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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 had happened to Himiko's husband?

2. The doctor describes the baby as __________________.

3. What had Himiko been doing before Bird got to her apartment?

4. What does Bird notice about one of the doctors?

5. What place has Bird always wanted to visit?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did the author give names to only a few of the characters?

2. What is the significance of the students in Bird's class and what do they represent after his in-class vomiting incident?

3. How does Bird learn that his child has a problem?

4. What seems to exaggerate Bird's feelings of inadequacy at the arcade?

5. How does Bird's thoughts about his child as a war hero show what Bird really feels about the journey ahead for the child and himself?

6. At what stage is Bird in his journey of personal transformation at this point?

7. Where does Bird go after leaving his father-in-law's office?

8. What is ironic about Bird's using sex to avoid responsibility?

9. Who is Delchef and how is he introduced into the story?

10. What is Bird doing at the beginning of A PERSONAL MATTER? What is going on with Bird's wife and how does Bird think his life will soon change?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the significance of the book's title? What are some other possible titles for the book. List at least five and cite your reasons for each.

Essay Topic 2

Coming of age is an important theme in A PERSONAL MATTER. Can you cite an example to support this theme? Name two other themes and cite examples to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

The author uses more than one instance of irony in the book. Cite at least two other examples you can identify in the novle and note why they are examples of irony.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,150 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample