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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. The young woman to whom the narrator refers as "Queenie" (5) walks in what way around the store?
(a) Quickly.
(b) Robotically.
(c) Sleepily.
(d) Slowly.

2. The narrator does NOT state that women who come into the store usually put on before entering?
(a) Shorts.
(b) Something.
(c) A dress.
(d) A shirt.

3. The young woman to whom the narrator refers as "Queenie" (5) puts what part of her foot down firmly as she walks around the store?
(a) Her toes.
(b) Her heel.
(c) The ball of her foot.
(d) Her instep.

4. How old is the woman who takes the narrator to task for ringing up her crackers twice, according to the narrator?
(a) 20.
(b) 50.
(c) 40.
(d) 30.

5. How old is the narrator?
(a) 17.
(b) 22.
(c) 21.
(d) 19.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the young woman the narrator calls "Queenie" (5) present for purchase?

2. To what is the narrator referring when he discusses Stokesie's "fuselage" (8)?

3. What term does the narrator use in reference to the women in hair curlers who shop in the A and P?

4. What adjective does the narrator use to describe the young woman's face whom he calls "Queenie" (5)?

5. From what location does the girl the narrator calls "Queenie" (5) pull a folded dollar bill?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the motif of sexuality included within the story?

2. What is ironic about Sammy's reaction when he sees McMahon ogling the young women?

3. What does Sammy mean when he describes Stokesie "finding his voice" (9)?

4. In what way is Sammy demonstrating true empathy toward the young women with his comment beginning with "Poor kids" (11)?

5. Discuss how Updike uses language to indicate the character traits of Sammy.

6. Provide evidence for the conclusion that Sammy uses diminutive terms indiscriminate of his target's gender.

7. What is Sammy's purpose for using a historical allusion in Paragraph 1?

8. What is the setting of the story "A and P"?

9. Provide evidence for the conclusion that there are many people in Sammy's town who are set in their ways.

10. Besides dressing differently than everyone else in the store, how else do the young women stand out?

(see the answer keys)

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