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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 is the name of the girl who is from the same place as RA Tom?

2. In "Sunset," what is a man wearing at the bus station who says goodbye to two children?

3. Where does RA Tom have a meeting with Claude's entire floor in "Icebreaker"?

4. What decade has Claude heard that college town embrace more than any other decade?

5. In "The Prairie Executioner #2," what does Claude imagine Whitney reading in a cafe?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why has Janice come to Missouri?

2. What problems does Claude have with showering in "Routine"?

3. What does Janice decide to do instead of follow Claude to Missouri?

4. Why does Claude think that Whitney is scared in "The Prairie Executioner #2"?

5. What routes does the bus take that Claude rides to Missouri and what does Claude see?

6. What does Claude say happened to Chester Dexter?

7. What is the Prairie Executioner?

8. In "Sociology #1," what does Claude feel about conversations on campus as he walks to the journalism office?

9. What is Martin's Taco Palace like?

10. At the end of "Ohio," what does Paul tell Claude after dinner about leaving?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author uses historical details in the novel. How does the author use historical details in the book? How do the details that the author uses in the book about Chicago imitate events from real life?

Essay Topic 2

Genre is a means of classifying literature. What is the genre of the novel? Why is it not historical fiction?

Essay Topic 3

Grandma and Paul encourage Claude and Janice to be independent. How do Grandma and Paul encourage Claude and Janice to be independent? What are the benefits of being raised to be independent? How do Claude and Janice benefit from the way that Grand and Paul raised them to be independent?

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