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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. From the story's context, when must Charlie have died?
(a) In the year 2003.
(b) In the year 2000.
(c) Before the year 2000.
(d) Shortly after the September 11th attack.

2. What does Nathaniel do with his spare time that his parents find worrisome?
(a) Skateboards.
(b) Goes rock climbing.
(c) Sings in a band.
(d) Draws comics.

3. What is Nathaniel's job in the narrative present?
(a) He is a bartender at a bar near Matsumoto's loft.
(b) He works in the New York subway's architecture department.
(c) He works as a building manager for Matsumoto.
(d) He works on the floor of the New York Stock exchange.

4. How are Nathaniel and Lucien related?
(a) Nathaniel is Lucien's brother's son.
(b) Nathaniel is Lucian's cousin's son.
(c) Nathaniel is Lucian's son-in-law.
(d) Nathaniel is Lucien's nephew by marriage.

5. What does Nathaniel say that ceremonial occasions remind us about?
(a) That time only moves in one direction.
(b) That we should love one another.
(c) That ideas are bigger than any one person.
(d) That life is unpredictable.

6. Besides their minimal rent, what task are Nathaniel and his roommates performing in exchange for a place to live?
(a) They are repainting the loft.
(b) They sort through and forward Matsumoto's mail.
(c) They take care of Matsumoto's cats.
(d) They collect the rent from Matsumoto's other tenants.

7. What do Rose and Isaac ask Lucien to do when he calls Nathaniel after Nathaniel arrives in New York?
(a) Tell Nathaniel to go back home.
(b) Get Nathaniel a job.
(c) Not tell Nathaniel that they asked Lucien to call.
(d) Find Nathaniel a place to live.

8. What does Isaac do for a living?
(a) He is a rabbi.
(b) He repairs cars.
(c) He owns a deli.
(d) He makes vacuum cleaners.

9. Which character works for Itami Systems?
(a) Matsumoto.
(b) Madison.
(c) Lyle.
(d) Lucien.

10. To what does Nathaniel compare the sight of Manhattan from Matsumoto's loft?
(a) The circuit board of a computer.
(b) A miniature city from his childhood train set.
(c) Van Gogh's Starry Night.
(d) A glass of champagne.

11. After Charlie became ill, what did Lucien feel was happening to the world?
(a) It was shattering like broken glass.
(b) It was melting away into nothing.
(c) It was all turning into paper.
(d) It was burning down around him.

12. What does Nathaniel suggest that people might be desperate enough to burn in the wake of a global computer failure?
(a) Their designer clothing and shoes.
(b) Stacks of money.
(c) Their old issues of the New York Review.
(d) Their children's elementary school artwork.

13. Which of the possible consequences of a global computer failure that Nathaniel mentions could be considered foreshadowing?
(a) The idea that widespread food shortages might occur.
(b) The idea that airplanes might lose their guidance systems and crash.
(c) The idea that hospitals might not be able to monitor patients.
(d) The idea that people might be trapped in high-rise elevators.

14. What is Russell's business relationship to Amity?
(a) He is her lawyer.
(b) He is her book agent.
(c) He is an employee of her P.R. firm.
(d) He works with her at the stock exchange.

15. Where did Nathaniel live before he moved to New York?
(a) Minnesota.
(b) The Southwest.
(c) The Midwest.
(d) California.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where did Nathaniel meet Madison, Amity, and Lyle?

2. Why is Lyle sad all of the time?

3. What ridiculous detail does Nathaniel give in his description of the last months of 1999?

4. What is the name of Lucien's assistant?

5. What does Nathaniel say history teaches us?

(see the answer keys)

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