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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. What is the name of Nancy’s husband in “Nancy Culpepper”?

3. Where does Shelby take Georgeann to eat on the night of their senior prom in “The Retreat”?

4. How old is Holly in “Graveyard Day”?

5. What band does the narrator say Georgeann put on to try to teach Shelby to dance prior to the prom in “The Retreat”?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Sabrina Jones described in “A New-Wave Format”?

2. What is Edwin Creech doing in the opening of “A New-Wave Format”?

3. How is Grover Cleveland described in the beginning of “Lying Doggo”?

4. What does the narrator of “Residents and Transients” reveal in the beginning of the story? Who is the narrator?

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

6. How is Georgeann’s senior prom described in “The Retreat”?

7. How are Ishmael and its owner described in “The Ocean”?

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

9. How is the U.S.S. Shaw described in “The Ocean”?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Louise’s personal journey in “Still Life with Watermelon.” What does Louise gain understanding of in the ending of the story? What are the story’s central themes? How do these themes relate to Louise’s journey?

Essay Topic 2

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?

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?

(see the answer keys)

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