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. In the story "Everything That Rises Must Converge," how does Julian's mother characterize all children?

2. In the story "Parker's Back," why does Parker not want to have his back tattooed?

3. In the story "Parker's Back," what is notable about Parker's arms?

4. In "The Enduring Chill," where is Asbury returning to his hometown from at the beginning of the story?

5. In the story "Judgment Day," what does Foley predict will happen in the future?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the story "Revelation," why does Mrs. Turpin continue to repeat the phrase "there's a heap of things worse than a nigger"?

2. In the story "Judgement Day," how does Tanner die?

3. In "The Lame Shall Enter First," what does Norton do when looking through the telescope alone at night?

4. In the story "Greenleaf," why does Mrs. May say that O.T. & E.T. should have been her sons?

5. Describe Star's fictitious background in the story "The Comforts of Home."

6. In the story "Parker's Back," how does Parker change as the result of his tattoo of Jesus?

7. In the story "Parker's Back," why doesn't Sarah Ruth want Parker to have the Bible tattooed on his back?

8. In "The Lame Shall Enter First," how is Rufus' view of the night sky different than Sheppard's?

9. In the story "Parker's Back," what things does Parker say his wife does not approve of?

10. In the story "A View of the Woods," what angers Mary Fortune about her grandfather's plan to sell a lot of his land?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

For each story in "Everything That Rises Must Converge" there is a "partner" story in the collection. Select two stories that you believe "fit" together and write an essay:

1) describing each story;

2) demonstrating how the two "fit" together;

3) explain what commentary the author is trying to make through these companion stories.

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Several of the stories in this collection feature mothers and sons. Select two of the stories with mother and son characters and:

1) describe the relationship between the mother and son;

2) explain how the two affect each other;

3) explain what you think the author is trying to say about mother-son relationships through these two stories.

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Many of the titles of the stories in "Everything That Rises Must Converge" have multiple meanings that relate to the story's theme. Select one of the stories in the collection and:

1) explain what the story's title means in relation to the story's plot;

2) demonstrate how the concept is developed in the story;

3) explain why the author chose to offer these multiple layers of meaning about the title.

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,028 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample