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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What is implied by Mr. Coulson's mention of Palm Beach?
(a) He misses his friends in Palm Beach.
(b) He dislikes New York.
(c) He spends the winter in Palm Beach.
(d) He does not want Mrs. Widdup to go away on vacation.

3. What does Miss Coulson's believe about love?
(a) That it is a pretense.
(b) That it is humiliating.
(c) That it is inconvenient.
(d) That it is overpowering.

4. What are the "portières" that Miss Coulson is sitting near?
(a) Curtains hung in the doorway.
(b) Wall hangings.
(c) Hanging lamps.
(d) Window shutters.

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

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

7. The narrator says,"Pixies and flibbertigibbits haunt the budding woods" (332). What is in the woods?
(a) Dangerous monsters and people with evil intentions.
(b) Tricky supernatural creatures and shallow, easily distracted people.
(c) Tricky supernatural creatures and people with evil intentions.
(d) Dangerous monsters and shallow, easily distracted people.

8. Miss Coulson has a "lorgnette" (334). What is a lorgnette?
(a) Glasses that have a handle instead of ear-pieces.
(b) A round, flat case designed to hold medications or tobacco.
(c) A piece of jewelry used to hold a scarf or shawl closed.
(d) A high-necked, long-sleeved sweater.

9. What is clear in the first interaction between Mr. Coulson, Miss Coulson, and Mrs. Widdup?
(a) Miss Coulson has no idea that Mr. Coulson has romantic intentions toward Mrs. Widdup.
(b) Mrs. Widdup is much more intelligent than she seems at first.
(c) Mr. Coulson is used to having to trick Miss Coulson in order to get his way.
(d) Both Mr. Coulson and Mrs. Widdup are aware that Miss Coulson will disapprove of them having a relationship.

10. 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) The original quote is "a young man's fancy," and he realizes that he is not a "young" man.
(b) He suddenly feels unsure about whether he wants to declare his feelings.
(c) He cannot remember the exact words of the quotation.
(d) Mrs. Widdup is giving him a puzzled look.

11. Why does Mrs. Widdup go into Mr. Coulson's room in the afternoon on the second day of the story?
(a) She wants him to finish what he was going to say on the day before.
(b) She hears him ring for help.
(c) She is concerned that he is all by himself.
(d) She needs to tell him that everyone else has left the house.

12. 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) In her excitement, Mrs. Widdup can barely breathe.
(b) Most people blush on purpose.
(c) Mrs. Widdup may be faking her reaction to Mr. Coulson.
(d) Blushing happens when the diaphragm is contracted too forcefully.

13. On the final morning of the story, what causes Mr. Coulson's mood to change?
(a) He is in much less pain than usual.
(b) Miss Coulson has told him that he is behaving badly.
(c) It is warm again and the windows are open.
(d) Mrs. Widdup has threatened to quit.

14. 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?
(a) Female college professors.
(b) Young women training to become school teachers.
(c) Schoolgirls.
(d) Lower-class college-aged women.

15. Which bird is Mr. Coulson said to be "elder brother" to in May?
(a) Chickadee.
(b) Turtle-dove.
(c) Robin.
(d) Pigeon.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is implied by the number of days for which Miss Coulson orders extra ice?

2. After the iceman tells Miss Coulson, "It'll be a pleasure to fix things up for you any way you please," the narrator comments "Alas for May" (334). What is implied by this comment?

3. Which of the following literary techniques is used in the title "The Marry Month of May"?

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

5. Who is the author of "The Marry Month of May"?

(see the answer keys)

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