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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. What sorority is going through rush week in "Loser"?

2. What holiday is it the next morning in the story "Unbelief"?

3. What is the name of Deel's son in "The Stars are Falling"?

4. What does Lukas find when he visits his brother's restaurant in "Wildfire in Manhattan"?

5. By what birthday is Edward creating artwork that is on display in a gallery in "Fossil-Figures"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the setting of "Mallon The Guru"? What sign comes to Mallon upon entering the village?

2. What leads to the reuniting of the brothers in "Fossil-Figures"? How do they die?

3. What does Killheffer believe the world is made of in "Polka Dots and Moonbeams"? What does he offer Dex?

4. Describe the brothers in "Fossil-Figures" as they existed in the womb. Who was larger?

5. What conversation do Calum and the dwarf have while walking in "The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains"?

6. How does Killheffer end up shot in "Polka Dots and Moonbeams"? Where do Dex and Adeline go?

7. How does the dwarf trick Calum in "The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains"? Why?

8. What are the last two secrets of the dwarf in "The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountains"? How does he leave Calum?

9. What does the fisherman do to the woman he sees at the grocery store in "Catch and Release"?

10. How are the pledges described in the story "Loser"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss some of the unifying themes, subjects and genres which comprise the anthology. What is "fantastic fiction" and how does it apply to the book?

Essay Topic 2

Compare authors Jeffrey Ford and Chuck Palahniuk and the characters and settings of "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" and "Loser." How do these stories differ in style?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the characters of Mallon and Urdang in "Mallon the Guru" and examine the story's symbolism, style and themes. What is symbolized by the screaming at the story's end?

(see the answer keys)

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