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

Short Answer Questions

1. What article of writing does Charlie consider selling before realizing no one would be eager to buy it?

2. What happens to Hildenfisch at the racquet ball club?

3. Despite an action Humboldt takes, Von Trenck is a hit. What does Humboldt do to try and prevent this?

4. What does Charlie tell Polly about his medal of honor?

5. Who does Cantabile bring with him to visit Charlie?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Charlie is being told by Judge Urbanovich that he cannot be allowed to dabble in the middle class and then drop out, how does Charlie react?

2. What does Humboldt believe Kathleen's father did to her to keep her away from Humboldt?

3. In what way is Scaccia, the detective, blackmailing Charlie?

4. When Charlie returns to Chicago after ignoring Humboldt on the streets of New York, he tells Denise about the incident. What, in his story about being on the helicopter with Dr. Longstaff from the old days, is ironic?

5. Why does the Judge want to Charlie to post a large bail bond?

6. Why does Humboldt tell Charlie that he wants Adlai Stevenson to win the election over Eisenhower?

7. What does Canabile seem to want from Charlie other than help for his wife?

8. Charlie goes to the Russian Baths to give Cantabile his money. What is Cantabile's demeanor like when he gets out of his car to meet Charlie outside the Baths?

9. How does Charlie come to be blamed for Humboldt's admittance to Bellevue?

10. What is Humboldt's reaction when Charlie tells him that the Chair, Ricketts, cannot give Humboldt a Poetry Chair because of budgetary reasons?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Denise is Charlie's ex-wife. When explaining her feelings about Charlie's oldest friend, George Swiebel, she says, "George Swiebel is your billy goat." Explain what Denise meant by this statement and how it relates to Charlie.

Essay Topic 2

It becomes clear to the reader that Cantabile, after destroying Charlie's car, now wants to be his friend. What are Rinaldo's motives for wanting to befriend Charlie? What will he get out of this relationship? Can this relationship be reciprocated?

Essay Topic 3

Charlie's brother, Julius, is about to undergo heart surgery. He is seen as being very overweight and a keen businessman.

Compare Julius to Humboldt. Also compare their relationships with Charlie.

(see the answer keys)

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