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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 does Talavera feel about Augie when the pair first meet?

2. What changed about Simon during the time Augie was living in Mexico City?

3. What does Mr. Oliver's girlfriend, Stella, do for a living?

4. Why is Augie not eligible to enlist in the army?

5. What type of animal does Thea hope to hunt when she and Augie move abroad?

Short Essay Questions

1. What work does Augie do for the eccentric millionaire, Robey?

2. What makes Augie squeamish about training Caligula?

3. Why is Thea planning to move to Mexico?

4. How has Georgie's life changed in the time that Augie was living in Mexico City?

5. How has Simon's appearance changed during the time that Augie was living in Mexico City?

6. What lessons does Augie learn from the rich lawyer, Harold Mintouchian?

7. Who is Paslavitch?

8. How does William feel about Augie's relationship with Mimi Villars?

9. How does Augie react when he sees Thea for the first time since their resort stay in Michigan?

10. How does Bateshaw prevent Augie from flagging down a passing ship after their Marine boat sinks?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

After Simon marries Charlotte, he has excess money to throw around. First, describe the way that Simon uses his money to manipulate his mother's life. Then, compare this to the way Simon uses his money to manipulate Georgie's life. Whose needs does Simon put first with his money, his family's needs or his own? How can you tell? Finally, describe the decline of Simon's marriage to Charlotte. How do Simon's spending habits affect his relationship with his wife? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout his life, Augie considered Jimmy to be one of his best friends. First, describe the relationship between Jimmy and Augie when they were both young boys. Why do you think these two boys bonded so quickly? What type of trouble did the pair get into together? What punishments did each of the boys' receive? Then, describe how Jimmy came back into Augie's life when they were adults. How did Jimmy save Augie from a potentially sticky criminal situation? How did Augie pay Jimmy back for his friendship? How do you think Augie and Jimmy embody the ideal of "best friends forever"? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

Because of the desperate financial situation Augie finds himself in, he enters a life of crime with fellow thug, Joe Gormon. First, describe Joe Gormon's character. How did he and Augie meet? Why was Augie seduced by Joe's life of crime? Then, choose one major crime Augie committed while working with Gormon. Who was the victim of this crime? What was the short-term payoff for Augie? In your opinion, was the short-term payoff for this crime worth the long-term effects on Augie's life? Why or why not? Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

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