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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Where does Cal describe seeing himself shopping on the news in Chapter 8?
(a) Circle K.
(b) Walmart.
(c) The Container Store.
(d) O'Reilly Auto Parts.

2. Who is Orpheus's father in mythology?
(a) Dionysus.
(b) Apollo.
(c) Thor.
(d) Ares.

3. What is the name of the space center where Cal's dad works?
(a) The NASA Armstrong Space Center.
(b) The NASA Glenn Space Center.
(c) The NASA Johnson Space Center.
(d) The NASA Reagan Space Center.

4. How long is the car ride from Brooklyn to Clear Lake described as in Chapter 5?
(a) 24 hours.
(b) 32 hours.
(c) 12 hours.
(d) 16 hours.

5. Where does Brendan take Leon and Cal to meet back up with Donna in Chapter 12?
(a) The front lobby.
(b) The cafeteria.
(c) The flight simulator deck.
(d) The parking lot.

Short Answer Questions

1. What band does Cal listen to in order to drown out his parents' arguing in Chapter 2?

2. What does Calvin buy at the store where he meets Deb in the Lower East Side in Chapter 1?

3. For what commercial airline has Cal's father been working as a pilot?

4. Who was the first African American female astronaut?

5. How many followers does Cal say he has in the opening of Chapter 1?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Cal feel his family is inadequate as a NASA family?

2. Why would Cal's career ambitions be threatened if his father were accepted at NASA?

3. Describe Cal's dad. What has his career been like until the opening of the novel? How does it change?

4. How is the Orpheus project described in Chapter 1?

5. Why is Cal at a community garden in Chapter 8?

6. Where do Cal and Leon kiss for the first time? What happens after they kiss?

7. Where does Cal spend time with Leon at the party in Chapter 9? Why?

8. How is the show Shooting Stars presented in the novel? What purpose do these excerpts serve?

9. Where does Cal meet Deb in Chapter 1? Why is this setting noteworthy?

10. What is Cal's social media outlet, and what is his standing in the beginning of the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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