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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. Where was Theo’s mother from originally?

2. Who is the “semi-famous actor” that visits Theo at the Barbours’ home after his mother’s death in Chapter 3: “Park Avenue”?

3. What job did Theo’s mother work at part-time after coming to New York?

4. Where is the note postmarked from that Theo’s mother receives after he leaves the family in Chapter 2: “The Anatomy Lesson”?

5. What kind of dog does Xandra have?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where is Pippa being taken in Chapter 4: “Morphine Lollipop”? Why? How does Pippa feel about her circumstances?

2. How would you describe Theo’s mindset when he arrives home in Chapter 2: “The Anatomy Lesson”?

3. What psychological disorder does Theo’s father display the characteristics of, as seen in Chapter 2: “The Anatomy Lesson”?

4. Who questions Theo once he returns to school in Chapter 3: “Park Avenue”? How is this scenario described?

5. How does Theo come to the realization that his mother has died in Chapter 2: “The Anatomy Lesson”?

6. Why does Theo’s father make Theo call his mother’s lawyer in Chapter 6: “Wind, Sand and Stars”? What does Theo learn during the call?

7. How is Boris’s character described when he is introduced in Chapter 5: “Badr al-Dine”? Where is Boris from?

8. What obstacle appears in Theo’s and Boris’s friendship in Chapter 6: “Wind, Sand and Stars”?

9. How does the narrator describe his mother in Chapter 1: “Boy with a Skull”?

10. Who is the narrator of the novel? What are the current circumstances of the narrator in Chapter 1: “Boy with a Skull”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and analyze the setting of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Theo’s impressions of this setting. How does Las Vegas compare with New York for Theo? What are some examples of imagery the author uses to illustrate this setting?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the theme of grief in the novel and discuss Theo’s thoughts and emotions upon learning of the death of his mother. How does Theo describe his sense of “numbness”? What imagery and symbolism does the author employ to help develop this theme?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze and discuss the character of James Hobart in the novel. How old is Hobie when Theo meets him? What was Hobie’s relationship to Welty? How does Hobie differ from the other adult characters that Theo has encountered since his mother’s death?

(see the answer keys)

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