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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. At the party, owing to the weather, what is Andy worried about when he is talking to Dag out in the yard?

2. In Chapter 29, what does Dag say Bunny looks like?

3. Where is Claire heading for Christmas in Chapter 24?

4. What does Tyler call his parents' house in Chapter 24?

5. According to Andy's brother, Tyler, whose birthday is January 8th?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of the title of the story Elvissa tells, "The Boy with the Hummingbird Eyes"?

2. What does Andy explain about his father's health in Chapter 25?

3. When Andy and Tyler go shopping on Christmas Eve, why does Andy believe people are looking at them strangely?

4. What does Dag do to the Aston Martin convertible that is parked not far from Larry's Bar?

5. What memory of his parents does Tobias share in Chapter 17?

6. What does Andy's mother say on the topic of children never leaving home?

7. What does Andy describe planing in his parents' back yard in Chapter 23?

8. As he explains in Chapter 29, how does Dag think he will die?

9. How does Andy describe the MacArthurs in Chapter 20?

10. According to Andy, why will this year's Christmas holiday be different at the Palmer home?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the genre of the novel, literary fiction. What are the elements of this genre? Why is this novel an example of this genre?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the theme of storytelling in Generation X. Why is telling stories such an important past-time for these characters? What are some recurring characteristics of the way they tell their stories? What do their stories reveal about them? What are the rules they have set for storytelling?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the character of Claire Baxter. What are her defining character traits? What are her relationships like with Andy and Dag? What is her relationship like with Tobias and Elvissa? How does she grow throughout the narrative?

(see the answer keys)

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