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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is Mrs. Watson?
(a) Sourmelina's lover.
(b) Lefty's mistress.
(c) A customer at the Zebra Room.
(d) Milton and Tessie's neighbor.

2. Why does Milton decide to take the Annapolis entrance exam?
(a) Because he has dreamed of becoming a Navy officer.
(b) Because he wants to be relocated closer to Tessie.
(c) Because he believes that being accepted into Annapolis will make Tessie proud of him.
(d) Because he will be exempt from drills while taking the test.

3. To what religious faith does Stephanides family belong?
(a) The Presbyterian Church.
(b) Greek Orthodox Church.
(c) The Church of Islam.
(d) The Roman Catholic Church.

4. What does Desdemona do following Lefty's death?
(a) She wails and throws herself on his coffin.
(b) She moves to the Southwest with Sourmelina.
(c) She moves from the guest house into the main house at Middlesex.
(d) She climbs into her bed and does not leave it for ten years.

5. What is the cause of Desdemona's heart palpitations?
(a) Stress over the Greek occupation of Turkey.
(b) Unproductive silkworms.
(c) A rare genetic disorder.
(d) Grief over the deaths of her parents.

6. What does Lefty teach Desdemona to help her pass the English literacy test required for entry into America?
(a) English phrases.
(b) A Bible passage about eunuchs.
(c) A Bible passage forbidding incest.
(d) Passages from the Greek Bible.

7. Who does Desdemona over hear through the heating vents in the Silk Room of the Temple No. 1?
(a) W.D. Fard.
(b) Betty Smith.
(c) Sister Wanda.
(d) The Prophet Muhammed.

8. What medical fact does Dr. Philobosian share with Desdemona that makes her worry about her pregnancy?
(a) Babies must be baptized while they are still in the womb.
(b) The baby will take on the traits of whatever picture a woman is looking at when the baby is conceived.
(c) Women must take folic acid to prevent birth defects.
(d) Birth defects in babies usually only occur when families intermarry.

9. What play do the two couples go to see the night that their babies are conceived?
(a) The Minotaur.
(b) Poseidon.
(c) King Lear.
(d) Antigone.

10. What does Mike Antoniou think of Tessie's daily trips to the movie theatre?
(a) He is concerned that movie going will interfere with her volunteer duties.
(b) He believes that it is frivolous to attend movies while the war is going on.
(c) He is glad that she has found something that she enjoys to fill her time while he is away.
(d) He thinks that movies are immoral.

11. What does Lefty resolve to do after his visit to the brothel?
(a) Marry a village girl and start a family.
(b) Leave Bithynios to immigrate to America.
(c) Attend the local Greek church more often.
(d) Tell Desdemona of his feelings for her.

12. Why doesn't Milton want Calliope to talk to Marius Grimes?
(a) Because he uses vulgar language.
(b) Because he does not speak English.
(c) Because Milton believes Marius is homeless.
(d) Because of his race.

13. What is the fate of the Silk Room at Temple No. 1 when Elijah Muhammed takes over as leader after Fard's arrest.?
(a) It closes.
(b) It is downsized.
(c) It is expanded.
(d) It is relocated to a new building.

14. Why does Milton decide to enlist in the Navy?
(a) He is fiercely patriotic and wants to fight to protect America.
(b) He wants to escape taking over the Zebra Room as a career.
(c) He is heartbroken when Tessie becomes engaged to Mike Antoniou.
(d) He wants to prove to Tessie that he is a strong, brave man.

15. What does Desdemona fear will happen to Lefty?
(a) He will marry a village girl and will leave Desdemona alone to care for the cocoonery.
(b) He will never marry and will die alone.
(c) He will marry an unattractive Turkish woman.
(d) He will become a smoker and alcoholic.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is significant about Callie's and Clementine's soak in the Middlesex hot tub?

2. What is the only article of modern technology does the superstitious and traditional Desdemona embraces?

3. Who is the narrator of the story?

4. How does Desdemona's prediction of the sex of the baby compare to it's actual sex?

5. Why do Lefty and Desdemona know that they can trust Sourmelina to keep the secret that they are siblings?

(see the answer keys)

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