Multiple Choice Quiz #3: The Drunk

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| By Nadia Fischer
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Nadia Fischer
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Quizzes Created: 1 | Total Attempts: 210
| Attempts: 210
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  • 1/12 Questions

    The speaker in the passage can best be described as a person who

    • Is committed to developing his skills as a writer
    • Is actually more interested in being a musician than in being a writer
    • Has talent as both a musician and a writer
    • Is motivated very differently from the jazz musicians that he describes
    • Aspires to greatness but knows that he will never achieve it
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About This Quiz

Multiple Choice Quiz #3: The Drunk explores themes of distraction and artistic expression through critical analysis of a literary passage. It assesses understanding of irony, inference, and textual interpretation, enhancing learners' skills in literary critique.

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  • 2. 

    In the passage, the drunk, the jazz musicians, and the singer all share which of the following?

    • An inability to identify with others

    • An intense application to a single activity

    • A concern more with individuality than with tradition

    • An ambivalent feeling about their roles in life

    • A desire for popular approval

    Correct Answer
    A. An intense application to a single activity
    Explanation
    The passage describes the drunk, the jazz musicians, and the singer as all having an intense application to a single activity. This can be inferred from the information given in the passage, which suggests that these individuals are fully absorbed and focused on their respective activities (drinking, playing jazz music, singing). The passage does not mention an inability to identify with others, a concern with individuality, ambivalent feelings about their roles in life, or a desire for popular approval, so these options can be ruled out.

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  • 3. 

    In context, the word "intimate" (lines 24-25) is best interpreted to mean

    • Suggestive and lyrical

    • Tender and friendly

    • Inexorably penetrating

    • Sensual and charming

    • Strongly private

    Correct Answer
    A. Inexorably penetrating
    Explanation
    The word "intimate" in this context is best interpreted as "inexorably penetrating." This means that it deeply and inevitably affects or influences something or someone. It suggests a strong and profound impact that cannot be avoided or escaped.

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  • 4. 

    It can be inferred that the speaker and the drunk were "fellow victims" (line 22) in that 

    • Both had lost control of their passions

    • Neither received support from friends or relatives

    • Each had in a different way proven to be a failure

    • Neither was any longer able to feel guilt or responsibility

    • Both were tormented by distracting disturbances

    Correct Answer
    A. Both were tormented by distracting disturbances
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "both were tormented by distracting disturbances." This can be inferred from the phrase "fellow victims" which suggests that both the speaker and the drunk were experiencing similar torment or disturbances that were causing them distress.

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  • 5. 

    The speaker's attitude toward the jazz musicians is best described as one of 

    • Idolatrous devotion

    • Profound admiration

    • Feigned intimacy

    • Qualified enthusiasm

    • Reasoned objectivity

    Correct Answer
    A. Profound admiration
    Explanation
    The speaker's attitude toward the jazz musicians is best described as one of profound admiration. This can be inferred from the use of the word "best" in the question, indicating that there is a high level of admiration. Additionally, the word "profound" suggests a deep and intense admiration for the musicians.

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  • 6. 

    According to the speaker, the jazz musicians that he knew as a boy attempted to do all of the following EXCEPT

    • Become technical masters of the instruments on which they performed

    • Blend forms such as the slave song and the spiritual into a carefully structured performances

    • Achieve individuality and virtuosity within the confines of their musical tradition

    • Communicate their beliefs and attitudes in a positive manner through their performances

    • Combine their talents with those of others in extemporaneous group performances

    Correct Answer
    A. Blend forms such as the slave song and the spiritual into a carefully structured performances
    Explanation
    The speaker explains that the jazz musicians he knew as a boy attempted to become technical masters of their instruments, achieve individuality and virtuosity within their musical tradition, communicate their beliefs and attitudes in a positive manner through their performances, and combine their talents with others in extemporaneous group performances. However, they did not attempt to blend forms such as the slave song and the spiritual into carefully structured performances.

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  • 7. 

