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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. On which of the following avenues does Manny have a printing press?

2. Along which avenue do Sierra and Robbie walk as he first explains shadowshaping to her?

3. What model year is Neville’s car?

4. With which of the following does Chapter Eight begin?

5. With which of the following does Chapter Five begin?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the Tower described when it is introduced?

2. How does Robbie describe making “soft eyes” (85)?

3. What reasons does Nydia note for helping Sierra in the archives?

4. Sierra expresses annoyance at Robbie for leaving her at the first party of the summer. How does she tell him he can atone?

5. What reason does Sierra note for finding it impressive that her grandfather could pause a domino game with his stories?

6. How is Robbie dressed when he meets Sierra in advance of going to Club Kalfour?

7. How does Sierra react to setting foot on the grounds of Columbia University?

8. How is the failure of people to see the changes to shadowshaped artwork explained?

9. When had Sierra last rode on the pegs of Juan’s bicycle before the events of the novel?

10. At what does Sierra look as the novel begins, and what does she note about it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter Nineteen, as she admits Robbie to her room, Sierra “slapped him as hard as she could” in a rebuke for his failures with her (109). How does the novel justify the action? Is the novel correct to do so? How or how not?

Essay Topic 2

What attitude towards formal academic study does the novel present, and how does it show it?

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter Twenty-nine, the comment is made that “Crazy was a way to shut people up, disregard them entirely” (167). Does the novel bear out the comment? How or how not?

(see the answer keys)

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