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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. When does Julius say he was estranged from his mother?

2. Where had Dr. Maillotte done her medical training?

3. What does Julius say was the true source of second-class warrant officer Musibau’s anger at him?

4. How does Julius say he sees the other people who are around when he is in the atrium above the Wall Street subway station?

5. What does Julius say he used to test the depth of the well at the house he grew up in in Nigeria?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Julius contemplate doing when he thinks about his patient, M., at the boat basin behind the World Financial Center?

2. How does the incident in which Musibau accused Julius of stealing his paper ultimately work in Julius’ favor?

3. How does Julius explain his split with Nadège?

4. At the book's beginning, why does the narrator says that he goes for long walks?

5. What memory does the rain spur in Julius’ trip to Brussels?

6. Who is V. and what is her relationship with Julius?

7. What kind of trip does Julius make to Brussels?

8. What are Julius’ thoughts on the weather and global warming?

9. What does Julius say his relationship with his mother is like?

10. What do we know about Julius’ relationships, in this first chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an evaluative review of Open City. What is this book’s place in our culture? Who will find this book most useful? What are its uses? What are its limitations?

Essay Topic 2

Where is the climax of this book? Are there different climaxes? What questions does each climax resolve? What questions does each climax leave unanswered?

Essay Topic 3

Is this a novel with a moral center and a single cluster of fixations buried in a welter of urban impressions? Or is it a scattered inventory of experiences that never really define a central set of concerns in the author’s life? Is this a book about a man’s psychology, or a book about a man’s views of New York City?

(see the answer keys)

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