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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 Colin do for the first time since he and Katherine XIX broke up?

2. What does Colin do when he goes into his bathroom after talking to his father?

3. What does Colin's father say about Colin's last girlfriend?

4. What does Colin do when Hassan pulls off the road after they leave the factory?

5. How do other children treat Colin in his first few years of school?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Colin's first date with Katherine IXI?

2. What do Hassan and Colin discuss concerning prodigies and geniuses?

3. Where does Lindsey go after interviewing Starnes?

4. What does Colin remember about himself when he was 25 months old?

5. What happened when Colin's parents enroll him in a pre-school?

6. How does Colin keep himself awake while driving and why is that ironic?

7. What does Hollis offer Hassan and Colin?

8. What does Colin decide to do while waiting for dinner?

9. What are Colin and Hassan supposed to do that day and what do they accomplish?

10. What does Colin overhear Hassan and Lindsey talking about and what do the three young people do that evening?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

As Colin listens to what Hassan is telling Lindsey, Colin realizes for the first time in his life that his life is a repeating circle. His road trip and working on the theorem are the first two things he is doing in his life that will break the circle. For the first time, Colin also realizes what the missing piece is that he feels inside; it's that he simply wants to matter. Colin also realizes that Lindsey is a symbol of irony because she seems like a tough person on the outside, but on the inside she is really a wimp.

1. Discuss the ways in which Colin's life is a repeating circle. Use examples from your own life and "An Abundance of Katherines" to support your answer.

2. Do you think everyone wants to matter to someone or to the world? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and the text to support your answer.

3. What are some of the ways people use to matter to the world? Use examples from your own life and "An Abundance of Katherines" to support your answer.

4. Discuss reasons someone like Lindsey might show a different face on the outside to what she is on the inside. Use examples from your own life and "An Abundance of Katherines" to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Sometimes a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and sometimes it is the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think "An Abundance of Katherines" is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "An Abundance of Katherines" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "An Abundance of Katherines"? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in "An Abundance of Katherines" to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

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