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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. How old is Nicole when she is in Dr. Dohmler's clinic?

2. What does Dick consider to be his experience level with women?

3. What does Dick realize about his feelings for Rosemary?

4. Why does Abe ask if Jules is allowed in the bar?

5. How did Dick avoid going to war?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the duel turn into an entertainment event?

2. Why does Rosemary not have fun at the party after she analyzes the evening?

3. Describe the setting for the opening of the novel.

4. What do Rosemary's thoughts reveal about how she was raised by her mother?

5. What are Mr. McKisco's concerns after he agrees to a duel with Tommy Barban?

6. What can be determined about Rosemary's personality from her demeanor at the beach?

7. How does Dick realize that Nicole is mentally unstable?

8. What is Rosemary's response when Dick will not comply with her request to make love?

9. How can you tell that Dick's mind is addled by Rosemary?

10. Describe the burgeoning romance between Dick and Nicole.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Rosemary's mother tolerate, and even encourage, her daughter's advances toward Dick, an older married man? What does Rosemary's mother truly want for Rosemary? Are the ambitions for Rosemary alone or does Rosemary's mother intend to take her share of the rewards? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Dick begins his psychology career with pure motives to help people by being good and wise. What does it mean when Dick wonders to himself, "God, am I like the rest after all?" Is Dick afraid that he is interested in financial gain as well? Does he witness the practices of his mentors and wish for the same level of financial success and easy life that they live? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Explain the role of Dick and Nicole's children, Lanier and Topsy, in their lives. The children do not seem to have much significance in the story. Why? Why does Lanier respect his father in spite of his absences and bad habits? Why does Nicole invest so little of herself in her children? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,010 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample