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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. Who does Tender want to talk to his caseworker about?

2. What does Tender's caseworker do to appease Tender after they learn that Tender is the last surviving member of the Creedish church?

3. After Tender gets his mysterious call, who does he try continuously to call without success?

4. What was started to help protect remaining members of the Creedish Church "cult"?

5. As Fertility is reminiscing about Trevor while on her first "date" with Tender, what does she ask Tender to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Tender's job and the duties involved.

2. What is the discussion between Tender and his caseworker after he believes he has taken a call from the killer of the Creedish survivors? Why does she tell him not to worry?

3. Explain the relationship between Fertility and Tender in chapter 36. What are the differences between Fertility's impressions of the Tender she sees in person and the Tender she speaks to on the phone?

4. How does Tender feel about being diagnosed with illnesses by his caseworker and why?

5. What is the exchange between the pilot and Tender Branson before the pilot leaves the hijacked plane?

6. Why does Tender steal the flowers from the cemetery and what does he say he is doing with them when people ask?

7. What is happening as the novel opens?

8. After Tender's first "date" with Fertility, he returns to his apartment and picks up the ringing phone, thinking it will be Fertility. Who is on the other end and what is the conversation between Tender and the caller?

9. What does Fertility Hollis ask Tender when she calls his suicide hotline, and what reasons does she give for thinking that it is a good time for her to commit suicide?

10. What does the caseworker usually ask Tender about, and how does he respond?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The relationship between power and sex is recurring throughout the novel, and its obvious hold on Tender is an important element of this character's personality and journey. Discuss the relationship between power and sex as it is described and used in the novel. How does this affect Tender? What does this relationship have to do with some of the teachings of the Creedish Church?

Essay Topic 2

This novel has a unique structure. Instead of starting at chapter 1 and ascending chronologically, the novel starts at chapter 47 and chronologically descends. The page numbers also descend, as the novel starts on page 289. What is the purpose of structuring the novel in this fashion? What effect does this have on the novel and on Tender Branson's story?

Essay Topic 3

As Tender becomes a "religious celebrity" he is placed in the hands of PR and marketing teams whose job it is to sell Tender as a product to the masses. Shortly after, the teams come up with every product under the sun exploiting Tender and the Creedish faith, including a fake bible, dashboard statuettes, television shows, diets and board games. Discuss the idea of selling religion to people. What did the agent and the PR and marketing teams hope to accomplish by selling Tender as a product? Were they just in it to make money? What does their success say about the masses of people who bought into their product? How is this relevant in the real world?

(see the answer keys)

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