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The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today - Exam
Contributed by: Rodgers
  • 1. Who are the two main authors of 'The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today'?
A) William Shakespeare and Charles Dudley Warner
B) Thomas Nast and Mark Twain
C) Charles Dickens and Mark Twain
D) Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner
  • 2. In what year was 'The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today' first published?
A) 1873
B) 1899
C) 1867
D) 1885
  • 3. What is the main theme of 'The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today'?
A) Romantic relationships in Washington D.C.
B) Industrialization and monopolies
C) Urban political machines and corruption
D) The lust for getting rich, powerful and famous through land speculation pervades society.
  • 4. What nickname did the novel give to the period of U.S. history from the 1870s to about 1900?
A) The Industrial Revolution
B) The Progressive Era
C) The Gilded Age
D) The Golden Era
  • 5. Which character in 'The Gilded Age' is modeled after James Lampton?
A) Colonel Beriah Sellers
B) Philip Sterling
C) Henry Brierly
D) Laura Hawkins
  • 6. What was the original name of Colonel Beriah Sellers in the first edition?
A) James Sellers
B) Mulberry Sellers
C) Escol Sellers
D) George Sellers
  • 7. Who did Laura Hawkins attempt to persuade in Washington, D.C.?
A) The President of the United States
B) Her family members
C) Congressmen to purchase the land
D) Local businessmen
  • 8. What did Laura Hawkins do after failing to convince Congress?
A) She moves back to Tennessee.
B) She becomes a successful lobbyist.
C) She kills her married lover but is found not guilty.
D) She successfully sells the land.
  • 9. What does Washington Hawkins do with the family's unimproved land parcel?
A) He successfully sells it for a large profit.
B) He gives up ownership when he cannot afford its taxes.
C) He donates it to the government.
D) He develops it into a thriving business.
  • 10. What discovery does Philip Sterling make that changes his fortunes?
A) He invents a new agricultural technique.
B) He finds gold in Tennessee.
C) He discovers coal on Mr. Bolton's land.
D) He uncovers oil reserves.
  • 11. What Shakespearean play provided the term 'Gilded Age'?
A) Macbeth
B) Hamlet
C) Romeo and Juliet
D) King John
  • 12. How did contemporary critics view the collaboration between Twain and Warner?
A) They praised it as a seamless blend of humor and satire.
B) They considered it one of Twain's best works.
C) They found it to be an excellent example of political commentary.
D) They did not consider it a success because the stories did not mesh well.
  • 13. What metaphor did David Mamet use for Hollywood?
A) 'The Gilded Age' as a metaphor for Hollywood
B) 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' as a metaphor for Hollywood
C) 'King John' as a metaphor for Hollywood
D) 'Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' as a metaphor for Hollywood
  • 14. What did Twain and Warner originally plan to include in the novel?
A) Illustrations by Charles Dickens
B) Illustrations by Thomas Nast
C) Photographs of Washington D.C.
D) Maps of Tennessee
  • 15. What was the outcome for Laura Hawkins at the end of the novel?
A) She marries a wealthy senator.
B) She becomes a successful businesswoman.
C) She moves to Europe for a fresh start.
D) Her spirit is broken, and she dies regretting her fall from innocence.
  • 16. What happens to Henry Brierly and Colonel Sellers by the end of the novel?
A) They presumably continue to live daily by their wits while others pay their bills.
B) They become wealthy through honest business practices.
C) They start a successful political career.
D) They retire comfortably in Tennessee.
  • 17. What was the result of Laura Hawkins' attempt to pursue a career on the lecture circuit?
A) She became one of the most famous lecturers in America.
B) It failed, leading to her spirit being broken.
C) She decided to write another book instead.
D) She moved to Europe to continue her career.
  • 18. What was Silas 'Si' Hawkins' plan for the 75,000 acres of land?
A) To donate it to the government.
B) To use it as collateral for a loan.
C) To develop it into a farming community.
D) To become affluent by selling it in a timely manner.
  • 19. What is notable about Colonel Beriah Sellers' character throughout the book?
A) He is pessimistic and financially stable.
B) He is eternally optimistic and eternally broke.
C) He is wealthy and influential.
D) He is a successful businessman.
  • 20. What does the term 'Gilded Age' imply about the era it describes?
A) It implies a period of technological innovation.
B) It denotes an era of cultural renaissance.
C) It suggests an ideal 'Golden Age' contrasted with a less worthy 'Gilded Age'.
D) It indicates a time of political stability.
  • 21. What was the outcome for Ruth Bolton by the end of the novel?
A) She moves to Europe to pursue her career.
B) She wins Philip Sterling's heart and appears destined for a prosperous marriage.
C) She marries Henry Brierly.
D) She becomes a successful physician.
  • 22. What was the reaction to the collaboration between Twain and Warner?
A) It was universally praised for its seamless narrative.
B) It was ignored by most contemporary critics.
C) Contemporary critics did not consider it a success because the stories did not mesh well.
D) It was criticized only for its political content.
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