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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Howie's co-worker Ray hurt his back?
(a) Moving a vending machine.
(b) Cleaning the escalator.
(c) Sweeping.
(d) Moving a pool.

2. What is supposed to be such a common sight that office workers don't comment about it?
(a) Window washers.
(b) Copiers.
(c) Janitors.
(d) Affairs.

3. What has broken at the beginning of Chapter 2?
(a) Right shoelace.
(b) Escalator.
(c) Left shoelace.
(d) Stapler.

4. Howie compares sneaker shoelaces to _________ at the end of Chapter 1.
(a) Spaghetti.
(b) Dress shoelaces.
(c) Vinyl shoelaces.
(d) Velcro.

5. What does Howie give a historical footnote to in Chapter 6?
(a) House calls.
(b) Ice cube trays.
(c) Milk cartons.
(d) Polaroids.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Howie spend considerable time thinking about on the subway?

2. What does Howie describe in great detail in the first paragraph of the book?

3. What possession of Howie's is stolen?

4. Howie only likes to use straws for _________.

5. Howie describes all these "disruptions of physical routines" EXCEPT one.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the treat that Howie gives himself after making a resolution to not get carried away by nostalgia?

2. How many of Howie's escalator memories come from his childhood?

3. What does breaking his shoelace remind Howie of?

4. Howie does Howie's shoelace break?

5. Where is Howie when he believes that his great period of growth as a human has ended?

6. What observations does Howie make about straws while he was at Papa Gino's?

7. What thoughts about bread does Howie have while riding the subway?

8. How does "The Mezzanine" begin?

9. What does Howie mean by "vibratiuncles of comparison"?

10. Why does Howie consider the purchase of a rubber stamp to be one of his advancements?

(see the answer keys)

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