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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 Mr. Mumsford's job?

2. How did the driver die?

3. The woman gets ---- new cats.

4. In "Roseville," the couple meets a a/n:

5. How many times has the man been unfaithful to his wife?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain why Mr. Mumsford is so angry. What does the man intend to do? Why?

2. Explain the actions of the bears in Chile in "Brilliant Silence." Why do the bears act this way?

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

4. What is the main issue with Jimmy in the beginning of "Ponderosa?"

5. Discuss the opening scene in "Ponderosa."

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

7. Why do the man and his young lover have such varying opinions on what they see in "Everything is Green?"

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

9. What causes the stones to become fearful? What is a distinction of stones?

10. In "Mandy Shupe," a mother tells her young daughter about Mandy Shupe, a Mennonite woman who goes a bit wild. The basic story is told and the mother's purpose for the parable as well as the grown up daughter's reaction explained.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Fingers" is a strange tale about a woman that must subdue her kitchen before every evening meal. Discuss the author's format and style as well as possible inspiration for the story. What about the kitchen and its utensils and appliances that cause the compulsion to destroy and/or hurt oneself? What other compulsions, if any, are present? What is the gory outcome of the story? How will it change the nightly kitchen ritual?

Essay Topic 2

It is said that people have muscle memory from activities they have done before, even if it is something that occurred long ago. This brings about the old saying, "It's just like riding a bike." Discuss the dancing bears in "Brilliant Silence." Do you think muscle memory applies to the bears' descendants? Is it possible? Is there some genetic marker that causes the young bears to dance? Is it simply learned behavior? If it is learned behavior, how and why are the young bears affected by the full moon?

Essay Topic 3

"Bread" discusses the fact that while many of us eat bread, there are many people that are starving and could benefit from the bread we take for granted. Who decides who should eat and who should starve? Should people curb what they eat in order to provide food for people half way around the world? Is there an impact on those people decided by what we eat? How does supply and demand fit into the picture? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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