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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 course do 60 American enlisted men take in the story, For Esme - With Love and Squalor?

2. Arthur says the only people he knows in New York are Lee and a bunch of ________?

3. How old is the boy in the story, Down at the Dinghy?

4. Where does the narrator think Esme should wear her watch instead of her wrist?

5. When does Arthur start thinking about leaving his wife?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the narrator so taken with Sister Irma?

2. Why does Esme's long and complicated letter soothe the narrator more than one from his family?

3. Why does Sister Irma withdraw from classes at the art school?

4. Why is Sandra so worried about Lionel when he runs away in Down at the Dinghy?

5. Why does Arthur want to move to Connecticut?

6. Why does Arthur call Lee in the first place of Pretty Mouth and Green my Eyes?

7. Why does the narrator like the bulletin board outside the church so much in For Esme -- with Love and Squalor?

8. Why does Arthur call Lee back and pretend Joanie is finally home?

9. Why does Lionel cry when he throws the key chain overboard?

10. What happens to the narrator after he leaves the training course?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Salinger's use of sudden and tragic endings to some of his short stories. What do you like about them? What do you dislike about them? How do they contribute or take away from the collection as a whole and each story specifically? Do you think it is a powerful way to end the stories? Why or why not? Use examples from the book to explain your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Why is Eloise so consumed by her daughter's imaginary friends in the story, Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut? Why is she so eager for the imaginary friends to go away? Why are both imaginary friends male? Does that affect Eloise's hatred of them? Use examples from the story to explain your answers.

Essay Topic 3

What is the strongest theme in Nine Stories? Why does it leave such a lasting impression? Use specific examples from the book to explain your opinion.

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