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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 main topic of conversation when the family does speak?

2. What shows that Neill is not a part of Brenda's social set?

3. What is a typical dinner at Aunt Gladys' house?

4. What does Neil take out of the refrigerator in the basement?

5. How does Ron show off his athletic ability?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the social and economic difference between Brenda and Neil.

2. How does the reader know that Neil is restless and bored babysitting Julie?

3. How does the reader get introduced to ten-year-old Julie Patimkin?

4. Describe Brenda's neighborhood in Short Hills.

5. Since they met that day at the Country Club, has Brenda forgotten the young man she asked to hold her glasses while she dived into the pool?

6. Explain a commonality between Neil and the boy.

7. Besides his week at Brenda's house, what else does Neil have to look forward to?

8. Contrast Aunt Gladys and Mrs. Patimkin from the conversation Gladys and Neil have about the Patimkin house.

9. Why is Neil not conscious of class distinctions?

10. Tell how the relationship has developed between Neil and the boy who comes to look at the Gauguin book.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A tennis player who became famous about the time Mrs. Patimkin was a state champion was a woman who came to be called Gorgeous Gussie Moran. Look up information on her and write a few paragraphs on her impact on women's tennis and what you think Mrs. Patimkin might have thought of her.

Essay Topic 2

Explain whether you agree that Ron's behavior indicates that he is immature and not ready to become a husband and father. Give examples from passages in the book.

Essay Topic 3

How well do you think Roth depicts Mrs. Patimkin? Is she three dimensional in the book? Why is her first name never mentioned?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 725 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample