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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. Why does Boomer think that Ellen Cherry "can't be married to a man"?

2. What type of animal is described by the narrator as "Turning modern technology to their idiosyncratic advantage"?

3. What does Spoon do to try and get ride of the Porcupine?

4. Where is Ellen Cherry in the section of the book called The Fourth Veil?

5. After Ellen Cherry gets advice from her bosses, who does she go to for inspiration?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some ways you can interpret Boomer's spy coat sculpture in which he declares his love for Ellen Cherry in a 500 different encoded messages?

2. Why does Boomer turn an airstream into a Turkey?

3. What do we learn about Buddy and Verlin when they forcefully remove Ellen Cherry from her art class?

4. What do we learn about Boomer Petway in the first few sections of the novel?

5. What does Robbins say about religion at the end of the Fourth Veil?

6. What is the relationship between the first veil that is revealed and the actions of the novel so far?

7. All of the objects are given a gender except Can 'o Beans. Why is this significant?

8. Describe the sculpture that Boomer is bringing to Jerusalem to reassemble.

9. Patsy suspects Buddy of seeking fame and fortune through his preaching. Does this seem likely to you, based on what you know so far about Buddy?

10. When Buddy goes to answer a knock at his door, he has an erection from reading about a Christian wife who goes to bed with her make-up on. What does this incident tell us about Buddy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What position does the narrator, or the novel as a whole, take on organized religion? Explain the position and find at least three pieces of supporting evidence to show how you arrived at this conclusion. If you decide that the novel is critiquing organized religion, does it offer any alternatives?

Essay Topic 2

Compare the two stories of Salome. How does the ancient version of Salome compare to the modern version? The ancient Salome performs the Dance of the Seven Veils in exchange for John the Baptist's head on a plate. The modern Salome dances in response to Ellen Cherry's mural during the Super Bowl.

Essay Topic 3

The question is raised early on by Ellen Cherry whether a person can really be passionate about two things at once. Can she, for example, be both an artist and a wife? Where do you think Robbins (or Ellen Cherry) ultimately falls on this question? State your position and use at least three supporting examples to argue it.

(see the answer keys)

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