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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. In the essay "Not Here to Make Friends," what does Gay think about the question of likeability even existing in literary conversations?

2. What is the name of the book that Gay references in "The Smooth Surfaces of Idyll," noting that the many of the characters find happiness?

3. What is the name of the protagonist of the Hunger Games series, as referenced in "What We Hunger For"?

4. What female issue does Gay say in complex, in her essay "Garish, Glorious Spectacles"?

5. In the essay "Not Here to Make Friends," what does Gay say was dead to her as a teenager?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the essay "Girls, Girls, Girls," what is Gay's main criticism of the show "Girls"?

2. In "Feel Me. See Me. Hear Me. Reach Me.," what is the primary lesson Gay learns from advising students?

3. In the essay "I Once Was Miss America," how does Gay react to Vanessa Williams being crowned Miss America?

4. In the essay "Girls, Girls, Girls," why does Gay fall so hard for the television show "Girlfriends"?

5. In the essay "Peculiar Benefits," what is the main lesson Gay learns while in Haiti?

6. In the essay "I One Was Miss America," what is Gay's reaction after reading the sequel to the Sweet Valley High books?

7. In the essay "What We Hunger For," why does Gay admire the Hunger Games character Katniss?

8. In the essay "What We Hunger For," why is Gay afraid to say no to her boyfriend?

9. In the essay "A Tale of Three Coming Out Stories," what does Gay say that people like, in this information age?

10. In the essay "Garish, Glorious Spectacles," what does the novel Green Girl suggest that all women have within them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay explaining the author's narrative tone toward violence against women. Select the most poignant, vivid examples from the essay collection to develop your argument.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay explaining the significance of the essay title "Blurred Lines, Indeed." What narrative tone does the title reveal and how do these literary decisions strengthen her argument about racism, gender inequality, and the role of song lyrics?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay explaining the significance of the title of the book. How does the title support Gay's theme of gender inequality and overall narrative tone?

(see the answer keys)

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