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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 feeling does the narrator say "used to have a ragged pain, sometimes wafty, sometimes sharp as needles" (70)?
(a) Grief.
(b) Ambition.
(c) Love.
(d) Caring.

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

3. In "While It Lasts," what has Bonnie found a "newfound satisfaction" in (81)?
(a) Clearing her plans with George.
(b) Taking care of the details of George's life for him.
(c) Doing things George's way.
(d) Being a part of a large family.

4. At the beginning of "While It Lasts," what object is George looking for?
(a) His backpack.
(b) His coat.
(c) His laptop.
(d) His car keys.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Why I Don't Write," what is the likely source of items like "Sponge. Lemon. Milk" (66)?

2. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what causes Ned to believe that the big man on the subway will not be willing to help him?

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

4. According to "Why I Don't Write," what is the problem with making donations?

5. In "While It Lasts," what does George compliment Isabel on?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "While It Lasts," how does the knapsack embody George's personality?

2. In "Café Mort," why would some of the waitresses be "proud" of their jobs (89)?

3. In "Café Mort," what does the narrator need to rid herself of before she can leave the café?

4. In "Café Mort," what does the narrator mean when, on page 89, she says "It's always an endless night"?

5. In "Boston Common at Twilight," what alternative place to stay is available to Ned, and why does he prefer to stay with his aunt?

6. What question begins "Why I Don't Write," and how is this question related to the rest of the story?

7. In "Why I Don't Write," what is the rhetorical purpose of the images of people looking at their phones?

8. 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)?

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

10. 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?

(see the answer keys)

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