View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What kind of music does Myron claim brought whites and blacks together in America?

2. What is the woman eating while sitting on the beach with her daughter in "The Dialectic"?

3. Who are the identical twins "with oily black curls and skinny white jeans" in "The Lazy River" (41)?

4. Whom does the narrator's aunt refer to as "making that little bitch-baby face" in "Downtown" (91)?

5. What did Monica write her thesis on for college?

Short Essay Questions

1. What national trial is described in "Downtown"? Why do you think the author alludes to this trial?

2. What is the setting of “Just Right”? Why is this setting significant?

3. Describe the central metaphor in “The Lazy River.” What does it represent and why?

4. What relationship is illustrated between the narrator and the Hungarian painter in "Downtown"?

5. How is Donovan's character presented in “Just Right”?

6. Describe the main characters in "The Dialectic." What are they doing in this short story?

7. Describe the narrative style in "The Dialectic." Why has the author employed this style?

8. Describe the characters in “Words and Music.” How are they similar and different?

9. Describe the setting of "The Dialectic." How is the setting important to the story?

10. What literary devices are examined in “Parents' Morning Epiphany”? How are they examined?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the relationship between V and the narrator in "For the King." How long have they known one another? What do they discuss in the story? What is not discussed? How does this illustrate the characters?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the themes of inequality and empathy in "Meet the President!" How does the author evoke these themes through setting? How are they evoked through character actions? What symbolism connects to these themes in the story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the character of Donovan in "Just Right." How old is Donovan? What are his main objectives in the story? What are the main conflicts that he faces? How do you relate to Donovan's character?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 926 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample