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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. Why does Craig want to go to Boring in "You're the Nearest Thing to Heaven That I've Seen"?

2. While on the footbridge, which reference does Jordy make?

3. What is the mood of Jordy's race in "You're the Nearest Thing to Heaven That I've Seen"?

4. What is Jordan not supposed to be doing in "You're the Nearest Thing to Heaven That I've Seen?"

5. What happens to Lady Liberty while on the boat cruise?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Why Do Stars Fall Down From the Sky," what happened to the Dutch Abstract painting that Craig appraised?

2. What has Marielle done since her funeral?

3. Who is Tuffy and why does the group meet him?

4. What does Naomi drunkenly decide while back in the hotel room with Craig in "Why Do Stars Fall Down From the Sky"?

5. How does Jordan feel about Jordy's skydiving instructor?

6. What does Jordy do for their anniversary? What steps does he take to make it extra special in "Why Do Stars Fall Down From the Sky"?

7. How does Naomi view her boyfriend Gary?

8. Why did Naomi visit Craig in New York and what do they do together?

9. Why does Craig rationale that he is going to plead guilty at the beginning of the "There's a Wonder in Most Everything I See"?

10. What does Craig bring to his funeral; what is the reason?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay arguing that Marielle's lack of identity is due to a societal undervaluing of motherhood. Make sure to include points of comparison and quote jobs/activities that are praised in the novel, unlike Marielle's decision to be a mother. What evidence did you find to arrive at this conclusion?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay explaining how Rowley's use of juxtaposition makes moments of sadness more powerful. Rowley often cuts moments of joy with moments of sadness - what is the literary effect of this? How does this pairing make the sad seem more devastating? Make sure to use one to two specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Selecting any of the sections titled "The Jordans," write an essay discussing why Rowley uses a different tone and mood when discussing Jordan's diagnosis. What is the literary effect of this? What is Rowley trying to suggest with this juxtaposition?

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