1 In what season does "The Swimmer" begin? Late autumn The dead of winter Spring Midsummer 2 What is the weather at the start of story? It is raining It is a beautiful day, with completely clear skies It is a beautiful day, with a big cloud in the distance It is a gray, cloudy day 3 What description best matches Neddy Merrill? Youthful in spirit and in age Youthful in spirit, if not in age Insecure and timid Frail and elderly 4 What is Neddy's great idea? To make dinner for his wife, Lucinda To drink five gins in a row To build himself a new pool To swim through his neighbors' pools 5 What does Neddy name his newly discovered route? Shirley Adams Lucina Aphrodite The Westerhazy 6 What kind of stroke does Neddy use to swim? He cannot swim A fluid breaststroke A doggy paddle A choppy crawl 7 What is Neddy's mood as he begins his adventure? Very happy and excited Melancholy Calm and passive Worn out and exhausted 8 What is Neddy's first stop on the Lucinda River? The Grahams' His own home The highway The public pool 9 What does Neddy think of the Bunkers' pool party? He is too drunk to notice much He feels affection and tenderness for the scene He is disgusted by the excesses of their revelry He is bored and wants to move on with his adventure 10 What changes at the Levys' pool? Neddy no longer remembers the route A big storm arrives Neddy gets tired of his journey Night falls 11 What is Neddy surprised by at the Lindleys'? The ferocity of the storm No one is there His exhaustion Their horses are gone and the riding ring overgrown 12 What surprises Neddy at the Welchers'? Their pool is dry and they have moved out of the house They are throwing a big party The weather returns to normal They are not happy to see him 13 What difficult obstacle does Neddy face on his voyage? The Lucinda River dries up He cannot remember the route Trying to cross Route 424 His former mistress scorns him 14 What does Neddy think about the public pool? He regards it as deeply distasteful He is surprised by how clean and pleasant it is He wishes Lucinda were with him He loves it 15 What is one of the Hallorans' defining characteristics? Their politics are very right-wing They swim in regular clothes They swim naked They don't drink 16 What is Neddy's mood upon leaving the Hallorans'? He is joyous and full of energy He is worried about the health of the Hallorans' He is cold but in good spirits He is very depressed, cold, and exhausted 17 What important part of Eric Sachs' life does Neddy forget? He cannot swim He sold his house He divorced his wife He had surgery on his abdomen 18 Why is Grace Biswanger rude to Neddy when he arrives at her party? Grace owes Neddy money Neddy has always turned down her invitations, and he looks down on her and her husband Grace has never met Neddy before They once had an affair 19 What strange act does Neddy commit after being turned down by Shirley Adams? He confesses to Lucinda He swims naked He weeps He has another drink 20 How does Neddy swim through the Gilmartins' pool? With a confident breaststroke With a doggy paddle The same as always With a tired sidestroke 21 How does Neddy feel about completing his adventure as he arrives at his house? He feels sad and alone He feels like a triumphant crusader He is too exhausted to feel triumphant He is excited to share the news of his route with his wife 22 How does Neddy first explain the darkness of his house? Lucinda left him and took the girls with her Lucinda might have stayed at the Westerhazys' for dinner, and the girls joined her He has sold the house He has got the wrong address 23 What is the effect of the storm on Neddy's house? The rain has made the pool overflow No effect The whole house is in disrepair One of the rain gutters hangs loose 24 Who does Neddy first blame for locking his house? The cook or the maid Himself His daughters Lucinda 25 What does Neddy find out at the very end of "The Swimmer"? His old age has arrived His house is entirely empty He has lost his job Lucinda has left him
