View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Sarah goes missing in the story "Weekend," how does Julie search for her?

2. What news does Arty receive about his father on the first day he visits him in the mental institution?

3. In the story "Willi," where does Willi live?

4. What does Lewis complain about during his meeting with Arty?

5. What act of affection do Lewis and Arty share before Arty leaves his father alone in the hospital?

Short Essay Questions

1. What types of authors did Jenks and Carver seek to publish in this short story collection?

2. What type of relationship does Carlyle form with Mrs. Webster in the story "Fever"?

3. What part about Arty's life made him feel like a "Bystander"?

4. What prompts the narrator in "Sonny's Blues" to reach out to his incarcerated brother?

5. Why has Earl taken to the road in "Rock Springs" and who does he take with him?

6. What pleasant memory does the young girl from the story "Verona" have about her father from her childhood?

7. Why does Lenore comfort George at the end of the story "Weekend"?

8. Who is Push in the story "A Poetic for Bullies," and who is his sidekick?

9. Why doesn't Push like John Williams, and what does he do about it?

10. What type of relationship do George and Lenore have in the story "Weekend"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Shiloh" is yet another tale of a couple torn apart by the loss of their child. First, describe how Leroy and Norma's child died and what each of their reactions was to this loss. Describe how the loss of a child affected Norman and Lyle's marriage. What does Lyle want for and from Norma? What does Norma want for and from Lyle? At the end of the story, do you think there is hope for Norma and Lyle making their marriage work? Why or why not? Be sure to include examples from the text that you believe strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

"The Christian Roommates" is the story of two young men who come together in college and end up changing each others lives irrevocably. First, describe the two roommates, Orson and Henry. What is the same about these two young men? What is different about them? Then, choose at least two arguments the two roommates got into during their time together at Harvard. How did these arguments affect their friendship? Finally, choose one of the two roommates and explain what happened to them after graduation. How was their life irrevocably altered by the roommate they spent time with at Harvard? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

The story "Bystander" is a reflection of fatherhood as seen through the eyes of Arty and his relationship with his father, Lewis. First, describe the relationship Arty had with his father in his childhood. Then, compare that to the relationship he has with his father in adulthood. Explain why Arty feels like a "Bystander" in his relationship with his father and why, even though he feels inactive. Be sure to include examples from the text that you believe strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,304 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample