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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 is the photographer's subject's writing about?

2. Ronald says Alexa only works with who in Act 1, Scene 3?

3. Where does Act 1, Scene 5 take place?

4. What animal does Alexa call Wyler?

5. What word does Wyler use to describe Alexa's life story and past?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Wyler stop by Mike's loft in Act 2, Scene 8?

2. How does Wyler describe Alexa to Ronald?

3. According to Alexa, what is the "finest word in the English language"?

4. Why will Alexa not let Wyler look at her at the beginning of Act 1, Scene 6?

5. Why does writing not come easily to Wyler?

6. Who is Swen?

7. Why does Alexa contact Ginny?

8. What does Alexa use to transform herself into Alexa Vere de Vere from Brenda Gelb?

9. What prompts Wyler to start writing in Act 2, Scene 9?

10. Why does Wyler offer to charge the reverb equipment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Before Alexa became Alexa, she was Brenda Gelb from Pennsylvania. Describe the transformation that Brenda makes to become Alexa Vere de Vere. What prompts this transformation? How does she accomplish changing her personality and actions to fit Alexa instead of Brenda? Use specific examples from the text in the response.

Essay Topic 2

Plays are divided into acts and the acts into scenes. Why does a playwright divide the story this way? How is the addition or subtraction of scene a useful tool in playwriting? How do the divisions aid the audience/reader?

Essay Topic 3

Plays often use flashbacks to provide the audience/reader with additional information about earlier events. Douglas Carter Beane uses different flashback techniques than other playwrights. What are his techniques? How are they useful? Are they better than other flashback techniques? What information is Beane able to provide the audience/reader with the use of these techniques? Use specific examples from the text in the response.

(see the answer keys)

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