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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Robbie's grandfather suggest Robbie do after reading the letter?
(a) Destroy it.
(b) Fax it to the president.
(c) Make a copy of it.
(d) Send it to J.

2. What does Robbie's grandfather say is easy to think when reading history books?
(a) Intelligence is declining rapidly.
(b) People are far more malicious these days.
(c) People were so much less intelligent in the past.
(d) You know exactly what you would have done.

3. What does Robbie's grandfather liken the both of them to at the end of the story?
(a) Dinosaurs.
(b) Neanderthals.
(c) Cave people.
(d) Martians.

4. Why did Robbie's grandparents stop cursing Republican Senators or suggesting someone organize a march?
(a) They felt it was pointless.
(b) Because things started to get better.
(c) They began to agree with the Republicans.
(d) They were afraid of getting arrested.

5. What does Robbie's grandfather recall J.'s dog's name as at the end of his letter?
(a) Bourbon.
(b) Scotch.
(c) Boozie.
(d) Whiskey.

6. What does Robbie's grandfather say they are "sheltering...through a dark period" (6)?
(a) An innocent person.
(b) A hoard of money.
(c) A trace of fire.
(d) A puzzle piece.

7. What phrase does Robbie's grandfather use at the end of his letter when discussing what he should do regarding J., which he hopes does not offend Robbie?
(a) Grand theatrics.
(b) Waste of time.
(c) Too little, too late.
(d) Empty Gesture.

8. Why did Robbie's grandparents pay little attention to the TV news despite it being bleak?
(a) They assumed much of the news on TV was fake.
(b) They could not really hear what was going on from the other room.
(c) They figured there was nothing they could do about it.
(d) They figured someone would come along to set things straight.

9. What does Robbie's grandfather say about J. at the end of the letter?
(a) He knew she was dishonest.
(b) She is a lovely person.
(c) She was a noble woman.
(d) Robbie was too good for her.

10. What "crude metaphor" (4) does Robbie's grandfather use to describe the president's behavior?
(a) Somebody urinated on a bathroom rug.
(b) Somebody having a public bowel movement at a dinner party.
(c) A dinner guest vomiting after the meal.
(d) Somebody picking their nose at a meeting.

11. What does Robbie's grandfather say he and his wife would have had to have been in order to make any change pre-election?
(a) Unethical people.
(b) Educated people.
(c) Extreme people.
(d) Caring people.

12. What simple act does Robbie's grandfather say is "doing much good" (6) as far as he is concerned?
(a) Sleeping in the evening.
(b) Going to work.
(c) Reading a book.
(d) Rising in the morning.

13. What does Robbie's grandfather say he would never do and thinks Robbie would never do either?
(a) Protest.
(b) Become a Republican.
(c) Arm himself.
(d) Write his senators.

14. Robbie's grandfather says people focus too much on courage and not enough on what?
(a) Discretion and caution.
(b) Fear and anger.
(c) Introversion and Introspection.
(d) Timidity and wisdom.

15. What does Robbie's grandfather say he hopes Robbie will become one day?
(a) An old fart.
(b) An old fogy.
(c) An old curmudgeon.
(d) An old sage.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Robbie's grandfather call a particular time when he could have been more proactive?

2. What does Robbie's grandmother say in the dream his grandfather had about her which he writes in his letter?

3. How does Robbie's grandfather close the letter?

4. How does Robbie's grandfather describe the person responsible for disrupting "something so noble and time-tested and seemingly strong" (4)?

5. What types of things did Robbie's grandparents do at first during the critical period?

(see the answer keys)

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