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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is implied about the sudden end to the phone conversation between Edith and John when she tells him about the baby party?
(a) The unreliable phone service in the suburbs has cut out.
(b) Ede has pulled the phone out of her mother's hand.
(c) John hears his boss coming and quickly ends the personal call.
(d) Edith is angry at her husband and has hung up on him.

2. How long is the fight between John and Joe?
(a) 20 minutes.
(b) 2 minutes.
(c) 10 minutes.
(d) 5 minutes.

3. To John Andros, what does Ede represent?
(a) His and Edith's love.
(b) His ability to provide for others.
(c) His arrival into adulthood.
(d) His own life continuing through her.

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

5. At the end of the story, what does John tell Edith he expects her to do?
(a) Teach Ede better manners.
(b) Stop going over to the Markeys' house.
(c) Apologize to Mrs. Markey.
(d) Punish Ede for shoving Billy.

6. What is Mrs. Markey's first concern when Ede and Billy are arguing over the teddy bear?
(a) Whether the children have gotten their clothing dirty.
(b) Whether Billy is physically hurt.
(c) Whether Billy or Ede started the trouble.
(d) Whether her guests are upset.

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

8. What does Edith tell John she thought that he and Joe were going to do when she went back into the house?
(a) Argue a little bit and then come inside.
(b) Go to the bar to get a drink together.
(c) Shake hands and make peace.
(d) Fight each other.

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

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

11. When Joe angrily asks John if John thinks he is going to get away with the things he has just said, what does John do?
(a) Punches Joe in the face.
(b) Walks out the door.
(c) Laughs.
(d) Turns around to confront Joe again.

12. As John walks to the Markeys' house, what is he wondering about?
(a) Whether his wife is having a good time.
(b) How Ede will compare to the other children.
(c) Whether his friend Joe will be at the party.
(d) How long he will be expected to stay at the party.

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

14. 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.

15. 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 just trying to make Edith look bad.
(b) Mrs. Markey is enjoying the attention she is getting.
(c) Mrs. Markey is lying about Billy being hurt.
(d) Mrs. Markey is making a big deal over nothing.

Short Answer Questions

1. What technique is used on page 3 when John's life is described as "a series of struggles up a series of rugged hills"?

2. What does Ede do right after Mrs. Markey says that she does not find the situation funny?

3. On page 6, how does the narrator characterize the behavior of the children at the party?

4. Why does Ede begin to cry shortly after her father arrives at the Markeys' house?

5. What word does Mrs. Markey use on page 9 that infuriates Edith?

(see the answer keys)

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