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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. Of the walker, the narrator says in Book 2, Chapter 8: "The Ringing Grooves of Change," "He thought of himself sometimes as a man who wanted to" what?

2. What time period is established in the opening of Book 4, Chapter 12: "Roaring Seaward, And I Go"?

3. Where does Jaslyn recall going to locate Ciaran in Book 4, Chapter 12: "Roaring Seaward, And I Go"?

4. How does the narrator describe the walker's relationship to "why" in Book 2, Chapter 8: "The Ringing Grooves of Change"?

5. Where did Gloria's mother work as an office cleaner when Gloria was a child?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are the sights and sounds described during the walker’s World Trade Center stunt in Book 2, Chapter 8: “The Ringing Grooves of Change”?

2. How does the protagonist of Book 3, Chapter 9: “Part of the Parts” perceive his job?

3. How is the walker’s moment of silence described in Book 2, Chapter 8: “The Ringing Grooves of Change”?

4. What impact has Corrigan’s death had on Adelita’s perceptions of their relationship in Book 3, Chapter 10: “Centavos”?

5. What is significant about the cases presented in Book 3, Chapter 9: “Part of the Parts”?

6. How does Tillie Henderson describe her past and what led her to prostitution?

7. What is Tillie’s decision at the end of Book 2, Chapter 7: “This is the House That Horse Built”? What leads to this decision?

8. What is the protagonist’s destination in Book 4, Chapter 12: “Roaring Seaward, And I Go”? Why is she going to this destination?

9. Whom does the protagonist meet on the airplane in Book 4, Chapter 12: “Roaring Seaward, And I Go”? How is this character described?

10. How is the protagonist’s meeting with Ciaran described in Book 4, Chapter 12: “Roaring Seaward, And I Go”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the court cases that are presented in Book 3, Chapter 9: “Part of the Parts.” Who appears before the judge? What are they charged with? What is the outcome of these cases?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the character of Tillie Henderson in Let the Great World Spin. Where is Tillie’s character first introduced? How would you describe Tillie’s manner of speech? Where is Tillie when she relates her story in Book 2, Chapter 7: “This is the House That Horse Built”?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the plot structure of Let the Great World Spin. How traditionally is the narrative structured? In what ways is the novel’s structure unique in comparison with other works you’ve read? Did you feel satisfied that all of the “loose ends” were tied up in the ending? Why or why not?

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This section contains 973 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample