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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. Which character says that you should not worry about toxic spills, but about cancer and radiation instead?

2. Which member of the family notices that they are running out of gas?

3. What is the name of the material the emergency worker's suits are made out of?

4. According to the video they watched in school, what happens when a rat is exposed to Nyodene D.?

5. Dana Breedlove and Jack were married how many times?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Murray and Jack discuss the weird feelings they have about Howard, what are some of the things they mention that just do not feel right?

2. According to Heinrich, toxic spills are not "the real issue." What does he tell his sisters and parents they should be worried of?

3. What is Orest Mercator trying to do?

4. What happened to Orest's quest to break the world record? What happens when he tries to do it?

5. Why is Heinrich crouched outside on the roof at the beginning of Book 2?

6. Where does Jack drive Willie Mink and why?

7. What is the (potentially wrong) answer Denise gives Babette when Babette wonders why UFOs always come from upstate?

8. How did Jack act during his appointment with Dr. Chakravarty?

9. When Jack asks Babette for Mr. Gray's real name, why does she refuse to tell him?

10. Where does Jack discover Babette's Dylar?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Considering the first two Books of the novel, analyze the way DeLillo uses feelings of non-chalance and calm to characterize the Gladney family. Offer textual examples of how they behave during hectic, stressful, or chaotic situations and explain the fictional techniques (especially dialogue and setting) that help the author achieve this characterization.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Jack's wives. Write an essay that describes Dana, Janet, Tweedy and Babette in turn, and explains the ways in which they are similar or different. Why did Jack want to marry them? What caused conflicts in their marriages? What does this show readers about Jack?

Essay Topic 3

Babette teaches frivolous and ridiculous classes; Jack teaches Hitler studies rather than German History or Politics, and his colleague Murray wants to create an Elvis studies department. Write an analytical essay in which you explore and discuss what you think DeLillo is communicating about education, teaching, higher education, or learning. Be sure to consider Jack's attempts at irony.

(see the answer keys)

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