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

2. In "In the Basement," how do Nicholas and Maria feel about Lisa's house?

3. How does Joshua define being Jewish in "Middleman"?

4. How does Joshua get Mr. Duckworth's attention in "Middleman"?

5. What does Joshua do to try to help Elsa with her acting career in "Middleman"?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. In "In the Basement," how does Nicholas describe Lisa's lifestyle?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many of the characters in this collection of stories are opposites of one another. Analyze the use of opposite characters within a story or stories. How do they develop the plot? How do they develop the themes?

Essay Topic 2

Morality is a major theme in many of these stories. Examine how the characters develop, display and grapple with morality. Compare and contrast the differences in moral values and explore the overall message about morality when you look at the book as a whole.

Essay Topic 3

None of the romantic relationships in this collection are successful. Choose at least three romantic relationships to assess. What makes them failures? What message does the author convey with these relationships? What themes are constructed through these failed relationships?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 865 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample