Take+The+Test

Short Story Test Parts

  1. Which of the following is NOT an example of irony in “The Dinner Party”?: a. The invited couple has their own dinner party. b. The pregnant woman drinking cranberry juice. c. The fact that the host couple knows the surprise that will be revealed at the dinner party. d. The fact that the narrator’s wife is sterile.
 * Multiple Choice (1 point each)**
 * DINNER PARTY.**

2. The wife’s statement “Why do I have this life?” probably refers to: a. The fact that she cannot have children. b. The fact that her friends disapprove of her current situation. c. The fact that her husband is having an affair. d. Both A and B. e. Both B and C.

3. All of the following statements are true EXCEPT: a. The narrator disapproves of his wife’s concern when their guests do not arrive. b. The wife disapproves of her husband’s lack of concern when the guests do not arrive. c. The wife’s friend disapproves of the wife’s husband. d. The narrator may have known about the secret party beforehand. e. The narrator’s wife may have known about the secret party beforehand.

 4. Why does the family get into a car accident? a. The children are screaming in the backseat b. The cat jumps on the driver’s shoulder. c. The grandma starts having a seizure d. The Misfit cuts off the family’s car on a dirt road. e. Their tire blows out on a nail on the road.
 * A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND.**

5. Which of the following descriptions best fits the grandmother at the end of the story? a. Falsely compassionate b. Genuinely concerned c. Incredibly angry d. Either A or B e. Either A or C

6. Why does the man describe himself as a “Misfit”? a. His appearance is bizarre b. He wears a black mask c. His victims never fit the typical profile d. His punishments never fit his crimes e. His stolen clothing never fits him perfectly

 7. Why can’t the chair carrier accept the narrator’s command to put the chair down? a. Because he is deaf b. Because he does not receive the “token of authorization” c. Because he hates the narrator because he is foreign d. Because he will get shot if he puts the chair down e. Because he doesn’t understand the narrator’s language
 * CHAIR CARRIER.**

8. What does the sign posted on the chair say? a. To take the chair home and sit in it b. To carry the chair until you receive the token of authorization c. To carry the chair until you find someone else to carry it d. To carry the chair until you die e. “For Sale: Chair, never used.”

 9. The main purpose of describing the ruins was to: a. Demonstrate the effect of sand erosion b. Demonstrate the fading Indian cultural identity c. Acknowledge stylish Indian architecture d. Show the lack of good sightseeing in India e. All of the above
 * INTERPRETER OF MALADIES.**

10. Which of the following is NOT an example of the Das family’s Americanized ways? a. The fact that Mina Das reveals her bare skin with her clothing. b. The fact that the family takes pictures of monkeys on the side of the road. c. The fact that the Das family specifically requested an English-speaking tour guide. d. The fact that Mina Das contemplates divorcing her husband. e. The fact that they want to visit the temple ruins.

11. What is the symbolism of the monkeys attacking Bobby at the end of the story? a. It represents nature’s hatred of mankind. b. It represents the old world’s hatred of the new world. c. It represents the ignorance foreigners have towards natives. d. It represents the ignorance men have towards animals. e. It represents monkeys attacking a boy.

 12. Why doesn’t Sylvia reveal the location of the white heron? a. She wants to capture the heron herself. b. She distrusts the hunter’s motives. c. She is awed by the beauty of the natural world. d. She knows that if she tells him, the hunter will leave. e. She wants to anger her cruel grandmother.
 * A WHITE HERON.**

13. True or false: Sylvia is tempted to take the hunter’s money.

14. What does the fact that Sylvia’s best friend is a cow demonstrate? a. She doesn’t live near any other children her age. b. She enjoys the sweet taste of fresh milk c. She relates well to nature and the natural world d. She dreams of becoming a farmer someday. e. Both A and C.
 * FOR SALE: BABY SHOES, NEVER WORN.**

15. Which of the following statements can we infer from the story? a. The seller is poor b. A child is no longer, or never was, alive c. This is based on a true story d. All of the above e. Both A and B 16. Which of the following statements can be inferred about the narrator? a. The speaker is African-American b. The speaker is Christian c. The speaker is female. d. Both A and C. e. All of the above
 * GIRL.**

17. Which of the following best describes the role of women in their society? a. Independent b. Pampered c. Subservient d. Cocky e. Empowered  18. Why did Henry have to hand the car off to Lyman? a. He can no longer afford the gas. b. He has to serve in Vietnam. c. He has to serve in World War II d. He has to go to jail for manslaughter. e. He has to go to jail for rape.
 * THE RED CONVERTIBLE.**

19. What does Henry realize as he’s fixing up the car? a. That his brother damaged the car on purpose. b. That he should become a mechanic. c. That the White Man is the cause of all his troubles. d. That the war in Vietnam is pointless. e. That inhaling gasoline for three hours straight causes hallucinations.

20. What is symbolic about Lyman’s final act? a. It demonstrates the bond between brothers. b. It demonstrates the connection that the brothers had to the car. c. It demonstrates the plight of the American Indian. d. Both A and B. e. Both B and C.

 Match the following symbols to what they represent in the short stories:
 * Matching (2 points each)**

21 The red convertible A. purity/innocence 22 Monkeys B. brash ignorance 23 Father’s khaki pants C. angry natives 24 Cranberry juice D. personal burdens 25 White heron E. the bond of brotherhood 26 Ruined Indian temple F. tragic disappointment 27 Baby shoes G. betrayal of a secret 28 Open suitcase H. servant role of women in society 29 Spilled rice I. loss of cultural identity 30 The chair J. desire to escape

 In complete sentences, identify the story, speaker, and importance of the following quotations:
 * Quote Identification (10 points each)**

31 She would have been a good woman if it had been somebody there to shoot her every minute of her life.” 32 “Eight years, Mr. Kapasi, I’ve been in pain eight years. I was hoping you could help me feel better, say the right thing. Suggest some kind of remedy.”

 In fiction, the APOTHEOSIS is a term used to describe a character’s “moment of clarity”, or a great truth that is revealed to a character. Choose any three of the following characters and explain what great truth, or realization, they experience and how it affects them.
 * Essay (40 points):**

Mr. Kapasi (Interpreter of Maladies) The Narrator (The Dinner Party) Mrs. Das (Interpreter of Maladies) The Narrator’s Wife (The Dinner Party) The Grandmother (A Good Man…) The Narrator (The Chair Carrier) Sylvia (A White Heron) Lyman (The Red Convertible)