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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 big three" (26) coping mechanisms recommended by Doctor Ann is most strongly resisted by Riley?

2. How does Riley's dad react when he sees their choice of first-day-of-school outfit?

3. On what condition does Riley agree to let their parents take them to school on the first day?

4. Riley chooses a picture of which musician for their Bloglr avatar?

5. What does Solo report that he had stopped doing in order to fit in with the football team?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Riley mean with the words, "At least I can tell Doctor Ann I tried"? (1)

2. What is the symbolism of Riley's choice of avatar when starting a blog?

3. With what question does Riley begin their very first blog post on page one of the novel?

4. How does it make Riley feel when the blog attracts more than 500 followers?

5. Why does Riley take the Starburst offered by Solo, even though they do not want it?

6. Discuss the author's use of hyperbole to characterize Riley's voice.

7. How is foreshadowing used within Riley's mention of having "strange and pleasant dreams" (81) after thinking of Bec's hand on Riley's knee earlier in the evening?

8. What is symbolic about Riley's fleeting feeling of wanting to carve a word into the AP English desk?

9. What action does Riley describe as being "like a suicide ritual" (64)?

10. What is the significance of Riley's request to study with Bec rather than attending the political fundraiser?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author's use of humor alongside humanist messages within the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the author's choice to withhold from the reader the biological gender of the protagonist within the novel Symptoms of Being Human.

Essay Topic 3

Explicate the theme of isolation within the novel, particularly in relation to the novel's protagonist. What is the author's message regarding isolation and how do you know?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,308 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample