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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 Arthur put up with for five years?

2. What does the narrator's mother-in-law want him to send her?

3. Where is Joanie throughout the story, Pretty Mouth and Green my Eyes?

4. Who directs the training course taken by the narrator and the 60 Americans?

5. Who wins the race back to the house at the end of the story, Down at the Dinghy?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Arthur do for a living? How does the reader know?

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

5. Who does Lee think Joanie goes with after the party?

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

7. Describe the narrator in For Esme -- with Love and Squalor.

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

9. What do the pickles, key chain and goggles tell us about Lionel?

10. Why does the tea room likely suit the narrator as a place to spend his last few hours in the town rather than the Red Cross recreation room?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Coming of Age is a theme seen in a few of the stories, including The Laughing Man. Explore and discuss the theme and why it is used is more than one story. How is it used? Why does Salinger use a Coming of Age theme in several stories? How can any reader relate to this theme, especially your age group?

Essay Topic 2

Lies and deception are used by several characters, including Arthur in Pretty Mouth and Green My Eyes and the narrator in De Daumier-Smith's Blue Period. Why does each character rely on lies and deceit? What do they hope to gain? What do they hope to avoid? What does it tell us about each character? What does each character have in common? What makes them different?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast your favorite story from Nine Stories to your least favorite story. Explain what you like and dislike from each story. Use specific examples from the book.

(see the answer keys)

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