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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Boston Common at Twilight," why are Ned's parents splitting up?
(a) Ned's father is under criminal investigation.
(b) Ned's father wants to move the family to the West Coast for his business.
(c) Ned's father has fallen in love with another woman.
(d) Because of Ned's mother's drinking.

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) The wind is too loud.
(d) George hurries her away.

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

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

5. In "Café Mort," what is true of all of the employees?
(a) They are in limbo.
(b) They are figments of the narrator's imagination.
(c) They are in mourning.
(d) They are dead.

6. In "Café Mort," what occupies the attention of the "beige woman"?
(a) The cooks.
(b) The small dog she has in her purse.
(c) The man with dark-rimmed eyes.
(d) A miniature television.

7. In "Why I Don't Write," what family member does the narrator have a conflict with?
(a) Her mother.
(b) Her husband.
(c) Her brother.
(d) Her daughter.

8. In "While It Lasts," who is hosting the dinner party?
(a) Isabel.
(b) George.
(c) Bonnie.
(d) Richard.

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

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) George always wanting to get home early.
(d) Bonnie's anxiety about her job.

11. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what causes Ned to believe that the big man on the subway will not be willing to help him?
(a) The man laughs at him.
(b) The man seems to know the woman who is abducting Ned.
(c) The man turns away and refuses to make eye contact.
(d) The man looks right through him like he is not there.

12. Throughout "Why I Don't Write," variations of what question are asked several times?
(a) "Is this as unbelievable as I think it is?"
(b) "How many children do you have?"
(c) "When will the magazines arrive?"
(d) "Can I just see that one more time?"

13. In "Boston Common at Twilight," how does Ned's brother react when Ned tells him about the assault?
(a) He calls the police and reports the crime.
(b) He blames Ned for making bad choices.
(c) He says he will kill the perpetrator.
(d) He forces Ned to tell their mother what happened.

14. In the context of "Café Mort," what does the word "mort" mean?
(a) A shortened form of "Mortimer."
(b) Grief.
(c) Death.
(d) The sound of a hunting horn.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. On page 84 of "While It Lasts," what does Mr. Buffy tell Bonnie and George about love?

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

3. In "Café Mort," what were the Russian dancer's dances about when she was alive?

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

5. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what does Ned remember most from the day of the assault?

(see the answer keys)

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