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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Anxiety," why does the narrator yell at a young father as he walks his child home from school?
(a) He did not hold the child's hand crossing the street.
(b) He did not carry the girl's backpack for her.
(c) He was not paying enough attention to the child.
(d) He slammed the child down in anger.

2. What does one neighbor tell the stranger about the young girls in "In the Garden"?
(a) They are better off without their mother.
(b) The girls are a figment of the woman's imagination.
(c) Their father was involved in the kidnapping.
(d) She thinks he kidnapped the girls.

3. What does Faith's father begin doing while in the Children of Judea home in "Dreamer in a Dead Language"?
(a) Writing poetry.
(b) Knitting.
(c) Singing.
(d) Painting.

4. Who is the speaker in "The Little Girl"?
(a) Carter.
(b) Jack.
(c) Dennis.
(d) Charlie.

5. What was Mr. Zagrowsky's occupation before retirement in "Zagrowsky Tells"?
(a) Pharmacist.
(b) Barber.
(c) Police officer.
(d) Doctor.

6. Why does the grandmother worry about Sonia?
(a) Her husband left her.
(b) She has no life.
(c) She has too many children.
(d) She has no money.

7. Where does Dennis live?
(a) In a commune.
(b) In a condo.
(c) With his parents.
(d) In a college dorm.

8. What advice does Faith give Mr. Zagrowsky, which angers him?
(a) He should take his wife out for fresh air.
(b) He should read to Emmanuel every night.
(c) He should let Cissy raise her own son.
(d) He should make sure Emmanuel has Black friends.

9. How old is Faith when she takes up running in "The Long-Distance Runner"?
(a) 18.
(b) 42.
(c) 26.
(d) 56.

10. What reminds the narrator of her mother standing in the doorway at the start of "Mother"?
(a) A smell.
(b) A woman who looks like her.
(c) The sight of her old house.
(d) A song.

11. What does the older woman suggest the unwed mothers at the playground do in "Northeast Playground"?
(a) She suggests they never marry.
(b) She suggests they find rich guys to marry.
(c) She suggests they mingle with the married mothers.
(d) She suggests they apply for welfare.

12. Who does Sonia tell the narrator she should read if she really wants to know if she had a life?
(a) Dostoevsky.
(b) Vonnegut.
(c) Turgenev.
(d) Chekov.

13. What did Vicente do when he was drafted for the army?
(a) He became an army cook.
(b) He fled the country.
(c) He became an army surgeon.
(d) He got killed.

14. How does Charlie think Juniper died in "The Little Girl"?
(a) Angie killed her.
(b) Hector killed her.
(c) Carter killed her.
(d) Suicide.

15. What does the man worry about in "The Burdened Man" ?
(a) Money.
(b) His wife.
(c) Death.
(d) His children.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Lavinia's mother ask Robert at the start of "Lavinia: An Old Story"?

2. What does Ruthy say she would do if she were a boy?

3. What is the name of Dennis's band in "Enormous Changes at the Last Minute"?

4. Who tells Faith to "cut the baby talk" (257) when she returns home in "Long Distance Runner"?

5. Who is Philip's ex-wife in "Dreamer in a Dead Language"?

(see the answer keys)

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