View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is implied by the number of days for which Miss Coulson orders extra ice?
(a) She thinks that the flowers will be done blooming in five days.
(b) She knows that after five days Mr. Coulson will be too irritated to talk to Mrs. Widdup at all.
(c) She wants the deliveries to last until Mrs. Widdup leaves for vacation.
(d) She thinks that she will need five days to get to know the iceman better.

2. There are "jonquils" near where Mr. Coulson is sitting. What are jonquils?
(a) They are a small sparrow-like bird.
(b) They are decorative figures common in early 20th century homes.
(c) They are a kind of daffodil, a flower.
(d) They are thick woolen blankets.

3. Why does Miss Coulson ask when Mrs. Widdup's vacation begins?
(a) She is eager to get Mrs. Widdup away from Mr. Coulson.
(b) She is hoping to get away from the house for a while, herself.
(c) She will need to make arrangements for Mr. Coulson's care.
(d) She is wondering if Mr. Coulson will try to go away with Mrs. Widdup.

4. What does the narrator call the "most potent weapons of insidious May" (334)?
(a) Sunny days.
(b) Warm breezes.
(c) Flowers.
(d) Birds.

5. With which motif is Miss Coulson most identified?
(a) Ice.
(b) Wealth.
(c) Flowers.
(d) May.

6. Who is Miss Van Meeker Constantia Coulson?
(a) Mr. Coulson's granddaughter.
(b) Mr. Coulson's sister.
(c) Mr. Coulson's aunt.
(d) Mr. Coulson's daughter.

7. What point is made through the juxtaposition of Mr. Coulson's and Mrs. Widdup's comments about springtime?
(a) They have very different points of view about springtime.
(b) Mrs. Widdup does not return Mr. Coulson's affections.
(c) Mrs. Widdup is a much more emotional person than Mr. Coulson is.
(d) There is a significant gap in their education and social classes.

8. How much ice does Miss Coulson order be delivered each day?
(a) 1,000 pounds.
(b) 250 pounds.
(c) 500 pounds.
(d) 2,000 pounds.

9. Which of the following literary techniques is used in the title "The Marry Month of May"?
(a) Synecdoche.
(b) Paronomasia.
(c) Paraprosdokian.
(d) Anaphora.

10. What is the name of the servant who usually gives Mr. Coulson his medication?
(a) Higgins.
(b) Treadwell.
(c) Marley.
(d) Foster.

11. What physical gesture of affection does Mr. Coulson make toward Mrs. Widdup?
(a) He touches her arm.
(b) He strokes her hair.
(c) He holds her hand.
(d) He kisses her.

12. What are the details about the iceman's sleeves and hat intended to convey?
(a) He has lower-class manners.
(b) He thinks that Miss Coulson may be in love with him.
(c) He is trying to show respect for Miss Coulson.
(d) He is conceited and self-absorbed.

13. What is the implication of the passage "She blushed. Oh, yes, it can be done. Just hold your breath and compress the diaphragm" (333)?
(a) Most people blush on purpose.
(b) Mrs. Widdup may be faking her reaction to Mr. Coulson.
(c) Blushing happens when the diaphragm is contracted too forcefully.
(d) In her excitement, Mrs. Widdup can barely breathe.

14. What does the narrator warn the reader to "never trust" (333)?
(a) Hyacinths.
(b) Warm breezes.
(c) Sparrows.
(d) May.

15. Why does Mr. Coulson hesitate as he says, "In the spring...a y -- that is a man's -- fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love" (333)?
(a) He cannot remember the exact words of the quotation.
(b) Mrs. Widdup is giving him a puzzled look.
(c) He suddenly feels unsure about whether he wants to declare his feelings.
(d) The original quote is "a young man's fancy," and he realizes that he is not a "young" man.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where Mr. Coulson is sitting, two main smells are "battling": the smell of flowers and what other smell?

2. What claim is the narrator making by calling humans "lineal scions of the pansy" (332)?

3. What is comic about the turn of phrase "she withstood the attack of the ethereal mildness" (334)?

4. When the narrator lists the kinds of inappropriate relationships that May encourages, one of the items in the list is "old chaps" who dress up and "parade in front of the Normal School" (332). Who are these old men trying to impress with their fancy clothing?

5. How does Miss Coulson spend the afternoon after her conversation with her father about the cold?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 763 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample