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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the arrangement of the office allow Bartleby to do with the narrator?
(a) Both see and hear him.
(b) Neither see him nor hear him.
(c) See him but not hear him.
(d) Hear him but not see him.

2. Where do both the captain and Steelkilt go after they separate?
(a) Tahiti.
(b) Hawaii.
(c) France.
(d) England.

3. What age is the narrator of Bartleby?
(a) In his thirties.
(b) In his fifties.
(c) In his sixties.
(d) In his forties.

4. Why doesn't the narrator dismiss Bartleby for insubordination?
(a) Bartleby is obviously emotionally upset.
(b) Bartleby is calm, showing no emotion.
(c) Bartleby is distressed.
(d) Bartleby promises to improve.

5. How does the narrator accommodate the weakness of his oldest scrivener?
(a) By allowing him to work only half a day.
(b) By hiring an assistant for him.
(c) By giving him unimportant papers in the afternoon.
(d) By giving him unimportant papers in the morning.

6. What do the crew members do as soon as the Town-Ho reaches port?
(a) They give up life on the sea.
(b) They murder the captain.
(c) They desert the ship.
(d) They call for help.

7. What do Steelkilt and his men demand in return for obeying orders?
(a) They will not be punished.
(b) They will be given better wages.
(c) They will not have to sweep the decks.
(d) Radney will be punished.

8. Why does Radney dislike Steelkilt?
(a) Steelkilt is rude.
(b) Steelkilt is handsome.
(c) Steelkilt is insubordinate.
(d) Steelkilt is unfriendly.

9. What does Melville call the government the Creole soldier established on St. Charles?
(a) A riotocracy.
(b) A theocracy.
(c) A monarchy.
(d) A democracy.

10. What human assumption does Melville say is the most preposterous?
(a) Criticism of the poor by the rich.
(b) Criticism of the rich by the poor.
(c) Understanding of the poor by the rich.
(d) Understanding of the rich by the poor.

11. What does Steelkilt threaten to do if he is flogged by the captain?
(a) Seek an unnamed revenge.
(b) Jump overboard.
(c) Tell the admiralty board of review.
(d) Murder the captain.

12. What makes Moby Dick an unusual whale?
(a) He is intelligent and communicates with people.
(b) He is unusually small, white, and intelligent.
(c) He has supernatural powers.
(d) He is unusually large, white, and vengeful.

13. What did a strange boy give the narrator in the theater?
(a) A cup of coffee.
(b) A cake of barley.
(c) An unexpected smile.
(d) A cup of ale.

14. What benefit does the narrator get from his indulgence of Bartleby's eccentricities?
(a) The approval of his peers.
(b) Self-approval.
(c) Bartleby's friendship.
(d) The approval of his employees.

15. Why does the narrator of "Cock-a-Doodle-Doo?" believe he should not be sued?
(a) His interest payments are exorbitant.
(b) His creditor is a grumpy person.
(c) He is a hospitable, generous man.
(d) His debt was unfairly imposed.

Short Answer Questions

1. What good qualities does Bartleby have as an employee?

2. What two characteristics does Melville attribute to the islands of the Encantadas?

3. What is the profession of the narrator of Bartleby?

4. How does the narrator get into the London theater presentation?

5. What previous employment had shaped Bartleby?

(see the answer keys)

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