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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 does the narrator discover in an envelope in his desk?

2. What does the phone call entail?

3. Who does the narrator encounter at the club?

4. On the morning of his meeting with Clara, what time does the narrator wake up?

5. How does the narrator clean out his desk?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Megan invite the narrator to dinner at her apartment?

2. What does the narrator remember the most about Amanda, though he cannot remember what she looks like?

3. Why does the narrator call Vicky after the party?

4. What does the reader learn about Megan's past?

5. Why does the narrator go to the party with Tad?

6. Explain Vicky's concept of "ineffability."

7. Why is a home-cooked meal such a novelty for the narrator?

8. How does Michael's reappearance change the narrator's demeanor?

9. Why is it ironic that the narrator snorts cocaine behind the library?

10. Why does the narrator opt to take Megan's valium?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Do a character analysis of Alex Hardy. Include:

1) His professional background.

2) His medical background.

3) His relationship to the narrator.

Why does the narrator have such respect for Alex? Where is Alex by the end of the novel, and will the experience change him?

Essay Topic 2

The narrator constantly forgets about Megan--her soda, her bagel, and their lunch date.

1) Why do you think she slips through the cracks of his memory? Does his absentmindedness seem to bother her?

2) Examine the narrator's breakdown after he forgets her bagel. What excuse does he give her? What internal struggle is he having?

3) What are Megan's motives for inviting him over for dinner? Why is she so kind to him?

Essay Topic 3

Though brothers, the narrator and Michael are very different people. Compare and contrast Michael and the narrator, focusing specifically on their careers and stations in life. Why are they resentful toward one another? Why has Michael come to New York? Why has the narrator stayed away from home?

(see the answer keys)

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