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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What are the children doing when Edith and Ede arrive at the party?
(a) Eating candy.
(b) Playing a game.
(c) Watching a magician.
(d) Dancing.

2. Edith thinks that Mrs. Markey is "snippy" (5). What does she think is true about Mrs. Markey?
(a) Her friendship is fake and she often criticizes people behind their backs.
(b) Her lack of attention to detail causes problems for others.
(c) She has a stuck-up and short-tempered way of speaking.
(d) She wants to know everything about everyone just so that she can gossip.

3. When Edith is interrupted, on page 9, as she says that Mrs. Markey is making "a mountain out of--" what idea is she trying to convey?
(a) Mrs. Markey is making a big deal over nothing.
(b) Mrs. Markey is enjoying the attention she is getting.
(c) Mrs. Markey is lying about Billy being hurt.
(d) Mrs. Markey is just trying to make Edith look bad.

4. What word does the narrator use on page 3 to describe the moments that John spends on the phone with Ede?
(a) Wondrous.
(b) Amusing.
(c) Bewildering.
(d) Vivid.

5. Why is Edith eager for John to arrive at the Markeys' house?
(a) She wants an excuse to leave the party.
(b) She wants the other women to see how devoted he is to her.
(c) She wants him to see how wonderful Ede is in this context.
(d) She hopes that he will talk to the Markeys so she does not have to.

6. What does Ede think the stuffed bear that Billy is holding is?
(a) A monkey.
(b) A cat.
(c) A monster.
(d) A dog.

7. Why are all of the children at the party so carefully dressed?
(a) It is a way to show respect to the party's hosts.
(b) Their parents want them to be comfortable while they play.
(c) Their parents want to show them off.
(d) Mrs. Markey is known to be a snob about clothing.

8. What causes the two men to stop fighting?
(a) They realize they have no reason to fight.
(b) They realize that neither one of them can actually win.
(c) They grow too tired to keep fighting.
(d) They realize that someone is coming down the sidewalk.

9. What begins to happen after the children have their cake and ice cream?
(a) Guests begin to leave the party.
(b) The mothers begin to plan another baby party.
(c) Billy begins to open his presents.
(d) The children become fussy.

10. What does the most difficult part of parenting seem to be for John?
(a) Tolerating the mess and chaos of a small child.
(b) Understanding the needs of a small child.
(c) Letting his child develop into her own person.
(d) Worrying about how to provide for his family.

11. What technique is used in the page 3 phrase "the weary merry-go-round of the commuting train"?
(a) Hyperbole.
(b) Personification.
(c) Metaphor.
(d) Juxtaposition.

12. What is Billy doing as the adults around him begin to argue loudly?
(a) Playing with his toy.
(b) Crying.
(c) Sleeping.
(d) Eating more cake.

13. When Ede and Billy argue over the teddy bear, what is Joe Markey's initial response?
(a) He scolds Ede and embarrasses Edith.
(b) He laughs and tells Edith not to worry.
(c) He teases his son for letting a girl get the better of him.
(d) He tells his wife that it is her job to handle the children.

14. After they leave the Markeys' house, why does John watch to make sure that Edith has reached their own walkway?
(a) He wants his daughter to get out of the cold December air.
(b) He is concerned that she will get into another argument with Mrs. Markey.
(c) He does not want her to overhear what he is about to say to Joe.
(d) He wants her safely out of the way before he and Joe fight.

15. Why does Ede begin to cry shortly after her father arrives at the Markeys' house?
(a) She is overtired and wants her father to pay attention to her.
(b) She does not want to leave the party.
(c) She hears Mr. Markey call both her and her mother insulting names.
(d) She is confused and upset by all of the shouting.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Mr. Markey go upstairs after the altercation between Billy and Ede?

2. What is comical about the fight between Joe and John?

3. What word best describes the narrator's tone toward modern parenting practices?

4. What does Ede do when Billy tries to get his toy back from her?

5. John enjoys hearing Ede's "non sequiturs" (3). What does this describe in his daughter's speech?

(see the answer keys)

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