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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "The Two Kings and the Two Labyrinths," what happens to the imprisoned King of Babylon?
(a) He escapes.
(b) A wizard turns him into a bird and he flies away.
(c) He lives a harsh, but long, life in his prison.
(d) He dies of hunger and thirst.

2. Thematically, "Pierre Menard, Author of Quixote" deals most closely with which of the following?
(a) The nature of literary criticism and the issues surrounding interpretation.
(b) Borges's thinly disguised self-hatred.
(c) The evils of plagiarism.
(d) The inferiority of the novel as an art form.

3. In "The Zahir," where is the sister of the woman he loves?
(a) A mental hospital.
(b) A convent.
(c) Travelling in Argentina.
(d) Prison.

4. In "Funes, His Memory," what does the narrator lend Funes?
(a) Some Latin books.
(b) A book on ornithology.
(c) A book believed to be written by John Milton.
(d) A magnifying glass.

5. In "The Man on the Threshold," what is suspected of all the people who are celebrating?
(a) They all know what happened to Judge Glencairn.
(b) They all want to kill the narrator.
(c) They are worshipping the god Apollo.
(d) They are Socialists.

6. In "A Biography of Tadeo Isidoro Cruz (1829-1874)," what is Tadeo's punishment for killing a man?
(a) He is sent to the army.
(b) He is put into slavery.
(c) He is whipped.
(d) He goes to jail.

7. In "The Circular Ruins," what does the sorcerer do in his dreams?
(a) Turns into an eagle.
(b) Meets the most beautiful woman alive.
(c) Creates a man.
(d) Rules the world.

8. In "The Aleph," why does the narrator lie about the Aleph?
(a) He is a compulsive liar.
(b) He thinks knowledge of the Aleph would drive lesser minds insane.
(c) He wants to exploit the Aleph and make money, so he doesn't want anybody to know about it yet.
(d) He is jealous.

9. In "Hakim, the Masked Dyer of Merv," Hakim's religious sect hates what things?
(a) Mirrors and copulation.
(b) Knives.
(c) Bibles.
(d) Gloves.

10. In "The Theme of the Traitor and the Hero," which writer's work is partially a model for the assassination?
(a) Shakespeare.
(b) Coleridge.
(c) Dante.
(d) Dickens.

11. In "The Other Death," what does the Colonel say of Pedro Damian?
(a) He was not at the battle.
(b) He shot three of his own men.
(c) He was a coward who ran from the battlefield.
(d) He was a hero.

12. In "The Garden of Forking Paths," why does Dr. Yu murder Dr. Albert?
(a) Dr. Albert made derogatory remarks about Asians.
(b) He is insane.
(c) Dr. Albert stole his wife.
(d) To alert the German command where to bomb a city named Albert.

13. In "The Library of Babel," what is the central shape that the library is based upon?"
(a) Rectangle.
(b) Hexagon.
(c) Octagon.
(d) Circle.

14. In "The End," what instrument does the black man play outside Recabarren's bar?
(a) The flute.
(b) The drums.
(c) The guitar.
(d) The harmonica.

15. In "Three Versions of Judas," who is Nils Runeberg?
(a) A rabbi.
(b) An amateur Bible enthusiast.
(c) A detective, hired by the Vatican, who tracks heretics.
(d) A theologian.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "The Lottery in Babylon," which of these best describes what is drawn for in the lottery?

2. In "The Two Kings and the Two Labyrinths," what is the labyrinth in which the King of Babylon is imprisoned?

3. In "Monk Eastman, Purveyor of Iniquities," Eastman does what after serving ten years in prison?

4. In "The Theologians," what do the Monotoni believe?

5. In "The Shape of the Sword," what is the defining physical characteristic of John Vincent Moon?

(see the answer keys)

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