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. What kind of job does Max try out for in Chapter Nine?

2. Who recognizes Max while he's traveling for an interview in Chapter Three?

3. When she runs into Max at the bookstore, who does Leigh say the book she is purchasing is for?

4. With which female host is Howard having an affair with?

5. John arranges to have an evening alone with whom?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the subject of the sermon at church that particularly moves Peggy Jean?

2. Why do you think Peggy Jean's stalker keeps saying that Peggy Jean is hairy?

3. Why does Leigh believe Howard has given her more on-air hours after his return from his vacation with his wife?

4. Do you think that Ricky is being honest that the "Silly Putty" his mother finds is really plastic explosive? Why or why not?

5. Why does Max feel good about his audition for the voice-over for the cat food commercial?

6. The first Sunday that Peggy Jean and her family go to church in the novel, how does Peggy Jean try to direct their lives?

7. How does Peggy Jean react to the e-mail from Zoe that says that she has a mustache?

8. Do you agree with Max's belief that much of life is luck?

9. Why does Max feel reassured after buying his copy of "Backstage"?

10. Why does Max's agent let him go?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel often mentions beverages when describing scenes. Examine what beverages are mentioned and what purpose that serves. Purposes will be different in different scenes. For example, the latte that Miguel spills on Max has a very different function than the sip of Lemon Zinger tea Trish has in the staff room.

Essay Topic 2

Peggy Jean is not the only mother mentioned in the book. Don discusses his mother, as does Max. How are these mothers, as well as others, characterized?

Essay Topic 3

The tone of the novel is biting social commentary masked in humor that is often sarcastic, with occasional serious moments or scenes. How would the novel be different if it was written in a solely serious tone? When writing your response, consider how character development, plot events, and reader reception would be affected by a change in the novel's tone.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 831 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample