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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 do the men in the store see when the Arab swears?

2. What was Rachel's first husband's name?

3. What is revealed about Billy Winston in Chapter 13?

4. What does the Arab man request at the end of Chapter 2?

5. What causes Rachel to break up with her lover in Berkeley?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Effrom's morning routine at the beginning of Chapter 11.

2. Explain why Gian Hen Gian is crying at the end of Chapter 10, and what Augustus explains to him as a result.

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

4. A number of strange events occur in town on the night the Breeze disappears. List each of those events.

5. Why is Catch seeking a new master?

6. The Breeze spends much of Chapter 1 feeling sorry for himself. Do you believe the Breeze is entitled to sympathy?

7. What is the Wheel of Abuse, and where did Rachel receive it?

8. How does Catch trick Rachel into helping him? Why does this trick work so effectively?

9. What are Billy's feelings for the Breeze?

10. Explain how Catch came to be on Earth.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Comedy plays a central role in the novel, as the author often uses humor to lighten the storyline. Choose one plot line from the choices below, and explain how the author uses humor to enhance the storyline:

1. Catch's character development

2. Robert's slow decline in life

3. Mavis' slow body decline.

Essay Topic 2

Augustus Brine is "chosen" to help save the world from the demon, Catch. He could have chosen not to participate, and instead accepted the situation as futile, thereby allowing the world to perish. Explain, using details from the book, those characteristics of Augustus Brine that made him suitable for the job, and unable to not accept the responsibility.

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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