View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What makes the I & I the most popular restaurant in the city?

2. What season is it when Salome joins the band at the I & I?

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

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

5. What is Buddy's back-up plan if the Messiah doesn't come?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the group of objects in Ellen Cherry's underwear drawer.

2. Explain the final revelation evoked by The Dance of the Seven Veils.

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

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

5. What is Uncle Buddy's reasoning for attempting to blow up the Dome of the Rock?

6. What is the effect of the high definition TV that Spike gave to the I & I?

7. Is there a reason why Dirty Sock is the only object left behind when the objects escape and never makes it to Jerusalem?

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

9. Describe what happens to Ellen Cherry when she plays the eye game looking at Spoon.

10. Explain the Vice President's concern regarding Buddy's plan to blow up the Dome of the Rock.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

All the objects, except Can 'o Beans, are given a gender. Provide an analysis of the objects in terms of gender and consider why Can 'o Beans is left genderless. What qualities do each object represent? Are these characteristics typically associated with the gender that object is assigned?

Essay Topic 3

How does nature figure into this novel? Consider the instances where people or objects come into contact with nature or natural forces. For example, when the objects are making their way to New York, they encounter several natural obstacles along the way. Do these events (or others that involve contact with nature) have a significance beyond their function in the plot? For example, is the natural world a place where things are possible that aren't in the city? Are the events individually symbolic?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,477 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample