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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. In "Café Mort," what does the woman with purple fingers complain about?
(a) The cold.
(b) The coffee.
(c) Mosquitoes.
(d) Tourists.

3. In "Café Mort," how does the narrator unwind after a shift at work?
(a) Television and popcorn.
(b) With a hot bath.
(c) By smoking marijuana.
(d) A book and a beer.

4. 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) Oxymoron.
(d) Ambiguity.

5. In "While It Lasts," what single word is Bonnie's "first lie to [George]" (87)?
(a) "Nothing."
(b) "Yes."
(c) "Isabel."
(d) "Yesterday."

6. On page 71 of "Why I Don't Write," of which author does the narrator say, "Open any page...and have the top of your head taken off"?
(a) Dylan.
(b) Rimbaud.
(c) Beckett.
(d) Dickenson.

7. In "Why I Don't Write," what feeling does the narrator say "used to have a ragged pain, sometimes wafty, sometimes sharp as needles" (70)?
(a) Love.
(b) Caring.
(c) Ambition.
(d) Grief.

8. In "While It Lasts," what does Isabel claim is "antisocial" (80)?
(a) Inside jokes.
(b) Falling in love.
(c) Leaving a party early.
(d) Refusing to drink alcohol.

9. In "Café Mort," who is the restaurant manager?
(a) Gil.
(b) Jerry.
(c) Mac.
(d) Roman.

10. In "While It Lasts," what does Isabel ask Bonnie about George's job?
(a) Whether Bonnie is comfortable with what he does for a living.
(b) Whether he has started spending more time at work.
(c) Whether he is interested in a promotion.
(d) Whether Bonnie knows exactly what it is.

11. In "While It Lasts," what does Bonnie think is Isabel's problem with finding love?
(a) She thinks that Isabel's standards are too high.
(b) She thinks that Isabel's drinking turns men off.
(c) She thinks that Isabel might not actually be attracted to men.
(d) She thinks that Isabel is not serious enough about life.

12. In "While It Lasts," what does George compliment Isabel on?
(a) Her legs.
(b) Her smile.
(c) Her voice.
(d) Her wit.

13. In "Café Mort," why does one of the customers always refer to himself using plurals?
(a) He is a monarch.
(b) He is a twin.
(c) He is mentally ill.
(d) He is unaware that he is dead.

14. In "Why I Don't Write," what claim is implied by the list of female authors Jane Austen, Flannery O'Connor, and the Brontes?
(a) Staying unmarried frees women to write.
(b) Female writers often depend on someone else for money.
(c) Women are better writers when they write in isolation.
(d) Women often start writing later in life than do men.

15. At the end of "Café Mort," what question does Rita ask the narrator on page 101?
(a) "Can you help me?"
(b) "Have we lost you?"
(c) "Do you remember?"
(d) "How long will you stay?"

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Why I Don't Write," what song title does the narrator think of?

2. In "While It Lasts," who is hosting the dinner party?

3. In "While It Lasts," why is Bonnie unable to hear the last thing that Mr. Buffy tries to tell her?

4. In "Why I Don't Write," what city is the narrator invited to visit?

5. In "Café Mort," who comes in with the electrocuted woman?

(see the answer keys)

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