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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. Why is Huggins looking for Charlie?

2. Why does Charlie think Cantabile hopes to see George at the Baths?

3. Whose long letters does Charlie read while waiting on jury duty?

4. What article of writing does Charlie consider selling before realizing no one would be eager to buy it?

5. Why does Cantabile stay behind in the bathroom after speaking with Charlie?

Short Essay Questions

1. Charlie plays racquetball with Vito LangobardiIn, a big-time hoodlum. In what way is Charlie attached to Vito?

2. How is Humboldt acting towards Kathleen after he loses the poetry chair at Princeton?

3. Why does Humboldt tell Charlie that he wants Adlai Stevenson to win the election over Eisenhower?

4. In what way is Scaccia, the detective, blackmailing Charlie?

5. When Judge Urbanovich questions Charlie about his frequent trips to Europe, what does Charlie come to realize about Chicago and the judge?

6. What does meeting Naomi Lutz, Charlie's school-days' sweetheart, lead him to thoughts of?

7. How do Charlie and Renata first get together?

8. Humboldt used to accuse Charlie of trying to spend his whole life in the upper stories of higher consciousness. What is Humboldt's definition of higher consciousness?

9. Why does George's beryllium mining scheme not seem as far-fetched to Charlie now as it once did?

10. What does Humboldt believe Kathleen's father did to her to keep her away from Humboldt?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider Demmie's character. In Section 4, she is portrayed as both the "farmer's daughter" and a young lady of breeding. How is Demmie expressed to Charlie through her sleep patterns? How many layers are there to Demmie, especially as she sleeps?

Essay Topic 2

Alone in his room in Madrid while Roger is at school, Charlie meditates. How is he coming to terms with being a middle-aged man with no woman in his life and no money?

Essay Topic 3

Renata marries Flonzaley without first informing Charlie. Describe Renata's reasoning for doing this. What is Charlie's reaction? Is he justified in his reaction?

(see the answer keys)

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