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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Drive Through Hell," where does Chinaski see the soul of the world?
(a) On the freeway.
(b) In a diner.
(c) Near a park.
(d) At a school.

2. Which of the following is a theme not reflected by these poems?
(a) Solitude.
(b) Acceptance.
(c) Joy.
(d) Regret.

3. What was the name of Chinaski's teacher?
(a) Ms. Samuels.
(b) Ms. Simms.
(c) Ms. Simpson.
(d) Ms. Sorento.

4. What is the occupation of the subject in "That's Why Funerals Are So Sad"?
(a) A police officer.
(b) A boxer.
(c) An actor.
(d) A writer.

5. In "Rift," who gets mad at Chinaski?
(a) His father.
(b) His brother.
(c) His roommate.
(d) The woman he lives with.

6. In "Starting Fast," where does Chinaski sleep?
(a) A hostel.
(b) A flower bed.
(c) A stranger's home.
(d) A park bench.

7. What is Chinaski's emotion in "I'll Take It..."?
(a) Nostalgic.
(b) Angry.
(c) Sad.
(d) Grateful.

8. In "Working It Out," who is Gregory Peck portraying on television?
(a) F. Scott Fitzgerald.
(b) Charles Dickens.
(c) Edgar Allan Poe.
(d) Mark Twain.

9. In which poem does Bukowski relate his famous origin story?
(a) "My Vanishing Act."
(b) "Zero."
(c) "The Master Plan."
(d) "Garbage."

10. What is the name of Chinaski's lover with whom he lived with on next to nothing?
(a) Judith.
(b) Jolene.
(c) Julia.
(d) Jane.

11. How old was Chinaski when he took a trip to Tijuana?
(a) Seventeen.
(b) Twenty-four.
(c) Twenty-one.
(d) Thirty.

12. In "The Crazy Truth," Chinaski recalled seeing a pedestrian verbally abuse a man in what color car?
(a) Green.
(b) Red.
(c) White.
(d) Blue.

13. Saroyan insists that in order for him to write he needs to ______________.
(a) Draw.
(b) Gamble.
(c) Hike.
(d) Drive.

14. Which poem is a short quip in which Bukowski says it is still nice to be Bukowski?
(a) "Rift."
(b) "The Chemistry of Things."
(c) "The Still Trapeze."
(d) "Well, That's Just the Way It Is."

15. Where does Chinaski give another driver a rude gesture?
(a) School parking lot.
(b) Supermarket parking lot.
(c) Busy intersection.
(d) Library parking lot.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "The Stride," how old does Chinaski recall being?

2. In "My First Affair With That Older Woman," how much older than Chinaski is the woman?

3. How did Chinaski's friend from "The Stride" die?

4. In "Starting Fast," what does Chinaski ruminate on?

5. What is the format of the poems in this collection?

(see the answer keys)

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