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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 of the following food items does Louise eat in front of her husband as an act of defiance?

2. What terrible weather occurred when Sarah went missing?

3. What does Lewis complain about during his meeting with Arty?

4. How does Louise's husband treat her when she begins to gain weight during pregnancy?

5. What problem does the cab driver claim plagues the town of Rock Springs?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why has Earl taken to the road in "Rock Springs" and who does he take with him?

2. How does Louise's husband react when Louise gains weight during her pregnancy?

3. Why does Lenore comfort George at the end of the story "Weekend"?

4. What pleasant memory does the young girl from the story "Verona" have about her father from her childhood?

5. What is Carlyle's life like at the opening of the story "Fever"?

6. What part about Arty's life made him feel like a "Bystander"?

7. What happens when Sean is trapped in an elevator in the story "Midair"?

8. How does Arty react in the story "The Bystander" when his father is committed to a mental institution?

9. What type of relationship does George have with his ex-students?

10. What is Earl's first impression of the town Rock Springs?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the story "Weekend," age becomes a factor in the relationships George forms. First, describe the women that George has a tendency to get romantically involved with. Where does he meet these women? What does their age difference tend to be? Explain the ways that George medicates himself through romantic relationships. What else does George depend on to make himself feel good about the age differences in his love life? Be sure to include examples from the text that you believe strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

In the story "Redemption," Dale and Jack deal with David's death in different ways. Describe what the relationship between these two characters was like before David's death and compare it to what their relationship is like after David's death. How did each of these men cope with their loss? Explain how Jack eventually found "redemption" for his emotions. How did this sense of redemption affect his relationship with Dale? Be sure to include examples from the text that you believe strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

The story "Where are You Going, Where Have You Been?" is full of moments when reality and fantasy intermix, particularly in the mind of Connie. Describe the fantasy Connie has about love and compare that to the reality of the romance present in her young life. Then, describe the fantasy Connie creates about Arnold Friend and compare it to the reality of who he really is. Finally, explain the way that Connie's experiences with Arnold, either real or imagined, affected the way she views the world. Be sure to include examples from the text that you believe strengthen your arguments.

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