spontaneity.

14. What occasion had served as the final time the members of the Russian River School had assembled together?
(a) Robert's winning of the Pulitzer Prize.
(b) Stella's death.
(c) Marian's stroke.
(d) Arthur's winning of the Wilde and Stein Award.

15. What causes Marian to be unable to attend the festival in Mexico City where she had been scheduled to appear with Arthur?
(a) She breaks her hip.
(b) She gets the flu.
(c) Robert has a stroke.
(d) Her plane is delayed.

Short Answer Questions

1. What career did Freddy inhabit after he graduated from college?

2. With what group of artists and writers was Arthur Less once associated?

3. What does Arthur Less do when he gets back to his New York City hotel room after getting the bad news about Cormorant Publishing passing on his newest book?

4. The narrator says, "No one could rival Arthur Less for his ability to exit a room while" (37) performing what action?

5. What is the name of the local writer who acts as Arthur's escort during his time in Mexico?

(see the answer keys)

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