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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. What does Mr. Graham help Charles do at the end of "An Irrevocable Diameter"?

2. What does Ricardo tell Faith in the letter he writes her in "Faith in a Tree"?

3. What money-making opportunity does Dotty present to Freddy?

4. Why does Faith try to urge Tonto to play outside with Richard and Lester in "A Subject of Childhood"?

5. What does Rose tell Lillie to tell her mother at the end of "Goodbye and Good Luck"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the narrator's husband recall fondly from their marriage in "Wants"? How does the narrator's memory of this differ?

2. Describe John and Virginia's relationship after her husband leaves in "An Interest in Life."

3. What happened to Ellen in "Living"? What does Faith recall of her at the end of the story?

4. Describe Fred and Dotty's relationshp? Why does she leave him? What money-making idea does she approach him with?

5. What do Jerry and Kitty discuss in "Come On, Ye Sons of Art"? What does Jerry tell Kitty when she asks what she would do without him?

6. in "An Irrevocable Diameter," how do Cindy's parents react when she comes home after a night out with Charles C. Charly?

7. Describe the setting in "The Used Boy Raisers." Where does the story take place? Who is there? What is the relationship between characters?

8. What does Clifford say to Faith in "A Subject of Childhood" which angers her? How does she react?

9. Why does Josie tell Liz she should be the one making Browny breakfast? How does Liz react to this?

10. In "An Irrevocable Diameter," what deal does Charles make with Cindy's family in exchange for withdrawing charges? What is their life like after?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one story and discuss elements of the narrative structure: Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the story's themes?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay analyzing Paley's language style and word choice in The Collected Stories of Grace Paley. What are some words that stand out to you and why? What words are repeated? What words are most impactful? Explain your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Write a detailed analysis of tone in Paley's "Faith in a Tree." Include whether the tone changes or remains the same. If it changes, include details on when, why and whether this change is effective.

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