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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 was Dr. Luce's main purpose for recommending the particular treatment that he does for Callie?

2. What big step do Julie and Cal take in their relationship?

3. What concerns Dr. Luce most about Callie's disappearance?

4. What does Milton wear to his and Tessie's appointment with Dr. Luce for good luck?

5. Why does the man who claims to have Callie want Milton to negotiate a ransom price with him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What masculine traits does Callie begin showing in this chapter?

2. Describe Meg Zemka's personality.

3. Describe the circumstances leading to Callie's injury.

4. Describe the Baker-Inglis English class production of Antigone.

5. How does Milton attempt to down play Callie's condition when telling her about the course of treatment?

6. Describe the series of drivers who pick Cal/Callie up while s/he is hitch hiking.

7. Describe the series of medical examinations that leads to Callie being referred to Dr. Luce.

8. What does Callie notice in Miss Grotowski's math class that makes her question her own physical development?

9. Describe the circumstances that lead Milton to cancel the Stephanides family's trip to Turkey.

10. Describe Dr. Luce's office.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout Middlesex, Jeffrey Eugenides juxtaposes scenes from the past with the narrator's present life in Berlin. Select one of the chapters where he does this and:

1) Describe the past and present scenes presented in the chapter.

2) Discuss the relationship between the two scenes. What do the two scenes have to do with each other? Why does Eugenides choose to place these two scenes from different time periods within the same chapter?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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