    In the sentence beginning "There were times" (lines 58-63), the speaker employs all of the following EXCEPT

    • Concrete diction

    • Parallel syntax

    • Simile

    • Understatement

    • Onomatopoeia

    Correct Answer
    A. Understatement
    Explanation
    In the sentence beginning "There were times," the speaker employs concrete diction, parallel syntax, simile, and onomatopoeia to vividly describe the difficult experiences they have faced. However, the speaker does not use understatement in this sentence. Understatement is the act of deliberately minimizing or downplaying something, while in this sentence, the speaker is emphasizing the intensity of the times they are referring to.

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  • 8. 

    The description of the "delicate balance" (line 41) achieved at jazz jam sessions contributes to the unity of the passage in which of the following ways?

    • As a contrast to the situation in the speaker's neighborhood

    • As a condemnations of the singer's lack of talent

    • As a parallel to the drunk's attitude toward the world

    • As an indication of the essential similarity between art and life

    • As a satirical comment on the speaker's own shortcomings

    Correct Answer
    A. As a contrast to the situation in the speaker's neighborhood
    Explanation
    The "delicate balance" achieved at jazz jam sessions is described in contrast to the situation in the speaker's neighborhood. This suggests that while the neighborhood may be chaotic or disorganized, the jazz jam sessions represent a harmonious and balanced environment. This contributes to the unity of the passage by highlighting the juxtaposition between the speaker's everyday life and the transformative power of music in creating a sense of unity and order.

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  • 9. 

    That the speaker "sympathized with" the drunk's "obsession" (lines 16-17) is ironic chiefly because the drunk

    • Agitated the speaker purposely and distracted him from his writing

    • Was not "poetic" (line 3) and had no basis for his obsession

    • Actually disturbed the speaker less than did the singer

    • Had little "sensitivity" (line 5) and was undeserving of sympathy

    • Was a major source of the noise from which the speaker wished to escape

    Correct Answer
    A. Was a major source of the noise from which the speaker wished to escape
    Explanation
    The speaker's sympathy towards the drunk's obsession is ironic because the drunk was a major source of the noise that the speaker wanted to escape from. This suggests that the speaker's sympathy is misplaced, as the drunk's actions were causing a disturbance and hindering the speaker's writing. The irony lies in the fact that the speaker sympathizes with someone who is directly responsible for the very thing they are trying to avoid.

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  • 10. 

    Which one do you like?

    • Option 1

    • Option 2

    • Option 3

    • Option 4

    Correct Answer
    A. Option 1
  • 11. 

    The speaker mentions Beethoven's Fifth and Macbeth (lines 27-28) as examples of which of the following?

    • Masterly creations flawed by insidious motifs and violent scenes

    • Works of art famous for their power to annoy audiences

    • Splendid artistic achievements often performed unsatisfactorily

    • Artistic compositions with compelling and unforgettable elements

    • Classic masterpieces with which everyone should be familiar

    Correct Answer
    A. Artistic compositions with compelling and unforgettable elements
    Explanation
    The speaker mentions Beethoven's Fifth and Macbeth as examples of artistic compositions with compelling and unforgettable elements. This is because both Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and Shakespeare's play Macbeth are considered classic masterpieces that have stood the test of time. They are known for their powerful and memorable themes, melodies, and characters that continue to captivate audiences.

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  • 12. 

    The speaker suggests that the jazz musicians to whom he refers accomplish which of the following by means of their art?

    • They hold a mirror to nature.

    • They prove that music is superior to other art forms.

    • They provide an ironic view of the world.

    • They create order from the disorder of life.

    • They create music concerned more with truth than beauty.

    Correct Answer
    A. They create order from the disorder of life.
    Explanation
    The speaker suggests that jazz musicians create order from the disorder of life through their art. This implies that jazz music has the ability to bring structure and coherence to the chaotic nature of existence. By creating rhythms, harmonies, and melodies, jazz musicians are able to transform the unpredictable and tumultuous aspects of life into a harmonious and organized form of expression. This suggests that jazz music has the power to provide a sense of order and meaning in an otherwise disorderly world.

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  • Current Version
  • Mar 18, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Apr 21, 2015
    Quiz Created by
    Nadia Fischer
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