View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who painted the nude portrait of Arthur when he was a young man?
(a) Leonard Ross.
(b) Otto Handler.
(c) Franklin Woodhouse.
(d) Chelsea Hovorka.

2. Who drove the car during Arthur's and Robert's road trip to Mexico?
(a) Carlos.
(b) A hired driver.
(c) Arthur.
(d) Robert.

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

4. For whom is the stadium in Parque Mexico named?
(a) Cesar Chavez.
(b) Charles Lindbergh.
(c) Oscar Zeta Acosta.
(d) Englebert Humperdink.

5. Which famous science fiction writer has Arthur Less come to interview in New York City?
(a) Philip K. Dick.
(b) Ray Bradbury.
(c) Isaac Asimov.
(d) H. H. H. Mandern.

6. The narrator describes the octopuses at the market as being "coiled into" (55) what objects?
(a) Curlicues.
(b) Pyramids.
(c) Ampersands.
(d) Piles.

7. 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) Spanish.
(c) French.
(d) Latin.

8. How often do Robert and Arthur still speak?
(a) Once a day.
(b) Once a month.
(c) Once a week.
(d) Once a season.

9. What career did Freddy inhabit after he graduated from college?
(a) Biologist.
(b) Cultural attache.
(c) High school English teacher.
(d) Agricultural liaison.

10. What was the title of Arthur Less's first novel?
(a) Dark Matter.
(b) Cormorant Breach.
(c) Kalipso.
(d) The Counterglow.

11. In what country had Arthur Less bought his signature blue suit?
(a) China.
(b) Vietnam.
(c) Japan.
(d) Cambodia.

12. The one step on Arthur's itinerary that qualifies as an act of self-indulgence is his sojourn across what country?
(a) Italy.
(b) Greece.
(c) Mazatlan.
(d) Morocco.

13. On what day of the Mexican festival is Arthur scheduled to speak?
(a) Day One.
(b) Day Five.
(c) Day Three.
(d) Day Two.

14. Who wins the prize at the award ceremony for which Arthur travels to Italy?
(a) Arthur.
(b) Robert.
(c) Marian.
(d) Finley.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What reason is given for Arthur's lack of a watch in the novel's opening scene?

2. In what area of New York City had Arthur Less lived for a time after college?

3. In what city do Arthur and Robert first meet on a beach?

4. For how long is Arthur alone at the golf resort in Italy before the other prize finalists arrive?

5. For how many years did the relationship between Arthur Less and Freddy last?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 443 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample