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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. Who does Conrad invite out on a date?

2. What is Conrad's excuse for not going with Lazenby?

3. Who does Conrad tell that he has quit the swim team?

4. What is Cal's occupation?

5. Where do Beth and Cal go together in chapter 8?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Cal's role in his family?

2. How is Conrad's confidence boosted at the library?

3. In chapter 14, what does Dr. Berger suggest the real problem is?

4. How was attention called to Conrad's issues before he went to the mental hospital?

5. According to Conrad, how does Beth feel about him?

6. What does Conrad's dream of being confined in a tunnel represent?

7. What are Conrad's feelings about getting a car for Christmas?

8. What causes Conrad to have his first pleasant memory about Jordan?

9. Why does Cal want to see Dr. Berger in chapter 17?

10. What makes Cal think that Conrad is resuming a regular routine in chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novel's resolution occurs in the epilogue. What is the purpose of the epilogue in the novel? What resolution to the conflict does it offer?

Essay Topic 2

Conrad is obsessed with not failing. The other characters also have fears. Analyze the fears of three different characters. Why are these fears significant to the progression of the novel? Do their fears become obsessions? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Which items in the novel are symbols? Consider Jordan's death, the mental hospital, Conrad's bumper stickers, and the swim team in your analysis.

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