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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. Who rented the office space in Rosewater before Eliot did?

2. What is the one rule Eliot knows to tell the newborn babies he is to baptize?

3. From what law school did Norman Mushari graduate?

4. Where does Eliot Rosewater attend law school?

5. What is the name of the disease Dr. Brown attributes to Sylvia's nervous condition, and what does it mean?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Eliot's letter to his heir reveal about his parents?

2. Even though Eliot continues to exhibit signs of alcoholism, emotional distress, and mental illness neither his wife Sylvia nor his father the Senator do anything to help him. What reasons do each of them have for not acting to help Eliot?

3. In Chapter Three, there is a description of Sylvia telling of her experiences and talents. Describe Sylvia. What does Sylvia know about the town Eliot describes to her?

4. Where is Eliot Rosewater born and raised? Where does he attend school? What degree, and with what specialty, does Eliot obtain after WWII?

5. In Chapter 1, we meet Norman Musahri, a lawyer. What else do we learn about Mushari? For whom does he work?

6. When he disappears for a week, what does Eliot do? Why does the law firm of McAlister, Robjent, Reed, and McGee hire a detective to find Eliot, and where does he find Eliot?

7. While they are talking, Sylvia reveals things about Eliot that the Senator has not known. What is one of the things Sylvia tells him?

8. Eliot lives in his office. Describe the conditions in which Eliot lives. What are his surrounding like? Does he have many visitors? Does he leave the office regularly? What are some of the unusual qualities of the office?

9. Eliot receives a call from Diana Moon Glampers. Who is this woman? Why does she call Eliot in the middle of the night?

10. Eliot keeps a ledger in his office in which he keeps important information about his work. What does he call his ledger, and what kinds of things are in it? What is an example of something Eliot would have in his ledger?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

After living in Rosewater for five years, Sylvia has a nervous breakdown and burns down the fire station. She is sent to Indianapolis for treatment. Describe the disease for which Sylvia is treated by Dr. Ed Brown. What is the author trying to say about the wealthy in this diagnosis?

Essay Topic 2

When Eliot calls Sylvia from Rosewater, Indiana, he tells her he will become an artist. Loving the people of Rosewater will be his art. What does Eliot mean by this? How can loving people be art?

Essay Topic 3

When the people of Rosewater learn of Eliot's trip to Indianapolis, they are certain he will not return. Contrast and compare the different reactions of the townspeople to Eliot's departure. What do they say to him? To each other? What are they fearful of and why?

(see the answer keys)

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