View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What kind of people make the narrator feel physically sick?
(a) Poor.
(b) Eccentric.
(c) Rich.
(d) Common.

2. Who does the narrator call decorative creatures?
(a) Elderly.
(b) Men.
(c) Women.
(d) Children.

3. How does the office boy travel?
(a) During his vacation week.
(b) Day trips on weekends.
(c) He doesn't get to travel any more since he is now working.
(d) Through collected photos.

4. Whose life is described his life as being similar to a person who has wrecked his ship on a calm sea in shallow water?
(a) Vasquez's.
(b) The office boy's.
(c) The narrator's father.
(d) Soares's.

5. Why does the narrator contend that a person cannot truly love another person?
(a) A person never really knows another person.
(b) It is impossible to fear a mere human.
(c) It is impossible to respect humanity.
(d) A person cannot own another person.

Short Answer Questions

1. From what area does Omar Khayyám hail?

2. Who enjoys being sick?

3. Why does the narrator's dreaming become painful?

4. What term does the narrator use to define a period of time in which he is unable to write as much as he is accustomed to writing?

5. When did the author complete The Book of Disquiet?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the narrator dislike reading the newspaper?

2. What does the narrator say about tedium?

3. Of the five senses, which does the narrator say is the most important?

4. What does the narrator like about being sick?

5. According to the narrator, how does one become a man of action? What role do men of action play in society and why?

6. Why does the narrator say he never puts forth much effort into various aspects of his life?

7. Discuss the narrator's conflicting thoughts and statements about his wife.

8. According to the narrator, what is the only true form of pleasure that exists? Explain his reasoning.

9. How does the narrator like to view Springtime?

10. What does a critic tell Soares about his physical appearance?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 771 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample