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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Gypsy's surname?

2. What does Jenkins think about Eleanor is Chapter 3 of "A Buyer's Market"?

3. What is Barbara's surname?

4. What word does Lady Walpole-Wilson use to describe Barbara?

5. What firm does Widmerpool now work for in Chapter 1 of "A Buyer's Market"?

Short Essay Questions

1. As Jenkins and his acquaintances are having coffee in Chapter 1 of "A Buyer's Market", who comes along with an invitation for them?

2. What does Barnby tell Jenkins about Deacon when they meet?

3. What does Barbara do to embarrass herself and Windmerpool at the dance in Chapter 1 of "A Buyer's Market"?

4. Who is Max Pilgrim? Why do he and Deacon argue in Chapter 2 of "A Buyer's Market"?

5. After meeting Barbara Goring, what does Jenkins worry about?

6. What does Thompsitt ask Jenkins as they leave the dance in Chapter 1 of "A Buyer's Market"? What does Jenkins think Thompsitt has realized?

7. How do Jenkins and Widmerpool react to the news of Barbara's engagement?

8. In Jenkins' eyes, what makes Eleanor different from the other society girls?

9. When speaking to Widmerpool after the dance, what does Jenkins say he is doing to earn a living? What does Windmerpool think of Jenkins' employment?

10. What leads to Deacon's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the genre of the first volume of "A Dance to the Music of Time"? What are some examples of other works of this genre? What are the characteristics of this genre? What are some examples of these characteristics in the first volume of "A Dance to the Music of Time"?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and interpret Powell's use of humor in the first volume of "A Dance to the Music of Time". How does he illustrate the lives of the English upper-class in a humorous light? Who are some of the comedic characters in the novels? What are some of the comedic situations in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the motif of marriage and divorce in the first volume of "A Dance to the Music of Time". Who marries in the novels? Who divorces or separates in the novels? Why? What does Jenkins think of marriage and divorce?

(see the answer keys)

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