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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 was Darma anxious about while pursuing his PhD?

2. In "The Man With No Name," who thinks the narrator is nosy?

3. What poet does the narrator of "Joshua Karabish" recite at a poetry reading?

4. In "The Family M," who is Martin?

5. What does the narrator of "Joshua Karabish" submit to a writing contest?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Joshua Karabish," who is the narrator's roommate?

2. What street does the narrator live on in "The Old Man with No Name"?

3. Who owns a gun in "The Old Man with No Name"?

4. How does the narrator of "The Old Man with No Name" kill time when he feels lonely?

5. Who moves to North Carolina in "The Family M"?

6. What does Joshua's mother think of him, in "Joshua Karabish"?

7. Who does Mrs. Nolan kill in "The Old Man with No Name"?

8. What illness does Joshua have in "Joshua Karabish"?

9. Who does the narrator of "The Family M" watch from his window?

10. Why did Darma move back to Indiana with his family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Several characters throughout the stories suffer from illnesses. In what ways does illness impact these characters and their lives?

Essay Topic 2

Select two characters who experience grief in some manner and compare their experiences. What is the author's message about grief in each character's story? Is it a consistent message throughout the book, or are there conflicting messages between stories?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay exploring the book's theme of identity, and in particular, one's exploration of one's own identity. What characters in the stories work to find, explore, or define themselves, and in what ways? Use examples from the text as support.

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