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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many times is the Young Woman asked to state her name?

2. The first time the guard jabs the Old Woman in Act 2, it's because she said, "I have _______."

3. What is the Young Woman's second complaint?

4. The second time the guard jabs the Old Woman in Act 2, it's because she said, "I have _______."

5. How does the Young Woman respond when asked her name?

Short Essay Questions

1. What will happen to these characters after the conclusion of Act 2?

2. Why does the Officer move closer to the women in Act 1?

3. Are mountain people well respected in Mountain Language?

4. Where are the Old Woman and her son in Act 3?

5. Why is the prisoner trembling at the beginning of Act 4?

6. In Act 4, why is the Old Woman still silent?

7. What is the attitude of "the capital?"

8. Is the Young Woman (Sarah Johnson) from the mountains? How does this affect the soldiers?

9. Why is the Sergeant annoyed when he enters in Act 3?

10. Why are the rules for dogs absurd in Act 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are elements of the setting (both time and physical) that are very concrete or very abstract. Discuss this use of ambiguous setting to develop an explanation Pinter's goal in using this type of setting.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss what Sarah Johnson's character reveals about women in the context of the play and its broader statement about humanity.

Essay Topic 3

Although these women are faithful to the men in their families, the men are the helpless ones and, comparatively, they have all the authority. Discuss the ruptured nature of the patriarchal family system in Mountain Language.

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