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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When we first see Painted Stick moving quickly, where is he going?
(a) He is looking for Spoon.
(b) He is trying to find his own way across the Atlantic.
(c) He is looking for Buddy.
(d) He is trying to find Turn Around Norman.

2. What inspires or convinces the belly dancer to do the Dance of the Seven Veils?
(a) Ellen Cherry's mural.
(b) Threats.
(c) Boomer's sculpture.
(d) Money.

3. Who does Painted Stick strike?
(a) Turn Around Norman.
(b) Buddy.
(c) Spike.
(d) Ellen Cherry.

4. Who comes to Buddy's apartment the night he is supposed to leave for Jerusalem?
(a) Ellen Cherry.
(b) CIA officers.
(c) Patsy.
(d) Israeli Secret Service officers.

5. Who warns Ellen Cherry about the probable result of destroying the Dome of the Rock?
(a) Ultima.
(b) Buddy.
(c) Boomer.
(d) Abu Hadee.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Ellen Cherry decide is the root of Buddy's "hankering for apocalypse"?

2. What is the bumper sticker slogan that Ellen Cherry and Boomer sees as they are driving across the country?

3. How do the objects that are with Buddy plan to get to Jerusalem?

4. Who tells Ellen Cherry that Buddy is going ahead with his plan to blow up the Dome of the Rock?

5. What does Spoon do to prove her locomotion to the other objects in Ellen Cherry's drawer?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the appeal of the belly dancer, Salome, to the male audience.

2. Why do you think Salome chooses to perform the Dance of the Seven Veils during the Super Bowl?

3. Robbins says that Conch Shell plays a major role in encouraging Painted Stick to venture out and find the ocean, but all she does is look out the window. In what way do you think she provides encouragement to Painted Stick?

4. Why do you think that Robbins ends the novel with Spoon?

5. Patsy tells Ellen Cherry that it seems like Boomer loves her but doesn't like her, while he likes but doesn't love Ultima. Does this seem like a true representation of Boomer's feelings, based on what you know about him so far?

6. Painted Stick strikes a human in order to save Spoon from being picked up. Explain why he feels so bad about this.

7. Explain the conversation that Ellen Cherry has with Patsy on the phone the day after she sleeps with Spike.

8. Describe the statue Boomer is making in Jerusalem and comment on its significance.

9. Describe Ellen Cherry's feelings for Buddy after he tells her why he wants to destroy the Dome of Rock.

10. How can we interpret the fact that the ancient Salome performs the Dance of the Seven Veils in exchange for John the Baptiste's head and the modern Salome performs it because of Ellen Cherry's painting?

(see the answer keys)

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