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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Café Mort," who comes in with the electrocuted woman?
(a) Her husband.
(b) Her sister.
(c) Her daughter.
(d) Her nurse.

2. In "While It Lasts," why is Bonnie unable to hear the last thing that Mr. Buffy tries to tell her?
(a) A car honks its horn just as he speaks.
(b) Mr. Buffy is on the other side of the glass door.
(c) George hurries her away.
(d) The wind is too loud.

3. In "While It Lasts," George is said to be "an expert at being flippant" (82). What does this mean George is good at?
(a) Shallow, disrespectful humor.
(b) Absurd, farcical humor.
(c) Dark, bitter humor.
(d) Deadpan, ironic humor.

4. In "Café Mort," what do the regular patrons talk about constantly?
(a) Fairy tales.
(b) Funerals.
(c) Politics.
(d) Clichéd advice.

5. In "Café Mort," what were the Russian dancer's dances about when she was alive?
(a) Hope.
(b) Anger.
(c) Love.
(d) Despair.

6. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what is Ned's reason for going to Boston Common?
(a) He wants to buy marijuana.
(b) He wants to see the swan boats again.
(c) He wants to get ice cream at Schrafft's.
(d) He thinks that his brother might be there.

7. In "Café Mort," what is the name of the woman in the white nightgown who claims that she is still alive?
(a) Francine.
(b) Jules.
(c) Anita.
(d) Roxanne.

8. On page 73 of "Why I Don't Write," the list of what "Bob Dylan says," ("He's all right" and "He's not all right") is an example of which technique?
(a) Paradox.
(b) Tautology.
(c) Ambiguity.
(d) Oxymoron.

9. In "Café Mort," what attitude is more common among the late-night customers?
(a) Distraction.
(b) Bitterness.
(c) Satisfaction.
(d) Acceptance.

10. In "Why I Don't Write," what song title does the narrator think of?
(a) "Hocus Pocus."
(b) "Down With the Sickness."
(c) "I Don't Like Mondays."
(d) "Crawl to Me, Baby, Crawl to Me."

11. On page 108 of "Boston Common at Twilight," what causes Ned to feel "something hot and terrible rush through him"?
(a) He notices that the woman may be trying to disguise her biological sex.
(b) The woman grabs Ned's arm.
(c) The woman tells Ned that he will need to come back to her apartment.
(d) The woman shows Ned the knife.

12. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what sport is Ned involved in?
(a) Football.
(b) Hockey.
(c) Diving.
(d) Lacrosse.

13. At what time of year does "Boston Common at Twilight" take place?
(a) Easter.
(b) Christmas.
(c) Thanksgiving.
(d) Halloween.

14. In "While It Lasts," what does Bonnie find so compelling about George?
(a) His lack of anxiety.
(b) His sense of humor.
(c) His high-powered job.
(d) His attention to detail.

15. In "While It Lasts," what does George do for a living?
(a) He is a tech consultant.
(b) He owns a software firm.
(c) He designs computer security systems.
(d) He is a hacker.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Café Mort," how did Karen's little brother die?

2. In "Café Mort," what occupies the attention of the "beige woman"?

3. In "Why I Don't Write," what does the narrator say "used ot be more awful" (72)?

4. In "While It Lasts," whose owns the apartment where the party is held?

5. In "Why I Don't Write," what claim is implied by the list of female authors Jane Austen, Flannery O'Connor, and the Brontes?

(see the answer keys)

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