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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 narrator describes the young women in the store as being "without" (2) what item?
(a) A trolley.
(b) A pushcart.
(c) A chaperone.
(d) A basket.

2. The narrator says that from the front doors of the A and P, he can see what kind of church?
(a) Lutheran.
(b) Congregational.
(c) Unitarian.
(d) Baptist.

3. One of the young women picks up a package of what before putting it back?
(a) Clam dip.
(b) Tampons.
(c) Cookies.
(d) Tea.

4. What name does the narrator use before saying, "Hold me tight" (8) to Stokesie?
(a) Darling.
(b) Babycakes.
(c) Honey.
(d) Sweetie.

5. To what is the narrator referring when he discusses Stokesie's "fuselage" (8)?
(a) Children.
(b) Career.
(c) Education.
(d) Sex.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is Stokesie located in relation to the narrator?

2. The narrator's town is north of what American city?

3. How old is the woman who takes the narrator to task for ringing up her crackers twice, according to the narrator?

4. What street does the narrator name when depicting the "free-loaders" (10) in his town?

5. The narrator uses what type of fruit to describe one of the young women's faces?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. What simile does Sammy use to describe the layout of the grocery store?

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

8. In what way is the power of paradox shown within the story?

9. Discuss the way in which Sammy objectifies the three young women.

10. What are Sammy's feelings about Stokesie's career goal?

(see the answer keys)

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