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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 item does he steal from the man at the bar?

2. From whom has the narrator obtained the invitation?

3. Where in the mail room was the animal found?

4. Of what does the scent remind the narrator?

5. What does the narrator discover in an envelope in his desk?

Short Essay Questions

1. What catalysts are responsible for the narrator rising early, reading the paper, and arriving on time to work?

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

3. What exhibit in the museum is the narrator's favorite?

4. What is the significance of the rolls of bread?

5. Why does Michael say he never liked Amanda?

6. What job does Michael offer to the narrator, and what are the implications of this job?

7. What stunt is the narrator planning to pull at the fashion show?

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

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

10. Why does the narrator leap out of the limo to escape his conversation with Bernie, the drug lord?

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 is obsessed with the missing person poster.

1) Why is he so affected by the missing person? In what ways does he feel similar to the missing person? Specially, talk about his relationship with his family.

2) If the narrator were to post a missing persons sign, who would be on the sign? Why?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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