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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. Where does Caleb say Kevin went to buy drugs during his law school visit in "When in Rome"?

2. In "When in Rome," who does Caleb say was arrested after he choked Kevin?

3. Why does Caleb claim Kevin drove through a red light in "When in Rome"?

4. In "In the Basement," what does the narrator say he heard about Maria and Nicholas' prior breakup?

5. Why does Joshua ask his parents about being Jewish in "Middleman"?

Short Essay Questions

1. At the end of "In the Basement," how does the narrator feel?

2. In "When in Rome," why does Caleb tell the story about visiting his brother in California?

3. How does John feel about Judaism in "Middleman"?

4. In "Middleman," how does John meet Elsa?

5. How does John feel at the end of "Middleman"?

6. What is the last thing Caleb does in "When in Rome"?

7. How does John feel when Elsa asks him to no longer accompany her on auditions in "Middleman"?

8. How does John describe Elsa's acting skills in "Middleman"?

9. In "Middleman," what makes Elsa talk to John?

10. In "In the Basement," how does Nicholas describe Lisa's lifestyle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many characters harbor secret desires in this collection. Compare and contrast at least two stories that focus on secret desires. How are they similar? How are they different? What lesson does the author create about secret desires through these stories?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the use of prose and descriptive passages in two of the stories in this collection. Consider the times the author uses lengthy and detailed passages vs. short, clipped ones. How does each style affect the story to which they belong? What might account for the variety in writing styles?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the author's use of symbolism throughout this collection. Possibilities to consider are: the basement, money, cars, the plane, colors and clothing.

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