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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 Weston go to check on in Act One?

2. What ailment does the animal that Wesley brings into the kitchen have?

3. Who is the enemy in Wesley's speech in Act One?

4. Where is Ella going with Taylor in Act One?

5. Where does Wesley's father sleep previously?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Weston describe how his father lives?

2. What does Wesley do when he reenters in Act Three after cleaning up?

3. Why does Ella call Weston "Mr. Hyde"?

4. Why does Ella tell Wesley he should not be cleaning up the debris?

5. Why does Weston say he goes off "for a little while"?

6. How does Wesley feel himself becoming Weston?

7. Why is Emma looking for her jodhpurs?

8. What is Emma's argument for swimming in Act One?

9. What does Wesley compare Taylor buying their house to in Act Two?

10. How does Weston feel connected to the rest of his family in Act Three?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the meaning of the title, "Curse of the Starving Class". How is the title relevant to the story's plot? What predictions can the reader make previous to reading the play based on the title? What deeper meaning does the title assume? Use specific examples from the play in the response.

Essay Topic 2

In "Curse of the Starving Class", each main character is on a quest or searching for something. Choose one of the main characters (Weston, Ella, Emma or Wesley), and describe what that character is searching for. What steps does the character take to find what they are looking for? Is the character successful or not in fulfilling their quest or search? Use specific examples from the text in the response.

Essay Topic 3

In addition to the play occurring mostly in the Tate's kitchen, the refrigerator almost becomes another character in the play. Explore the role the refrigerator plays in the story. How does the refrigerator's presence influence the characters and the play's events? What does the refrigerator symbolize? How is the refrigerator involved in the events of the play that help make it "character-like"? Use specific examples from the text in the response.

(see the answer keys)

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