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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. In "Night," a man wakes up and thinks he hears the sound of a _____.

2. In thinking about pumpkins, the man thinks about his childhood illness and cans of which chilled fruit?

3. In "Mandy Shupe," a mother tells her daughter a story about Many Shupe, who is a ______.

4. In "Grace Period," a man is outside doing which of the following activities:

5. The man served in which war?

Short Essay Questions

1. What temporarily dissuades the couple from making love in "True Love?"

2. How does the therapist behave in an unprofessional manner?

3. In "Vision Out of the Corner of One Eye" tells the story of two people on a train. What happens between the man and woman?

4. How does the woman intend to trick her boyfriend in "I Get Smart?"

5. "A Public Denial" tells a somewhat humorous story about a man trying to clear his deceased grandfather's name. What killed the old man?

6. In "Love Poems," a man is inspired to write a love poem to his mistress. It is the best poem the man has ever written. Discuss the man's work and what he does with it in the end.

7. In "The One Sitting There," a woman has difficulty cleaning out her refrigerator. What is the problem?

8. What common topic is discussed between the woman and the soldier in "Dish Night?"

9. Discuss the meaning behind the man's action in "Fingers."

10. In "Nadine at 35: Synopsis," explain what Nadine does when her husband leaves her and why she allows him to come back.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "Grace Period," a man spots a bright light on the horizon. The man can feel the earth rumble as the light gets brighter. No one answers the phone. Discuss what you think is happening. Do you think the bright light is a UFO? Do you think the man is frightened or hallucinating? Compare the story to others that begin the same way and end up with alien abduction. Also watch and review television shows that portray alien abductions.

Essay Topic 2

In "Ponderosa," Jimmy is unhappy. Jimmy has been cheating on his wife although he denies it to his wife and father, who is a minister. The father tries to talk to Jimmy, but to no avail. Through an accident, Jimmy has half of his jaw shot off. The father sees it as divine intervention. Discuss Jimmy's predicament. Why does Jimmy continue to see his mistress if he is unhappy? What kind of upbringing did Jimmy have as the son of a minister? Does the father really believe that Jimmy's "accident" was divine intervention? Does Jimmy believe it? How does the accident affect Jimmy's life? Discuss the story from both sides. Also discuss what might have happened if Jimmy had not been shot.

Essay Topic 3

A man desires to read his novel in "The Continuity of Parks." What about the novel has the man so intent on reading it? How does a person become so involved in a fantasy world that he becomes oblivious to everything around him? Is it a form of entertainment or escapism? Compare and contrast entertainment and escapism. Give examples of each as well as examples where both may apply.

(see the answer keys)

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