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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Desdemona vow to never do again after Milton's birth?
(a) Care for Sourmelina's baby, Theodora.
(b) Have another child.
(c) Tell anyone that she and Lefty are brother and sister.
(d) Predict the sex of an unborn child using her silver spoon.

2. How does Callie become a first hand witness to the burning of the diner?
(a) She sees news footage of the diner catching fire on t.v.
(b) She rides her bike to the Zebra Room to help her father.
(c) Milton tells Callie the story of the fire when he arrives home from the diner.
(d) Tessie drives the family to the Zebra Room to help Milton.

3. What does Desdemona do following Lefty's death?
(a) She wails and throws herself on his coffin.
(b) She moves to the Southwest with Sourmelina.
(c) She climbs into her bed and does not leave it for ten years.
(d) She moves from the guest house into the main house at Middlesex.

4. What does the narrator say his purpose for telling this story?
(a) To explain why he is the way he is.
(b) To share his family history.
(c) To record the history of his genetic anomaly.
(d) To convince the reader to accept him.

5. Why does Jimmy Fioretos call to wake Milton early one morning?
(a) The Zebra Room has caught on fire.
(b) Race riots have begun in the city near the Zebra Room.
(c) Jimmy wants Milton to help him protect his business.
(d) The Zebra Room has been broken into.

6. What does Desdemona attempt to smuggle into the U.S. in her silkworm box?
(a) A silver spoon.
(b) Silkworms.
(c) Silkworm eggs.
(d) Silkworm cocoons.

7. To what religious faith does Stephanides family belong?
(a) The Church of Islam.
(b) The Presbyterian Church.
(c) Greek Orthodox Church.
(d) The Roman Catholic Church.

8. How does Milton seduce Tessie?
(a) By playing his clarinet against her skin.
(b) By joining the Navy.
(c) By playing her favorite songs on her clarinet.
(d) By complimenting her baking skills.

9. Which of the following actions is NOT part of Lefty and Desdemona's plan to convince themselves and others that they are young lovers rather than brother and sister?
(a) They board the ship separately.
(b) They consummate their marriage in the life boat.
(c) They have chance meetings on the deck pretending to be getting to know each other for the first time.
(d) They discuss their family tree as if they are learning it for the first time.

10. What is located in Desdemona's hope chest that she fears she will never use?
(a) An olive wood silkworm box.
(b) A corset.
(c) A wedding dress.
(d) A baby blanket.

11. Why does the narrator say that the riots were "the best thing that ever happened to us"?
(a) Fear of having their home and business destroyed during the riots brought the Stephanides family closer together.
(b) Because the Zebra Room was a failing business, it was a relief to the family to not have to worry about profits any more.
(c) The riots made the Stephanides family develop a strong sense of pride in their Greek heritage.
(d) Because Lefty had three insurance policies on the Zebra Room, the family was paid a large sum of money when the business burned down.

12. What is the cause of Desdemona's heart palpitations?
(a) Stress over the Greek occupation of Turkey.
(b) Grief over the deaths of her parents.
(c) A rare genetic disorder.
(d) Unproductive silkworms.

13. What shocks Desdemona and Lefty about Sourmelina's husband, Jimmy Zismo?
(a) His wealth.
(b) His occupation.
(c) His dark skin.
(d) His religious beliefs.

14. Why is Lefty fired from the Ford automobile company?
(a) He is living with a man who has a criminal record (Jimmy Zismo).
(b) His work is sloppy and inaccurate.
(c) He does not pass his English language exam.
(d) He refuses to wear traditional Greek dress in the Ford English School pageant.

15. Who does Desdemona hope that Tessie will marry?
(a) Gus Vasilakis.
(b) Milton Stephanides.
(c) Dr. Philobosian.
(d) Mike Antoniou.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens to the Zebra Room's earnings?

2. How is Lefty able to get he and Desdemona out of the burning city of Smyrna?

3. What is unusual about Desdemona's presence on Hastings Street?

4. Which of the following is NOT a criterion in the real estate "Point System"?

5. What does Lefty teach Desdemona to help her pass the English literacy test required for entry into America?

(see the answer keys)

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