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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 "Airborne," who do they need to write the proposal?

2. In "Death by Clamshell," which one of the following did the mob NOT ridicule Hypatia for?

3. In "A Dusty Lunch," what happens to Brig in his old age?

4. When the snails says: "spare me! I am part of an ecosystem," (172) that is an example of what?

5. In "Airborne," who is the language expert?

Short Essay Questions

1. What trap is Inspector Maigret setting and what does Nell think about it?

2. Explain the significance of marmalade making?

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

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

5. What happens when Nell and Tig decide to stay in the cabin over March?

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

7. What does Nell not want Stevie to do about her belief that Tig is not really gone and why?

8. What did Brig do in the mornings of his Muskoka family cottage?

9. What is the Freeforall and who are the people in it?

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 on how Atwood’s use of levity and humor helps her discuss serious issues in an approachable way. What elements of humor does she use to soften the blow of her more serious underlying themes? Draw examples from one to two of Atwood's short stories.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay arguing why one of Atwood's stories plays into or against tropes of the genre it belongs to. Make sure you identify the genre and the stereotypical tropes that belong to it. How does playing into or against its genre affect your reception of the story?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay explaining how the title of any of Atwood’s short stories helps illustrate their meaning. Explain how her choice of diction, humor, or subject guides the reader in a purposeful direction.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 858 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample