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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. In "Freeforall," how is the disease spread?

2. In "Metempsychosis," where does Amber/Snail go that proves to be of no help?

3. In "Wooden Box," how does the mug misspell friends?

4. In "A Dusty Lunch," which of the following is NOT a poem Brig wrote?

5. In "Freeforall," what luxury does Sharmayne have access to?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does twenty-three skidoo mean?

2. What is the purpose of the ladies’ gathering and what do they worry about?

3. What did Brig do in his youth?

4. What happened to their friend with breast cancer?

5. What is going on with Leonie’s husband?

6. Describe the playground game of monopoly; what are the altered rules?

7. Why does Tig like Inspector Maigret?

8. What does Marty’s letter to Brig say?

9. How do the women respond to Hypatia’s death?

10. How do humans assume the soul’s afterlife works and what really happens?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about the relationship between narration and storytelling. How does narration affect your interpretation of the characters in "Two Scorched Men" and/or "Metempsychosis."

Essay Topic 2

Selecting any of the short stories in the collection, write an essay describing a moment where information was omitted or downplayed. Why was this information left out/downplayed and what did it reveal about the characters and/or story?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay describing how Atwood’s use of backstory helps illustrate the struggles of growing older in "Old Babes in the Wood." What effect does comparing moments from the past to moments of the present have? What larger themes is Atwood trying to get at?

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