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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. A woman sitting next to Chance at dinner praises him for what reason?

2. At the UN reception, Chance meets the Soviet Ambassador. How does Chance impress him?

3. When a man sitting across from Chance asks him what the government will do about industrial poisons, what is Chance's response?

4. When Chance tells the man that he just wants to watch, what is the man's reaction?

5. When Chance tells the man that he wants to tell EE where they are going, what is the man's response?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Chance find so amazing as he awaits his turn to join the TV show?

2. Why is the President beginning to become suspicious of Chauncy Gardiner in Chapter 5?

3. In what way does the President incorporate Chance's words on gardening into his speech at the Financial Institute?

4. What is the bad joke that Grunmann begins to make when speaking to the President in Chapter 6?

5. At what point in Chapter 5 does EE's character make it clear to the reader that she has a crush on Chance?

6. In what way does Chance inadvertently stun the journalists interviewing him after the U.N. gala?

7. What does EE find herself thinking about more and more as she flies back to New York from Denver?

8. Why does Chance hesitate when the President asks him about The Street?

9. The President of the United States is getting frustrated with the lack of information on Gardiner in Chapter 6. What sort of information is the President's investigator, Grunmann, able to uncover?

10. How does Chance feel about an opportunity to appear on TV?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

If we all acted as Chance does in the book, we could walk away from problems or just change the channel. What would happen to society if we all took on this persona? Give concrete examples of how society would change and refer to the book for examples to help support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Though religion is never mentioned in the story, there is a spiritual element to the book. Compare and contrast "Being There" to a religious parable.

Essay Topic 3

Chance's father is never revealed in the book. It is only implied that the Old Man may be his actual father.

A) Explain why Jerzy Kosinski may have decided to keep the Old Man's identity so mysterious.

B) Other than Chance's father, who could the Old Man symbolize? Why?

C) Explore the Old Man's personality keeping in mind that he may be Chance's father.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 900 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample