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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. When does the lady in the apartment down the hall in "Westbury Court" realize that there is a fire?

2. According to "Silk Parachute," what does McPhee specifically mention about his childhood upbringing?

3. For what did McClanahan pay?

4. What does McPhee compare his gift to in "Silk Parachute."

5. Pertaining to "In the Kitchen," what is Gates reflecting on?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Cofer's father from "Silent Dancing."

2. Why do people discriminate against Tan's mother in "Mother Tongue"?

3. Describe Aldrich's mother from the essay "Hair."

4. Describe the benefits of the penny post in the essay "Mail."

5. What importance does Gates see in one's hairstyle, particularly with blacks in "In the Kitchen"?

6. What does Hoagland say is the one thing that can prevent suicide?

7. What happened to Rahm in "The Stunt Pilot"?

8. In "The Turning Point," describe Petit's desire to make tight roping an art form.

9. What does Petit say about the Twin Towers in "The Turning Point"?

10. Explain McPhee's connection to the parachute from the "Silk Parachute."

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the essay, "They All Just Went Away" how is an abandoned house like a decaying corpse?

Essay Topic 2

Explain how the role of the parent in "Silk Parachute" and "The Inheritance of Tools" are similar and different. Does one essay place more importance on the parent?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the antagonist of "A Lovely Sort of Lower Purpose" by Ian Frazier.

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This section contains 548 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample