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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. 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.

3. 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) Ambiguity.
(c) Paradox.
(d) Oxymoron.

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

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"?
(a) Dylan.
(b) Rimbaud.
(c) Dickenson.
(d) Beckett.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what is Ned's reason for going to Boston Common?

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

3. In "Why I Don't Write," what family member does the narrator have a conflict with?

4. In "Café Mort," what does the narrator guess about the man "with eyes ringed like a raccoon's" (94)?

5. In "Café Mort," who is the restaurant manager?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "While It Lasts," what does Isabel want from Bonnie, and why?

2. In "While It Lasts," what is Isabel's main complaint about Richard, and what does she think is the cause of the problem?

3. In "Boston Common at Twilight," why does Ned not try to get away or yell for help?

4. In "Café Mort," why does the narrator say that the stream of advice coming from the patrons is "either instructive or ironic, depending on your perspective" (93)?

5. In "While It Lasts," why does Bonnie think that George is a particularly good match for her?

6. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what clues does Minot offer that the woman in the park might be biologically male?

7. In "Why I Don't Write," what is the page 69 phrase "The thumping far below the floor" an allusion to, and what is its thematic significance?

8. In "Why I Don't Write," what types of repetition are used in the page 69 paragraph "Cleaning out the closets. Cleaning out the drawers. Clearing out the basement," and what effect does the device create?

9. In "Boston Common at Twilight," why does Ned end up taking an earlier train than usual, and how does this matter to the story's plot?

10. At the end of "While It Lasts," what does Bonnie realize about her relationship?

(see the answer keys)

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