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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the narrator feel he can do if he thinks of his time with his lover too much?
(a) Relive it.
(b) Drive himself crazy.
(c) Kill it.
(d) Make it seem meaningless.

2. What is the narrator trying to do at the start of the story?
(a) Break down the cost of an affair.
(b) Write his grocery list.
(c) Negotiate a better salary.
(d) Do his annual household budget.

3. What "keeps happening" (21) between the narrator and his lover while they are together all day, which he says "adds up" (21)?
(a) The deep discussions.
(b) The disagreements.
(c) The touches and smiles.
(d) The misunderstandings.

4. How is the narrator's lover's behavior described at the start of the story?
(a) She was loud and obnoxious.
(b) She was often quiet and distant.
(c) She was always smiling and singing.
(d) She was moody and mercurial.

5. The narrator describes that after watching his lover sleep he finally falls asleep "lightly" (23). Why?
(a) He wants to protect her from danger.
(b) He wants to hang on to the moment.
(c) He worries she might run out on him.
(d) He wants to wake as soon as she does.

6. What is the narrator beginning to "lose" (24) in the present regarding his lover?
(a) His understanding of what he saw in her.
(b) HIs desire to see her again.
(c) His love for her.
(d) The feeling of being with her.

7. Why was the narrator surprised by the question his lover asked him in bed?
(a) She promised she would not ask him that again.
(b) He had just told her how beautiful she was.
(c) He did not think she worried about herself like that.
(d) He had literally just answered that question.

8. The narrator describes that after the affair ends, his lover is still inside him like what?
(a) Warm soup.
(b) Decadent dessert.
(c) Sweet liquor.
(d) Dark chocolate.

9. After including the time spent with his lover and thinking of her, how much does the narrator estimate their affair costs per hour?
(a) $24.
(b) $50.
(c) $6.
(d) $33.

10. What question does the narrator recall his lover asking him while they were in bed one day?
(a) She asked if he thought she was pretty or no.
(b) She asked if he thought she should dye her hair.
(c) She asked if he thought she was fat.
(d) She asked if he thought she was dumb.

11. What is one of the "little questions" (25) the narrator began asking himself regarding his time with his lover?
(a) Why did she become so distant over time.
(b) Why did she touch his arm when he spoke sometimes but not others.
(c) Why did she laugh at his jokes sometimes and not others.
(d) Why did she have the light on when he came to bed some nights and off others.

12. How would the narrator feel when he closed his eyes and began to dream?
(a) Depressed.
(b) Peaceful.
(c) Anxious.
(d) Frightened.

13. What was the narrator unsure he would be able to do without his lover?
(a) Go on more vacations.
(b) Save any money.
(c) Get a good job.
(d) Go on living.

14. What color are the narrator's lover's eyes?
(a) Blue.
(b) Brown.
(c) Hazel.
(d) Green.

15. How often did the narrator and his lover make love during their time together?
(a) Twice a day.
(b) Once a day.
(c) Every other day.
(d) Once a week.

Short Answer Questions

1. When the narrator describes watching his lover as she sleeps, what does he say that makes the reader know their time together is temporary?

2. What were the narrator and his lover doing in the "very clean white place" (24) he recalls?

3. What word is used to describe the way the narrator's lover responded to his answer to the question she asked him in bed?

4. What is the narrator staring at at the start of "Break it Down"?

5. How many hours a day does the narrator estimate he spends either with his lover or thinking of her during their time together?

(see the answer keys)

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