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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. For what reason, besides that "there may not be enough to tell about him," does the woman think that the man might not be the right "center" for her story (20)?
(a) She is unclear about how she feels about the man.
(b) There is no real resolution to his story.
(c) This might not be the right time to tell his story.
(d) The man will be angry that she wrote about him.

3. How does the woman realize her study of religion has made her feel?
(a) Energized.
(b) Guilty.
(c) Confused.
(d) Peaceful.

4. Besides reading the Bible, what else does the woman spend her time doing in the period of time her story is about?
(a) She calls each of her family members and friends.
(b) She looks out the window and watches the news.
(c) She reads the Koran and the Talmud.
(d) She shops for emergency supplies and fills her tub with water.

5. Who is with the landlady when the landlady is talking about the mayor?
(a) The landlady's son.
(b) No one.
(c) The main character.
(d) The mail carrier.

6. In the story's opening sentence, what is implied about the main character's writing?
(a) She is losing interest in her career.
(b) She does not deserve the praise she has gotten.
(c) Her readers are gradually deserting her.
(d) More than one of her stories is uninteresting.

7. For the majority of the story, what tone does the narrator adopt?
(a) Amused.
(b) Objective.
(c) Dismissive.
(d) Melancholic.

8. What detail in the description of the man indicates how ill he feels?
(a) The way his ribs protrude.
(b) The smell coming from his skin.
(c) The color of his face.
(d) The sounds he is making.

9. What does the woman suspect that the man believes about his blasphemy?
(a) It is the reason she is angry at him.
(b) It caused the hurricane.
(c) It caused his illness.
(d) It is no one's business but his own.

10. On her train ride, what does the woman realize she has not given much thought to?
(a) Her friend's illness.
(b) Her next story.
(c) The devil.
(d) The newscasters.

11. What technique is used in the phrase "the stink of burning hair, fur, and horn" (19)?
(a) Imagery.
(b) Onomatopoeia.
(c) Synesthesia.
(d) Assonance.

12. The man tells the woman that he has committed "blasphemy" (20). What has he done?
(a) Contemplated suicide.
(b) Told a harmful lie about someone.
(c) Shown disrespect to God.
(d) Cursed God's name.

13. What is it logical to infer about the church women who are wearing red?
(a) They are ushers.
(b) They are worship leaders.
(c) They are collecting the offering.
(d) They are the choir.

14. Why does the main character find that the story she is working on is not an easy one to write?
(a) It is about religion.
(b) It is about friendship.
(c) It is about death.
(d) It is about fear.

15. What does the sick man want when he calls the main character?
(a) He wants her to come over and help him.
(b) He wants to apologize for the argument they recently had.
(c) He wants to talk about death and the afterlife.
(d) He wants her advice about whether to go to the hospital.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the hurricane do to the city in the woman's story?

2. In what religion are the High Holy Days a sacred time?

3. After completing her first draft of the story, what does the woman realize about it?

4. What can be inferred about the woman from the description of the women who try to get her to sit down at their church?

5. What detail of the woman's train ride reinforces the motif of things that come close to happening but do not actually happen?

(see the answer keys)

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