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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 does the protagonist tell the stranger?

2. What should one not look at too long?

3. What has happened to this person at the box office?

4. What happens between Kathleen and the protagonist?

5. What is this woman doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens once the protagonist is admitted into the hospital?

2. To what does the protagonist wake up?

3. What does the protagonist tell the stranger? How does the stranger respond?

4. What happens when Kathleen tries to talk to the protagonist?

5. Describe the memory that is triggered by the hamburger.

6. Describe the story and the main character.

7. What does he tell the nurse? What is her response? Why does he feel this way?

8. Why does the protagonist begin to tell the stranger his story?

9. Why does the protagonist believe his grandmother is outside his room?

10. To what does the title refer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The main character thinks more about death than life.

Part 1) How does this affect his relationship with others?

Part 2) What would his grandmother think about this? Use the text to support your response.

Part 3) Based on this story, how does the author believe one can change and enjoy life?

Essay Topic 2

The author's description of the passersby on the street is bleak.

Part 1) Describe these people. Do they look like this in reality? Why or why not?

Part 2) How does this foreshadow the feeling of the rest of the novel?

Part 3) Describe a time when your emotions affected your take on your surroundings.

Essay Topic 3

Kathleen tells the doctor that she loves the protagonist, and the doctor replies that sometimes love is stronger than prayer.

Part 1) What does this foreshadow?

Part 2) Do you agree with the doctor? Why or why not?

Part 3) How is this love destructive? Why is it destructive?

(see the answer keys)

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