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

2. 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 get ice cream at Schrafft's.
(c) He thinks that his brother might be there.
(d) He wants to see the swan boats again.

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

4. 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) Unsolicited advice clearly bothers the narrator.
(b) The narrator does not have a computer.
(c) The narrator's computer is brand new.
(d) The advice applies to the narrator's life, as well.

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?
(a) Women often start writing later in life than do men.
(b) Staying unmarried frees women to write.
(c) Female writers often depend on someone else for money.
(d) Women are better writers when they write in isolation.

6. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what has changed in Ned's thinking about his mother as he has gotten older?
(a) He is not as convinced that she really loves his father.
(b) He now wishes that she would act more like a grown-up.
(c) He has more compassion for her erratic moods.
(d) He wonders more about what her life was like before he and his brother were born.

7. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what is the rhetorical purpose of mentioning the rip in Ned's parka?
(a) It introduces Ned's capacity for violence.
(b) It demonstrates that he is careless.
(c) It reinforces how young he is.
(d) It reveals the family's poverty.

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

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

10. On page 84 of "While It Lasts," what does Mr. Buffy tell Bonnie and George about love?
(a) "Being in love is like being crazy."
(b) "Love is a sucker's game."
(c) "Loving and liking are different things."
(d) "Love is for the birds."

11. In "Why I Don't Write," what is a logical antecedent for "one" in the sentence "He got another one, prettier, younger" (72)?
(a) Wife.
(b) Colleague.
(c) Friend.
(d) Boss.

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

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

14. In "Why I Don't Write," what is the likely source of items like "Sponge. Lemon. Milk" (66)?
(a) An inventory.
(b) A grocery list.
(c) A dream.
(d) A column of cleaning advice.

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

Short Answer Questions

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

2. On page 107 of "Boston Common at Twilight," what causes Ned to sudden feel "that something uncertain was going to happen and he would be blamed for whatever it was"?

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

4. In "Café Mort," how did the narrator's "beloved" die?

5. At the end of "Café Mort," what question does Rita ask the narrator on page 101?

(see the answer keys)

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