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. How long does it take Marie to clean the first, tidy room she cleans in the story?

2. What phrase does Marie use to describe her work, which Father James says can describe people also?

3. What is the name of the front desk clerk that Marie was friends with at work?

4. What is the main character's religion in "Clean, Cleaner, Cleanest"?

5. Who owns the motel where Marie works?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Christine? How does Marie feel about her life when they run into each other at a mall?

2. Why did Marie run from a room laughing after seeing a guest when she though the room was vacant? How did Evie react when Marie told her?

3. What state is Room 213, the first room Marie cleans in the story? What is in it that she dislikes?

4. What are some of the things Marie has grown accustomed to seeing and having to clean in her line of work?

5. What are some things that Marie's coworkers had done to her during her time working at the motel?

6. Why did Evie and Marie lose touch? What was the last correspondence the two had?

7. What is meant by "the illusion of clean" (3) in regards to Marie's work?

8. Why did Marie convince the former motel owner to put wooden platforms under the motel room beds?

9. Who is Olga? Why did she leave the motel?

10. What are some of the tragic things that had happened in the motel during Marie's time working there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Genre is a category assigned to a literary work, like a novel. What are some genres that could be used to classify this story? What is the main genre of the story? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Write a detailed analysis of tone in Alexie's "Clean, Cleaner, Cleanest." Include whether the tone changes or remains the same. If it changes, include details on when, why and whether this change is effective.

Essay Topic 3

Away from the main character examine the way the author uses the other characters in the book. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 857 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample