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 is the trademark image on the Onondaga Dairy label?

2. What was the name of Howie's childhood best friend?

3. What did Howie's father hang on the doorknobs of their home?

4. Howie always needs to have ______ while he walks.

5. Howie signs the _____ flower on the poster for Ray.

Short Essay Questions

1. What were the "systems of local transport" that Howie liked as a child?

2. What does breaking his shoelace remind Howie of?

3. What are Howie's thoughts on shopping bags?

4. What is Howie's feeling about ice cube trays?

5. What does Howie notice about his shoes as he reties them in Chapter 4?

6. What does Howie mean by "the rule of nostalgia"?

7. How does Howie celebrate what he considers to be the realization that he is an adult?

8. How does "The Mezzanine" begin?

9. What does Howie consider to be his sixth major advancement in life?

10. Where is Howie when he believes that his great period of growth as a human has ended?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the meaning behind the title of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss both the narrative tone and structure of this story and their impact on the reader's experience.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the metaphorical significance of the escalator and how it is used as a vehicle of thought throughout the novel.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 714 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample