Julio Cortazar: Short Stories Quizzes

Julio Cortazar: Short Stories Quiz on "Axolotl" and "Continuity of Parks"

1 Where does the narrator of "Axolotl" live?
In Avignon, France

In Tigre, Argentina

In Buenos Aires, Argentina

In Paris, France
2 Where does the narrator first encounter axolotls?
On a Moteca trail in Mexico

In the Jardin des Plantes

On a bicycle ride in France

On a nature walk in Peru
3 Which animals did the narrator usually visit at the zoo before discovering the axolotls?
Bears and giraffes

Lions and panthers

Parrots and bullfrogs

Tigers
4 Why does the narrator decide to check out the aquarium for the first time?
A friend tells him about the wonder of axolotls.

The lions are sad and the panther is sleeping.

He does independent research on axolotls for work.

It's winter and the lions and panthers are put away.
5 What is the Spanish name for axolotl?
azules

manzana

lagartija

ajolote
6 Which of the following facts does the narrator NOT find about axolotls at the library?
Their skins are used for fine leather goods in Mexico.

Their oil was used like cod-liver oil.

They originated in Mexico.

They are capable of living on dry land in Africa between rainy seasons.
7 Diaphanous means...
related to or in the manner of the Naiad nymph Daphne

light, delicate, and translucent

resembling a dolphin in appearance or manner

veiled
8 What feature of the axolotls occurs where one might expect ears?
"Orifices translucent gold like brooches"

"Three tiny sprigs blue as pure emerald"

"Horns curved like croissants"

"Three tiny sprigs red as coral"
9 The narrator of "Axolotl" compares the animals to...
Jade figurines

Marbel chess pieces

Gargoyles

Dinosaurs
10 How many axolotls are in the tank?
Ten

Eight

Nine

Thirteen
11 What part of the narrator is "buried" inside the body of an axolotl?
The part of him that was obsessed with axololts

The part of him that contains his whole consciousness

The part of him that loves to write stories

The narrator's consciousness split, and the axolotl and his former human self are the same.
12 What happens when the transition takes place in "Axolotl"?
The man outside the tank collapses.

The narration abruptly stops because the axolotl cannot communicate.

The narrator sees himself outside of the tank and realizes, when his former self draws his face back, that he is an axolotl.

The narrator, now an axolotl, flails around the tank, disturbing the other axolotls.
13 How does the narrator of "Axolotl" think the guard and the ticket-taker at the zoo view him?
He thinks they respect his commitment.

He thinks they think he's a bit crazy.

He thinks they think he's their friend.

He thinks they don't even notice him.
14 What is the narrator's concluding hope at the end of "Axolotl"?
That he might find a way to communicate with the other axolotls and develop a language between them.

That someone will lean too hard against the glass and break it, and he will be able to escape.

That his former self will write a story about axolotls.

That he will someday wake up in the body of a man.
15 To what does the narrator of "Axolotl" compare the axolotls' eyes?
Brooches

Diamonds

Sea glass

Nickels
16 What does the narrator of "Axolotl" suppose the one strange thing is about his transition?
That he feels the same, bodily

That he retains all of his previous memories

That he has the sudden urge to call his mother

That afterwards, he goes on thinking as usual
17 Before his transition, what does the narrator of "Axolotl" imagine the axolotls saying in their tank?
"You don't understand, you don't understand"

"Stop staring at us you creep"

"We are unhappy in here"

"Save us, save us"
18 When did the estate owner begin to read his novel in "Continuity of Parks"?
A few days before the present action of the story

While on an urgent business trip

On his way back from his business trip

As a young man in school
19 In what way is the estate owner relinquishing control of his estate?
He donates his estate to a educational fund.

He gives up his power of attorney.

He donates his library to the public library system of Buenos Aires.

He isn't; in fact, he's working toward consolidating his share of the estate.
20 What color and material is the estate owner's armchair?
Green velvet

Green leather

Black velvet

Red velvet
21 What interrupts the estate owner's reading of his novel?
An intrusion of the characters into his actual life

Urgent business meetings

Spilling his tea all over his armchair

A humid summer day that forces him outside
22 Cortázar compares the lovers' dialogue in "Continuity of Parks" to...
the yellowish fog of dusk

a rivulet of snakes

an avenue of oaks

a parade of muskrats
23 What is the "hero" holding when he enters the estate owner's study?
A novel

A gun

A baguette

A knife
24 What sits just in reach of the estate owner's hand as he sits and reads?
His drink

The next book he plans to read

His sandwich

His cigarette
25 What word best describes the estate owner?
Determined

Jubilant

Frightened

Passive

By loading the beginning of the story with such explicit musings on the art and craft of writing and the function of storytelling, Cortázar bares his themes for the reader to plainly see. Perspective is an important theme of "Blow-Up," as is...

Asked by Snahasish J #1331121

Answered by Aslan on 12/15/2023 4:40 AM

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House Taken Over

From the first few paragraph's, we can infer that the house is a great family home, passed down from one generation to the next. It is old, well constructed, and spacious.

Asked by tech c #1002712

Answered by jill d #170087 on 4/10/2020 9:03 PM

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House Taken Over

The setting in House Taken Over is a large family home, which connects to the magical realism model because the plot can only be advance by using supernatural events.

Asked by Madison D #1068041

Answered by jill d #170087 on 8/25/2023 11:00 AM

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Julio Cortazar: Short Stories

by Julio Cortazar

Julio Cortazar: Short Stories Quiz on "Axolotl" and "Continuity of Parks"

Julio Cortazar: Short Stories Questions and Answers

Study Guide for Julio Cortazar: Short Stories

Essays for Julio Cortazar: Short Stories

Lesson Plan for Julio Cortazar: Short Stories