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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. 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) Fight each other.
(d) Shake hands and make peace.

2. 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.

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

4. What terms does John use on page 4 as he wonders about Ede's party dress?
(a) "Monstrous and vain."
(b) "Radical and mature."
(c) "Bizarre and expensive."
(d) "Incomprehensible and frilly."

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

6. Who is Ede named after?
(a) Her father's mother.
(b) Her father's sister.
(c) Her mother.
(d) Her mother's mother.

7. Why does Ede begin to cry shortly after her father arrives at the Markeys' house?
(a) She is confused and upset by all of the shouting.
(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 overtired and wants her father to pay attention to her.

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

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

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

11. What is comical about the fight between Joe and John?
(a) Neither man actually wants to fight.
(b) They keep falling because of the ice and mud.
(c) Neither man knows how to fight.
(d) The way they keep arguing about the babies while they fight.

12. When John argues with Joe, what does John make the argument about?
(a) The silliness of having a party for babies.
(b) The merits of their respective wives.
(c) Their relative social status.
(d) The quality of Joe's manhood.

13. 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 hopes that he will talk to the Markeys so she does not have to.
(d) She wants him to see how wonderful Ede is in this context.

14. 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) She has a stuck-up and short-tempered way of speaking.
(c) She wants to know everything about everyone just so that she can gossip.
(d) Her lack of attention to detail causes problems for others.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. To John Andros, what does Ede represent?

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

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

4. What word does Mrs. Markey use to describe Ede on page 5 that Edith takes as a potential criticism?

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

(see the answer keys)

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