View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the narrator describe the young women as wearing?

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

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

4. What is NOT a piece of evidence the narrator cites when he hypothesizes that one of the young women has just bought a new swimsuit?

5. How many children does Stokesie have?

Short Essay Questions

1. Cite and discuss a unique simile used by Updike within the story.

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

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

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

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

6. How is the animal motif included within Paragraphs 1-6?

7. What is Stokesie's career goal?

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

9. On what evidence does Sammy base his conclusion that one particular young woman is the leader?

10. What is Stokesie's family situation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the interplay between the resolution of Updike’s story “A and P” and one of the story's main messages. How does Updike make connections between these elements and how does their juxtaposition help Updike get across one main message of the story?

Essay Topic 2

Explicate the theme of conformity within Updike’s story “A and P.” What is Updike’s message regarding conformity and how do you know? Be sure to consider characters that may represent conformity or its opposite.

Essay Topic 3

Trace the characterization arc of Sammy’s character throughout the story. Discuss whether Sammy is a round or flat character and whether he is a static or dynamic character.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 991 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample