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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. The narrator says, "No one could rival Arthur Less for his ability to exit a room while" (37) performing what action?

2. Arthur's tour of Mexico City starts with a ride on what type of transportation?

3. For how long was Arthur romantically involved with the professor, Howard?

4. What is the name of Arthur's hotel in Mexico?

5. With what objects does Arthur always travel that he thinks of as his portable gym?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of Arthur's temporary loss of the ring given to him by Robert on their fifth anniversary?

2. How does Arthur feel after his relationship with Robert ends?

3. Why does Arthur automatically lie when he is asked whether he has ever been to Mexico?

4. What is the narrator's hypothesis about why Arthur spends nine years with Freddy?

5. What epiphany does Arthur have about heterosexual men during his search for his lost ring in the produce section?

6. What is Arthur's literary agent's reaction to Arthur's latest novel?

7. What are Arthur's feelings about the works of the science fiction writer H. H. H. Mandern?

8. What other two prize ceremonies are called to Arthur's mind at the awards ceremony in Italy?

9. What are the reasons for Arthur's exhaustion the first morning he wakes up in Mexico?

10. What does Arthur eventually decide about avoiding heartbreak?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the many instances of irony within the novel's narrative and analyze the author's purpose for including each instance you discuss.

Essay Topic 2

Look carefully at the passages within the chapter Less German that describe Arthur's preferred teaching methods and his students' reactions to these methods. What is the author's purpose for discussing at length the nature of Arthur's role as a teacher?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the interplay between the resolution of the novel and the author's choice of narrator to relay the narrative. How does the author employ each and how does their juxtaposition help him get across a main message of the novel?

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This section contains 932 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample