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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Hank describes his father as leaving the family. What is one reason he left the family?
(a) He wanted more children and his wife did not.
(b) He felt he could do better work if he was alone.
(c) He was having an affair with a graduate student.
(d) His wife was tired of him.

2. Why is Hank angry with the woman who is having an affair with Russell?
(a) She had lied to Hank when he asked her about it.
(b) Hank thinks Russell is too good for her.
(c) She is too casual about it.
(d) She is married.

3. Hank goes to the dean's office after he has seen his father and taught his class. What career move does the dean suggest Hank make?
(a) Hank should resign.
(b) That Hank should become dean.
(c) He thinks Hank should start writing again.
(d) He suggests Hank become the college chaplain.

4. In the Epilogue, what does Hank's wife tell them they have enough of?
(a) Spare time.
(b) Money.
(c) Hobbies.
(d) Good family relationships.

5. What does Hank do when he positions himself over the room where the meeting is?
(a) He drops a piece of paper into the room.
(b) He phones his wife on his cell phone.
(c) He thumps on the ceiling five times.
(d) He starts to sing as loud as he can.

6. When Hank finally arrives home with his wife and father-in-law, what sad news does he learn?
(a) That his father has died.
(b) That his dog Occam has died.
(c) That his daughter has filed for divorce.
(d) That he has been fired.

7. What did Hank's father realize as he listened to his lecture being delivered by someone else?
(a) That his notes the person was reading for him made no sense.
(b) The difference between delivering information and teaching.
(c) That he wished he could run away.
(d) That he indeed had a brilliant mind.

8. Who tells Hank that she has something she wants to tell him about Tony Coniglia?
(a) Bodie Pie.
(b) Missy Blaylock.
(c) Marjory Putnam.
(d) June Barnes.

9. Hank and Tony head off to their homes in separate cars. What does Hank end up thinking about?
(a) His parents.
(b) His near suicide attempt when he was a teenager.
(c) The state of his marriage.
(d) That he needs to buy a new car.

10. What does Hank's mother make obvious to Hank after he almost runs her over?
(a) That his father needs her care.
(b) That he better leave town.
(c) That she thinks he killed the campus bird.
(d) That she thought his television report was hilarious.

11. What does Mr. Purty tell Hank about his father that worries Hank?
(a) That his father has been having seizures.
(b) That his father is losing his hearing.
(c) That his father has Alzheimer's.
(d) That his father has had fits of crying.

12. After Hank gets out of the ceiling and cleans up, where does he go with his friend Tony?
(a) To Tony's place.
(b) To a restaurant.
(c) To a bar.
(d) To Philadelphia.

13. As Hank leaves his mother outside the large Victorian house, what does he notice?
(a) Gracie DuBois running toward him.
(b) Several police cars have pulled up.
(c) The house is on fire.
(d) He has an acute pain in his side.

14. How does Russell explain what happened between him and Hank's daughter?
(a) She tried to get by him and fell against the coffee table.
(b) She had tried to hurt him and fell down as she was doing so.
(c) He pushed her down the stairs but is sorry now.
(d) He accidentally smashed her in the face with a hammer.

15. What have Hank and his wife taken to doing during his time off?
(a) Learning Italian.
(b) Jogging together.
(c) Playing with their grandson.
(d) Cooking.

Short Answer Questions

1. After Hank climbs down from the ceiling, what does he do?

2. What name does Hank's doctor give to the health issue Hank had earlier in the novel?

3. After Hank leaves his doctor's office, he almost runs his mother down. Who is she with?

4. How many books does Hank say his father had published by the time he left his family?

5. What possessions of Hank's father does Mr. Purty also bring back with him?

(see the answer keys)

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