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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 20.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which people are described as wild, inbred half-wits and murderers?
(a) The Quoyles.
(b) The Buggits.
(c) The Hamms.
(d) The Cards.

2. What job did Quoyle's father have?
(a) Produce manager in a supermarket.
(b) Hardware buyer at Macy's.
(c) Clothing buyer for Wal-Mart.
(d) Hardware manager in a supermarket.

3. Which of Quoyle's jobs are listed on the first page of the novel?
(a) Rope-maker and knot-tester, cab driver, third-rate journalist.
(b) Bell-hop at a hotel, third-rate journalist, traveling salesman.
(c) Greeting card writer, bell-hop at a hotel, all-night clerk at a convenience store.
(d) Distributer of vending machine candy, all-night clerk in a convenience store, third-rate journalist.

4. What is the meaning of the word 'atavistic'?
(a) Reversion to an earlier type.
(b) Primitive and ignorant.
(c) Musical.
(d) Being unable to speak.

5. Why does Quoyle get to do the special column on The Shipping News?
(a) No-one else is willing to do it.
(b) He is at last able to write good copy.
(c) He does it for a dare.
(d) People loved his story on the Tough Baby.

Short Answer Questions

1. How can the reader tell that Quoyle is self-conscious when he meets Mavis and Dawn?

2. What are the Tea Buns?

3. What other strange occurrence is mentioned?

4. What complicates the family's stay at the motel?

5. About what does Quoyle not believe a word?

(see the answer key)

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