View a FREE sample

This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 1: The Center of the Story.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What detail of the woman's train ride reinforces the motif of things that come close to happening but do not actually happen?
(a) Her thoughts about religion.
(b) The direction she is traveling.
(c) The water level.
(d) Her distance from the city.

2. What does the woman think might be preventing her from committing to a center for her story?
(a) Hope.
(b) Curiosity.
(c) Fear.
(d) Laziness.

3. Who is the author of "The Center of the Story"?
(a) Doris Betts.
(b) Lydia Davis.
(c) Judith Frank.
(d) Maile Chapman.

4. Why does the man in the story feel so ill?
(a) He has food poisoning.
(b) He is having a heart attack.
(c) He has the flu.
(d) He has cancer.

5. Why was the woman reading the Bible during the period she writes about in her story?
(a) Because she wanted to use Biblical allusions in her writing.
(b) Because she wanted to know exactly what it said.
(c) Because she needed comfort during the hurricane.
(d) Because it was the High Holy Days.

Short Answer Questions

1. What specific Biblical story does the writer focus on?

2. What does the landlady say the mayor gave her?

3. What detail in the description of the man indicates how ill he feels?

4. What does the sick man want when he calls the main character?

5. What detail in the description of the man's bedroom indicates how close the hurricane is getting?

(see the answer key)

This section contains 307 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample