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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. Which of the following does the protagonist ascribe to the Kid?

2. Which of the following composers does the protagonist esteem?

3. Against whom does the protagonist rail in describing her regard for her brother?

4. How long were the interlocutor and his wife divorced?

5. Which mathematician does the protagonist reference in relation to ones and zeroes?

Short Essay Questions

1. What hope in solving topological problems does the protagonist note?

2. What does the protagonist cite as her chief gripe with mental health professionals?

3. What “old saw in racing” does the protagonist report (165-66)?

4. Why does the protagonist distrust her doctoral advisor?

5. For what reason does the novel note the protagonist had previously been placed on suicide watch?

6. What does the protagonist note is commonly the most interesting thing about philosophers?

7. How does the protagonist respond to being asked if she is a sex worker?

8. How does the protagonist report initially attempting to distract herself from her hallucinations?

9. Why does the protagonist note she was less disturbed at their father’s death than her brother was?

10. Why, per the protagonist, do falling climbers feel peace?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Assuming that Stella Maris should be standard reading for a given class and level, what class and what level? Why that class and why that level? What in the text suggests as much, and how does it do so?

Essay Topic 2

Consider adapting Stella Maris into another medium. What medium would be most appropriate for the novel’s adaptation? What in the novel and what qualities of the medium suggest that appropriateness? How do they do so?

Essay Topic 3

In discussing subatomic particles, the novel presents a seeming anachronism: the mention of the top quark (44). Why might the anachronism be present? What in the novel supports that reasoning, and how does it do so?

(see the answer keys)

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