View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does "Microsoft Word '98" contribute to the entire work?

2. Whose credit card is cancelled in "The Devil and Bill Gates"?

3. Who are Stewart's lieutenants in "The Cult"?

4. How many bedrooms does Stewart's apartment have in "The Cult"?

5. What suggestions are given to replace the off-color terms Stewart includes in "Microsoft Word '98"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the interview between Larry King and Adolf Hitler in Stewart's short story.

2. What does Gates do in "The Devil and William Gates" in order to convince the Devil to give him all power?

3. What is the purpose of the last short story?

4. What has Stewart foretold in "The Cult"?

5. Who is Sheldon Francis Stein in "Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold"?

6. What irony is found in "The Recipe"?

7. What do you think Stewart's purpose is in writing "The Recipe"?

8. What collection of genes makes up Cary Streisand of the "Five Under Five" list?

9. What does Sheldon discover when he reaches his high school reunion in "Revenge is a Dish Best Served Cold"?

10. Which child on the "Five Under Five" list do you find most interesting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the narrative point of view carried through all of Stewart's short stories in this book affect the way characters are perceived by the reader? Choose three examples from Stewart's short stories to show how this third-party point of view impacts the work.

Essay Topic 2

How is Stewart's collection of stories ultimately resolved? Do you think the resolution was adequate? In your opinion, what could have been added (or removed) to make it more meaningful?

Essay Topic 3

The title of one of Stewart's stories, "The Recipe," does not clearly communicate the theme of that particular short story. In your opinion, why does Stewart choose this particular title for the story? What does this title signify? What does it tell readers about the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 687 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample