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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 Cindy drop between the bleachers?

2. With whom does John Voss say he lives?

3. Who owns the establishment in #4?

4. According to Miles, who runs the world?

5. What does Zack break in the cafeteria?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Miles try to help John Voss.

2. What revelation does Miles get when he examines an old photo in the newspaper?

3. How does David want Miles to expand his business opportunities?

4. Describe how Zack Minty exhibits unsportsmanlike behavior and then manipulates the crowd at the football game.

5. Why does David keep pressuring Miles about a liquor license?

6. What is the role of Timmy, the cat, in the story?

7. Explain the significance of the river as a metaphor for life in Empire Falls.

8. What inappropriate behavior does Jimmy reveal that makes Miles like him even less?

9. Describe Max and what he represents in the town of Empire Falls.

10. What is the Exacto knife and why does it signify foreshadowing for the plot?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The river becomes almost a character itself. Create a character sketch of the river complete with positive and negative characteristics.

Essay Topic 2

On the Martha's Vineyard trip, Miles becomes disenchanted with his mother's behavior with Charlie Mayne and he consequently loses his baseball to the ocean and leaves his ball glove at the hotel. What do these losses of his baseball equipment really represent?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the Empire Grill. What is its role in the community? Is it typical of establishments in small towns in America?

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