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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 impresses Aunt Gladys about Neil's description of the Patimkin house?

2. How does Mrs. Patimkin further interfere with Neil and Brenda?

3. What is a reminder of the Patimkin family's past life in Newark?

4. Who are the two main people in Neil's life outside of his family?

5. When Neil wants to phone Brenda in Short Hills, New Jersey, where does he find the Short Hills phone directory?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is a noticeable difference between dinner at the Patimkins' house and dinner in the Klugman house?

3. What does the basement reveal about he Patimkin family?

4. What does Neil tell Brenda about his family?

5. How does Aunt Gladys show that she is somewhat isolated in her Newark Jewish community?

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

7. 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?

8. How has the relationship developed between Neil and Brenda?

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

10. Explain a commonality between Neil and the boy.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a paper about how the young boy in the library parallels Neil in terms of dreams and desires. Explain why Neil is so understanding of him and finally thinks it is best that he stopped looking at the Gauguin prints.

Essay Topic 2

Write a paper about a Jewish wedding ceremony. For those who are not Jewish, there is plenty of material to research. Write specifically about the symbolism that takes place during the ceremony.

Essay Topic 3

Write a paper about conspicuous consumerism as it relates to the Patimkin family and their motives for wanting to live in the large house in Short Hills.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 765 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample