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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. What does the clerk's character symbolize?
(a) The concerns of the common worker.
(b) The dangers of blind loyalty in a bureaucratic system.
(c) The notion of how lazy workers can advance in a company through deceit.
(d) The result of a meaningless system.

2. Who does Gross talk to while he is waiting for Helena?
(a) Hana.
(b) Himself.
(c) George.
(d) Savant.

3. What does Ballas threaten Gross with?
(a) Going over his head to get the notice authenticated.
(b) Resigning from the company.
(c) Causing Gross to lose his job.
(d) Speaking Ptydepe to Gross permanently.

4. In modern times, what is a term used to describe the act of portraying something negative in a positive way?
(a) "Rant."
(b) "Bloviating."
(c) "Get on a soapbox."
(d) "Spin."

5. Why does the Department of Authentication refuse to authenticate the new log book?
(a) The book is too expensive.
(b) The expense wasn't officially authorized.
(c) They purchased the wrong type of log book.
(d) They inform them that there will no longer be a need for a log book.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Scene 2 take place?

2. What is the clerk's name in Scene 2?

3. What is Act 1, Scene 3 trying to illustrate about Gross?

4. What do Stroll and Savant offer as proof for their theory that Gross "lusts after" Maria?

5. What does Gross tell himself to rationalize his decision in Act 1, Scene 4?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Ballas and Column continue to perpetuate by going to lunch in the middle of Lear's lecture in Act 2, Scene 11?

2. What is different about Thumb's responses in Act 2, Scene 8 as compared to earlier in the play?

3. What is both ironic and significant about Pillar's outburst at the end of Act 2, Scene 10?

4. How is Gross manipulated again in Act 1, Scene 5?

5. How is Lear's explanation of Ptydepe used to display the arrogance and self-indulgent actions of bureaucrats?

6. What are some examples of the familiarity of Ballas' morning as Managing Director and what is it similar to?

7. The "wrong cause" that Stroll, Savant, and Helena are upset about dedicating their lives to is really a symbol for what larger "wrong cause?"

8. What does the number of students in Lear's class in Act 2, Scene 11 say about his lecture topic, and the state of the company in general?

9. How does Lear explain Ptydepe in describing the process for learning it?

10. What subliminal warning does the character of Thumb bring from the author?

(see the answer keys)

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