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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How old is Ede when the story takes place?

2. When Ede and Billy argue over the teddy bear, what is Joe Markey's initial response?

3. What technique is used in the page 4 phrase "the moon was out, shining with proud brilliance on the thin sugary snow"?

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

5. When John walks into the Markey house, what is the first thing that Edith tells him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does John hear when he approaches the Markeys' house, and what is his response?

2. What reason does the narrator give for the children's good behavior?

3. What causes Edith to laugh during the altercation between Ede and Billy?

4. What does John Andros enjoy about being a father?

5. What does John Andros see as the drawbacks to being a father?

6. What time does Edith Andros arrive at the baby party, and why?

7. What background information does the narrator give about John, and how does this background affect his mood when he is headed for the party?

8. What does Edith do each weekday afternoon, and why?

9. How do the mothers react to Ede, and how does she react to the party?

10. How does Edith feel about talking to Mrs. Markey?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay that makes and defends a claim about the characterization of Edith Andros. Support your assertions with evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that makes and defends a claim about the importance of social order to the adults in "The Baby Party." Defend your assertions with evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 3

John and Joe ride the train together each weekday to their jobs in the city. What is the significance of this? Consider what happens in the city in this story, versus what happens in the suburbs. Consider the roles of men and women in the story, and their physical locations as the action of the story unfolds. Write an essay in which you make and defend a claim about the significance of the fact that these two men commute to work together each day. Support your ideas with evidence from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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