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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 Cal say to Leon in the end of Chapter 13 (131)?

2. What is Donna Szleifer's position at NASA?

3. What season of Shooting Stars appears at the end of Chapter 11?

4. How old is Cal's mom when they move in Chapter 4?

5. How does Cal's dad respond to the atmosphere of the welcome party when he walks in, in Chapter 9?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Cal's first impressions of Leon?

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

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

4. How does the theme of selfishness play out through the character of Cal's father?

5. What is StarWatch, and how would you compare it to contemporary media?

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

7. How do Cal and Leon differ in their perspectives of the future?

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

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

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

Discuss the theme of old versus new media in The Gravity of Us. What symbolism relates to this theme? What statement(s) do you think the author is making about new media? How are new and old media juxtaposed in the narrative?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss Cal's relationship with Leon in The Gravity of Us. How do Leon and Cal meet? What are their first impressions of one another? How does their relationship evolve in the course of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the themes of fame and celebrity in The Gravity of Us. How are these themes developed through character? How are they connected to symbolism in the novel? What statements do you think the author is making regarding fame and celebrity?

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