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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. What does Charles say kept buzzing in his head when he went home to sleep after a night out in the fifties?

2. What is the name of Karen's mother?

3. What does Charlie say he wants from Bill?

4. What kind of writers does Brita say she prefers?

5. What does Scott say shows the beauty of a great man's work?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Charlie say is Bill's idea of a writer's life?

2. What does Karen think of her parents?

3. How does the author describe Maureen?

4. How does Charlie want Bill to help him with the hostage in Beirut?

5. What does Bill say binds terrorists and writers?

6. How does Charlie say he is dealing with his current crop of moaning writers?

7. How does Charlie try to get Bill to help him?

8. Why does Brita say she is scared of writers?

9. When does Bill say he felt good as a child?

10. How does Karen escape her cousins at the airport?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the book's themes?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the book's chronological setting.

1. What were the main concerns during the 1970s? How does the author express these concerns?

2. How would the author change the book if it was set in today's society?

Essay Topic 3

Pick a character from the book and discuss his or her goals and motives. Do they achieve their motive? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters' goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 762 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample