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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. How many years does the narrator say she was away “pursuing higher learning” in “Residents and Transients”?

2. When were Waldeen and Holly’s father divorced in “Graveyard Day”?

3. Joe has an antique walking stick that belonged to whom in “Graveyard Day”?

4. How old is Nancy’s son Robert in “Nancy Culpepper”?

5. How old is Edwin in “A New-Wave Format”?

Short Essay Questions

1. How are Nancy’s husband and son described in “Nancy Culpepper”?

2. What pop culture references are seen in the story “Graveyard Day”?

3. How is Edwin’s character described in “A New-Wave Format”? Who do people think Edwin looks like?

4. How is Grover Cleveland described when Jack picked him out as a puppy in “Lying Doggo”?

5. How much money do Bill and Imogene have with them as they travel in “The Ocean”? Where are they going?

6. Why does Nancy return to her childhood home in “Nancy Culpepper”?

7. Why has Mary agreed to stay in her parents’ house in “Residents and Transients”? How does she feel about this setting?

8. How is the interstate highway compared with the ocean in “The Ocean”?

9. What does Waldeen come to view as a symbol for marriage in “Graveyard Day”?

10. How is Shelby Pickett described when Georgeann began dating him in “The Retreat”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of communication in “The Rookers” and Mack’s phone calls to the weather service in the story. What do these calls indicate in regards to Mack’s ability to communicate with his family?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the character of Sandra in “Offerings.” How old is Sandra? Where is Sandra’s husband? What are Sandra’s central actions, objectives, and obstacles in the story?

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