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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 the last name of Rita Jean in “Old Things”?

2. How old is Petey described as in “The Climber”?

3. What did Sandra’s grandfather die from in “Offerings”?

4. What newscaster does Cleo watch as she listens to Rita Jean on the phone in the beginning of “Old Things”?

5. According to the narrator of “The Climber,” “Dolores has the Christian channel on only for the” what?

Short Essay Questions

1. How long has Carolyn been divorced in “Drawing Names”? How has this impacted her family Christmas visits?

2. How does Linda respond when Cleo implies she’s old by saying “I’m not sixteen anymore” in “Old Things”?

3. What constitutes the basic plot line of “Shiloh”? What is the story essentially about?

4. How is Sandra’s mother’s relationship with Grandmother Stamper described in “Offerings”?

5. How is Petey’s character described in “The Climber”?

6. How is the character of Uncle Boone described in “Detroit Skyline, 1949”?

7. From what narrative perspective is “Detroit Skyline, 1949” related? How does this narrative point of view compare with that of “Shiloh” and “The Rookers”?

8. How are the central characters in “The Rookers” similar to the central characters in “Shiloh”?

9. How is Sandra’s character described in the beginning of “Offerings”?

10. What happens when Louise goes to meet with Mr. Priddle in “Still Life with Watermelon”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the characters of Georgeann and Shelby Pickett in “The Retreat.” How do Georgeann and Shelby resemble the characters of “Shiloh” and “The Rookers”? What other characters in the collection can you see similarities to Georgeann and Shelby?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and analyze the setting of “The Ocean.” How does the narrator describe the freeway in the beginning of the story? In what ways does the changing landscape in this story differ from the previous stories in the collection? What symbolism is used in the setting?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the relationship of Mary Lou and Mack Skaggs in “The Rookers.” How is their relationship similar to Norma Jean and Leroy’s relationship in “Shiloh”? How does it differ? How would you compare their relationship to the others seen in the collection?

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