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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 did the hunter, according to George, think the ducks in the clearing were asking him?

2. What area does Emil describe in poetic detail to George?

3. Where is the duck after being shot?

4. Where has George read about the balance of nature and major league sports?

5. Of what quality is the boat?

Short Essay Questions

1. What other societies does George claim have been modeled after ducks?

2. On what fact about ducks do the men disagree?

3. According to Emil, what is happening to some fish near Australia?

4. What cycle must the lead duck go through?

5. What advantages do ducks have that Blue Herons do not?

6. What is the significance of George's story about the Giant Panda?

7. What do George and Emil think about hunting ducks and stuffing them?

8. What are some of the items the men claim are needed to hunt a duck?

9. What do George and Emil worry about for a duck in flight?

10. Why does George talk about symbiosis?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine both Sexual Perversity in Chicago and The Duck Variations according to the tradition structure of dramatic literature. In each play, what is the:

1) Exposition?

2) Rising action?

3) Climax?

4) Falling action?

5) Conclusion?

Essay Topic 2

Write a character study of Joan Webber in Sexual Perversity in Chicago. Is Joan a static or a dynamic character, i.e., does she stay the same throughout the play or does she change? Did your opinion of Joan change throughout the play? Why or why not? Describe aspects of Joan's personality. How does she behave toward the other characters in the play? What drives her behavior? Why do you think the playwright decided to make Joan a kindergarten teacher? What is Joan's existential crisis? Feel free to use properly cited quotations from the text.

Essay Topic 3

David Mamet as a playwright typically has a very strong perspective in his plays. How does perspective come into play in Sexual Perversity in Chicago? How does a character's perspective influence his or her behavior? How does it influence the behavior of others? Examine each character throughout the play and discuss how their specific perspective contributes to the action of the play:

1) Bernie.

2) Joan.

3) Deborah.

4) Danny.

(see the answer keys)

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