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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. In "When in Rome," how does Kevin know Troy?

2. How does Maria say she reacted to seeing Lisa's dog in the basement in "In the Basement"?

3. In "When in Rome," why does Caleb start talking to Kevin again?

4. In "In the Basement," how does the narrator feel about Maria taking Nicholas back?

5. Why does the narrator of "In the Basement" dislike the amount Maria works?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Caleb discover when he returns to Kevin's apartment in "When in Rome"?

2. In "In the Basement," what is kept in a basement?

3. How does Caleb try to mend his relationship with Kevin in "When in Rome"?

4. How does the narrator of "In the Basement" feel about Nicholas' relationship with Maria?

5. In "When in Rome," why does Caleb admit to trying to choke Kevin?

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

7. In "Middleman," what does John's father say about his time in the Navy?

8. Why do Nicholas and Maria tell the narrator and his wife about Lisa in "In the Basement"?

9. In "In the Basement," what history does the narrator give about Nicholas and Maria's relationship?

10. After leaving Kevin's apartment in "When in Rome," why does Caleb return?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the use of dialogue in these stories to develop the plot, characters and themes. In what ways is the use of dialogue strong? In what ways is it weak? How does the author's style of dialogue affect the reader's understanding of the story and themes?

Essay Topic 2

Many of the stories in this collection have vague or unclear endings. What role do these endings serve? What do the endings bring to a close? What message does the author convey with vague endings?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze at least three titles of the stories in this collection. Consider their symbolism within the text, reference to themes and relationship to the overall collection. Compare and contrast the uses of titles. What does the author's titling strategy influence most in the entire collection?

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