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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 does Desdemona hope that Tessie will marry?

2. What does Desdemona do following Lefty's death?

3. What concerns Milton about Lefty's business practices at the Zebra Room?

4. Why are realtors reluctant to sell Milton a home in Grosse Pointe?

5. What does Lefty decide to do to earn money to support his family after Jimmy Zismo's death?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are do the members of Temple No. 1 raise silkworms and produce silk fabric and clothing?

2. How does the narrator characterize Lefty's gradual demise?

3. What does Desdemona do when she hears that Milton's Navy unit will be going to war?

4. Describe Desdemona's appearance.

5. Why is Desdemona fearful about Tessie and Milton's burgeoning romantic relationship?

6. Describe Detroit in 1967.

7. Compare Milton's and Mike Antoniou's views on religion.

8. Describe Marcus Wyxzewixard Challouehliczilczese Grimes.

9. Describe Desdemona's transformation after Calliope's birth.

10. Describe Desdemona's silkworm box and its contents.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the events that lead Calliope to decide to live her life as Cal. Then comment on his/her decision. Did s/he make the right decision? Why or why not? What would you have done if you were in the same situation?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the narrator's lives as Calliope and Cal. How are they similar? How are they different? Which identity (Cal or Calliope) do you believe is his/her "true" self?Cite several specific examples from the novel to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides weaves actual events from history (Turkish and American) into his fictional story. Select one of the situations where he places his characters within a real historical context and:

1) Describe the historical context of the scene or chapter (i.e. What actually happened in history that Eugenides uses in the book?).

2) Discuss the relationship between the historical context and the fictional story of the Stephanides family. What does this piece of history have to do with the family's life? Why does Eugenides choose to place these characters at this particular point in the story in this particular historical context?

(see the answer keys)

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