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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. Of what does Cy ask confirmation from Grace?

2. What does Cy realize about the skin after the doctor talks to him?

3. What does Claudia do to Grace's assailant?

4. What has Claudia been doing for eight years?

5. How does Cy know his neighbors' names?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the narrator say about the light in Brooklyn?

2. How does Claudia become to have so many tattoos and to what does that lead Artura and Claudia?

3. Describe the first few days that Cy spends at the hospital.

4. What does Cy think he sees in a neighboring apartment that makes him question his sanity?

5. Why does Cy stay open on rainy days and describe one such day.

6. What are the sexual images Cy has of mermaids?

7. How are tattooists looked at in Coney Island?

8. How does Cy feel about tattooing?

9. What is the story Henry gives about what happens at the asylum and do the police believe him?

10. What gives a possible hint to a terrible secret in Grace's past?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In part 1, it is revealed that Reeda Parks nurses dying TB patients and also assists her friend in performing abortions. This dual occupation could be considered ironic for several reasons. Answer the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Define the concept of irony.

2. Why could Reeda's two occupations be considered ironic? Use examples and detail in your explanation.

3. There are a number of ironic instances in the story. Go through the text and find several instances of ironic thoughts, statements, or events and explain the situation and why you believe it to be ironic.

Essay Topic 2

In Part 2, "Babylon in Brooklyn," the game of chess is introduced by the idea that chess is Varga's passion, and participants do not maintain European manners, but play viciously and inconsiderately. Answer the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. What characters are most involved in chess? How are they involved? Give examples.

2. Cy thinks he can understand who Grace is by understanding how she plays chess. Is he successful? What does he learn about Grace from her chess-playing style?

3. Grace is playing chess when Sedak assaults her. How is chess symbolic of this assault? Does Sedak achieve checkmate? Does Grace and Cy later achieve checkmate? Explain.

4. Why do you think Chess is so important in a novel which is predominantly about the world of the tattoo parlor? Do chess and tattoos belong together somehow?

Essay Topic 3

In Part 1, "Salvaging Renaissance," the narrator states that Cy's routine always begins with the question, "Ready?" It asks endorsement of the change Cy and the client are about to effect, an oral signature that Cy will match in ink on skin. Because some customers take the opportunity to flee, Riley berates Cy to comfort customers instead. Tell a story. Tell a joke. Saying nothing is bad form. Answer the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Compare and contrast Cy's handling of clients both in this part and future parts with the way Riley handles clients.

2. Which "bedside manner" would you prefer? Do you think women would prefer Riley's approach more than Cy's? Or vice versa? What about men?

3. Should Riley be trying to distract a client from changing his or her mind? Should the client not be distracted so that s/he can make a last minute change of mind?

(see the answer keys)

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