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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 "In the Basement," why is Nicholas unemployed?

2. In "In the Basement," where does Lisa live?

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

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

5. What does Joshua tell Elsa that makes her befriend him in "Middleman"?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. In "In the Basement," at what things does Nicholas feel Lisa failed in her life?

4. In what was are Caleb and Kevin different in "When in Rome"?

5. In "When in Rome," why does Caleb admit to trying to choke Kevin?

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

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

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

9. How does John feel about Judaism in "Middleman"?

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

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

Analyze family as a reoccurring topic and theme in this collection. What role does family play in the individual stories? What is the commentary presented about this topic?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze how success is defined in this collection of stories. Compare and contrast the definitions of success in a few of the stories. How are these definitions made? Who ends up being successful and why? What overall theme of success is developed when you consider the collection as a whole?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 900 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample