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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Orwell use as an example of a new form of children's literature?
(a) The "Penrod" series.
(b) The "Hardy Boys" series.
(c) The "Nancy Drew" series.
(d) The "Superman" comics.

2. According to Orwell, what flaw is shared by all of the titles he mentions in Chapter 16?
(a) A boring plot.
(b) A kind of absurdity.
(c) Unmemorable characters.
(d) Poor writing skill.

3. Which title, named in Chapter 16, is also the subject of Chapter 18?
(a) "Uncle Tom's Cabin".
(b) "King Solomon's Mines".
(c) "Penrod".
(d) "Helen's Babies".

4. What conclusion does Orwell reach about the prices of the commodities he compares in Chapter 15?
(a) For the price of a year's worth of alcohol and cigarettes, one could purchase a respectable collection of books.
(b) Alcohol is more expensive than food, but well worth it.
(c) The only way to afford books is to cut out other luxuries, such as movies and records.
(d) Books are more expensive than food and clothing, and Orwell doesn't understand why.

5. According to Orwell, what do newspapers try to do when reporting on sports events?
(a) Report as accurately as possible.
(b) Incite fans.
(c) Cover up the enmity between opposing sides.
(d) Make their team look good.

6. How many reviews does the person in Chapter 14 write per year?
(a) 24.
(b) 12.
(c) 52.
(d) 100.

7. According to Orwell, what ideal is at stake in international sports competitions?
(a) Skill.
(b) Prestige.
(c) Fairness.
(d) Sportsmanship.

8. According to Orwell, how would reviews be handled in an ideal world?
(a) There wouldn't be any reviews.
(b) The number of works being reviewed would be greatly restricted.
(c) More people would write reviews, so that each reviewer wouldn't have to do as much work.
(d) Ordinary people would write reviews and share them with one another.

9. According to Orwell, what is not a popular subject in his essays?
(a) Christmas.
(b) Politics.
(c) Animals.
(d) Spring.

10. In Chapter 15, Orwell tallies the price of what commodities?
(a) Movies, books and records.
(b) Alcohol and food.
(c) Alcohol, cigarettes and books.
(d) Food, clothing and books.

11. What does Orwell cite as a reason for the quality of contemporary murder literature?
(a) People aren't interested in reading it.
(b) Crimes are becoming less memorable.
(c) There are currently no good writers.
(d) The government is censoring it too much.

12. How much did it cost to plant the garden Orwell describes in Chapter 13?
(a) Six and sixpence.
(b) Two pounds.
(c) Three shillings.
(d) Twelve and sixpence.

13. Orwell compares "Helen's Babies" with the works of what other author?
(a) Jules Verne.
(b) Orson Scott Wells.
(c) Ernest Hemingway.
(d) Mark Twain.

14. What event does Orwell cite as evidence for his argument about sports?
(a) The peace treaty that was signed after the 1922 Olympic Games.
(b) The riots at the 1936 Olympic Games.
(c) The money that has been donated to charity by sports stars.
(d) The killing of a tennis star by a crazed fan.

15. What kind of person would be Orwell's ideal murder-mystery protagonist?
(a) A local professional.
(b) A rich aristocrat.
(c) A lower-class citizen.
(d) A celebrity.

Short Answer Questions

1. What nonsense poet is named in Chapter 17?

2. What does Orwell say about the meaning of the poems he mentions in Chapter 17?

3. How does Orwell describe "Uncle Tom's Cabin"?

4. What relationship does Orwell establish between social justice and nature?

5. How many works is the person in Chapter 14 attempting to review?

(see the answer keys)

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