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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Linda suggests that since no one in town seems to care about her and Dave, they should not bother to help anyone else. When Dave decides to help anyway, what does it demonstrate?
(a) That even the town's teenagers are more mature than Miss Strangeworth.
(b) That Miss Strangeworth would not be so isolated if she were a kinder person.
(c) That Linda is really the problem in their relationship, not Dave.
(d) That a good person chooses to be kind and helpful even in difficult times.

2. Miss Strangeworth stops to discuss an "appropriation" with Miss Chandler (422). What are they talking about?
(a) A meeting of an official organization or group.
(b) A policy statement.
(c) Something that has been taken without permission.
(d) Money set aside for some purpose.

3. What is the purpose of including the details about how many people Miss Strangeworth talks to on her trip to the grocery store?
(a) It shows that the townspeople like and trust her.
(b) It shows that Miss Strangeworth is nosy.
(c) It shows that the townspeople all need something from Miss Strangeworth.
(d) It shows that Miss Strangeworth is a helpful and kind neighbor.

4. Why did Miss Strangeworth stop calling Tommy Lewis "Tommy" and start calling him "Mr. Lewis"?
(a) It was not usual for adults in this time to use one another's first names.
(b) They had a terrible fight in high school.
(c) She thinks that his status as a grocer is beneath her.
(d) He asked her to marry him and then broke off their engagement.

5. What detail is included to show that Miss Chandler is upset about something?
(a) She seems distracted and is a little rude.
(b) She looks as if she has not slept well.
(c) She has clearly been crying.
(d) Her hair does not look as neat as usual.

6. What does Miss Strangeworth seem to think her family's place in the world is?
(a) To counsel others and help them understand how to live a happy and ethical life.
(b) To keep an eye on everyone else and hold them to a high moral standard.
(c) To stay isolated from the wickedness of the world.
(d) To provide an example of kindness and concern for others.

7. When Miss Strangeworth is walking "daintily" along Main Street, (417), how is she walking?
(a) Delicately, with small steps; in a charming way.
(b) Quickly, briskly, as if she is in a hurry.
(c) Boldly, as if she is in charge of her surroundings.
(d) Slowly, in an unsteady and careful manner.

8. What is implied about Miss Strangeworth's choice of the multicolored paper for her notes?
(a) She has less money than she pretends to and cannot afford to write so often on the expensive stationery.
(b) She does not think that her neighbors deserve her really nice stationery.
(c) She wishes that she were more accepted as a "regular person" in the town.
(d) She is trying to make sure that her letters blend in with all of the other letters and notes in town.

9. What does Miss Strangeworth tell Helen Crane about her worries?
(a) All babies develop differently.
(b) They are just another example of the anxieties Helen has always had.
(c) She should talk with her baby's doctor.
(d) She should talk with her husband.

10. When Linda and Dave are seen together after school, they look "bleak" (422). How do they look?
(a) Confused.
(b) Cold.
(c) Hopeless.
(d) Angry.

11. What mood is evoked by the detail about Miss Strangeworth's table being capable of expanding to seat 22?
(a) Jealousy, because her family has so much money.
(b) Pity, because she is all alone in the world.
(c) Anger, because she isolates herself from the world.
(d) Amusement, because she thinks she is more popular than she is.

12. What did Tommy Lewis call Miss Strangeworth in high school?
(a) "Miss Adela."
(b) "Worthy"
(c) "Addie."
(d) "Adela."

13. What is Dave Harris's reason for hand-delivering one of Miss Strangeworth's letters?
(a) He thinks that it might have good news in it for Mr. Crane.
(b) He hopes that it will help Mr. Stewart to see that he is actually a nice guy.
(c) He hopes that Mr. Crane will give him a reward.
(d) He has a suspicion that Miss Strangeworth is the anonymous letter writer.

14. What is the best definition of "proverbial" in the sentence "Miss Strangeworth's hats were proverbial in the town" (426)?
(a) As well-known and widely understood as something from a proverb.
(b) As inflexible and unchanging as something from a proverb.
(c) As old-fashioned as something from a proverb.
(d) As clear and easy to understand as something from a proverb.

15. Who is the author of "The Possibility of Evil"?
(a) Shirley Jackson.
(b) Katherine Anne Porter.
(c) Flannery O'Connor.
(d) Henry James.

Short Answer Questions

1. Miss Strangeworth thinks about the Cranes "indulgently" (421). How does she think about them?

2. What color paper does Miss Strangeworth choose for the note to Don Crane about his baby daughter?

3. When Miss Strangeworth looks out the window after the story ends, what will she see?

4. Why does Miss Strangeworth fail to notice the important detail about her letters?

5. The narrator says that Miss Strangeworth's letters "dealt with the more negotiable stuff of suspicion" (424). What is this saying about suspicion?

(see the answer keys)

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