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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 does Bernie feel like, according to his own admission at the start of the play?

2. Bernie welcomes ______________ in his apartment at the start of the play.

3. Bernie talks about not having to go look for someone to help him ___________.

4. What is Carol's last name according to the notes at the start of the play?

5. What does Carol say she wants when Bernie asks her what she wants by coming to see him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Carol describe as the most important institution in America when she is talking with Bernie?

2. What does Bernie think of people who talk about living in the country, according to his own admission?

3. What does Carol reveal about her history of traveling with Gerry during her life?

4. What does Bernie say that he wants to offer Carol when they are meeting, but he cannot because of his new life?

5. What is Bernie doing in the picture that Carol is looking at when the scene opens?

6. What does Carol admit is the source of her current unhappiness in her life?

7. How long has Bernie lived in his current apartment, according to his admission to Carol?

8. During what holiday does the story Bernie tells in this scene take place as he is sharing the story with Carol?

9. What do Carol and Bernie both admit to each other when they talk at the start of this scene?

10. Why can't Bernie quite understand why he got fired from his phone company job?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The army memorabilia makes Carol smile as she thinks of her father as a hero figure.

Part 1: Why do you think Carol can still think of her father as a hero figure?

Part 2: Do you think it's impressive that Carol's father was in the army? Why or why not?

Part 3: How do you think Carol wanted her dad to be when she was growing up?

Essay Topic 2

The small talk that Bernie and Carol share works to help them both feel polite and comfortable with each other.

Part 1: Why do you think small talk is so important in society?

Part 2: How do you think Bernie and Carol should interact? Or are they doing things 'right' at the beginning?

Part 3: Why do you think people feel they have to be polite about the other's living arrangements?

Essay Topic 3

Bernie wants to know what Carol's intentions are for talking with him and being interested in his life.

Part 1: Why do you think Carol suddenly wants to know more about her father?

Part 2: Do you think you would want to know more about a father who'd been out of your life? Why or why not?

Part 3: Why do you think Bernie is suspicious of Carol's intentions?

(see the answer keys)

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