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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 is Portia upset about Thanksgiving?

2. Where does Portia's mother lives?

3. What does Sharon have hanging on the walls of her apartment?

4. What does Otto ask Portia when he tells her that he is a lawyer?

5. What is wrong with the gift Portia got for her birthday, according to Portia?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the first real indication to Otto and his siblings that Sharon had a psychological disorder?

2. What did Viola get Portia for her birthday? Why does Portia think it is not a great gift?

3. As Otto observes Sharon's sparse apartment, what does he realize about himself?

4. Why is Corinne concerned about Portia?

5. Why does Portia cry at Corinne's on Thanksgiving? How do the other family members, including Otto, respond to her concern?

6. What does Otto wonder when William thought to bring Sharon flowers when they visited?

7. What reason does Sharon offer for not wanting to go to Corinne's for Thanksgiving?

8. What does Otto think as he watches William with his nephews at Thanksgiving?

9. What does Corinne tell Otto about Martin at her house on Thanksgiving? How does Otto react?

10. What do Sharon and William discuss regarding time after William says he experienced deja vu?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Read a review of "Some Other, Better Otto." Write an essay about how this review impacted your own views or understanding of the story.

Essay Topic 2

Even though this story has many characters, what makes Otto the protagonist of this story? Compare his role in the story to definitions of protagonists.

Essay Topic 3

Examine the use of dialogue vs the use of description. Look at how each is used in the story and what makes these uses effective or ineffective.

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