The Uncommon Reader

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following reasons does Her Majesty give for not becoming involved in reading earlier in life?

A) She found it a dull task.

B) She considered it too common for her position.

C) She chose not to explore her own interests.

D) She was never confident in her reading abilities.

2. What does Her Majesty’s sentiment that “one finishes what’s on one’s plate” most likely allude to?

A) Her childhood during the Great War

B) Her involvement in food waste campaigns

C) Her upbringing during the Great Depression

D) Her concern for the nutrition of impoverished British youth

3. Which of the following attributes most concerns Norman when selecting a new author?

A) Their political views

B) Their sexuality

C) Their nationality

D) Their historical era

4. In speaking to Sir Kevin on the difference between being briefed on a subject and reading a subject, Her Majesty notes, “Briefing is terse, factual and to the point. Reading is untidy, discursive and perpetually inviting. Briefing closes down a subject, reading opens it up.” Which of the following literary terms does Her Majesty use in this quote?

A) Dichotomy

B) Paradox

C) Allegory

D) Allusion

5. Which of the following words best describes Sir Kevin’s attitude toward Her Majesty’s interest in reading?

A) Supportive

B) Excited

C) Wary

D) Apathetic

6. Upon reflection, Her Majesty notes that “[l]iterature…is a commonwealth; letters a republic.” Which of the following literary terms is used in the above quotation?

A) Simile

B) Metaphor

C) Metonymy

D) Personification

7. As Her Majesty’s love for reading progresses, how does she begin to feel about her commitments?

A) More enthusiastic

B) Less frightened

C) More disinterested

D) Less distraught

8. Which of the following phrases describes Her Majesty after Norman’s departure?

A) Preoccupied with his loss

B) Aware of her literary maturation

C) Burdened with the task of acquiring new books

D) Ashamed of her political carelessness

9. After making a particularly honest remark to an equerry, Bennett notes, “And whereas the Queen herself thought that such feelings probably arose out of her reading books, the young man felt it might be that she was beginning to show her age. Thus it was that the dawn of sensibility was mistaken for the onset of senility.” Which of the following literary terms does Bennett use in this quotation?

A) Allegory

B) Allusion

C) Anaphora

D) Antithesis

10. Based on the conversation between Her Majesty and the Prime Minister, which conclusion can be drawn about the government’s knowledge of world affairs?

A) The British leaders know little of the regions in which they are politically involved.

B) The monarch is historically expected to know more about politics than the current Prime Minister.

C) The Prime Minister is presumed to be a graduate of social sciences and geography.

D) Both the monarchy and the parliamentary leaders are genuinely interested in contemporary global studies.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. What is the setting of the novella? What are the context clues?

2. Identify at least five authors that the novella references. Who has the most profound impact on the Queen’s development, and why?

3. The novella’s title is a double entendre (i.e., a play on words). What is the double meaning of Bennett’s title?