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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 is now standing in the spot where the location in #86 had been?

2. Bruce thinks of himself as two different people--Young Bruce and _______________.

3. Where does Bruce have dinner his first night in Salt Lake City?

4. What does Bruce's mother want him to do after he walked home from work?

5. Who was Bruce's brother?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Bruce disappointed in his mother?

2. What saddens Bruce as he walks the streets of Salt Lake City?

3. What was the importance of the tennis club in Bruce's life?

4. How does Bruce distinguish between Young Bruce and Mature Bruce?

5. Who are Holly and Nola and what prompts Bruce to think of them?

6. What messy school project does Bruce recall and how did his father harass him?

7. How does the episode of Bruce touching the girl's breast show what a simple time he lived in?

8. What is the premise of RECAPITULATION?

9. What does Bruce learn about the phone number given to him by the funeral director?

10. How does the elevator episode show Bruce's feelings for Nola?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bruce spends some alone time throughout the novel to contemplate his life. What does he think about? What conclusions does he arrive at? Explain why he is in a contemplative mood at this point in time.

Essay Topic 2

Memories take on an almost human persona in this story. What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study of Mr. Mason. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him during his lifetime?

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