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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. Who urged Dolores to see a doctor about her condition in “The Climber”?

2. Carolyn works as a sales clerk at what store in “Drawing Names”?

3. Who is the girl that the narrator’s aunt invites to spend the day with the narrator during her visit in “Detroit Skyline, 1949”?

4. Sandra’s husband is in Louisville working where in “Offerings”?

5. What kind of instrument does the narrator say Leroy gave Norma Jean for Christmas in “Shiloh”?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are Louise’s watermelon paintings described in the beginning of “Still Life with Watermelon”?

2. What are Cleo’s thoughts on Shirley in “Old Things”?

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

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

5. Why did the family agree to draw names for Christmas presents in “Drawing Names”?

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

7. How does Mary Lou Skaggs help out her husband with his job in “The Rookers”? What is Mack’s job?

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

9. What memories of her grandmother’s farm does Sandra recollect in “Offerings”?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss narrative style of the story “Shiloh.” What is the person and tense of the narrative? Why do you think the author chose this narrative style? How does the author’s language style inform the reader about the characters?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the plot structure of “The Rookers.” Where in the story are the exposition, rising action, climax, and denouement located? How does the structure of the story compare with “Shiloh”? How does the plot connect to the other stories as a whole?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the language style of the various stories in the collection. Does the author employ dialect when the characters speak? What is revealed about the characters in the anthology through their use of language? How well do you relate to the characters’ use of language?

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