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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. On page 30, the reader is told that Rip has an "insuperable aversion to all kinds of profitable labour." What does this mean is true about him?
(a) He is simply lazy.
(b) He hates working hard for his own material comfort and financial security.
(c) He is physically unable to do heavy labor.
(d) He is eager to work at anything that will help himself, but he does not like to help others.

2. How does Rip's wife treat his dog?
(a) She treats the dog better than anyone else in the family.
(b) She ignores the dog completely.
(c) She treats the dog the same way she treats Rip.
(d) She insists that the dog stay outside and earn its keep on the farm.

3. What is Diedrich Knickerbocker's profession?
(a) Writer of novels.
(b) Governor.
(c) Farmer.
(d) Historian.

4. Who is "Dame" Van Winkle?
(a) Rip's wife.
(b) Rip's daughter.
(c) Rip's sister.
(d) Rip's mother.

5. On page 30, the reader learns that Rip is "obsequious" and his wife is a "termagant." What can accurately be said about their relationship?
(a) They have violent arguments with each other.
(b) They each have a skill that helps the other.
(c) One is embarrassed by the other.
(d) One bullies the other.

6. From the description of Rip's attitude to his farm, on page 30, what can be deduced about Rip?
(a) His farm is envied by many of his neighbors.
(b) He is devoted to his home and family.
(c) His attitude toward his own family is similar to his attitude toward the villagers.
(d) He likes to make excuses instead of taking care of his responsibilities.

7. Who is the frame narrator of "Rip Van Winkle"?
(a) James Fenimore Cooper.
(b) Geoffrey Crayon.
(c) Washington Irving.
(d) Diedrich Knickerbocker.

8. On page 29, the mountains are said to be "lording it over the surrounding country." This is an example of which literary technique?
(a) Onomatopoeia.
(b) Hyperbole.
(c) Synechdoche.
(d) Personification.

9. On page 29, the narrator says that a person might have "descried" the smoke from the village. What does this mean a person might have done?
(a) Seen it.
(b) Complained about it.
(c) Explained its details.
(d) Been puzzled by it.

10. On page 28, the reader is told that the narrator of the main story is known for "scrupulous" accuracy. What kind of accuracy is this?
(a) Reckless and indifferent.
(b) Thorough and honest.
(c) Demanding and critical.
(d) Approximate and imperfect.

11. Who is Peter Stuyvesant?
(a) The village schoolmaster.
(b) A former governor of New York.
(c) Rip's neighbor.
(d) The owner of the village inn.

12. Under what pseudonym was "Rip Van Winkle" published?
(a) James Fenimore Cooper.
(b) Diedrich Knickerbocker.
(c) Washington Irving.
(d) Geoffrey Crayon.

13. What is true of Rip's children in the beginning of the story?
(a) They refuse to speak to him.
(b) They are somewhat neglected.
(c) They are much more like their mother than like Rip.
(d) They are dangerously unsupervised.

14. Who is Derrick Van Brummel?
(a) The owner of the village inn.
(b) The schoolmaster.
(c) The owner of a local hotel.
(d) The mayor.

15. On page 29, the setting sun causes something to light up and glow "like a crown of glory." This is an example of what literary technique?
(a) Metaphor.
(b) Understatement.
(c) Alliteration.
(d) Simile.

Short Answer Questions

1. How might Rip's house be described?

2. In the frame narrative, the reader is told that the main story's narrator gets his information from the wives of the "burghers" (28). Whose wives are these?

3. What is Rip's dog's name?

4. Why does Rip stop spending time with his friends?

5. When on page 31, the narrator refers to Rip's wife's nagging as a "torrent of household eloquence," what tone is created?

(see the answer keys)

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