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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. Who was the last person Sarah was with before she disappeared?

2. In the story, "The Fisherman From Chihuahua," what type of business does Pendleton own?

3. As an adult, which of the following facts about Sean is NOT true?

4. What were the doctors who took Sean's father away carrying?

5. How much older is George than his wife?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What unfortunate site does Willi witness in the story of the same name, and how does the young boy react to what he's seen?

3. Who is Push in the story "A Poetic for Bullies," and who is his sidekick?

4. What type of relationship does Louise have with her mother in the story "The Fat Girl"?

5. What reason does Raymond Carver give about why he wanted to compose this collection of short stories?

6. What reaction does the narrator have when watching Sonny play his music in the story "Sonny's Blues"?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the story "The Misfits," Gay is a man who cannot commit to anything for a long period of time. Describe Gay's character and explain why he a fear of commitment. Choose one relationship in Gay's life and explain how his fear of commitment affected that relationship. Finally, describe the relationship between Gay and Perce. What brings these two men closer together? What threatens to tear them apart? Be sure to include examples from the text that you believe strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

"Letters from the Samantha" tells the tale of a sea captain and his relationship with a giant ape. First, describe how the sea captain first came in contact with the giant ape and what his first response of the animal was. Then, explain why the captain's opinion of the giant ape suddenly changed? How did the relationship between the captain and the ape finally end? Which individual proved to have more menacing animal instincts? How can you tell? Be sure to include examples from the text that you believe strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

"The Fat Girl" is a story of a woman who struggles with every relationship in her life, from her relationship with others to her relationship with herself. Describe why Louise struggles to love herself. Describe what steps Louise takes to better her life and the outcome of these attempts. Explain how Louise's struggles for love and acceptance rear their head again once she is married and has become a mother. What does Louise give up in order to find herself again? What is Louise's emotional journey? Be sure to include examples from the text that you believe strengthen your argument.

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