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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. What is the name of the motel mentioned in Chapter 27?

2. According to Denise, what does the neighborhood family think their new dog "is"?

3. Where are they supposed to evacuate to?

4. Who was Albert Speer?

5. What animal is featured in Orest's quest to break a world record?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did the mock evacuation in Chapter 28 turn out?

2. Who is Willie Mink?

3. According to Jack, what is the effect weather reports have on the elderly?

4. What happened to Cotsakis, Murray's rival in Elvis studies?

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

6. How did Babette convince Mr. Gray to let her try the Dylar?

7. Where does Jack discover Babette's Dylar?

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

9. What is the Law of Ruins Jack describes?

10. When the family does not want to cook, where do they go and what do they eat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Decide whether or not you think this book is funny. If so, write a position paper that explains the humor and why you find it funny/why DeLillo hopes the reader finds it funny. If you do not think it is funny, write a position paper that articulates your opinion of the jokes/humor/irony at work here and why you think it was not effective. Be sure to offer specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast Winnie Richard's attitudes about death, mortality and dying with those of Orest Mercator. How are these two alike, and how are they different? What does Jack learn from each of them?

Essay Topic 3

These characters are preoccupied, and maybe even obsessed, with their own deaths. Compare and contrast Jack's obsession with his mortality and Babette's obsession with hers. Write an essay that details the ways their fear of death are similar and how they are different. Be sure to describe specific instances in the novel and how the reader comes to understand each.

(see the answer keys)

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