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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. What does Dillard say shocked her as she remembered a formal lunch with a publishing colleague in Chapter 2?
(a) Her lack of entertaining people.
(b) The fanaticism of her twenties.
(c) The sexist terms the man used.
(d) Her plants dying.

2. What is the title of the Jack London book mentioned in Chapter 2?
(a) The Call of the Wild.
(b) White Fang.
(c) The Iron Heel.
(d) The Sea-Wolf.

3. Where does the "line of words" go at the end of Chapter 1?
(a) To the sun.
(b) To Houston, Texas.
(c) Out past Jupiter.
(d) To Venus.

4. Who did Dillard see standing at the chess table in the Roanoke library one night?
(a) A baby in a diaper.
(b) The librarian's wife.
(c) The head librarian.
(d) Her phantom opponent.

5. What does Dillard say that she makes a pen drawing of in Chapter 2?
(a) The scenery outside her study carrel.
(b) People pulling into the parking lot.
(c) Cows on a hilltop.
(d) Snapping turtles.

Short Answer Questions

1. Oftentimes, what part of Dillard's work must be edited out?

2. When Dillard is watching symbols move on her monitor, which sends back numbers to her, what is it her job to do?

3. What is needed in the world more than another excellent manuscript, as far as Dillard is concerned?

4. In the life of a Danish aristocrat mentioned in Chapter 2, what did he do for most of the day?

5. How did Washington writer, Charlie Butts, write fiction in order to gain momentum?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Dillard was working in the library at night, how did she find her way around in the dark?

2. Why does Dillard say that she made a pen drawing of the scenes outside her library window?

3. When the cab driver in New York sang songs with Dillard, why did he sing one dull song twice?

4. Dillard vows to remember her difficulties writing in Roanoke, Virginia. Why is this ironic?

5. How does Dillard describe the line of words as being one's own heart?

6. Why did a ritual slaughterer bid goodbye to his wife and children every morning as if it were his last, in Chapter 1?

7. What is the meaning of Thoreau's note that "The youth gets together his materials to build a bridge to the moon, or perchance a palace or temple on the earth, and at length the middle-aged man concludes to build a wood-shed with them"?

8. Why does Dillard feel that an appealing workplace for a writer should be avoided?

9. Why does Dillard believe that putting together a book is interesting and exhilarating?

10. Why is 'the path' of the line of writing, as described in Chapter 1 by Dillard, not to be considered the actual work?

(see the answer keys)

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