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

2. What train does Cal exit in Times Square in Chapter 1?

3. How does Cal describe his diet in Chapter 1?

4. In what Brooklyn neighborhood does Deb work in Chapter 7?

5. Where does Cal say his father just flew back from in Chapter 1?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Cal perceive his version of journalism to mainstream journalism in Chapter 1?

2. Who is Mark Bannon in the novel?

3. What does Cal learn about Leon in Chapter 9? How does he react?

4. Who does Cal interview at NASA in Chapter 12? Why does this become important?

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

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

7. How is the Tucker home described?

8. What was the Challenger and why is it referenced in the novel?

9. How does Cal know Deb?

10. Who is Donna Szleifer? What does she say to Cal at the party in Chapter 9?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze and discuss the plot structure of The Gravity of Us. What is the inciting action of the plot? Where does the climax occur? What information is revealed in the falling action and denouement of the narrative?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss the narrative style in The Gravity of Us. From what perspective is the story related? In what tense is it related? Why are these choices important?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss three examples of foreshadowing in the novel. What event is foreshadowed? How does the author indicate this event? Does the author make use of red herrings in the narrative? How do these examples serve the text?

(see the answer keys)

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