View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Malorie ultimately decide against blinding her children?

2. Where does Gary sleep?

3. What does Don tell Malorie and Olympia to do to their babies?

4. What do Gary and Don talk about?

5. What does Jules trip over when he first leaves the house during his excursion?

Short Essay Questions

1. What snacks does Malorie give her children in the rowboat?

2. What special type of food does Tom bring back in Chapter 37?

3. What advice did Don give Malorie concerning her babies?

4. What does the new entrant bring with him to the new house?

5. What does Tom bring home in a box?

6. What does the new entrant in Chapter 27 say happened as his previous house?

7. What is written on the sign on the bodies of the parents that Tom and Jules find?

8. Who is the housemate who arrives in Chapter 27?

9. Where does Don spend most of his time after Gary leaves the house?

10. What are some of the items printed on the receipt found by Tom in a vacant house?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Malerman writes in Gary's notebook that "Man is the creature he fears." Write an essay in which you respond to this notion, taking as evidence the behavior of the novel's characters. Cite passages to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 2

Malorie and Tom develop a close relationship. Analyze whether their relationship is more platonic or romantic. Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing the role that gender plays among the housemates. Are any of the housemates sexist in their thinking and behavior? How does the author use this to make claims about gender in the novel? Use evidence from the text to support your claims.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 505 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample