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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. In Chapter 10, how does Quinn contact Auster?
(a) He visits his apartment.
(b) He writes him a letter.
(c) He sends him a telegram.
(d) He calls him on the telephone.

2. According to Stillman's book, how many years elapsed between the Flood and the Tower of Babel?
(a) 340 years.
(b) 560 years.
(c) 170 years.
(d) 220 years.

3. After Quinn runs out of money and leaves the alleyway, he sees his reflection in a mirror. His own image reminds him of whom?
(a) Robinson Crusoe.
(b) Don Quixote.
(c) Jonathon Swift.
(d) Peter Stillman.

4. Where is Quinn the second time the telephone rings?
(a) In the kitchen.
(b) In the hallway.
(c) In the bathroom.
(d) In his office.

5. After Quinn figures out the message, how many days does he estimate are left before Stillman makes a move to harm Peter?
(a) Two days.
(b) One day.
(c) Four days.
(d) Seven days.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is the Stillman family from?

2. What does Quinn find when he returns to his apartment?

3. To which two continental philosophers does the narrator credit the concept of the "noble savage"?

4. What happens each time Auster tries to reach Virginia Stillman by telephone in Chapter 11?

5. What does Stillman do with the object that he examines during his walks in Chapter 8 of the novel?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what year did Stillman lock up his son? Why is this significant?

2. In the telephone calls in Chapter 1, with whom is Quinn confused? What is the nature of this person's work?

3. What interests Auster about the authorship of Don Quixote? According to Auster, what was the experiment that Don Quixote was conducting?

4. What is the financial and societal status of the Stillman family? Where do the Stillmans come from?

5. Why did Stillman invent the persona of Henry Dark? What significance does this name have?

6. In Chapter 12, why does Quinn finally decide to leave the alleyway? Who is the first person he contacts and what information does this person provide?

7. What role does fate have in Quinn's involvement in the Stillman case? What does Quinn consider to be a sign of fate's decision?

8. What is Stillman's theory about having children? What is the correlation between having children and knowledge?

9. What does Quinn believe is the key to effective detective work? Does his theory prove to be correct? Why or why not?

10. In Chapter 13, where does Quinn go? What does he do there?

(see the answer keys)

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