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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. In "When in Rome," why does Caleb say he didn't want Kevin to drive to dinner during his law school visit?

2. In "In the Basement," how does Maria know Lisa?

3. In "Middleman," how does Joshua's father describe their last name?

4. Why does Nicholas say Lisa called him "out of the blue" in "In the Basement"?

5. In "Middleman," what does Joshua's father admit to almost becoming?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "When in Rome," why does Caleb tell the story about visiting his brother in California?

2. In "When in Rome," how do Caleb and Kevin react to being mugged?

3. Why do Nicholas and Maria tell the narrator and his wife about Lisa in "In the Basement"?

4. How does John feel at the end of "Middleman"?

5. How does John try to help Elsa's acting career in "Middleman"?

6. At the end of "In the Basement," how does the narrator feel?

7. How does Caleb try to mend his relationship with Kevin in "When in Rome"?

8. What does Caleb discover when he returns to Kevin's apartment in "When in Rome"?

9. How does the narrator of "In the Basement" feel about Nicholas' relationship with Maria?

10. What is the last thing Caleb does in "When in Rome"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most of the stories in this collection are centered on male characters and male concerns. How does this focus affect the definitions of gender within the text? What role/roles is/are assigned to women? What commentary on gender appears throughout this collection?

Essay Topic 2

Consider the collection as a whole. Is there an overall theme that runs through each story? Define and analyze this theme. What does the author convey about this theme after reading every story?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast two similar characters who act differently. How do their different actions change what seems to make them similar? How does this provide a message about free will in the collection?

(see the answer keys)

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