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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. What technique is used in the page 3 phrase "her eyes with their irises of morning blue"?

2. Besides "rude," what does Edith call Mrs. Markey on page 10?

3. How old is John Andros?

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

5. What does the narrator say, on page 6, is the "real business of the afternoon"?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What does John tell Edith about how he ended up fighting Joe, and what is the truth?

5. How does the dispute between Ede and Billy begin, and what happens during their argument?

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

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

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

9. How does Edith prepare Ede for the party, and why?

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

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 significance of Billy's teddy bear. Defend your arguments with evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Read the article "When Did Girls Start Wearing Pink?" by Jeanne Maglaty (available online). Then, think about how this seemingly small detail in the story actually has real significance. Why does Edith choose pink? How does this change your understanding of her comments to John on the phone? How does it change your understanding of John's wondering if the dress is "something radical and mature"? (4) What are the women at the party probably thinking when Ede appears dressed in pink? Write an essay in which you make and defend a claim about the significance of Ede's pink dress. Be sure to defend your observations with evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay that examines how Fitzgerald uses diction as a method of characterization in "The Baby Party." Defend your claims with quoted textual evidence.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,005 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample