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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. Arturo was raised in a religious household. His religious background is:

2. Judy Palmer's mother finds her daughter reading to Arturo, who is:

3. Arturo looks at himself in the mirror and tells himself:

4. Arturo's first inscription to Camilla calls her:

5. Instead of leaving the hotel for good, Arturo decides to:

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Arturo give Mrs. Hargraves an extra five dollars with his rent payment?

2. After his wild spending spree, Arturo rejects his new belongings. Discuss the reasons for this.

3. What does Arturo's interaction with Judy Palmer tell us about him?

4. Discuss the unfair discrimination Arturo experienced as a child..

5. Discuss the possible reason that Arturo decided to become a writer, which is couched in this Chapter.

6. Arturo tells Mrs. Hargraves that he never changes his mind. Discuss that statement and why it is ironic.

7. How is Arturo trying to appear to the waitress? What impression does he want to give her?

8. How does Arturo survive his deep depression and low self-worth?

9. Mr. Hellfrick is an angry alcoholic who owes money to a very poor young man. Is he a bad person?

10. Discuss Arturo's feelings toward those people he sees coming out of their church.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mrs. Hargraves has a small, but important role in Fante's story.

1) What does Mrs. Hargraves symbolize for Arturo?

2) Why does Arturo finally agree with Mrs. Hargraves that the city of Boulder is in Nebraska?

3) Discuss Arturo's decision to force an extra $5 on Mrs. Hargraves when he pays the rent.

Essay Topic 2

The character of Sammy is important to Fante's story. Sammy has some things that Arturo craves, and some that Arturo feels superior to.

1) Discuss Sammy's lifestyle in the desert. What does this tell us about him?

2) Discuss Camilla's obsession with Sammy. Why does he reject her?

3) What are the things about Sammy that allow Arturo to stop feeling jealous of him?

Essay Topic 3

Raised by his mother to be a strict Catholic, Arturo is always aware of his mother and the church.

1) Why does he feel such guilt? It is not a though his mother is writing and admonishing him.

2) Discuss Arturo's love-hate relationship with the church.

3) When does his religion become most important to him?

(see the answer keys)

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