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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 does recording the family radio program in "Middleman" make Joshua question?

2. In "In the Basement," what does the narrator say he heard about Maria and Nicholas' prior breakup?

3. What season is it in "In the Basement"?

4. Where does Caleb say Kevin went to buy drugs during his law school visit in "When in Rome"?

5. In "Middleman," what does Joshua's father say about his time in the Navy?

Short Essay Questions

1. After leaving Kevin's apartment in "When in Rome," why does Caleb return?

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

3. What does the narrator's wife, Carla, say to him at the end of "In the Basement"?

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

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

6. In "In the Basement," what is kept in a basement?

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

8. In "In the Basement," what history does the narrator give about Nicholas and Maria's relationship?

9. In "Middleman," what makes Elsa talk to John?

10. How does John feel when Elsa asks him to no longer accompany her on auditions in "Middleman"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the use of prose and descriptive passages in two of the stories in this collection. Consider the times the author uses lengthy and detailed passages vs. short, clipped ones. How does each style affect the story to which they belong? What might account for the variety in writing styles?

Essay Topic 2

In what ways is this collection realistic fiction? Define the genre and assess the collection to see if it fits. What other genres might be applicable to this collection? Why?

Essay Topic 3

The entertainment business acts as a character itself in a few of the stories in this book. Analyze the role of the entertainment business in each of these stories. How does this further the plot, character and theme development? What message is delivered about the entertainment business?

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