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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. 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."

2. 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) Tautology.
(b) Oxymoron.
(c) Paradox.
(d) Ambiguity.

3. In "Why I Don't Write," what claim is made about the impact of having children on female writers?
(a) It deepens the emotion of their work.
(b) It focuses their writing too narrowly.
(c) It is an obstacle to their success.
(d) It makes them more creative.

4. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what does Ned like about staying with his aunt?
(a) The food and the television.
(b) She is the only one who will talk about his mother.
(c) The lack of rules.
(d) His uncle Rob's collection of sports memorabilia.

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

6. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what is Ned embarrassed about when he remembers coming to Boston Common with his mother seven years before?
(a) The outfits he and his brother wore.
(b) How little he knew about Boston.
(c) The argument he got into with his mother.
(d) His mother's drinking.

7. In "Why I Don't Write," what does the narrator have a dream about?
(a) Baseball.
(b) Diamonds.
(c) Sledding.
(d) Lobsters.

8. In "While It Lasts," what comparison does Bonnie make between George and Mr. Buffy?
(a) Mr. Buffy seems more real than George.
(b) George is more direct than Mr. Buffy.
(c) George is funnier than Mr. Buffy.
(d) Mr. Buffy seems wise compared to George.

9. In "While It Lasts," whose owns the apartment where the party is held?
(a) Richard's company.
(b) Froy.
(c) Isabel's stepmother.
(d) Mr. Buffy.

10. At the end of "While It Lasts," what do Bonnie and George argue about?
(a) She is angry about his flirting with Isabel.
(b) He refuses to tell her about his day at work.
(c) Bonnie's anxiety about her job.
(d) George always wanting to get home early.

11. In "Why I Don't Write," what does the narrator say "used ot be more awful" (72)?
(a) Despair.
(b) Life.
(c) Death.
(d) Hope.

12. On page 66 of "Why I Don't Write," what is ironic about the diagnosis of the computer problem "Your system must be overloaded"?
(a) The advice applies to the narrator's life, as well.
(b) The narrator does not have a computer.
(c) Unsolicited advice clearly bothers the narrator.
(d) The narrator's computer is brand new.

13. In "While It Lasts," what does Bonnie do for a living?
(a) She is a public defender.
(b) She is a teacher.
(c) She is a psychologist.
(d) She is an interior designer.

14. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what is the name of Ned's aunt?
(a) Marcie.
(b) Elsie.
(c) Sharon.
(d) Mary Ellen.

15. In "Café Mort," which waitress has been at the café the longest?
(a) Maggie.
(b) Sharon.
(c) Rita.
(d) Karen.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Boston Common at Twilight," how does Ned's brother react when Ned tells him about the assault?

2. In "Boston Common at Twilight," how many times has Ned seen his father since his father broke the news about his separation from their mother?

3. In "While It Lasts," what has Bonnie found a "newfound satisfaction" in (81)?

4. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what has changed in Ned's thinking about his mother as he has gotten older?

5. 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"?

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