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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. Who is at Clay's mother's house when he arrives from the airport?

2. What does Clay find his sisters doing on the morning after Christmas?

3. Why is Clay suspicious about loaning the money to Julian?

4. What are people doing when Clay arrives at Blair's party?

5. Where is Julian's house located?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Rip contact Clay? What happens when Clay shows up to meet Rip?

2. Where does Clay go after the party in Part 2? Why does he not go straight home?

3. In Part 8, what is Daniel doing when Clay goes to visit him? What does Daniel want to talk about with Clay?

4. What flashback does Clay have of his grandmother in Palm Springs when she had pancreatic cancer?

5. Describe the scene at Julian's house on King's Road when Clay arrives.

6. Why does Finn refuse to release Julian from working for him? What does Finn do when Julian begs and pleads for release?

7. Who contacts Clay about meeting up with Julian and why did Julian not contact Clay? Where does Julian want to meet Clay? What happens when Clay arrives?

8. Why does Trent call Clay? What do Trent and Clay end up doing after they meet up with each other?

9. What surprise does Rip have awaiting Trent and Clay in his apartment? What is wrong with his surprise?

10. What does Clay do on New Year's Eve night? Who does he spend it with? What happens?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why are all of the characters in the novel, Less Than Zero, in some stage of desperation? Why and how do they choose to numb the intensity of any possible alienation or pain? Please use specific examples from the book.

Essay Topic 2

Why do the characters in the novel, Less Than Zero, not associate with real life? Why do they choose to not interact with each other when they are together? Why do they seem to have little to say to each other? Please use specific examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

How has Clay's time away from Los Angeles alienated him from his friends? What changes does Clay' s friends seem to notice about him since his return home? What changes does Clay seem to notice about himself since his return home? How does Clay view these changes as he leaves Los Angeles? Please use specific examples from the book.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,143 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample