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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. Which bar do Billy and the Breeze attend together first?

2. Who pays to get Robert's cameras from the pawn shop?

3. Where does Travis leave Catch while he goes on his date with Jennifer?

4. Who owns the home Rachel lives in?

5. Who comes to the door in Chapter 4?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the first event that led Robert to believe miraculous events always arise to help him out of problems?

2. How did Gian Hen Gian come to be trapped in a bottle?

3. In Chapter 1, the Breeze expresses several opinions of Billy Winston. Does the Breeze seem to like Billy?

4. What is the second event that led Robert to believe miraculous events always arise to help him out of problems?

5. What leads Detective Sergeant Alphonso Rivera to watch the tape of Robert's drunk driving arrest, and what does he see on the tape?

6. What are the three theories Howard is trying to prove in his life?

7. Describe what the Breeze sees as his attacker at the end of Chapter 1.

8. Pine Cove has a long history, as described in Chapter 2. Explain the history of the town, including the name changes.

9. Describe the health and body of Mavis.

10. What options does Augustus see that he has to defeat the demon in Chapter 10?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is clearly a theme throughout the novel of corrupt morality within religious realms. Travis experiences this at the seminary in a tragic way. Describe, in detail, the corruptions of morality Travis experienced at the seminary. Do you think this had an effect on his overall belief in religion, based on his conversations later in the novel with Jennifer? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

There are several references to pop culture in the novel. The author creates humor by contrasting horrific or difficult situations with an everyday, commonplace interaction. Choose one reference which shows such characteristics and analyze it. What is the reference? Which characters are involved? How does the author's use of such a reference lighten the situation? Do you believe the result is successful?

Essay Topic 3

Abuse also plays a powerful role in the novel. Rachel is physically abused by her first husband, and mentally abuses other people herself for her own gain. Robert, while in a milder form, appears to abuse himself throughout the novel as an alcoholic. Catch abuses Travis, and Travis equally abuses Catch. Choose one of these characters, and give, in detail, how abuse has affected his or her life. Do their actions seem to stem from a history of abuse? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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