David Foster Wallace’s Postmodern Voices Answers

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Read the excerpt from David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest.Three faces have resolved into place above summer-weight sportcoats and half-Windsors across a polished pine conference table shiny with the spidered light of an Arizona noon. These are three Deans—of Admissions, Academic Affairs, Athletic Affairs. I do not know which face belongs to whom.I believe I appear neutral, maybe even pleasant, though I’ve been coached to err on the side of neutrality and not attempt what would feel to me like a pleasant expression or smile. Which line from the excerpt best reflects a subjective narrative voice?

A
Three faces have resolved into place
B
These are the three Deans
C
I’ve been coached
D
I believe I appear neutral
2
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Read the excerpt from David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest.I have committed to crossing my legs I hope carefully, ankle on knee, hands together in the lap of my slacks. My fingers are mated into a mirrored series of what manifests, to me, as the letter X. The interview room’s other personnel include: the University’s Director of Composition, its varsity tennis coach, and Academy prorector Mr. A. deLint. C.T. is beside me; the others sit, stand and stand, respectively, at the periphery of my focus. The tennis coach jingles pocket-change.Based on this excerpt, which detail is implicit?

A
More chairs are needed to make seating available for all attendees.
B
Hal is sitting in a chair with his ankle on his knee.
C
The Director of Composition is involved in the interview process.
D
The tennis coach has money in his front pocket.
3

Read the excerpt from Infinite Jest.This is not working out. It strikes me that EXIT signs would look to a native speaker of Latin like red-lit signs that say HE LEAVES. I would yield to the urge to bolt for the door ahead of them if I could know that bolting for the door is what the men in this room would see. DeLint is murmuring something to the tennis coach. Sounds of keyboards, phone consoles as the door is briefly opened, then firmly shut. I am alone among administrative heads.Based on this excerpt, what can be inferred about the narrator?

A
He is eager to play tennis and study at the university.
B
He wishes his Uncle Charles would return to the room.
C
He would rather attend another university.
D
He is uncomfortable with the interview process.
4

Read the excerpt from Infinite Jest.Three faces have resolved into place above summer-weight sportcoats and half-Windsors across a polished pine conference table shiny with the spidered light of an Arizona noon. These are three Deans—of Admissions, Academic Affairs, Athletic Affairs. I do not know which face belongs to whom.Which line of text supports the idea that Hal is meeting the college deans for the first time?

A
Three faces have resolved into place above summer-weight sportcoats. . . .
B
. . . half-Windsors across a polished pine conference table shiny with the spidered light. . . .
C
These are three Deans—of Admissions, Academic Affairs, Athletic Affairs.
D
I do not know which face belongs to whom.
5

Read the excerpt from Infinite Jest.‘Hal’s right as rain,’ smiles my uncle, soothing the air with a casual hand. ‘Just a bit of a let’s call it maybe a facial tic, slightly, at all the adrenaline of being here on your impressive campus, justifying his seed so far without dropping a set, receiving that official written offer of not only waivers but a living allowance from Coach White here, on Pac 10 letterhead, being ready in all probability to sign a National Letter of Intent right here and now this very day, he’s indicated to me.’ C.T. looks to me, his look horribly mild. I do the safe thing, relaxing every muscle in my face, emptying out all expression. I stare carefully into the Kekuléan knot of the middle Dean’s necktie.Which line of text from Infinite Jest best illustrates an objective narrative voice?

A
‘Hal’s right as rain,’ smiles my uncle, soothing the air with a casual hand.
B
C.T. looks to me, his look horribly mild.
C
I do the safe thing, relaxing every muscle in my face, emptying out all expression.
D
I stare carefully into the Kekuléan knot of the middle Dean’s necktie.
6

Read the excerpt from David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest.It’s clear that this really pretty sincere yellow Dean at left is Admissions. And surely the little aviarian figure at right is Athletics, then, because the facial creases of the shaggy middle Dean are now pursed in a kind of distanced affront, an I’m-eating-something-that-makes-me-really-appreciate-the-presence-of-whatever-I’m-drinking-along-with-it look that spells professionally Academic reservations. Why does the narrator most likely refer to the deans by their titles rather than their names?

A
to distance himself from those present
B
to show a personal connection with the group
C
to explain his position in relation to the others
D
to set a formal tone for the meeting
7

Read the excerpt from David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest.I am seated in an office, surrounded by heads and bodies. My posture is consciously congruent to the shape of my hard chair. This is a cold room in University Administration, wood-walled, Remington-hung, double-windowed against the November heat, insulated from Administrative sounds by the reception area outside, at which Uncle Charles, Mr. deLint and I were lately received.Which statement best describes the narrative voice in this excerpt?

A
The voice is subjective, because it relates an opinion of the narrative’s setting.
B
The voice is subjective, because the setting is described using an emotional tone.
C
The voice is objective, because it describes the setting without further commentary.
D
The voice is objective, because the description of the narrator is unreliable.
8

Read the excerpt from David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest.Three faces have resolved into place above summer-weight sportcoats and half-Windsors across a polished pine conference table shiny with the spidered light of an Arizona noon. These are three Deans—of Admissions, Academic Affairs, Athletic Affairs. I do not know which face belongs to whom.Which literary device is used in phrases such as “summer-weight sportcoats” and “polished pine”?

A
allusion
B
alliteration
C
irony
D
metaphor
9

Read the excerpt from Infinite Jest.This is not working out. It strikes me that EXIT signs would look to a native speaker of Latin like red-lit signs that say HE LEAVES. I would yield to the urge to bolt for the door ahead of them if I could know that bolting for the door is what the men in this room would see. DeLint is murmuring something to the tennis coach. Sounds of keyboards, phone consoles as the door is briefly opened, then firmly shut. I am alone among administrative heads.Which statement best describes the narrative voice in this excerpt?

A
The voice is objective because it relates the events of the story with emotion.
B
The voice is objective because it relates the events of the story without commentary.
C
The voice is subjective because it relates the events of the story without an opinion.
D
The voice is subjective because it relates the events of the story with emotion.
10

Which line of text from Infinite Jest best illustrates subjective narrative voice?

A
His hands come together on the conference table’s surface.
B
I am seated in an office, surrounded by heads and bodies.
C
The room’s carbonated silence is now hostile.
D
My uncle looks to Athletics as if puzzled.

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