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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. Who says they know what love really is and has an example to share?
(a) Nick.
(b) Marjorie.
(c) Ed.
(d) Mel.

2. What is the old couple's prognosis?
(a) They will be fine after recovering.
(b) They die soon after the accident.
(c) Good, if they get divorced.
(d) They will have to live at an assisted living facility the rest of their lives.

3. Where are the characters sitting for the duration of the story?
(a) On the floor.
(b) In chairs.
(c) On a bench.
(d) On a windowsill.

4. Which character claims that no one really knows about love, because "everyone is really just a beginner"?
(a) Laura.
(b) Nick.
(c) Ed.
(d) Mel.

5. Who ends up going to get the snacks?
(a) Terri.
(b) No one.
(c) Laura.
(d) Nick.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who feels as if the group is "enchanted" as the conversation continues?

2. Why is Mel hesitant to call?

3. What is the cause of the old man's depression?

4. What hits the old couple's car?

5. What can the narrator hear near the end of the story?

Short Essay Questions

1. What relationship does Mel have to the old man in the hospital?

2. Describe the interaction between Laura and Terri in the closing scene.

3. How long have Nick and Laura been married in comparison to Terri and Mel?

4. Who is the dominant character in Carver's story, and how do you know?

5. What two purposes does alcohol seem to serve in the story?

6. What two professions does Mel say he would have liked to have had and why?

7. What impact does point of view have on this story?

8. Why is it ironic that Mel is a cardiologist by profession?

9. What effect does alcohol have on the characters' conversation about real love?

10. What is the final conclusion about the meaning of love?

(see the answer keys)

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